Executive Director
Scott Robson scottrobson@cmc.org (303) 996-2742
Scott Robson joined the Colorado Mountain Club as Executive Director in September of 2014. A native of Colorado, Scott has almost 20 years of experience in conservation, lands management and public policy issues. His professional background ranges from land-use planning in small Colorado mountain towns, project management across the country for the National Park Service, to his appointment by Mayor Hickenlooper as the City of Denver’s Manager of Parks & Recreation, one of the largest park systems in America. A competitive distance runner in his early years, Scott transitioned to climbing, mountain-bike racing and backcountry skiing after college. He remains an avid skier, mountaineer, cyclist and fly fisherman today. Robson holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a Master's Degree in Community & Regional Planning from the University of Oregon. He’s also a proud father to two young boys who share Scott’s passion for the mountains.
Chun Chiang (303) 996-2744
Chun was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to Colorado at the age of 12. He now calls Colorado home. He graduated from the University of Colorado with B.S. & M.S. in business administration with an area of emphasis in accounting. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with the Colorado State Board of Accountancy. He passed all four parts of the CPA license examinations on his first attempt. He has many years of financial management experiences both professional and with volunteering opportunities. He regularly volunteers for low income tax filing assistance program sponsored by the IRS.
Rachel Vermeal rachelvermeal@cmc.org (303) 996-2746
Rachel grew up hiking and skiing the White Mountains of New Hampshire and she has always had a desire to a dovetail her personal inspirations with her professional path. With this in mind, she has been involved with service-based, enrichment and awareness organizations and projects since 1997. Rachel holds a Graduate Certificate of Strategic Marketing Management and is a tech-savvy, communications professional who subscribes to a holistic system of marketing strategy and comprehensive implementation. With training in Level 2 AIARE Avalanche and Level I certification in Alpine and Nordic Downhill through the Professional Ski Instructors of America, if she's not in the office - you can find her on her skis or on the trail. Or she caught the travel bug again and is trekking the mountains of Italy or India.
Philip Swiny philipswiny@cmc.org 303-996-2767
Philip joined the CMC staff in January of 2017, after working with groups in the out of doors for close to 20 years. His teenage years were lived in New England, but he started his migration west for college, and soon began leading climbing and backpacking trips. After graduating with a dual degree in Environmental Science and Geology, he decided that instead of working in a lab he would rather focus on wild open places that he far preferred. Philip has lead and managed youth conservation programs, worked as a rock-climbing guide, coordinated international research expeditions and has devoted the last four years to developing and expanding the American Alpine Club lodging network as its Facilities Director.
Like most individuals involved with the CMC, Philip spends as much time as he can in the mountains, be it on foot, attached to a rope, sliding on snow or some combination of all these activities.
Conservation Director Julie Mach juliemach@cmc.org (303) 996-2764
Julie joined CMC in 2013 to manage the Conservation Department’s stewardship programs and outdoor recreation advocacy initiatives. Previously, she spent five years with the Southwest Conservation Corps in southern Colorado where she worked as Program Director and managed youth service programs, internships, AmeriCorps, fund development and more. Although originally from California, Julie received her Bachelors of Science from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania before relocating to Colorado and landing in Salida where she currently lives and works. Julie is excited to represent CMC in the Heart of the Rockies and embraces the incredible recreational resources throughout the state by foot, mountain bike, skis, kayak and horseback, usually with her dog Slider in tow!
Holly Barrass hollybarrass@cmc.org 303-996-2751
Holly is originally from New Zealand and now calls Coal Creek Canyon home. She graduated with a degree in Outdoor Education and is a certified rock climbing instructor in New Zealand and with the American Mountain Guides Association. With over 400 field days of outdoor instructing Holly has worked in adventure tour guiding, facilitated 25 day wilderness expeditions, backpacking courses, canoe trips, and an extensive amount of rock climbing courses. Most of Holly’s spare time is spent rock climbing and exploring new places – and she loves getting into the backcountry. This passion has taken her all over New Zealand and Australia, and now she is enjoying exploring the United States. Living in Colorado, she has been loving the climbing, skiing, and hiking right out of her back door. In her work, she is passionate about helping students to understand their earth and their place in it; all the while getting outside and having great adventures.
