Board of Directors & Staff

Our Friends group is one of about 200 across the nation that supports local national wildlife refuges. Our supporters come from all walks of life to enjoy and promote our refuges. Our supporters also have access to training and networking offered through national conferences for friends groups.

Our group is led by a board of directors with diverse environmental, educational, business and community expertise. Our board members include:

• René Bullock, President
• Loretta Pineda, Vice President
• Rachel Hutchens, Secretary, Executive Director at Bluff Lake Nature Center
• James Jacobs, Treasurer, Higher Education Policy at Colorado Mesa
• Carolyn Boller, Retired
• Maria Carabajal, Events Committee Chair, Public Relations at South Adams County Fire Protection District
• Gary Beasley, Professional Field Interviewer
• Sean Ford, At Large City Councilmember for Commerce City
• David Pocs, Events Committee, LPL Financial Advisor
• Rick Davis, At Large City Councilmember for Commerce City
• Kyli Kehler, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
• Jennifer Watson, Elephant PR
• Christopher Urias, Trust for Public Lands

FFRWR Staff:

• Kim Lopez, Volunteer Coordinator
• Niall Goard, Youth Council Coordinator and Interim Nature’s Nest Coordinator
• Kate Kramer

Volunteer of the Year Award

Every year FFRWR board of directors gives the FFRWR Volunteer of the Year award. The award goes to a volunteer from Nature’s Nest or the FFRWR Board of Directors for generous and long-time service. Congratulations to all the honorees!

2015: Carolyn Boller
2016: Betty Pepin
2017: Diane Buell
2017: Reba Drotar
2018: Gary Beasley
2019: Barb Weiss
2020: Bruce Hastings
2021: Bill Marsh

2022: Rene Bullock