Board of Directors & Staff

Standing from left to right:  Rona Fischer, Carbondale Insurance Service, Inc.; Steve Martin, Steve Martin Insurance/New York Life; Jeff Hale, Aspen Earthmoving; Annie Bickley, Land Title Guarantee; Pat Curry, Blue Tent Marketing; John Foulkrod, Town of Carbondale Liaison; Bill Hofto, William J. Hofto, CPA; Bob Pazik, Roaring Fork Family Physicians; Randi Lowenthal, Executive Director, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.  Seated from left to right:  Farrah Roberts, Alpine Bank; Andrea Porter, Glenwood Springs Post Independent/The Valley Journal; Judy Haptonstall, Roaring Fork School District; Vicki Peterson, Ace Hardware of Carbondale.  Not pictured: Steve Walters, Peak Party Rentals, LLC; Rosie Wettstein, Main Street Spirits.

Vicki Peterson, President

Vicki has been in the retail business for over 35 years, over 22 in retail hardware.  She bought Alpine Hardware from her parents in 1993, and she opened Ace Hardware of Carbondale in 1998.  Both stores have won numerous awards from Ace as a result of her passion for customer service.  She and her partners have recently expanded into Grand Junction, purchasing an existing store, Ace Hardware of Clifton in January 2006 and will open Ace Hardware on the Redlands in the spring of 2007.  She has served on two of Ace Hardware Corporation's boards, the User Advisory Committee (four years), and the Executive Dealer Group (eight years).  She was a presenter for Retailer to Retailer, a group of retailers who brought Ace's message to under-performing stores.  She has started two groups:  the Mountain Ace Team, a best practices group that she has chaired for 15 years, and the Rockies Performance Group, a financial performance group.  Vicki has been a Rotarian since 1998 and is currently on the Board of Aspen Glen Rotary.  She served as the co-chair of the Economic Roadmap Group (RMG) formed by the Carbondale Board of Trustees in 2004 to create an Economic Development Strategy for Carbondale.  She has served on the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Board since January 2003.  Vicki was raised in Aspen and has lived in Carbondale for 27 years.  Her son, Vance, was raised here and is now a graduate student at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.  Her husband and partner of 4 years, Chris, works closely with her in their business.  They enjoy working, skiing, golfing and traveling together.  They have three toy poodles (Enough-13, Again-7, and Too Much-4).

Ace Hardware of Carbondale
1011 Main Street
Carbondale, CO 81623
P: (970) 963-6663
F: (970) 963-6664
chrisandvicki@sopris.net


Bob Pazik, Vice President

Bob has been in the health care management business for 20 years; he is the Administrator of Roaring Fork Family Physicians, located in Carbondale and Basalt.  He received a Masters of Science degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and has been involved in hospital administration and the management of medical groups.  He served for three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger.  He has been a member of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce Board since January 2003.  He has served on the Chamber Executive Committee as Treasurer (2004), Secretary (2005-2006), and Vice President (2007-2008); he is also the Chamber Board liaison to the Tourism Council.

Roaring Fork Family Physicians
1340 Highway 133
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-3561
F:  (970) 963-2958
rffp@vvh.org


Ann Bickley, Secretary

Annie is currently a closer for Land Title in their Glenwood Springs office.  She has worked in the title insurance industry for 19 years, including record searching, examining, title production, construction, accounts receivable, correspondence, and residential and commercial closings; Aspen Chateaux Condominium Rentals (now Coates, Reid & Waldron/Resort Quest), for 5½ years as front desk and reservations manager, maintenance and housekeeping coordination; and Federal Home Loan Bank and Founders Mutual Funds for 4 years in full service bookkeeping.  She has a Bachelor of Arts degree with economics major from Smith College, Northampton, MA.  Annie has three adult children, regularly sings with the Aspen Choral Society and is a White River National Forest Volunteer Wilderness Ranger.

