BOARD MEMBERS
Board Officers
Bill Simon, IDSA
President
Bill is President and Chief Creative Officer of Symbion Design (www.SymbionDesign.com); a website and graphic design firm providing design/marketing services to businesses and non-profits in the Roaring Fork Valley. He has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from California State University, Long Beach. A California native, he moved to the Aspen area in 1999. Active in the local community, Bill is currently on the Board of Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL), The Buddy Program, and a member of the Basalt Green Team. He participates as a mentor with The Buddy Program, a Process Coach with Roaring Fork Leadership, and volunteers with the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, 10 Best Chefs.
Bill's mission as an AYPA Board Member: As a design professional, provide creative and technical support to the organization, making AYPA a catalyst to young professionals in Aspen - providing professional and social networking opportunities.
Jesse Diianni
Vice President
Jesse DiIanni is a Financial Advisor at DiIanni & Associates, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management in Aspen. Prior to joining DiIanni & Associates as a Financial Advisor, Jesse was a Project Manager for the Global Investment Management division of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. Jesse was a key team member in the merger integration of John Hancock with Manulife Financial. Jesse was most recently a Director at Veson Nautical Corp., which provides chartering, operations, trading, and accounting software solutions to maritime commerce organizations throughout the world. Jesse moved to Aspen in the fall of 2008 from Boston, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Management Information Systems from the University of Vermont. Jesse enjoys all the outdoor activities Aspen has to offer.
Sam Ferguson
Treasurer
Professional Skier. Hometown: Hanford, CA. Hospitality Administration, Bachelor of Science. Missouri State, 1996 June 11, 1995, a freak mountain bike crash causing paralysis in lower extremities. February 12, 1996, first disabled ski lesson captured on Good Morning, America. An event that re-established the confidence and self-esteem to once again begin setting goals and believing in dreams. Level One Adaptive Certified Ski Instructor, March 1997 Reservationist of the Year, "Hospitality Industry," May 1997 Ride the Rockies, participant - 1997 Disabled Division Champion, Aspen Highlands Town Race Series, 1998-2000 Sportsman of the Year, Aspen Highlands Town Race Series, 1998 Ski Doctors of Aspen, Assistant Instructor to John Clendenan/Wayne Wong in mogul clinic, 1999-2000 USSA Disabled Alpine Ski Racing Circuit, nationally ranked, 1999-2000 Most memorable finish, 3rd in GS at Winterpark 24 Hours Of Aspen, fore-runner 2000-2002
Virginia Frischkorn
Secretary
Virginia is a Catering Sales Manager at The Little Nell where she plans events for The Little Nell and the venues on top of Aspen Mountain. Virginia moved to Aspen in the Fall of 2006 after graduating from the University of Virginia with a double major in Psychology and Art History. Virginia loves skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, traveling (whenever she can) and strolling around the Farmers Market.
Virginia's mission as an AYPA board member: To find new ways to inspire the young community in Aspen...and also to continue to encourage Aspen businesses to work together to create a very close working community.
Board Chairs
Chris Bryan
Governance Committee Chair
Chris Bryan is an attorney at Garfield & Hecht, P.C., a full-service law firm based in Aspen, where he specializes in civil and commercial litigation. His law practice includes extensive work in numerous trial and appellate courts of Colorado, as well as U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Chris graduated magna cum laude from Baylor University with a B.A. in 1999, and earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He has lived in the Aspen area since 2003. Chris is the former chair of the Colorado Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and has served on the Board of Governors and Executive Council for the Colorado Bar Association.
Catherine Kuchar
Membership Chair
Catherine currently works as Sales & Event Assistant at Aspen Peak Magazine, Aspen’s premier luxury lifestyle publication. She moved to Aspen from Asheville, North Carolina and graduated from Stetson University in Deland, Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management. She is active in the local toastmasters club, volunteers for trail clean ups and loves to take advantage of everything Aspen has to offer.
Catherine’s mission as an AYPA member: To inspire young professionals in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley to further their career aspirations and plug into the professional community.
