Colorado Trout Unlimited
+ David's BIO
David coordinates state-level TU conservation efforts on issues ranging from whirling disease to water quality protection. Under his leadership, Colorado TU has successfully reformed state whirling disease policy, secured passage of legislation strengthening Colorado's in-stream flow program, and conducted many on-the-ground restoration projects for stream habitat and native trout recovery. He is the author of Whirling Disease in the United States, a TU report summarizing the state of the science on whirling disease, and co-author of Saving A Stream, a primer on how to conduct coldwater habitat improvement projects. David holds a BA in Public Policy from Duke University. He enjoys fishing in the Rocky Mountain National Park area and hiking and camping in Colorado’s high country with his wife and two children.
+ Jen's BIO
Since 2003, Jen has served as the legislative liaison for Colorado TU and Audubon Colorado at the Colorado General Assembly. She has helped secure passage of legislation expanding funding for wildlife habitat protection, prohibiting homeowner covenants that require water-intensive landscaping, and enabling water right holders to make emergency loans for water for in-stream flow purposes. She is also an accomplished horseback rider.
+ Nancy's BIO
Nancy has a degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish from UNM, where she worked as a research assistant in the Ichthyology lab at the Museum of Southwestern Biology. She has six years of experience working as a biologist, GIS tech, and project manager for a small engineering firm specialized in river restoration. Her background includes basic training fluvial geomorphology, topographic surveying, contractor procurement, permit acquisition, report writing, volunteer oversight, and grants management.
Along her meandering career path, former jobs to support her “river habit” include being a rafting and fishing guide, an ESL and Conversational Spanish instructor, a federal grant-writing consultant, sustainability non-profit director (Natural Capitalism), and a grant innovation coordinator for the state of New Mexico’s Environment Department. As the Conservation Projects Coordinator, she will be working with our local chapters to help engage their members and their communities to develop conservation plans and projects to conserve, protect and restore Colorado’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
+ Whitney's BIO
Whitney has always had a passion for rallying for causes that she is passionate about. She received degrees at Texas Tech and Mississippi State, specializing in Environmental Geosciences. Whitney is an advocate for conservation and protecting our wild places.
Whitney loves the Rockies and enjoys family, fly fishing and 'all things' outdoors.
+ Natalie's BIO
Natalie is a positive extrovert who loves igniting sparks curiosity, wonder, and outdoor exploration in people of all ages, especially kids. Natalie has a degree in Wildlife Management from Purdue University and has 10+ experience in environmental education, nature-based programming, and volunteer management.
She moved out to Colorado in 2010 and now lives in the North Denver Metro area. She has worked previously for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Denver Water, Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, and ran her own business, Wild Within Reach, prior to join CTU.
Natalie is passionate about increasing outdoor play, accessibility, and cultivating a love of nature. She loves spending time with her family which includes her husband Robby and two daughters, Eloise (9) and Lorelei (7). Natalie is an animal geek at heart and in her free time she enjoys hiking, skiing, SCUBA diving, bird/wildlife watching, and fishing.
+ Kyle's BIO
After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in English, Kyle began his career in marketing working at a small agency that eventually became a subsidiary of Ogilvy & Mather. After 9 years, he went on to work in the fly-fishing industry managing a retail location and guiding. It didn’t take long though for him to return to the business world becoming a copywriter for IBM. However, the pull of the fly-fishing industry was great, and he was a shop manager and guide for four years before joining Colorado Trout Unlimited.
Kyle also has a long history of working and volunteering with Trout Unlimited. Previously, he was the Marketing & Communications board member for The Greenbacks, an affiliate chapter of Colorado Trout Unlimited. He also worked on a contract basis performing outreach for Browns Canyon National Monument and Thompson Divide.
TU National Staff in Colorado
Colorado Abandoned Mines Project
Lauren Duncan, Mine Restoration Project Manager
Jason Willis, Mine Restoration Project Manager
Tanner Banks, Colorado Abandoned Mine Restoration Project Manager
Colorado Water Project
Drew Peternell, Director
Luke Laurita, Lower Gunnison Basin Project Manager
Ian Wilson, Yampa and White Basins Project Manager
Jesse Kruthaupt, Upper Gunnison Basin Project Manager
Kevin Terry, Rio Grande Basin Program Director
Richard Van Gytenbeek, Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator
Mely Whiting, Senior Legal Counsel
Angler Conservation Program
Steve Kandell, Director
Jay Chancellor, Southwest Regional Director
Ty Churchwell, Mining Coordinator
Communications
Kirk Deeter, Vice President of Trout Media
Nick Gann, Southwest Region Communications Director
Josh Duplechian, Senior Producer
TU Costa Five Rivers Program
Andrew Loffredo, TU Costa 5 Rivers College Program Coordinator