Land Title Guarantee Company
1317 Grand Avenue #200
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
P:  (970) 945-2610
F:  (970) 945-4784
abickley@ltgc.com


Bill Hofto, Treasurer

Bill is a Certified Public Accountant with 30 years of experience in both public and private accounting.  The past 13 years have been in public practice in Aspen and Carbondale.  He has also served as Controller for a diverse number of businesses including retail, manufacturing, service, and non-profit.  Bill has experience teaching accounting and spreadsheeting at the college level and has led two of the Chamber's Business Workshop series.  He is also a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor.  Bill has served on the Chamber Board since January 2003 as Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee, and has also been on the Chamber Posse.  He and his wife Patti reside in Carbondale and have four adult children.

William J Hofto, CPA
681 Surrey Road
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-8981
F:  (970) 963-8982
hofto@sopris.net


Andrea Porter, Membership Education Committee Co-chair

Andrea grew up in Wisconsin and received her degree from the School of Business in Marketing, from the University of Wisconsin.  She moved to Colorado in May 1997 and worked as a sales manager for a group of radio stations.  In 1998, she moved to the Glenwood Independent as an advertising manager.  In 2000, Andrea accepted the position of Advertising Director of the Garfield Region, which consisted of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Carbondale Valley Journal and Rifle Citizen Telegram.  From April 2001 to February 2006, Andrea became the Advertising Director/Associate Publisher of the Vail Daily, and then moved back to the Glenwood Springs Post Independent as Publisher.  Andrea met her husband Christopher in 1998 and they married in 2000.  They have four children and operate Anderson Camps, a summer camp for children.

Glenwood Springs Post Independent/The Valley Journal
2014 Grand Avenue
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
P:  (970) 945-8515
F:  (970) 945-4487
aporter@postindependent.com


Farrah Roberts, Taste of Spring Co-chair

Farrah has worked for Alpine Bank for thirteen years and is the Vice President of the Carbondale location, working primarily in the loan department.  Farrah has lived in the valley for 27years and has 2 children.  She has served on the Blue Lake Preschool Board in numerous capacities for six years.  She is also the Vice President of the Board for the Roaring Fork Public Education Foundation, and also serves on the Basalt Elementary Accountability Committee.

Alpine Bank
0350 Highway 133
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 704-3102
F:  (970) 963-9116
farrahroberts@alpinebank.com


John Foulkrod, Town of Carbondale Liaison
C'dale LLC
P.O. Box 1911
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-3003
F:  (970) 963-0416
johngeorgia@sopris.net


Judy Haptonstall, Public/Private Education Committee Chair

Before accepting the position as Superintendent of the Roaring Fork School District in June 2006, Judy spent 10 years as a classroom teacher in Rifle elementary and middle schools; three years as assistant principal of Basalt elementary/middle schools; five years as principal of Basalt Middle School; and 10 years as Assistant Superintendent of the Roaring Fork School District.  Awards include: 1986 Rural Teacher of the Year in Colorado; "Governor's Excellence in Education Award" in 1992; Garfield County Humanitarian Award in 1998; and Colorado Council of the International Reading Assocation Administrator of the Year for Reading Instruction in 2001.  Judy received a B.A. in Middle School Education from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley in 1978 and a M.A. in Secondary Administration from Western Slope College, Gunnison in 1986.

Roaring Fork School District
1405 Grand Avenue
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
P:  (970) 384-6001
F:  (970) 384-6005
jhaptonstall@rfsd.k12.co.us


Pat Curry, Marketing Committee Co-chair

Pat is a founder and CEO of Blue Tent Marketing.  Blue Tent Marketing enables small to medium sized companies implement Internet Marketing Strategies.  Blue Tent provides web design and deployment, a wide range of e-marketing services and strategic consulting.  Blue Tent has expanded to represent more than 300 companies throughout Continental North America.  Prior to starting Blue Tent, Pat was President of First Resort Software, Inc. then a wholly owned subsidiary of Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET).  He has been in the Resort Software Industry for over 20 years, the majority of that time was spent founding and growing First Resort Software, Inc.  His tenure at First Resort ended with a successful sale of the company in an IPO under the name of ResortQuest International, Inc.  He subsequently worked on the acquisition team for RQI that resulted in the acquisition of 17 resort companies in 18 months.  He participated with varying roles with RQI until it was successfully sold to Gaylord Entertainment.  Pat received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Washington University, St. Louis, MO.  He currently resides full-time in Carbondale.

