Sue Conry is a Colorado native and a twenty-six year resident of Mesa County. She moved to Grand Junction for a new job opportunity in 1997. What she thought would be a three-year stay has become her forever hometown due to her love of the high desert and year-round opportunities including hiking, exploring slot canyons, snowshoeing, rafting and gardening.

Sue is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with degrees in Recreation and Business Administration. She has over 35 years of not-for-profit leadership and management experience, including leading the local Girl Scout Council for ten years prior to working for Hilltop Community Resources. All of her professional experience has included providing opportunities for helping people of all ages and abilities improve or enhance their lives. Sue brings expertise and perspective for both the governance and the operational side of not-for-profits and is able to merge her passion for our beautiful Colorado National Monument, nonprofit leadership and community board experience together.

Sue is a life-long outdoor enthusiast and has a strong passion for supporting and utilizing our National Parks and Monuments, State Parks and other Public Lands and encouraging others to do the same for future generations.

Sue is an active community volunteer, currently serving as a Mesa County Public Library District Trustee, Mesa County Public Library Foundation Member and her President of her HOA. She has also served on the Hilltop Community Resources and HopeWest boards and is a member of the Girl Scouts of Colorado Women of Distinction planning committee.

Sue lives in the Redlands with Vicki, her wife of 26 years, and their two dogs, Chaco and Bodie.

Raquel moved to Grand Junction in January 2025 when her partner’s career brought them to the Western Slope. Originally from Chicago, she discovered her love of the outdoors after moving to Colorado at age 27 and has been making up for lost time ever since through hiking, cycling, camping, paddleboarding, and the occasional questionable decision involving skis.

Professionally, Raquel leads a team of providers for a workforce mental health benefits company, bringing experience in leadership, strategic thinking, communication, and organizational development. She is also active in the Grand Junction community, helping organize events, build partnerships, and develop volunteer initiatives.

As someone who came to the outdoors later in life, Raquel has a deep appreciation for the way public lands can transform our relationship with the places we live. She is excited to bring her leadership and community-building experience to the Colorado National Monument Association Board, learn from her fellow board members, and help ensure the Monument remains a place people can discover, love, and protect for generations to come.

Danni’s background is in environmental science and ranch management. She has resided for 24 years in a rammed earth house on Glade Park that she and Carl built mostly themselves. Pastimes include hiking, biking, skiing, reading, advocating for wildlands, and enjoying her Border collies. The proximity of their property to the Monument (which they border) deepens Danni’s passion for the Monument and the ever-increasing need for protection of its beauty and resources.

Jessica Hamlin recently relocated to the Grand Valley from Anchorage, Alaska, to be near family who live in the area. She’s been visiting Grand Junction for about 16 years and each trip involved time spent hiking and exploring the breathtaking Colorado National Monument.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in public relations with a minor in tourism management from Central Washington University. A communications and administrative professional, she has nearly 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, writing/storytelling, advertising, event promotion, team management, and corporate governance.

Jessica and her husband Mark live in Fruita and have two children. Her family stays active through youth sports, camping, downhill skiing, kayaking, and visiting national parks and monuments. She feels fortunate to be raising her family in a vibrant community surrounded by the natural beauty of the “red rocks.”

Having grown up in the Grand Valley, Ali is deeply connected to the community and the beautiful nature that surrounds the Western Slope of Colorado. She is passionate about creating workplaces that positively impact the people who live and enjoy the beautiful spaces that are all around us. Ali is a Human Resources Leader with more than ten years of HR experience building people-first workplace strategies. As the Director of People Operations at Hilltop Community Resources, she leads initiatives focused on employee experience, leadership development, organizational culture, change management, and inclusive workplace practices.

Ali holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University, a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University Global. She also holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Ali enjoys exploring the outdoors, reading a good book, shooting photography, and spending time with her husband, son, and dogs. She frequently visits CNM and has always found peace in the beautiful sights and trails.

Dave was born in Taos and raised in Durango, Colorado, where he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He studied Biology at Colorado College, where he also helped launch the nation’s first nonprofit environmental retail store. After college, he conducted research in Alaska and later returned to Durango to work as a fly fishing guide, eventually diving into design and entrepreneurship. His company, Athletic Motion, Inc., an award-winning Denver-based startup, pioneered instructional content in action sports.

