Sloan Shoemaker, Executive Director. A WW staffer since 1997, Sloan served for six years as the organization's conservation director before his promotion to executive director. He continues to play a hands-on role in much of WW's conservation work, and is the organization's main liaison to the White River Wilderness Coalition, Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance, High Country Forest Collaborative and other alliances. He also is WW's main spokesman to the media, elected officials and government agencies. As ED, he oversees all other aspects of the organization, including finances, fundraising, facilities, personnel and contracts. He and his wife Beth have two girls, Stella and Sadie, and live in a strawbale house outside of Carbondale,
Peter Hart, Conservation Analyst/Staff Attorney. Peter is the point of the sword for WW's defensive work. That means he's in charge of WW's NEPA (National Environment Policy Act) work – reviewing proposed actions (gas leases, rule changes, recreational developments, etc.), filing technical comments on Environmental Impact Statements and the like, and working with outside counsel on legal actions. A native of Vail, Peter earned his law degree and master’s in environmental law from the University of Denver. Past experience includes stints as a naturalist for the Gore Range Natural Science School, helping establish a seminar on sustainability for decision-makers in the Eagle Valley, clerking for the water rights division of the Colorado Attorney General's Office, working on endangered species claims at the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic, and working on toxic tort litigation at a boutique Denver law firm.
Dave Reed, Development/Communications Director. Dave is responsible for fundraising and membership development, grantwriting, and communications to the membership and the general public through WW's newsletter, website, literature and events. Originally from Connecticut, Dave moved west in 1979 to attend Colorado State University, where he got an English degree, and has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1983. He joined WW in 2004, after working as staff editor/writer for the Rocky Mountain Institute, and before that as a reporter for the Aspen Daily News, and way, way before that as a reporter for the Aspen Times. Dave is also the author of The Rough Guide to Nepal. He's married to Krysia Carter-Giez and has two children, Lily and Durga.
Ginny Harrington, Wilderness Campaign Organizer.Ginny Harrington is the Pitkin County Organizer for the Hidden Gems Campaign. Ginny is a 5th generation native of western Colorado with roots in Ouray and Montrose County. Ginny has a B.S. in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University. Ginny has served as the inaugural program director for the Northern San Juan Initiative (NSJI), a partnership of the Black Canyon Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy of Telluride, The Trust for Land Restoration and Colorado Conservation Trust working to protect agricultural lands. Other interests include historic preservation, including having served as Executive Director of the Ouray County Historical Society and currently serving as a board member of Colorado Preservation, Inc. Ginny also worked for the State of Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) as a program/marketing manager including promoting organic farming and local agriculture. Ginny has worked and lived on ranches for the majority of her life and currently resides outside Carbondale on a working cattle ranch. Ginny enjoys hiking, camping, flyfishing and walking her Bernese Mountain dog with her husband Tom.
Melanie Finan, Operations and Outreach Coordinator. Melanie wears many different and funky hats for WW. She is responsible for outreach to WW's members and also acts as the graphic designer and office manager. She received a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Miami University in Ohio and supplemented her degree with courses in Graphic Design at Colorado Mountain College. Her passion for the outdoors was her motivation for moving to Colorado 4 years ago where she plans on staying for a while and growing roots.
Dave Richie, Wilderness Monitor. Dave does our weekly air monitoring on Aspen Mountain year-round, and during the summer he works almost full-time on air, water, wilderness character, and invasive-weed monitoring.