Vanessa Adam
Events Chair
Vanessa Adam is the Event Manager for Mountain Groove Productions, Inc., the Aspen-based event production company that provides cultural, culinary, sporting, and music events throughout the Valley. Vanessa and her team organize various extraordinary events in Snowmass Village, concerts at Wheeler Opera House, Bluegrass Sundays atop Aspen Mountain, and more. Vanessa moved to the Aspen area in the fall of 2003 from Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications. Vanessa enjoys all the outdoor activities Aspen has to offer. She loves skiing, biking, hiking, yoga and traveling the world with her husband.
Vanessa’s AYPA Mission Statement: To facilitate and encourage an environment where young professionals in the valley can learn from each other through networking, social events, and engaging themselves in the community.
Cindy Hirschfeld
Public Relations Chair
Cindy is the marketing and PR manager for Challenge Aspen, the Snowmass Village based non-profit providing year-round recreational, cultural, and competitive programs for people with disabilities. Also a freelance writer and editor , Cindy has been able to combine her passion for writing, snowsports, and the mountains in both career and lifestyle. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Town and Country, the Rocky Mountain News, Skiing, Ski, Powder, Ski Press, and Backcountry. She is also the author of the guidebook Canine Colorado: Where to Go and What to Do with Your Dog. Cindy has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College. In addition to AYPA, she also serves on the board of Aspen Film and on the marketing committee of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, and has volunteered for the Buddy Program, the Aspen Writers' Foundation, and the Wheeler Opera House.
Cindy's mission as an AYPA board member: To create additional networking, socializing, and career development opportunities for young professionals in the area and to expand AYPA's reach throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.
Brian Overbo
Sponsorship Chair
Brian is a Registered Representative with Raymond James Financial Services in Aspen. He was raised in North Dakota and originally moved to Aspen in 1998. He moved to Boulder in 2001 to attend the University of Colorado, where he received a Bachelor of Finance. Before moving back to the valley, Brian was a variable annuity wholesaler for Jackson National in Denver. He lives in Aspen with his wife, Dawnette, who is a real estate agent for Stirling Homes, Inc.
Brian's mission as an AYPA board member: To contribute to the continued growth of an organization in which young professionals that are passionate about Aspen can interact and share ideas on a regular basis.
Bryan Erickson
Website Chair
Bryan is a Consultant with LAN Crew Colorado, Inc. (www.thelancrew.com) which provides computer and technology related services, support, and consulting to businesses and residents of the Roaring Fork Valley. He moved to the Valley from the Black Hills of South Dakota in the summer of 2004. Bryan has a Bachelor of Science degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He is an avid mountain biker and loves to snowboard.
Bryan's mission as an AYPA Board Member: To help provide an atmosphere where young professionals can be involved in the local community.
Additional Board Members (in alphabetical order)
Dave Fuentes
Dave is currently managing the administrative and financial operations for Aspen Youth Experience, a local non profit. Dave understands that quality time spent with our youth is critical to their future success. He also believes that building positive relationships with our youth and our peers is a necessary requirement for building a satisfying and sustainable community. To this end, Dave is also member of Mountain Rescue Aspen, and volunteers with Aspen Junior Golf and the Food & Wine Classic as well coaching youth basketball, baseball and soccer.
Dave's mission as an AYPA Board member: Dave would like to see AYPA provide an opportunity for members to enhance their professional skills and be inspired to help make Aspen a better place to live and work.
Eric Fullerton, MBA
When he is not enjoying the outdoors, Eric is usually doing some form of Internet marketing (Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, e-Commerce, blogging, or website development). He is the President of Marketing Stimulus and consults with a variety local and internationally based businesses to grow their on-line presence. He serves on several local non-profit boards and community volunteer groups including Roaring Fork Leadership and Toastmasters and enjoys learning and enhancing new leadership skills. Eric is also an avid world traveler and has a secret recipe for how to prepare Spam - a tasty treat.
