Our Board of directors
“I have loved the Mountain Roots work since the beginning and feel that my passion surrounding food at home and professionally are a good fit. I appreciate that education and access to food are part of the mission. I believe that if people ate healthy food all the time, we could control so many health issues.”
DANA ZOBS | Interim President
As a Physical Therapist, Lynn enjoys interacting with and impacting people on an individual level and is eager and excited to have a larger-scale impact through Mountain Roots. Lynn believes Mountain Roots embodies all of what she was looking for in a non-profit organization dedicated to the community, particularly in the ability to respond directly to the community’s needs as they fluctuate. She believes that locally grown food is essential and has a webbing of connections to so many critical components of a community – socially, economically, and environmentally. She is eager to contribute to Mountain Roots and positively impact the community in each of these components.
Sidsel strongly believes that humanity needs a profound change in behavior to address the climate issues of today, and has worked passionately at the intersection between science, sustainability, and equity in education to find solutions on both personal and community levels. As the co-founder of the Greenhouse Project at NY Sun Works, she brings over a decade of experience in non-profit leadership and development and has secured millions of dollars for educational programs by building strong collaborations with both the public and private sectors. As a dual Danish-American citizen, she currently splits time between the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Copenhagen Denmark and is uniquely positioned to understand and address the need for global climate action in both the rural and urban settings.
From 2010 to 2019 Robards served as co-director of New York Sun Works. During that time, she oversaw New School Partnerships, Government Relations, Strategic Partnerships, Fundraising Events, as well as Special Events focused on community
building. She also spearheaded the organization’s PR, branding, and marketing
efforts.
Sidsel Robards | treasurer
Kim is a vegan-powered adventurer, hug enthusiast, and Jiu Jitsu brown belt. Kim is an attorney, licensed in Colorado, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and is currently a corporate attorney for a cannabis company. Kim is also a member of the Colorado Coalition to Protect Children and Family Rights; a grassroots organization that advocates for human policies for families affected by substance use. Kim will be taking the lead on our membership program, and we are so glad to have her expertise on the board of directors.
Lynn Froetscher | Secretary Kim allen | Board Member
Trilby has been in the valley for 20 years, and brings experience in finance, fundraising, and sustainable building to Mountain Roots. A Certified Public Accountant since 1983, she holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of NC at Charlotte, a BA in Psychology, and a Sustainable Business Management Certificate from University of California, Irvine. Trilby divides her time between Crested Butte and Charlotte, NC. For the past 18 years Trilby has been the CFO/Executive Vice President of Sustainability at BE&K Building Group in Charlotte, and 15 years as a Board Member and Treasurer for Harris YMCA. Her first book, "Secrets of the Forbidden Woods" was released in October 2022.
"Two of my biggest passions are healthy, nutritious foods and education. I've been an avid gardener for 25 years. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than eating from the garden!"
Trilby Carriker | Board Member
OUR Staff
Holly is a liaison between the Board of Directors and the organization’s operations. Keeping the long-term vision in sight, she manages the day-to-day operations, trains and oversees key staff, coordinates volunteers, manages organizational budget and finances, fundraises, nurtures strategic partnerships, coordinates outreach efforts, promotion and marketing, program development, resource development, grant management and reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.
Holly says, “I believe that people have an amazing capacity to create change. I am inspired by the power that food has to bring people together, by how wonderful and fulfilling it is to simplify our lives, and how possible it is to teach people to provide for themselves by going back to traditional ways. The “food movement” has momentum across the world, and I hope that Mountain Roots can inspire and empower people to get back to the basics, and connect with things that are real."
Holly Conn | Executive Director
Kristen grew up and attended college in Indiana, where her love of basketball was required but her love of biology was optional. After two masters degrees - one in science and one in education - and several moves to different states, her little family landed in Colorado. A far cry from the cornfields of her youth, she simply cannot get used to the natural beauty this state has to offer, nor does she want to! With ten years of classroom teaching under her belt, she is excited to contribute to education through the programs here at Mountain Roots. Students need the connections we provide to food, health, and nature - and we look forward to continuing to support youth in our community.
Kristen Aaltonen | Director of youth education
Skyler's journey brought him to Gunnison via Thailand, St. Louis, and Little Rock, even though his early years were spent in Iowa. On the weekends, you'll often find Skyler exploring theatre opportunities, or ascending to the highest mountain peaks he can reach. With experiences in both AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, he brings a passion for service to his current role, understanding the transformative power it holds for both those who serve and the communities they serve.
Having invested considerable time in educational environments, Skyler has witnessed firsthand the detrimental impact of students attending school on an empty stomach, which hampers their ability to engage with their learning. Whether in schools with students or in the community, Skyler is passionate about conversations and work towards effective food systems that set up our communities for success.
Rudy attended Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois and graduated receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech, with a major in communications and a double minor in radio, TV, Film, and Sociology. Rudy has developed professional expertise in the areas of Marketing, Fund Raising, Strategic Planning, Branding, and Digital Asset Creation. Rudy has worked in the non-profit sector for the last 11 years helping to develop and launch brands, create and manage fundraising events for specific initiatives, work with local legislators and educators, develop strategic partnerships, and manage press and promotion around a new initiative. Rudy will bring an incredible amount of energy, passion, focus, enthusiasm, knowledge, creativity, and innovation to the Mountain Roots team.
