BOARD + STAFF + PARTNERS

Meet our people

Attachment to the High Line Canal spreads far and wide, as evident through the overwhelming support from friends and partners. Due to this deep connection and other planning efforts, today the Conservancy benefits from these strong partnerships. It is the efforts of these organizations and partnerships that have set the stage for successful long-term planning for the Canal.

The broad coalition of partners listed below are an indispensable part of the future success of the Conservancy’s planning, leadership and future vision of the Canal.

Board of Directors

Paula Herzmark

Board Chair
Community Leader

Suzanne White

Board Vice Chair
Community Leader

Graham Hollis

Board Treasurer
Retired Executive
International Telecommunications

Josh Tenneson

Board Secretary
Great Outdoors Colorado

Greg Austin

Retired Lawyer

Dessa Bokides

Executive Leader

Steve Coffin

Steve Coffin Strategies

Evan Ela

Cockrel Ela Glense Greher & Ruhland, P.C. Partner

Karl Friedman

Friedman Family Foundation

Tom Gart

The Gart Companies

Debi Hunter Holen

Community Leader

Craig Jones

The Colony Group,
Denver Water Board

Jim Lochhead

Retired Denver Water CEO

Dirk McDermott

Altira Group

Mike Rosser

Emeritus
Community Leader

Nina Beardsley Itin

Ex Officio

Diana Romero Campbell

Ex Officio

Carrie Warren-Gully

Ex Officio

Harriet Crittenden LaMair

Ex Officio
High Line Canal Conservancy
Executive Director

Staff

Harriet Crittenden LaMairChief Executive Officer

Harriet is passionate about access to natural open spaces, history and people. After working in public policy in both DC and Colorado, she served as a city councilwoman and directed a small land preserve. Inspired by daily walks on the High Line Canal, Harriet co-founded the High Line Canal Conservancy with the mission to preserve, protect and enhance the 71-mile High Line Canal.

Under her leadership, the old irrigation channel is undergoing a legacy conversion from a historic irrigation channel to a 71-mile open space trail and green stormwater infrastructure system for the region. Harriet is the visionary driver behind this public-private partnership, guiding the regional planning effort, programming, and collaborative governance structure, all while raising private funding and inspiring public commitments.

The organization has successfully engaged thousands of residents, received national planning awards and secured endorsement from all 14 local jurisdictions for The Plan for the High Line Canal. This inspiring framework includes over $130M in improvements.

Raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Harriet has degrees from Colorado College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. She and her husband Mike have three terrific children, who, along with their parents, actively enjoy everything outdoors.

Tracy YoungChief Operating Officer

Tracy is a proven professional and talented manager with leadership in local and regional community planning, natural resource protection and inclusive community engagement. She comes to the Conservancy after serving as the Planning, Design and Construction Manager for Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Tracy will be integral to support the nonprofit’s expanding role to improve and protect the 71-mile High Line Canal.

Amy DaleyChief Financial Officer

Amy has an extensive background in nonprofit management, with a focus on finance, accounting, and project management. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX. She began her career in community development as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan and has since volunteered and held financial leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, such as the Access Fund, the Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Public Library Foundation. She’s excited to combine her passion for conservation and financial expertise to her role at the High Line Canal Conservancy. Amy’s love for hiking has taken her on adventures throughout many national and state parks including a through hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. In addition to hiking, Amy enjoys spending time with her family traveling, listening to live music and volunteering.

Suzanna Fry JonesChief Programs & Impact Officer

With a background in architecture, design and marketing communications, Suzanna’s keen aesthetic eye for details plays a pivotal role in shaping the vision of the High Line Canal Conservancy. Born and raised in Washington D.C., she earned a B.A. from Duke University. Her architectural education led her to work in the resort, hotel and open space industries in San Francisco, Brazil and now, Denver. As Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at the High Line Canal Conservancy, Suzanna is able to combine her dedication to enhancing urban environments while providing leadership to achieve the community vision for the transformation and enhancement of the 71-mile greenway. Suzanna loves exploring Colorado’s outdoors (including the Canal!) with her husband, two kids and pup.