Jay Cordes jaycordes@cmc.org 303-996-2752
Jay joined the CMC in October 2016 and has been working in the nonprofit arena for nine years. Starting his career developing after-school and enrichment programs for nonprofit organizations and cities in the Washington DC Metro area, he moved to Denver six years ago to pursue his Masters in Nonprofit Management at Regis University. A steadfast supporter of conservation and ensuring that the great outdoors is open and available for future generations to come, Jay has a passion for experiential learning. He enjoys getting outside and recharging his batteries in nature, usually with his trusty canine sidekick, Leroy, and his wife.
Clyde Soles clydes@cmc.org
Clyde grew up in Washington DC where his high school sports were rock climbing and kayaking. He has lived in Boulder for over three decades and now resides with his wife and two cats in the foothills. During the summer, his full-time job is feeding the voracious hummingbirds who go through 50 pounds of sugar each year.
Clyde has an extensive background in publishing and the outdoors. Prior to joining the CMC he worked as the Senior Editor at Falcon Guides, the Senior Editor at Rock & Ice magazine, founded Trail Runner magazine and was Contributing Editor at SNEWS (the leading outdoor industry trade magazine). In addition to countless gear reviews and articles, Clyde is the author of ten books, his most recent being The Fire Smart Home Handbook: Preparing for and Surviving the Threat of Wildfire. An avid outdoorsman, Clyde has climbed Gasherbrum II (world’s 13th highest peak), Ama Dablam (almost), Orizaba, Popocatépetl, and numerous peaks in Colorado. He has rafted the Grand Canyon, skied the Haute Route in Switzerland and hut toured the Selkirks in Canada. If that’s not enough, Clyde’s other interests include road and mountain biking, scuba diving, photography, forest stewardship, gardening, and cooking.
Jeff Golden jeffgolden@cmc.org (303) 996-2757
Jeff joined the CMC in 2013 after working various journalism, marketing and communications jobs across the U.S. He has climbed all the 14ers in Colorado and many 13ers, with nearly 250 total summits of the state’s high peaks. The Weminuche Wilderness is his happy place. His mountaineering resume also includes Mt. Rainier x2 (DC and Kautz Glacier), Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams (Adams Glacier), the Middle Teton, Gannett Peak and El Pico de Orizaba. Now bitten hard by the ice-climbing bug, Jeff has his sights on more technical challenges.
Lauren Shockey laurenshockey@cmc.org 303-996-2748
Lauren Shockey joined the CMC in October 2015 as the Membership Manager. Lauren comes to the CMC with a decade of experience working with members, alumni and donors from nonprofit organizations. Her dedication to using data to drive the customer experience is well documented, most recently at the Colorado Trail Foundation and working in membership at the American Alpine Club for 5 years. Lauren has made the most of her brief time in Colorado since moving from the great state of Texas. She is big into hiking, skiing, backpacking, mountain biking and anything outdoors that she can do with her trusty canine sidekick, Gus. She has climbed many 14ers and is pursuing the goal of summiting them all.
Doug Maiwurm dougmaiwurm@cmc.org 303-996-2741
Doug’s first taste of the Rocky Mountain high life was thru-hiking the Colorado Trail in 2009. Before joining the CMC family in 2016 he was an instructor, trainer, and program manager with the Northwest Outward Bound School and REI Outdoor Programs. In a former life, Doug worked as a musician in DC, Chicago, and Seattle. “Climbing and music share a common culture of mentorship/apprenticeship. I’m proud to carry on this tradition with the CMC: roping up with new friends, connecting with, and caring for Colorado’s high, wild places. After we climb let’s go eat burritos/chicken teriyaki/deep-dish pizza, OK?!?”
