Resource Central is fortunate to be made up of incredibly talented and creative people whose collective passion for sustainability, conservation and green living makes work fun every single day. Meet our team (and some of our pets) here!
Abel PortilloConservation Associate
303.419.5418
Ali ColbertWater Programs Coordinator - Landscape Programs
303.999.3820 x222 • acolbert@resourcecentral.org
Brandon HillProgram Director, ReSource
303.419.5418 • bhill@resourcecentral.org
Brandon hails from Washington, D.C., and brings his years of experience working in all areas of the supply chain. His interest in sustainability began when he was establishing relationships with farmers and local vendors as the Executive Chef for an award-winning caterer with an emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine. After spending time working in corporate procurement, Brandon relocated to Colorado and joined the Resource Central team via Materials Reuse in March of 2013. He can be found forming relationships with local businesses, homeowners, and contractors, constantly working to expand Resource Central’s inventory of quality materials. An avid woodworker and cabinetmaker, he is always thrilled to speak with our customers about their ideas for reclaimed materials. When he’s not working, he can be found cycling around Boulder, hiking one of its many trails, or just enjoying the great outdoors.
Brian CofranConservation Associate
303.419.5418 • bcofran@resourcecentral.org
Elaine StarksCustomer Service Associate - Water Conservation Programs
303.999.3820 x217 • estarks@resourcecentral.org
Elisabeth BowmanConservation Engagement Manager
303.999.3820 x210 • ebowman@resourcecentral.org
Elisabeth happily joined Resource Central in September 2020. After 15 years of freelance writing and editing, she embarked on a short, but exciting time working for the City of Boulder. There, she discovered her passion for contributing to her community and customer service. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and German from the University of Denver and a master’s from UMass Amherst. Elisabeth’s dedication to conservation is rooted in her Colorado childhood spent camping, hiking , x-country skiing, and exploring —activities she continues to pursue with her husband and dog.
Emily ChilesHealth & Safety Coordinator
303.419.5418 x103
Jackson SunlinDirector of Paw-perations
Jen ScrogginsDirector of Operations & Efficiency
303.999.3820 x211 • jscroggins@resourcecentral.org
Jen is our Director of Operations & Efficiency. Prior to joining Resource Central in November 2014, she led the finance and human resources team at The Dairy Center for the Arts. Jen has a passion for conservation having spent nearly a decade as Associate Director for an environmental nonprofit organization in the Vail Valley. She brings an extensive background in the areas of accounting, IT, human resources and staff management, having worked for large and small organizations in the for profit and nonprofit sectors. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA from Oklahoma State University and has completed post graduate work at Thunderbird School of Global Management. A native of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!), Jen has called Colorado home for almost 20 years. In her spare time she loves being outdoors and enjoys running, biking, hiking, snowboarding, and walks with her dog.
Jenny SteelSocial Marketing Coordinator
303.999.3820 x246 • jsteel@resourcecentral.org
Jenny is Colorado born and Florida raised, returning to her roots after many years. Her childhood was filled with nature walks and frequent visits to plant nurseries due to her parents being avid gardeners. Prior to Resource Central, she worked in both finance and marketing for a local Jacksonville, Florida nonprofit uniquely focused on human trafficking & sustainability. Jenny is thrilled to be a part of the Resource Central team!
Jess GouldWater Programs Coordinator
303.999.3820 x221 • jgould@resourcecentral.org
Jess moved to Colorado in 2018 after graduating from Ohio State University. With a B.S. in Natural Resource Management, she’s worked a wide variety of environmental roles from planting learning gardens to coordinating sustainability efforts in prisons. When first landing in Boulder, Jess continued expressing her love for local food systems and community by working with the Boulder County Farmers Market. Now she continues to explore her new home through hiking and biking, using all that she sees to fuel her inspiration in the workplace. Jess is excited to be sharing her passion for conservation with Resource Central and cannot wait to see the amazing impacts created by this team!