Lindsay MoeryDirector of Development

Born in Denver, Lindsay grew up riding her bike and training for cross country on the High Line Canal. Passionate about the arts and environmental design, she received her B.A. from the University of Colorado and her M.A. from the Université Paris-Sorbonne. Having returned to Denver after three years abroad, Lindsay is inspired by the community’s passion for the High Line Canal and excited to continue to connect with others from the region as the Director of Development at the High Line Canal Conservancy. When she’s not thinking about the Canal, she enjoys traveling, writing and fly fishing.

Josh PhillipsDirector of Planning & Implementation

Josh is an urban planner with a passion for conservation, equity and improving the quality of life in the Denver Metro Area. He brings a diverse background in planning, community organizing and nonprofit management to the Conservancy. Josh started with the Conservancy working part-time on public engagement and program development and he has spent hundreds of hours on the Canal engaging community members and partner organizations. Born in Boston, MA and raised outside of Burlington, VT, Josh received a dual undergraduate degree in Political Science and Political Communication from The George Washington University and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. As Director of Planning and Implementation, Josh uses his boundless energy to collaborate with our jurisdictional partners along the Canal and ensure The Plan for the High Line Canal becomes a reality.

Julia Clover ClarkNatural Resources Manager

Growing up, Denver’s wonderful parks and greenways fostered Julia’s connection to the outdoors. After earning a degree in Environmental Biology from Pomona College, she began her career conducting ecological research and natural resource management on public lands throughout the Front Range. Her time spent in the field found her continually inspired by the resiliency of the natural world and amazed by the diversity of life thriving in every landscape. Driven by a passion for stewardship and conservation, Julia is excited to help the Conservancy protect and restore the unique resources that the High Line Canal brings to our urban environment.

Edith FongAdministrative Coordinator

Edith is a first-generation Latina committed to inspiring and encouraging other Latinas. She was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico and raised in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. She moved to Denver at age eight and continued her education here, attending the Community College of Denver and graduating with her Associate Degree in Business Computer Technology. Edith has also obtained several professional development certifications. She reads, writes and speaks Spanish fluently and has an extensive background in administrative support. She is excited to be a part of an organization that focuses on bettering our environment and works with our diverse communities to positively impact their daily experiences.

Emma JacobsDevelopment & Donor Relations Associate

A Colorado transplant born and raised in Connecticut, Emma has always had a love for the natural world, fueled by her annual family camping trips to a multitude of national parks. She moved west to attend the University of Colorado Boulder, where she received undergraduate degrees in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Film Production. Emma discovered her passion for conservation and community-building while working at the San Juan Preservation Trust in the San Juan Islands of Washington state. She began at the High Line Canal Conservancy in May 2022 as the Programs and Events Intern and is now excited to be exploring her strengths in development and fundraising. In her free time, you can find Emma concert-going, crafting, or creating films with her vintage Super 8 camera.

Elisabeth LawrenceBookkeeper

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY and Fort Erie, Ontario, Elisabeth has now lived in Denver longer than anywhere else, so considers herself a Coloradan. She received her B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Boston University that led to a career in Employee Benefits Account Management in the Massachusetts, California and Colorado markets. Putting career on hold to raise her family, Elisabeth continued to volunteer in a treasurer capacity for various schools and organizations for many years. She is excited to handle the bookkeeping responsibilities for the High Line Canal Conservancy to support their mission to conserve this amazing resource in our community. In her personal time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and exploring our state with friends and family.

