At Roaring Fork Leadership, we’re not just shaping leaders — we’re amplifying their impact. This is where you’ll find the latest stories, features, and updates that highlight how leadership is transforming our communities. From alumni achievements to civic impact spotlights, media mentions to behind-the-scenes program moments — this is your front row seat to the ripple effects of empowered leadership in action.
Stay curious. Stay inspired. Stay connected.
Welcoming Marcus Thackston to the RFL Board of Directors
At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe leadership is built through experience, connection, and a commitment to community. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Marcus Thackston to the RFL Board of Directors. Marcus is the Owner and Founder of Blend Web Marketing, where he brings a holistic approach to business strategy [...]
ELEVATE 2026: Bridging What Matters Most
On April 10th, more than 50 women and one very intentional man gathered at Morgridge Commons in Glenwood Springs for ELEVATE 2026. And what unfolded wasn’t just an event. It was a reminder. A reminder that when you bring people together with intention, something shifts. More Than a Room - [...]
Alumni Highlight Katie Preston-Higbee
Roaring Fork Leadership took some time to catch up with Katie Preston-Higbee, RFL Mastermind Alum, to learn about what she's up to and how she has taken what she's learned and evolved herself, her purpose, and her career. Here's the Q + A with Katie: Q. Reflecting on your time [...]
Elevate Sponsor Highlight: Holy Cross Energy
Roaring Fork Leadership is proud to recognize Holy Cross Energy as the Peak Sponsor for ELEVATE: A Forum for Women Bridging Passion, Purpose & Community, taking place on April 10, 2026 at Morgrdige Commons in Glenwood Springs. As a member-owned electric cooperative serving communities across Western Colorado, Holy Cross Energy [...]
Alumni Spotlight: Morgan Kennedy on Clarity, Impact, and Leading with Intention
Morgan Kennedy, co-founder of Forward Cadence and a Roaring Fork Leadership Mastermind 2019 alumna, is helping organizations bring clarity, alignment, and intention to their work. Through her experience in Mastermind and her journey into entrepreneurship, Morgan has developed a thoughtful approach to leadership - one rooted in reflection, strategy, and [...]
Development Director Transition and Open Position
Roaring Fork Leadership Announces Development Director Transition and Open Position At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe leadership is a journey and sometimes that journey includes both meaningful beginnings and thoughtful transitions. Today, we share both gratitude and opportunity. With Deep Appreciation for Lizz Bailey. After serving as RFL’s Development Director, [...]
Come Together Whitepaper
📥 Download Come Together: Leadership, Belonging, and the Work of Staying Engaged (free) There is a quiet tension many of us feel across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. We care deeply about housing. About mental health. About workforce. About climate, child care, education, and the future of our [...]
Listening Intelligence: The Leadership Skill Hiding in Plain Sight
Listening Intelligence: The Leadership Skill Hiding in Plain Sight RFL Academy Welcomed Dave Momper from Thrival Concepts on February 6, 2026 at the Basalt Regional Library. Pictured: Steve Vanderleest, Andrea Palm-Porter, Dave Momper If leadership is influence, then listening is its foundation. This month, RFL Academy participants spent the day [...]
Rooted in Place, United by Purpose: Inside the 2026 RFL Mastermind Cohort
This winter, Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL) welcomed a full cohort of 14 women into the newly upgraded RFL Mastermind program—a milestone moment that reflects both the strength of the curriculum and the hunger for leadership spaces designed by and for women in our region. The Mastermind experience brings together women from across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys—Aspen to [...]
Start the Year with Added Purpose: Join Roaring Fork Leadership as a Board or Committee Member
A new year often brings reflection: How do I want to grow as a leader? Where can I contribute my skills in a meaningful way? How can I stay connected to my community? At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe leadership is not about titles - it’s about participation, service, and [...]
Alumni Spotlight: Susannah Lickus on Growth, Grit, and Trusting the Process
Susannah Lickus graduated from the Roaring Fork Leadership Academy in May 2025. Just months later, she made a bold decision to step away from her job, shoulder a backpack, and follow a deep inner calling - one that led her across the Colorado Trail and into the Himalayas of Nepal. [...]
Community Corner: Nonprofit Board Training and Nonprofit Information Fair Events
Strong nonprofit boards are essential to healthy, resilient communities - and this winter, community members can find two upcoming events designed to support individuals who are curious about board service, governance, and nonprofit leadership. Whether you’re exploring board service for the first time, looking to strengthen your governance skills, or [...]
Colorado Gives Day 2025: Thank You for Investing in Local Leadership
Because of this community’s generosity, Roaring Fork Leadership raised nearly $6,000 during this year’s Colorado Gives Day giving season. Every gift - large and small - directly supports leadership development, scholarship access, and the continued strength of our region’s nonprofit, business, and civic sectors. We are deeply grateful to everyone [...]
Civic Impact Project Highlight: Beyond Silos
Civic Impact Project Highlight: Beyond Silos— Mapping Collaboration to Strengthen Belonging, Civic Capacity & Community Health One of this year’s most significant Roaring Fork Leadership’s Civic Impact Projects is Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nonprofit Collaboration for Greater Community Belonging, a partnership between two RFL Civic Impact Teams and project sponsor Andrea Palm-Porter [...]
The Belonging Gap
The Belonging Gap: Why Connection Is Becoming the Core Leadership Skill "Increasing belonging across all settings is needed." Colorado Health Institute: https://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/research/colorado-belonging-barometer In every program we run—from Academy to Mastermind to Elevate—one truth consistently emerges: leaders today are struggling more with connection than with competence. Across Colorado’s mountain [...]