Justin KonicekZero Waste Coordinator
303.419.5418 x102 • jkonicek@resourcecentral.org
Kate LarsonProgram Director, Water & Energy Programs
303.999.3820 x214 • klarson@resourcecentral.org
Kate joined Resource Central in June of 2009. Kate has a Marketing Degree from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Kate has a strong customer service and nonprofit management background. Through her experience she has gained an understanding of how education can empower a community to make sustainable choices. Kate’s passion for water conservation issues has led her to become a Colorado Master Gardener Certificate holder and develop expertise in irrigation auditing. In her spare time she enjoys running, biking, being outside, and spending time with her family.
Kathy CroasdaleRenew Our Schools Program Operations
303.999.3820 x223 • kcroasdale@resourcecentral.org
Kathy joined Resource Central as an intern in 2008. In September 2010, she began leading the ReNew Our Schools program. After teaching environmental and outdoor adventure education, Kathy taught science at the middle school level in the Cherry Creek School District. She earned a degree in Biology from Roanoke College in Virginia and a graduate degree in Environmental Studies through the University of Illinois. In her free time, Kathy likes to be with her family, train for triathlons, run, hike, camp, skate, ski—basically anything outdoors enjoying Colorado!
Kuma Larson
Kyle LatoskiAssistant Manager
303.419.5418
Kyle is a born and raised Colorado native. (Go Broncos!) He began working in construction at the age of 16 and brings 13 years of hands-on expertise and knowledge to ReSource customers. Kyle has extensive experience in a range of trades–including framing, installing doors and windows, full house remodels, roofing, small engine repair, and deconstruction. He is an expert with all major power tools and stays busy with woodworking jobs and side projects when not working at ReSource. In his free time, Kyle enjoys hanging out with his wife, fishing, and camping.
Lauren BrueggemanConservation Associate
303.419.5418
Leah SmithConservation Associate
303.419.5418 • lsmith@resourcecentral.org
Robin AmorusoConservation Associate
303.419.5418 • lamoruso@resourcecentral.org
Liz MarchittoDevelopment Director
303.999.3820 x215 • emarchitto@resourcecentral.org
Liz joined our team in May as Development Director and is eager to bring Resource Central’s mission to new supporters and inspire philanthropic support to help accelerate our goals. She joins us from The Nature Conservancy where she helped raise $100 million over the last 15 years from private donors who are passionate about conservation. After graduating from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin with a BA in International Studies and Japanese, Liz lived in Japan and taught English. Her adventurous spirit has taken her to some of the most beautiful places on the planet throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands, where she realized the interconnected nature of our fragile planet and common human desire to live in a peaceful, thriving, and sustainable world. Liz is a proud Green Bay Packer fanatic, a runner, and a lover of nature. In her free time, you might find her chasing after her two little girls in the park or enjoying some entertainment on the Pearl Street Mall.
Melanie StolpWater Programs Manager
303.999.3820 x225 • mstolp@resourcecentral.org
Melanie is originally from North Carolina and has a Bachelors in Environmental Studies & Sociology/Anthropology from Denison University. After graduating she spent about 5 years working in non-profit organizations specializing in program management. Most recently Melanie completed a Master’s of Science degree in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University and conducted her research in rural Guatemala focusing on indigenous ecosystem management. She enjoys exploring the West through climbing, hiking and camping and jumps on any opportunity to see live music. She is thrilled to be part of the Resource Central team and continue her work in community-based conservation!
Neal LuriePresident & CEO
303.999.3820 x202 • nlurie@resourcecentral.org
Neal is a social entrepreneur with more than 20 years of leadership experience in Fortune 500, nonprofit, and grassroots organizations. As executive director of the nonprofit Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, he played a lead role in increasing solar energy use across the state, growing Colorado into one of the top solar states in the nation. He also served in leadership roles at national, state, and local nonprofits. Previously, he developed the vision and support to build the US 36 Bikeway, an 18-mile bike path from Boulder to Westminster. Neal received his MBA from CU’s Leeds School of Business and is a veteran of ten political campaigns. He enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and playing guitar.
