Meet the participants of RFL Academy 2026.
The Roaring Fork Leadership Academy is proud to introduce the 2026 class—an inspiring group of leaders who represent the diverse talents, passions, and aspirations of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valley. Each participant brings unique professional expertise, personal experiences, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact in their workplaces and communities.
Throughout the year-long Academy, these emerging and established leaders will engage in deep personal growth, skill-building, and collaborative learning. They will explore leadership practices rooted in empathy, resilience, and innovation while building lasting connections with peers who share a vision for a stronger, more connected region.
We invite you to learn more about the incredible individuals who make up this year’s class. Their stories reflect not only their professional accomplishments and community contributions but also the collective spirit of leadership that strengthens and sustains our valley.
Monica Maldonado
Monica Maldonado Born and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley, Monica is the Owner [...]
Nury Avila
Nury Avila calls Aspen home, though her life journey spans Mexico, England, and Canada. She [...]
Anna Belinski-Huber
Anna Belinski-Huber, staff attorney at Alpine Legal Services, discovered her passion for leadership early [...]
Carson Campbell
Carson Campbell moved to Aspen in seventh grade from Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from [...]
Colton Conrad
Colton Conrad was born and raised in Craig, Colorado. From a young age, he [...]
Norman Fajardo
Norman Fajardo was born and raised in Honduras and earned a Bachelor of Science [...]
Alana Hanks
Alana Hanks, a Colorado native, moved to the Roaring Fork Valley at age eight. [...]
Justin Kovaleski
Justin Kovaleski, based in Basalt and originally from Pennsylvania, brings a calm, decisive, and [...]
Nancy Menendez
Nancy Menendez, based in Aspen, brings extensive experience in community engagement and professional leadership, [...]
Amanda Perusse
Amanda Perusse has called the Roaring Fork Valley home for 25 years. Originally from [...]
Brian Hanlen
Brian Hanlen began working in construction at age 12, started his business at age [...]
Allison Schneider
Allison Schneider, from Glenwood Springs, learned hunting from her husband and has since harvested [...]
Michael Schuster
Michael Schuster moved to the Roaring Fork Valley at age eight, growing up exploring [...]
Lucy Berdiales
Lucy Berdiales, a Basalt resident, blends a background in classical ballet with experience in [...]
Carlton Henry
Carlton Henry, based in Basalt, has built a career and lifestyle rooted in empathy, [...]
Justin Blumenthal
Justin Blumenthal, born and raised in Colorado, grew up in Lakewood before earning a [...]
Tracy Kallassy
Tracy Kallassy, based in Glenwood Springs, brings deep resilience to her professional and community [...]
Ben Sherman
Ben Sherman grew up in rural Minnesota, fostering a lifelong love of the outdoors. [...]
Emily Marcus
Emily Marcus grew up in Broomfield, Colorado, as the second oldest of six siblings. [...]
Bill Doherty
Bill Doherty, of Snowmass Village, thrives on adventure, adaptability, and embracing challenges both outdoors [...]
Lauran Garcia
Lauran Garcia is based in Silt, where she lives with her husband, young son, [...]
Alexander Yeiser
Alexander Yeiser, based in Glenwood Springs, brings a calm, solutions-oriented approach to both professional [...]
Maryann Pitt
Maryann Pitt, a longtime Aspen local is passionate about cultivating fairness and consciousness in [...]
Alvarez Wortham
Alvarez Wortham spent a decade as a camera operator and photographer in Los Angeles [...]
Marshall Foote
Marshall Foote, based in Carbondale, began his professional journey with aspirations of becoming a [...]
Hallie Childers
Hallie Childers, based in Glenwood Springs, brings a calm, adaptable, and solution-oriented presence to [...]
Charlie Austin
Charlie Austin’s first experience as a teacher came in 1999, when he began instructing [...]
Britta Gustafson
Britta Gustafson, of Snowmass Village, has built a career and life shaped by exploration, [...]
KC Thornton
KC Thornton, from Carbondale, brings adaptability, resilience, and compassion to her leadership journey. She [...]
Perla Lerma
Perla Lerma, based in New Castle, has traveled to 11 countries, gaining a global [...]
Jennifer Steele
Jennifer Steele hails from Cape Cod, where she enjoys spending summers with her family, [...]