Elsie Thomson elsiethomson@cmc.org (303) 996-2745
Elsie is originally from the flatlands of southeastern Wisconsin. She earned a Bachelors’ degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. After graduating, she found her way west and began working for Teton Science Schools (TSS) in Jackson, WY as a field instructor. During her time at TSS, Elsie fell in love with the Rocky Mountain West and place-based, experiential education. Since then, Elsie has also instructed for Ecology Project International, NOLS, and The Traveling School. Currently, Elsie is finishing up a Masters’ degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana with a focus on environmental education and nonprofit administration. In her free time, Elsie loves exploring the mountains through rock climbing, skiing, and mountain biking.
Conservation Manager Todd Loubsky
Brink Messick brinkmessick@cmc.org
Brink joined CMC in 2017 to manage a variety of stewardship and advocacy projects for the conservation department. A native of North Carolina - where he attended Appalachian State University earning a degree in Anthropology focusing on Sustainable Development in Latin America - Brink fell in love with Colorado while guiding horse packing expeditions for youth and teaching for the Colorado Outdoor Education Center during summer breaks in college. After school, one last summer turned into two last summers, then three and so on until his outdoor recreation A.D.D. landed him in Salida where he was immersed in the conservation, stewardship, and trails world with the Southwest Conservation Corps and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado. Brink is managing several trail centric projects and initiatives across the state including the proposed Stage and Rail Trail that will connect Salida and Leadville.
Allison Stewart allisonstewart@cmc.org (719) 530-3977
Allison joined CMC in 2017 to coordinate partnerships between land management agencies, local stewardship organizations and volunteers in Central Colorado’s Upper Arkansas Valley where she had served in a similar position with the U.S. Forest Service and Volunteers for Colorado since 2014. As a Colorado Native and 14er finisher, she brings a wealth of experience in the mountains, in addition to an Environmental Policy degree from Colorado College.
Lucy Jayes lucyjayes@cmc.org 303-996-2769
Lucy was born and raised in Kentucky and spent her time backpacking in national forests with her dad or climbing in the Red River Gorge with her friends. She draws inspiration from Wendell Berry, a fellow Kentuckian, and agrees that the stewardship of the earth is our most ancient, important, and enjoyable responsibility as human beings. After graduating from the University of Kentucky in 2014, Lucy relocated to Denver to explore a new range of mountains and continue her career working in nonprofits. The core values of philanthropy guide her everyday work: compassion, respect, trust, passion, and integrity. You can find her exploring the outdoors almost every weekend, except for during March Madness, when she cheers on her Kentucky Wildcats from her couch.
Logan Chandler loganc@cmc.org (303) 996-2740
With only small stints in Pennsylvania, California, and New Zealand, Logan was born and raised in Colorado. Playing team sports all the way through his collegiate days, Logan has shifted his recreational focus to the outdoors. Now-a-days, you will find Logan out snowboarding, backpacking, summiting 14ers, fly fishing, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Logan graduated from Colorado State University where he received a B.S. in business administration focusing in corporate finance.
Roger J. Wendell rogerwendell@cmc.org (303) 279-3080 x 2
Although Roger started hooking up with the club in the early 80s his day job didn't allow him regular participation until the 90s. So, it was at that time that Roger quickly earned his "D" rating and he completed most of the Denver Group's schools available back then, including WTS, IRCS, BMS, HAMS, MOFA, and eventually WFA, AIARE, Trip Leader School and Advanced Leader Training in the 2000s. Roger has assisted with YEP, Champ Camp, and as an instructor for BRCS and IRCS in addition to leading technical climbs, backcountry ski trips, and Adventure Travel trips. Roger has served on the Denver Group Council, the Conservation Committee, and as chair of the Classification Change Committee. After leaving his regular career Roger became a CMC staff member in early 2013 and has enjoyed working in the office ever since!
Membership Assistant
Mary Bradley
Zia the Border Collie
Matt Biscan
President
Mr. Biscan is a founding member of the law firm Satriana & Biscan, LLC. Matt Biscan represents businesses, professionals, insurers, and individuals. He tries cases in Federal, state, and regulatory courts.Typical of the type of cases entrusted to his care are commercial disputes, employment claims, malpractice claims, insurance disputes, product liability and premises liability suits. In addition to his litigation practice, Matt provides legal advice on business transactions, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Matt has been mountaineering since the age of eight. He serves as a Senior Instructor for the CMC’s Denver Group Technical Climbing Schools, with a particular affinity for technical mountaineering and ice climbing.