Rudy Germany | Development Director
Skyler Matthias | Director of AmeriCorps Programs
Dylan is a passionate photographer, content creator, and overall marketing enthusiast. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Dylan fell in love with the Gunnison Valley while attending school at Western State University. You’ll find him spending his time outside of work mountain biking, fly fishing, and snowboarding. His devotion to the community and nature, and making a positive impact in both, make him a great fit at Mountain Roots.
Dylan Walker | Marketing Manager
Julia grew up in New York, where she loved to hike and rock climb in the Shawangunk Mountains. After earning her bachelor's degree in anthropology and environmental studies, she spent a couple years working in childcare, volunteering, and learning to snowboard. She is now studying environmental management at Western and living in the Gunnison Valley, where she is excited to explore the community and the outdoors.
As a gardener herself, Julia believes it is important to teach about connecting with the land, growing local food, and community engagement. She is inspired by holistic, experiential learning and hopes to use her passion to promote access to outdoor activities and nutritious food.
Julia Dunlavey | MEM Graduate Fellow in Environmental Education
Brooke Drost | Farm to School Team & Americorps Member
Peyton grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and has lived in four different states and four different countries. These include Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and of course the US. He enjoys music, art, and outdoor activities, and is inspired by personal and communal resilience. Passionate about cultivating living soil to support food systems and care for the Earth, Peyton has spent the last ten years focussing his skills in project management, regenerative agriculture, and community organizing. He hopes to inspire others to embrace their roots and enjoy the fulfillment of living close to the earth.
Peyton served as general manager for the Guatemalan non-profit organization, The Ripple Effect Inc, for three years. He led a team of local supervisors in daily operations and coordinated with donors, board members, and the local team to advance progress reports, organization goals, and grants. He also worked in the home exteriors industry managing construction projects in Colorado and Illinois for three years. Responsibilities included designing marketing plans, telemarketing and canvassing, coordinating with crews and clients, budgeting, and training teams of sales representatives. Peyton apprenticed with a variety of master gardeners at home and abroad over the course of four years in order to gain perspective and skills. He is a committed team player and a certified emergency 1st responder and rescue scuba diver.
PEYTON FOLEY | FOOD SECURITY DIRECTOR
Hannah is originally from Rhode Island but most recently called Vermont her home. During her six years there, she witnessed the benefits of strong community relationships to local food systems. She graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Psychology and Minor in Studio Art and worked in the field of clinical behavioral health as a behavior interventionist in the Vermont public school systems. She remained close to the world of agriculture and food systems through friends and hobbies such as gardening, volunteering, and experimenting in the kitchen with local ingredients.
In Fall 2023, Hannah began her journey out west by working on a small family farm in northern New Mexico where she further developed her homesteading and farming skills. She dove into the world of regenerative agriculture and experienced the joy of new community through food, which ultimately led her to Mountain Roots. Hannah is excited to continue her work in community health and wellbeing through sustainable, equitable food systems. In her free time, Hannah enjoys hiking, climbing, gravel biking, printmaking, and reading.
Hannah Franko | Food Security Team & Americorps Service Member
Erinn grew up in Tennessee and attended college in Chattanooga, earning a BS in Nutrition and a BA in Spanish. She spent some time volunteering at a health clinic in Guatemala, and later moved to Arizona to work toward a Master's degree in Nutrition. Her classes allowed her to learn about some of the flaws in our food system, and she is excited to work with Mountain Roots to address those flaws. When she's not at work, Erinn can usually be found working on her thesis at a coffee shop, enjoying some live music, or hiking with her dog.
Originally from Colorado Springs, Ally holds a strong belief that every person is entitled to a peaceful, secure, and healthy life. She earned her B.A. from the University of Wyoming in Journalism and International Studies, focusing on issues of human rights, peace and security. Following her graduation, she discovered her interest in sustainable and equitable food systems while WWOOFing throughout the western United States. Working on the food security team with Mountain Roots provides the opportunity to combine her love of working outdoors with providing essential resources to underserved communities. Following her AmeriCorps service, she is excited to begin a graduate program at the University of Colorado Denver studying Public Policy, so that she may continue to help create a more prosperous and equitable world for all people. In her spare time, she enjoys music, a strong cup of coffee and exploring the outdoors.
ERINN CUTRIGHT | Backyard Harvest Coordinator
Jenna grew up in Aurora, Colorado and recently moved to the Gunnison Valley to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Western State University, after earning her associate’s degree in Integrative Health. She has spent the past five summers working in Twin Lakes, fostering her love for the outdoors by volunteering and working on trail crews in the area, and working at the Twin Lakes General Store. Jenna is passionate about localizing the food system so that more people are enabled to make educated decisions about their health, as she believes that people have the right to healthy and culturally acceptable food that is sustainably produced. She is looking forward to her time spent in Gunnison and at Mountain Roots; serving a rural Colorado community though supporting local food systems and helping people bridge the gap between their health and their resources. In her spare time, Jenna enjoys trail running, planning big adventures outdoors, and hanging out with her black cat.
Jenna Hallock | FOOD SECURITY TEAM & AMERICORPS SERVICE MEMBER
Ally Reeder | Food security team & AmeriCorps Service Member
Regenerative Agriculture
farm@mountainrootsfoodproject.org
hydro@mountainrootsfoodproject.org
Collin grew up in the heartland in Des Moines, Iowa where he enjoyed playing all sports, gardening and hiking. His passion for adventure took him to Fort Myers, Florida, where he continued gardening, finished school, and began fishing nearly every day. He has lived in Gunnison for the past four years and thoroughly enjoys the recreation opportunities at his doorstep. Keeping food local has always been a passion of his, as it provides not only a superior product, but also helps form strong bonds and new relationships throughout the community.