In 2004, Dave and his family moved to Grand Junction, where he’s taken on leadership roles with KAFM, Bonsai Design, and the Grand Valley Trails Alliance. He founded the Grand Junction Off-Road, Colorado Riverfest, and has taught mountain biking and paddleboarding for over 15 years. Dave now channels his creative energy into Confluence Woodcraft and serves as Executive Director of Grand Valley Youth Cycling.

Outside of work, he enjoys river and trail adventures, flying kites, and international travel. He lives in Grand Junction with his partner, Steph, two dogs, and a flock of hens—and stays active in the community through board service, trail building, and historic preservation efforts.

Glen Sample Ely is the award-winning author of four history books published by Texas Tech University Press and University of Oklahoma Press. He is currently working on book five, to be published at the end of 2027, also by a university press. Glen earned his Ph.D. in history from TCU. His work has won the Award of Excellence in Preserving History from the Texas Historical Commission as well as Gold and Silver Wilder Awards from the Texas Association of Museums. In 2018 Ely was inducted as a Fellow in the Texas State Historical Association.

He currently serves on the board of directors for the Texas State Historical Association. He has experience raising money for various history and public history projects, crafting proposals, grants, and doing in-person presentations to foundations, corporations, and other entities. From 1986-2002, Glen was active in public history, interpretation, and outreach, producing national park, history, and heritage tourism documentaries for the National Park Service, as well as for cities, counties, and historical associations.

Glen lives next to Colorado National Monument, has hiked much of the monument as a volunteer trail ambassador since 2018, and actively supports CNMA and its important work on behalf of the monument.

Ken Mabery retired from a 43-year career with the U.S. National Park Service in 2019. He served in 14 NPS units, two Regional Offices and the central NPS Office in Washington DC. He served over 20 years as a Park Manger/Superintendent, retiring while serving at Colorado National Monument.

Among his proudest accomplishments was Technical Editor for “Ranger,” the journal for the Association of National Park Rangers (10 years), editing a natural history book, and author of the introduction chapter for a scholarly volume on the history of geologic resource management in the NPS. Between 2003 and 2019 Ken lead 16 teams to Georgia (the country), and served as Senior Advisor for the program for six years, managing an additional 18 teams. He Holds Degrees in Geology and International Relations. He and his wife Jeannie love living in the Grand Valley and exploring the many outdoor wonders of the area

Pat was born and raised in suburban New York where she cultivated a lifelong love of the outdoors. After earning degrees in Communications and Speech Pathology from New York University, she became Program Director of the May Institute, one of the first residential programs for Autistic children in the United States.

She later earned a master’s degree from the University of Washington and went on to developed innovative rehabilitation programs for individuals with traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. and abroad. During this time, she visited many National Parks and developed a deep passion for public lands and conservation.

Pat first came to Grand Junction in 1993, serving as Executive Director of Mesa County Civic Forum and helping foster cross-sector collaboration, including efforts that led to the creation of Grand Valley Transit. Over the years, her work in community development took her to Northern California and Denver, where she led organizations focused on civic engagement, philanthropy, and innovation.

Since returning to Grand Junction in 2019, Pat has continued her commitment to cultivating strong communities, creating space for innovation, and protecting public lands. She is thrilled to serve on the Colorado National Monument Association Board and looks forward to supporting CNMA’s continued growth and impact.

Robin grew up in a suburb of Chicago, where she enjoyed Cubs games before they became wildly popular. She earned a degree in business, with concentrations in Accounting and Finance, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later received her MBA from the University of Utah. Along the way, she embraced life in the Mountain West, spending time in Utah pursuing her passion for skiing and painfully learning how to telemark ski.

After several years in Atlanta, where her husband worked for Delta Airlines, they decided to return to the West. With the opportunity to explore many communities throughout the region, they chose Grand Junction as home.

Robin then spent 15 years in finance at St. Mary’s Hospital before becoming their Surgery Business Manager, a role she held for the next decade before retiring. She has served on the board of a local nonprofit home care agency and is an active steward of native vegetation along the Monument Road corridor.

An avid hiker, golfer, gardener, and outdoor enthusiast, Robin has a deep connection to the Grand Valley and Colorado National Monument. She is excited to serve on the CNMA Board, giving back to the community while helping preserve this national treasure.