John Marotta
Vice President
Mr. Marotta was the former CEO and co-founder of Emerge Medical. Raising $25 million in capital, he led the company to an acquisition by Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) in 2014. At Cardinal, John served as vice president & operating partner. Prior to Cardinal, he worked for Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Synthes. John is a Blackstone Entrepeneur and continues as an active advisor to the Blackstone Entrepreneur Network. He is a board member of ExsoMed Medical. John is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. A member of the Quarterly Forum, he has a passion for giving back to the community, serving previously as a board advisor to the Salvation Army. He serves as an advisor to the Colorado Governors Leadership Initiative and Fellowship. Currently, John serves as a board member of the Colorado Mountain Club an over 100 year old non-profit. An Eagle Scout, avid mountaineer and active member of the Colorado Mountain Club, John enjoys volunteering at Big City Mountaineers as well as Food Bank of the Rockies. He earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s from the University of Dayton. He holds a Black Belt in LEAN Six Sigma. John is a dual citizen of Italy and the United States.
Bill Flaherty
Treasurer
After earning his MBA at UNC Chapel Hill, Mr. Flaherty served as a finance executive in the banking, entertainment, and food industries. He continues to advise companies and non-profits on financial and operational matters.
His passion for rock climbing took him up many classic Colorado faces, including the Diamond on Long's Peak. A weakness for short approaches and good coffee resulted in annual pilgrimages to European climbing destinations for over twenty years.
Jeff Flax
Secretary
Mr. Flax is active with the CMC serving as its Secretary of the State Board of Directors, director of the Denver Group’s Wilderness First Aid course, instructor in the Backcountry Ski Touring School, and leads hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and biking trips for the club. He is also past chair of the Denver Group Council. Jeff is the principal of Jeff Flax and Associates, LLC, a Golden-based litigation technology consulting firm.
Craig Clark
Board Member
Mr. Clark is President and CEO of Dynalectric Colorado, one of the top 5 Electrical Contractors in the state. Craig is the current Governor of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Chair person for the Chapter’s Labor Management committee and a Fellow of the Electrical Contracting Academy. He is a Board member and was the 2015 Chairman of Associated General Contractors of Colorado as well as the 2015 Chairman of AGC America’s Specialty Contractor Council. He also sits on the executive committee of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. He is a Board member for the Adventist charity, ACS L.I.F.T.
His personal passions include his wife Carol, his six children and three grandchildren. Mountaineering, skiing and time with his horse fill his time when he’s away from the office. His most recent climbs have been here in Colorado, Wyoming, The Cascades, Switzerland, Italy, France and Ecuador.
Linda Lawson
Linda Lawson has been a Colorado Mountain Club, Denver member since 2000. She is a hike & snowshoe leader and an instructor/assistant instructor in multiple schools. Linda has served on Denver Group Council and has served on multiple committees. She currently serves as State Treasurer and is serving her second term on the Board Of Directors.
Linda's professional background includes; Pioneer Natural Resources BOD, Audit Committee 7 years; The Williams Companies 1980-2001, officer 1986-2001 retiring as Senior VP of Human Resources 2001.
Dan Cummings
Mr. Cummings is a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Denver office of EFL Associates, a top 40 retainer-based executive search firm. He is a CPA and holds both an MBA and an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards in the past. Mr. Cummings is an avid hiker, camper, and cyclist. He and his wife, Jill, reside in Lone Tree.
Jason Kolaczkowski
Mr. Kolaczkowski is Director of Analytics for Kaiser Permanente Colorado and is also a Board Member of Red Rocks Credit Union. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s degree in econometric policy analysis from the University of Maryland, College Park. Jason is a dedicated alpinist and CMC volunteer: Director of the Advanced Crevasse Rescue Seminar, a Senior Instructor for the High Altitude Mountaineering School, and recently led the CMC’s Year of the Mountaineer trip that successfully summited Denali.