Eric's mission as an AYPA Board Member: To be a catalyst for growth, networking, and fun for Aspen and Roaring Fork Valley professionals.
Jessica Garrow, AICP
Jessica is the Long Range Planner for the City of Aspen, working on long-term growth and development policies and on the Aspen Area Community Plan. Jessica was raised in Colorado, and graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a degree in Political Science and Philosophy. Jessica obtained a Masters in City & Regional Planning from The Ohio State University in 2006 and returned to Colorado to take a position as a Planner for the City of Aspen. Jessica lives in Carbondale and enjoys backpacking, hiking, and camping.
Jessica's mission as an AYPA Board Member: To provide an opportunity for young professionals throughout the Roaring Fork Valley to enhance their professional development, meet new people, and be exposed to new ideas.
Mike Jahn
Mike is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Clear Path Technical Solutions (www.ClearPathTech.com), a local Aspen IT Consulting and computer support company. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Boulder (CU). Mike moved to Aspen in 2007, but has visited regularly for over 30 years, especially during his 10 years living in Boulder and Denver. Mike founded the Aspen Buffs alumni group for the CU Alumni Association in Aspen, and the ZG-IT group for IT professionals in the Roaring Fork Valley. He is also a Ski Instructor at Buttermilk, and serves as a local volunteer: coaching for Aspen Junior Hockey, at Aspen Community Church, the Wheeler Opera House, and for the Food & Wine Classic.
Mike's mission as an AYPA board member: to build on the tradition of bringing quality networking and social events to Aspen's young professionals, to promote leadership opportunities, and to find new ways for AYPA to serve the community.
Natasha Long
Natasha currently works as Events and Sponsorship Director for The Buddy Program, a local non profit that connects mentors and youth to enrich their lives, and provides support services for both the youth and their families. She moved to Aspen from London, England where she worked in Foreign Language Rights within the Children's Book Publishing Industry, managing sales to the United States, Germany and Japan, as well as Africa and the Middle East. She graduated from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a focus on Latin America.
Natasha's mission as an AYPA board member: to inspire young professionals throughout the valley to stay informed and connected through networking events and community programs.
Joanna Mills
Joanna does marketing and business development for local Aspen based businesses, as well as those with a national and international reach. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University's School of Business and attended the New York School of Interior Design. Before moving to Aspen, Joanna spent over 10 years in financial services in New York City. Joanna loves the outdoors and all Aspen has to offer. She is a part-time Level 2 ski instructor at Snowmass and in addition to AYPA, volunteers for the Aspen based Chris Klug Foundation’s Donor Dudes program, a national grassroots, high school and college campus youth outreach program.
Joanna’s mission as an AYPA board member: To bring together the diverse and fun young professionals in our community in order to learn from one another and through the process grow as individuals.
Mark Ronay
Mark was born and raised in Aspen and is currently a broker with Aspen Real Estate Company and sits on the board for the Aspen Board of Realtors. He enjoys the mountain lifestyle that the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer. Hiking, skiing, cycling and golf are a few of his favorite things to do. Mark believes the best way to enjoy your community is to volunteer, get involved and make a difference.
Chelsea VanVleet
Chelsea works as a PR consultant for local businesses and previously worked in PR for Promo Communications, a boutique public relations firm in Aspen. Chelsea has lived in Aspen for three years but has been coming to Aspen for a long time and absolutely loves everything it has to offer. She loves to ski, hike, mountain and road bike, rock climb, and travel around the world. Chelsea's love for traveling has allowed her to work on many different volunteer projects in Kenya, India, Vietnam, Venezuela and many others. She used to live in Brazil and is fluent in Portuguese. Chelsea received a marketing degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT and also spent a semester studying on a floating university called Semester At Sea.
Chelsea's mission as an AYPA member: To create a community that continues to be based on the original Aspen Values of Mind, Body and spirit through educational and business development. Aspen has been considered a think tank for professionals and being an AYPA member is a means to meet and share ideas with many professionals.
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