CONTACT

EMAIL:

CONTACT FORM:

Your message has been sent

BOARD MEMBERS

Deb Willits, Chair

Deb is the mother of two kids who benefited tremendously from having George and Michael in their lives. She is a retiring ski instructor who has spent her entire working life in the outdoor industry in one way or another. She understands how being outside can influence one’s world view and help build compassion for others.

Jane Pulliam, Treasurer

Jane lived in Ouray County for 20 years before moving to Montrose CO. She has been an accountant for 20 years, and enjoys tennis and bicycling. She likes keeping connected to Ouray County as the Treasurer of the George & Michael Gardner Fund because she enjoys writing checks for someone’s next big adventure!

Colleen Gardner

Colleen, as a International Faculty for the Educational Kinesiology Foundation enjoys world wide travel teaching Brain Gym® and other wholistic modalities. At home in Ridgway, she has a private practice at the Rocky Mountain Integrative Medicine Center.

Tyler Van Arsdell

Tyler lives in Ridgway where he operates a small Design/Build/Remodel business. He is the proud father of two daughters; he and his eldest are both thankful for having known and interacted with George. In high school, Tyler participated in an outdoor education class, similar to the Outward Bound experience championed by George.

Lydia Van Arsdell

Lydia was born and raised in Ridgway and a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. Outside school, she enjoys skiing, hiking, climbing, and camping. As a former recipient of George Fund scholarships, she has experienced the benefits of incorporating outdoor activities into education. Lydia is a major advocate for establishing a relationship with nature throughout grade school and giving students an opportunity to connect themselves to the great outdoors.

Lindsay Hepp

Lindsay has been a part of the Ridgway community for 15 years and works as an occupational therapist for both the Ridgway and Ouray school districts. Outside of school, she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and frolicking in the wildflowers with her children. She recognizes the power that outdoor education offers to our youth, cultivating an appreciation for all that nature offers and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their role in this world.

Jonny Zaugg

Jonny was born and raised in Ridgway and works building Via Ferratas and bridges in remote backcountry. He spends most of his time exploring the outdoors through skiing, climbing, running, and ice climbing. As a former recipient of George Fund scholarships, he has pursued a lifestyle in the outdoors and values the importance of outdoor education.

Lois Ziemann, Administrative Assistant

A retiree of the U.S. Forest Service, Lois wants to continue to inspire people – especially youth – to find their connection to the outdoors in ways that generate a wider world view.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Mark Udall, Former United States Senator

Senator Udall’s affiliation with the GGSF is his personal connection to George, his wife Colleen and several members of the BOD, beginning when he worked for Colorado Outward Bound School (1978-1995). A skilled mountaineer, he has climbed all the Colorado 14ers and attempted some of the most challenging peaks in the world–including Mt. Everest.

Peter Hackett, MD

A world-recognized authority in the field of high altitude illness, Dr. Hackett is currently Clinical Professor with the Altitude Research Center at the University of Colorado Denver Medical School, and Director of The Institute for Altitude Medicine in Telluride, Colorado. He has directed numerous high-altitude research projects throughout the world, and was Medical Director of the American Mountain Guides Association. He is a Founding Member of the Wilderness Medical Society, Co-Chair of the International Hypoxia Symposia, and Past-President of the International Society for Mountain Medicine.

Mike Friedman

Mike is a founding partner of Adventure Partners LLC, provider of guiding services of luxury resorts and via ferrata design/ installation. He was formerly the Chief Guide at Exum Mountain Guides and co-founder of Telluride Helitrax. Mike guided with George and cherished their friendship for many years.

Susan Lacy

Susan has enjoyed a thirty year career in education around the world – Mexico, Romania, Indonesia, Zambia, Bangladesh – and close to home in Ridgway, Colorado, her family’s base camp for over two decades. She cherished her friendship with George and the years they worked together when she was principal at Ridgway Secondary School. As a member of the Advisory Board, she’s thrilled to help support purposeful outdoor learning for our local youth.

Matt Wade

Matt is the Executive Director of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) where he leads strategic planning and communications, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the AMGA. Matt also directs the AMGA’s advocacy and policy initiatives that are focused on improving access to public lands for guided recreation. Matt taught outdoor recreation at the Ridgway Secondary School with George, and Michael was a student in Matt’s outdoor recreation class. Matt is honored to continue supporting the work of the George and Michael Gardner Fund to promote opportunities for Ouray County youth to experience learning and growth in the outdoors.