Liz Stahura
Bruce McClintock
Mr. McClintock is a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force and a graduate of the Air Force Academy. He started hiking and camping in the 1980s while growing up in Colorado and he has climbed more than thirty fourteeners. He enjoys hiking, biking, running and contributing strategic planning perspectives to important philanthropic endeavors. HHHHe also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board for United Charitable.
Scott A. Otteman
Mr. Otteman is a freelance writer and Spanish-English translator currently working from the Washington, DC area, where he lives with his wife Connie and son Daniel. Over the course of a 25-year career in the nation’s capital, Scott has served as a chief editor of publications on international trade issues at Inside Washington Publishers, as well as in senior policy posts at the Inter-American Dialogue, the National Association of Manufacturers and the North American Commission on Labor Cooperation. Raised in Fort Collins, CO, Scott is currently re-climbing the state’s 14ers with his son and his Boulder-based brother.
Chantal Unfug
Matthew R. Stevens
Mr. Stevens is a Senior Director with The Advisory Board Company; a research, technology, and consulting firm partnering with organizations across the health care industry. Prior to joining The Advisory Board, he practiced law in New York, London, and Denver, representing clients in the healthcare industry and members of the Fortune 100. Matt is active in the Club’s various programs and serves as an instructor in the Technical Climbing School and Telemark Ski School. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and hold a JD from the University of Chicago.
David Swinehart
Mr. Swinehart has been a member of the Colorado Mountain Club for over 30 years. During that time, Dave has participated in hundreds of CMC trips and has taken most of the schools offered by the Club. Additionally, he has served members as a trip leader and has been an instructor in numerous schools.
As well as Dave’s passion for hiking, climbing and backpacking, his love of wild places has made him a strong advocate for wilderness conservation.
Dave has an MBA with degrees in Marketing & Finance and currently is employed as a Vice President for Blue Mountain Arts.
Mark Schaible
Rachel Miller is the Director of Finance for Larimer Humane Society in Fort Collins. She moved to Colorado from Ohio, where she was the Financial Controller for a private corporation and taught accounting part-time at the University of Toledo. Rachel has a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Toledo and a bachelor’s degree in international business from Grove City College. She is a Certified Public Accountant in Ohio and Colorado and is a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants (COCPA).
Rachel has volunteered and served on committees and boards for organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Planned Pethood and Toledo Christian School is currently a member of Larimer County Search and Rescue. She spends most of her free time hiking, running or skiing in the mountains and also loves traveling overseas. Her most exciting outdoor adventure to date was summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2015. She has been a member of CMC since 2016 and has completed several trips as well as Wilderness Trekking School and is excited to become more involved in the organization.
Stephen Szoradi
Mr. Szoradi began guiding with Aspen Alpine Guides (AAG) in 2008 after moving from Switzerland where he spent the previous seven years training and working. He is currently the managing partner at AAG and in the summer guides the regional 14,000 ft peaks, day hikes, and rock climbs. In the winter, he guides on snow in the backcountry on skis, snowshoes and also works as a ski instructor for the Aspen Skiing Company. He is a member of the Colorado Mountain Club and as of 2016 is a trustee on the CMC State Advisory Board and he plans to contribute in the continued development of the club.
Stephen is an active Member of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA), an Individual Member and Single Pitch Instructor with the American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA), an Alpine Level I Instructor with the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). He holds a certification as an Emergency Med Tech (EMT) and is a Level I Instructor with the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Additionally he serves as the Vice President of the non-profit WeCycle board, an Aspen bike share program.
Kevin V. Duncan
Trustee Emeritus
Mr. Duncan is the Executive Vice-President of Duncan Oil Inc. and is responsible for a number of his family’s investments. From 1993 to present, he has focused on their outside interests, including real estate and technology investments. He also proudly serves as the Board Chair for the Juniper Fund. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, Kevin is an avid mountaineer having climbed in Ecuador, Russia, Columbia, Alaska and Africa. This summer he finished the top 100 highest peaks in Colorado.