Jennifer PurdumDonor Relations & Development Manager

Jennifer grew up surrounded by miles of forests and beautiful farmland in the small equestrian town of Colts Neck, NJ. Her appreciation for being out in wide-open natural spaces began to feed her soul and desire to live where nature and its benefits were accessible year-round. After earning her B.S. in Journalism from Ohio University, she worked for several global PR firms, including FleishmanHillard and Weber Shandwick. Her clients were some of the most powerful life science, financial, banking, technology, and consumer products companies worldwide. Upon moving to Colorado 25 years ago, Jennifer continued in public relations as an independent consultant before transitioning into development and leveraging her expertise to secure critical financial support for There With Care and Mackintosh Academy. She is grateful to live on the High Line Canal and to find her way to the Conservancy, where continuing to do the work she loves is more than she could ask for. When not working, Jennifer volunteers for Cycling Without Age Littleton, the Highlands Ranch Mansion and the Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund. She loves to hike, ski in Steamboat, and listen to live music with her husband and two children.

Samantha WilberPrograms Coordinator

Upon moving to Colorado, Sam quickly found the Canal a perfect place to run, bike and go birding. Sam is a naturalist, originally from Florida and relocating most recently from Arizona, with a background in volunteerism, environmental education and zoology. She brings over ten years of experience working for conservation organizations, including zoos, museums and wildlife research projects to the Conservancy. Sam received her B.S. from the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and her M.S. in Ecology and Evolution from the University of South Florida. As the Programs Coordinator for the High Line Canal Conservancy Sam looks forward to providing fun and meaningful program opportunities for community members to explore, care for, and learn about nature. Sam loves exploring Colorado with her two dogs and volunteering with several local wildlife conservation projects outside of work.

Breana WintersCommunity Engagement & Programs Manager

With a background in environmental education, Breana is passionate about connecting people to nature. Born and raised in Chicago, IL, she earned a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She previously worked with the environmental nonprofit Openlands as the School Planning Coordinator for the program Space to Grow: Greening Chicago Schoolyards. In this role, Breana worked with architects, public water agencies and school communities to reduce urban flooding through green infrastructure, as well as promote outdoor education and community health. She has worked with various nonprofits, including the Appalachian Mountain Club and Food Bank of the Rockies. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, fostering cats and mentoring underserved youth in the outdoors.

Council of Advisors

Pam Beardsley
Bruce Beckman
Susan Beckman
Jim Bolt
Dan Brogan
Shan Burchenal
Leslie Cavness
Laura Christman
Stacie Gilmore*
Tom Gougeon

Nancy Sharpe
Happy Haynes
Alan Leak
Jim Lochhead
Anthony Graves
Jim Petterson
Tony Pickett
Eliza Prall
Sarah Rockwell
Tom Roode

Lorie Sadler
Jeff Shoemaker
Linda Strand
Kathy Turley
Klasina VanderWerf
Tom Waymire
Dean Winstanley
Marty Zeller

Funding Partners

Arapahoe County

The Open Spaces Department of Arapahoe County works to preserve natural and heritage areas, enhance neighborhood and regional parks and build and maintain trails. Since 2003, Arapahoe County’s Open Space program has conserved more than 31,000 acres of open space, built more than 51 miles of new trails and created and enhanced 157 neighborhood and regional parks.

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Denver Water

As Colorado’s oldest and largest water utility, Denver Water proudly serves high-quality water and promotes its efficient use to 1.3 million people in the city of Denver and many surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, Denver Water acquired the Canal in 1924 and to this day continues to manage the entire length of the Canal as a water utility.

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Gates Family Foundation

The Gates Family Foundation makes philanthropic investments statewide that contribute to the quality of life in Colorado, create opportunities for youth, and support stewardship of this extraordinary place, particularly the state’s natural inheritance. The Foundation has been promoting self-sufficiency, excellence and innovation in Colorado communities since 1946.

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Great Outdoors Colorado

GOCO invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces. Created by voters in 1992, GOCO has committed more than $825 million in lottery proceeds to more than 4,500 projects in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support.

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Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell

Public officials and corporate executives with high profile public and private projects that must get planned and completed, call Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell. Whether the project is a public project, has a nexus with a government entity, or merely requires deep knowledge of how government works, KKR attorneys are sought after – because they’ve seen it and done it before.