Blue Tent Marketing
218 East Valley Road, Suite 205
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 704-3240
F:  (970) 704-3279
pat@bluetent.com


Rona Fischer, Leads/Business Networking Group Co-chair

Rona has been the owner of Carbondale Insurance Service, Inc. since 1990.  She has been on the Mount Sopris Montessori board of directors for 3 years, an Elks member in Glenwood Springs, and volunteer for many fundraisers and community volunteer work programs.  She is an advisory BBB member.

Carbondale Insurance Service, Inc.
P.O. Box 459
502 Main Street, #101
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-2399
F:  (970) 963-3929
cis@rof.net


Rosie Wettstein, Downtown Liaison

Rosie was born and raised in Aspen and has spent most of her life in the valley.  She went to school in Aspen, then spent one year in college before continuing her education in Europe.  She is fluent in four languages and has owned and operated several small businesses.  Rosie currently owns and operates Main Street Spirits in downtown Carbondale.

Main Street Spirits
389 Main Street
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-2767
F:  (970) 963-2767
wildrosecatering@hotmail.com


Steve Martin, Membership Committee Co-chair

Steve lived in Cincinnati, OH for almost 25 years before he moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1979.  He managed the Snowmass Conference Center from 1985-1996 and then he became the New York Life/Steve Martin Insurance agent/owner.  Steve has been active in the Aspen Buddy program for 11 years; the Little League Board as a member-coach for 8 years; and as the founder of the Roaring Fork Youth Baseball Camps 10 years ago.  Steve has been married to Janice Martin for over 10 years.

Steve Martin Insurance/New York Life
995 Cowen Drive, Suite 202
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-6161
F:  (970) 963-4331
stmartin@ft.newyorklife.com


Stephen F. Walters, Membership Committee Co-chair

Steve has 24 years of General Management, Business Development and Finance experience in both the large corporate and small business environments.  He has hands on expertise in start-up business planning, sales and marketing, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations and executive management.  Steve has also held business development, marketing and general management roles with ICG Communications, AT&T Wireless and Jones Intercable in the telecommunications industry.  Steve also has over seven years in investment banking and several years as an entrepreneur having had two businesses of his own.  Prior to earning his graduate degree, Steve worked for a civil engineering consulting firm as a project engineer responsible for designing and managing various engineering projects.  Steve's formal education includes an M.B.A. in Finance from NYUY's Stern School of Business and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Union College, NY.  He also maintained a Series 7 license during his investment banking tenure.

Peak Party Rentals
7025 Highway 82, Building C
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
P:  (970) 928-7325
F:  (970) 928-7326
steve@peakrental.com

      Chamber Staff    

Left to right:  Milene Ribas, Marketing & Tourism; Randi Lowenthal, Executive Director; Charla Combest, Membership; Pamela Eppler, Communications & Operations.

Randi Lowenthal, Executive Director

Randi arrived at the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce in June 2003 after spending some time at the Rocky Mountain Institute and The Aspen Institute.  Prior to her arrival in the Roaring Fork Valley in October 2000, she spent over 25 years in management positions with professional service organizations, primarily law firms in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City.  Randi also spent significant time consulting for a variety of non-profit organizations.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Mountain College Foundation and on the Valley View Hospital Foundation Community Relations Team.

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1645
981 Cowen Drive, Suite C
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-1890
F:  (970) 963-4719
randi@carbondale.com


Pamela Eppler, Communications & Operations

Pamela is originally from Perthshire, Scotland and has been in the Roaring Fork Valley since December 2000.  She graduated from the University of Dundee in 1998 with a degree in Geography.

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1645
981 Cowen Drive, Suite C
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-1890
F:  (970) 963-4719
pamela@carbondale.com

Milene Ribas, Marketing & Tourism

Milene is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and a Colorado resident for over three years working with Vail Corporation.  Milene graduated from FACHA University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2000 with a degree in Social Communications and Advertising.  Her background includes marketing and customer service.

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1645
981 Cowen Drive, Suite C
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-1890
F:  (970) 963-4719
milene@carbondale.com


Charla Combest, Membership

Charla has been in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2000 and is originally from Hawaii, via the Front Range.

Carbondale Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1645
981 Cowen Drive, Suite C
Carbondale, CO 81623
P:  (970) 963-1890
F:  (970) 963-4719
membership@carbondale.com