Board Of Directors
Chris Rieder
President
Health Sector
Chris is the Program Director of Mind Springs Health in Eagle County. He grew up near Chicago and went on to attend Colorado State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in 2004. Chris spent a couple years as a snowboard instructor and whitewater raft guide in the Eagle River Valley, before continuing his education at the University of Denver. There he received his Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). He has
Craig Westering
Vice President
Law Enforcement Sector
Craig Westering has been in law enforcement since 2005. Like many Vail Valley transplants, he came for “just a year” and has been here for 23 years and counting. Craig earned his bachelor’s in education and youth ministry in Chicago. A friend encouraged Craig to pursue a law enforcement career at that time, with the promise of merging his passion for helping people and his innate ability to see the best in everyone, even at their worst.
Valentina Garcia-Gerdes
Secretary
Education Sector
Valentina Garcia-Gerdes is filled with passion for children, nature, cultural diversity and community. Her family immigrated to the United States from Venezuela in 1980 and she spent her younger years in Bloomington, Indiana and Eden Prairie, Minnesota before moving to Colorado in 1996 to attend Western Colorado University in Gunnison.
Kevin Armitage
Treasurer
Business Sector
Kevin is the Director of Residential Construction Lending for NBH Bank, a Bank Holding company that operates retail banks in five states in including in Colorado as Community Banks of Colorado. Kevin has spent his entire banking career in Eagle County beginning in 1999. Kevin obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from Miami University in Ohio and graduated from The Graduate +++ read more
Lula Sandoval
Finance Sector
Lula moved to the Vail Valley from Mexico 23 years ago and she lives in Eagle with her husband and two kids. Lula found her desire to work with the youth in our community while being a coordinator for the youth group at St.Clare of Assisi Parish and is still an active volunteer. She is an Operations Officer for the Vail Valley Region at Alpine Bank. This has given her the opportunity to work as a hiring manager with the valley’s CareerWise Apprenticeship program for over 5 years +++ read more
Alex Bratschie
Health Sector
Alexandra Bratschie is a local Certified Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience who loves to call the mountains of Colorado her home. She received her Master of Science from Georgetown University, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Johns Hopkins and her undergraduate degree in Integrative Physiology and Women’s Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. +++ read more
Paige Asbury
Youth Sector
Paige joined the board in 2024. A student at Battle Mountain High School, she competes in Ski Race while also playing tennis for Vail Christian High School. In her free time she likes to read and stay active on the mountain and in the water. She has a twin and a dog named Zoe at home, and has lived in Vail for almost 4 years. When she's not busy with school and sports, Paige also works for Education Foundation of Eagle County.
Caspian Covarrubias-Walker
Youth Sector
Caspian join the board in 2024. He was born in Atlanta and moved to our beautiful community when he was 3 years old. He comes from a multicultural family and loves to spend time practicing Spanish with his cousins in Chile.
Abby Wiens
Education Sector
I moved to Colorado in 1998 and have enjoyed living in small mountain towns ever since. I was a Middle School Art teacher for 13 years in Gunnison and the Vail Valley. I pursued my Principal License when I realized that my passion and dedication for public education could reach a greater impact in an administrative role. This is my third year as Assistant Principal for Eagle Valley High School in Gypsum. I am very passionate about my work as an administrator in helping create a positive school culture in which all students feel a sense +++ read more
Megan Vogt
Mental Health & LGBTQ Sector
Megan opened Megan Vogt Counseling in 2019 with a special focus on mental health for adolescent, LGBTQ+, and maternal populations. Prior to starting her private practice, Megan was the school-based mental health counselor for Mind Springs Health. The Colorado native has a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Pacific University and her Bachelors in English Literature and Women's Studies from Colorado State University. Beyond the office, +++ read more
Dustin Oakley
Law Enforcement Sector
Dustin Oakley has been in Law Enforcement for 3 years in Colorado and 1 Year in North Idaho. He was a security officer in a middle school in Colorado Springs for 3 years. He enjoys all things outdoors; camping, hiking. He also played sports all throughout high school. While Deputy Oakley has been with Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, he has found his niche in traffic safety. He is an instructor in 3 topics for the Sheriff’s Office and is working on his 4th. He has recently stepped into the role of School Resource Officer for Eagle County Schools in 2021.
Tom Pohl
Community Sector
Tom fell in love with the Vail Valley while visiting on family vacations as a kid and moved here after college. Tom is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder – Leeds School of Business as well as the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law. His passion for helping the local community led him to open his law practice with his father in 2007 with a focus on estate planning, tax, real estate, and business. +++ read more
Joel Barndt
Business Sector
Joel Barndt is a Vice President with FirstBank in Eagle County. He moved to Vail in 2014 after graduating from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT with his B.S. in Business Management and minors in Economics and Organizational Leadership. He is currently attending the Graduate School of Banking on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. He has previously served as a board member for the Red Ribbon Project and is currently working as a volunteer coach for the Vail Valley Eagles Basketball Club.
Victor Lopez
Youth Sector
Bio Coming Soon