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Canal Collaborative

ARAPAHOE COUNTY

Gini Pingenot, Director of Open Spaces, Arapahoe County Open Spaces

Bill Holen, County Commissioner

AURORA

Sarah Young, Aurora Water Deputy Director

Crystal Murillo, City Councilmember

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE

Chris Cramer, City Manager

Dan Sheldon, City Councilmember

DENVER

Mark Bernstein, Chief of Staff

Diana Romero Campbell, City Councilmember

DENVER WATER

Tom Roode, Chief Operations & Maintenance Officer

Alan Salazar, CEO

DOUGLAS COUNTY

Matt Williams, Assistant Director Public Works Engineering

Lora Thomas, County Commissioner

GREENWOOD VILLAGE

Suzanne Moore, Director of Parks, Trails and Recreation

Anne Ingebrestsen, City Councilmember

HIGH LINE CANAL CONSERVANCY

Harriet Crittenden LaMair, Executive Director

Paula Herzmark, Board Chair

HIGHLANDS RANCH

Ken Standen, Director of Maintenance & Operations

Carolyn Schierholz, Board Vice Chair

LITTLETON

Kathleen Osher, Manager of Innovation & Performance Excellence

Pam Grove, City Councilmember

MILE HIGH FLOOD DISTRICT

Jon Villines, Project Manager

Laura Kroeger, Executive Director

SOUTHEAST METRO STORMWATER AUTHORITY

Dan Olsen, Executive Director

Bart Miller, Board Chair

SSPRD

Andy Jennings, Director of Parks & Open Space

Susan Pye, Board Chair

Founding Partners

71 Miles Supported by 71 Founding Partners

These partners, among others not listed, have committed $25,000 or more to the Conservancy

Anonymous Donors
The Addy Family
Albion & Birch Street Neighbors
Liz & Bill Armstrong
Bailey-Stanford Family Foundation
Pamela Beardsley & the Beardsley Family
María L. García Berry
Carol W. Bieging Trust
Dessa Bokides & William Fay Family
Bolt Family
Virginia Brown & Cody Smith
Chip & Trish Brunk
Laura Christman & Bill Rothacker Family Foundation
Conservancy Board of Directors
Fast Enterprises
Kathie & Keith Finger
Joe & Jennifer Freeman (3 miles)
Karl & Barbara Friedman Family Foundation
Al Galperin
The Garnett Family
Marjorie & Thomas Gart
Michelle & Larry Harmsen

David Herbaly (2 miles)
Zack & Melissa Holland
Graham & Cathy Hollis
Jennifer & Mark Hopkins
The Humes Family
Mike & Joan Iseman
Nina & Tim Itin
The Jornayvaz Family & the LARRK Foundation
Christopher & Alisa Kennedy
Kareen & Jim Kimsey
Bill & Georgeanna Klingensmith
Sherri & Buz Koelbel
Harriet & Michael LaMair Family
Shari Leigh & Martin Greer
John & Polly Loewy
MacDonald Hardwoods
Sharon & Greg Maffei
Dirk & Carol McDermott
Katherine & Steve Meier and Raymond & Suzanne Satter
Moses Taylor Family
Heather & James Mulvihill (2 miles)
Robert & Judi Newman

Denise O’Leary & Kent Thiry (3 miles)
Tami Paumier & Glen Warren
Mike, Keren, Kevin, & Wil Rosser (2 miles)
Roundup Riders of the Rockies Heritage and Trails Foundation, Inc
Kathryn & Tim Ryan and Martha Records & Rich Rainaldi
Peter & Julie Savoie
The Schovee Family
Scott-Kearney Family
Southgate Water & Sanitation Districts
Mary Laird & Russell Stewart
Mrs. Thomas Taplin
Seth & Jennifer Terry
Jeanne & Glenn Tubb
Debra & Ken Tuchman (2 miles)
Klasina VanderWerf & Tom Thomas
The Walking Group
Cille & Ron Williams, in honor of Pam and George Beardsley
Amy Halperin Wood – The Marcus Foundation