Neka SunlinSenior Program Coordinator
303.999.3820 X212 • nsunlin@resourcecentral.org
Neka joined Resource Central in 2016, bringing her professionalism and expertise to the Slow the Flow program from several different, unique fields. After receiving her BS in Marine Sciences from Texas A&M University, she worked as a biologist at a large aquarium, caring for many species of marine animals including fish, penguins and seals. Her technical background includes work at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory where she trained astronauts to assemble the International Space Station. In addition to her passion for wildlife and the environment, she is a self-proclaimed Dallas Cowboys fan. And while Texas is her home state, Neka has enthusiastically embraced Colorado, for it’s breathtaking scenery and culture that encourages an active lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, snowshoeing, and hiking with her dog.
Phebe TaylorSenior Program Coordinator
303.999.3820 x236 • ptaylor@resourcecentral.org
Phebe is an east coast transplant with a Bachelors in Psychology and Art from Bucknell University. She then went on to pursue her massage therapist certification from Boulder College of Massage Therapy. Phebe most recently worked on local organic farms but also brings operations and project management experience from her 5+ years working for a local insurance company. You can find Phebe hiking, climbing, practicing martial arts, learning about plants and sewing. She is excited to work at Resource Central to collaborate with other passionate do-ers, partner with the local community and steward our valuable resources.
Rachel BernsteinProgram Manager, Renew Our Schools
303.999.3820 x226 • rbernstein@resourcecentral.org
Rachel joined Resource Central in May of 2020 and is very excited to lead the Renew Our Schools program. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rachel began her career at Accenture but returned to school before too long, earning her Masters in Secondary Education from Northwestern University. Rachel has spent most of her career in education including teaching high school and directing internship abroad programs. Even for a lifelong midwesterner, the call of the mountains was hard to resist. In the summer of 2018, Rachel and her family moved from Chicago to the Boulder area to embrace the Colorado lifestyle. After completing the University of Colorado’s Corporate Social Responsibility certificate program Rachel was ready to jump into a new chapter of her career and is thrilled to be a part of the Resource Central team. Outside of work, Rachel loves to explore new hiking trails with her family, ski as many days as possible, and recharge in the Colorado sunshine.
Robert HolmesConservation Associate
303.419.5418 • rholmes@resourcecentral.org
Tara B. WengerBusiness Manager
303.999.3820 x219 • twenger@resourcecentral.org
After graduating with her B.S. in Theatre Arts and a minor in Art from the University of Oregon, Tara went on to utilize her management skills at the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene, Oregon as the Venue Coordinator for their concert hall and music school facility. She then moved to Seattle and managed the office at Artech Fine Art Services. Tara is a Colorado native, and missed her family, so in 2011 moved back to her home state where she went from a project manager for a graphic design boutique in the RiNo District, to business managing for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She loves camping and cars that scare rocks, is passionate about the practice of yoga and loves dogs and music! It is an honor for her to be a part of, and support, such a dynamic and creative team here at Resource Central.
Xavi MoralesConservation Associate
303.419.5418 • xmorales@resourcecentral.org
Zak LanceWater Programs Manager
303.999.3820 x213 • zlance@resourcecentral.org
Zak joined the Resource Central team in early 2020 and is excited to expand the Lawn Removal program. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver. He’s energized by connecting communities to their environment and creating programs that help people reduce their impact. Zak’s experience includes creating authentic partnerships to implement river restoration and up-cycling projects, inventorying Boulder’s trail network to effectively deploy resources, increasing access to local food to build more equitable food systems, and preventing the spread of invasive species by overseeing a watercraft decontamination facility. You’ll find Zak skiing, mountain biking, backpacking, or gardening in his spare time.
