Meet Our Staff
Johanna van Waveren Executive Director
Johanna joined CNMA in 2016, after working as a seasonal park guide for the National Park Service at Colorado National Monument. She loves being able to devote her creativity and energy to the people, ecosystem, and history of this special place. Johanna is thankful for the relationships she has fostered with NPS leadership as well as community members.
When she’s not working at CNMA you’ll likely find her outside. Her favorite activity is backpacking and has logged countless miles over the years, including a one-month expedition with NOLS in Wyoming and clearing trails, with a crosscut saw, while working with the Forest Service in Northern Colorado. She also enjoys rock climbing, skiing, mountain biking, floating down rivers, and napping outside in the sun.
She fell in love with Colorado National Monument during her time as a park guide. The monument offered opportunities for solitude, vistas of red rock canyons with the Bookcliffs in view, and bighorn sheep sightings. Her favorite hike in the monument is No Thoroughfare in the springtime.
John Lintott Operations Manager
John joined CNMA in 2017 and loves being involved with an organization that helps fund and protect the monument. Especially the community engagement with the art events CNMA is able to organize which promote awareness of Colorado National Monument.
John’s other career is as an artist. He paints landscapes in oil and is a member of the Oil Painters of America Group and the Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA). He loves to paint in the monument and notes there is never a shortage of subject matter in Colorado National Monument. There is always something to study; how the light hits the red rock cliffs at different times of day, changing seasons with golden cottonwoods, and snowstorms contrasting against the rock.
He can also be found trail running in the monument, enjoying the trails and finding new subjects for future paintings.
Karen Mahoney Program Coordinator
Karen joined CNMA in September 2022. In her position she enjoys planning events for the community to learn and experience all that the monument has to offer.
In 2009, she moved with her family from California to Grand Junction. She loves spending time with her husband and kids, as well as her four rescue dogs. When she is not planning events for CNMA, she is working as the Office Manager at Grand Junction Economic Partnership. In her free time Karen enjoys being outdoors, paddling, hiking, snow shoeing, or cross-country skiing.
She loves having Colorado National Monument in her backyard. Her favorite trail in the monument is Black Ridge trail, especially in the winter with snowshoes.
Crystal Tyndall Membership and Outreach Coordinator
Crystal joined CNMA in January 2023 and with the Colorado National Monument just outside her front door, she’s thrilled to contribute her skills and experience to the position. Her previous roles within the outdoor industry were focused on customer service, marketing, and outreach; helping to grow relationships, increase capacities, and streamline processes.
She considers herself a public lands enthusiast and has previously worked as a Youth Conservation Crew Leader, Volunteer Trail Crew Leader, Visitor Service Assistant at White Sands NP, and Recreation Aid at the Sandia Ranger District. She moved to Grand Junction in 2019 and is happy to be part of the Grand Valley community. In her spare time, she likes to hike, crochet, and make ceramics.
Her favorite hike in the monument is Echo Canyon.
Camille Jestrovich Sales Associate
Camille joined CNMA in 2016 after retiring as an elementary school teacher. She enjoys meeting visitors, from all parts of the United States and the globe, who are thrilled to be visiting Colorado National Monument. In addition, she likes to research and write articles about the monument’s rich history and wildlife, for the CNMA quarterly newsletter.
She grew up in Grand Junction and spent her childhood summers hiking at Colorado National Monument and working at her family’s amusement park, Guyton’s Fun Junction. Later in life, after spending 17 years in New York City, she moved with her family back to Grand Junction.
She never tires of hiking the many trails at the monument and the surrounding area and enjoys sharing the experience with friends and family. She is especially excited to introduce her new grandson to the wonders of the park and for him to become a Junior Ranger.
Nancy McGuire Sales Associate
Nancy joined CNMA in June 2022 and likes helping park visitors have the best experience possible at Colorado National Monument. She enjoys learning new facts about the monument, working alongside CNMA, NPS, and volunteers, as well as knowing her work is directly helping Colorado National Monument.
After a long career in the special effects pigments industry, Nancy has since retired to Colorado. During her spare time, she is a seasoned amateur astronomer and the current President of the Western Colorado Astronomy Club, leading her to participate in the COLM night sky viewing events and educational outreach events at the Grand Mesa Observatory. Most recently she has become more involved in Dark Sky advocacy and hopes someday everyone in the Grand Valley will be able to view the Milky Way at night. She also loves to write, from articles for the CNMA newsletter and local publications to writing and giving educational astronomy presentations.
Nancy loves the sounds of the ravens, the quiet, and of course the beautiful and majestic bighorn sheep found at Colorado National Monument! Her favorite hike is the Grand View short trail to the Incredible overlook.
Sharon Dixon Office Manager and Buyer
Sharon joined CNMA in March 2022 and finds in her current position she is able to draw upon all her previous work experience. In addition, she enjoys working alongside a great team that is friendly and helpful. Her ability to help in the Visitor Center has been a great asset in gaining knowledge about the monument.
Her love of the outdoors includes skiing, horseback riding, camping, and finding old mines and waterfalls. Even her daily drive up and down the monument is an opportunity to be enjoyed, you never know what you will see or what the weather will be like.
She doesn’t have a favorite hike or viewpoint in the monument just yet, she’s wanting to experience them all before deciding.
Carol Dominguez Sales Associate
Carol joined CNMA in 2014 after retiring and moving to the Grand Valley. She enjoys working at Colorado National Monument because it allows her to help the park and its visitors. The best part is the wonderful place where she gets to work.
Growing up in southern New Mexico, Carol went on to work as a schoolteacher. Later, in 1996 she worked at Black Canyon National Park for 18 years, 10 of which as the WNPA store manager. Currently, she considers herself retired and works at CNMA for fun.
She appreciates the beauty of Colorado National Monument every day with its power to awe, calm, and inspire.
Call or Visit
1750 RIM ROCK DR.
FRUITA, CO 81521
970-858-3617 x307