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:

• • Loretta Pineda, President
  • Gary Beasley, Vice President
  • Rachel Hutchens, Secretary
  • James Jacobs, Treasurer
  • Carolyn Boller, Retired
  • Maria Carabajal, Events Committee Chair, Public Relations at South Adams County Fire Protection District
  • Sean Ford, At Large City Councilmember for Commerce City
  • Susan Noble, Councilmember for Commerce City
  • Rocky Teter, Councilmember for Commerce City
  • David Pocs, Events Committee, LPL Financial Advisor
  • Kyli Kehler, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
  • Jennifer Watson, Elephant PR
  • Christopher Urias, Trust for Public Lands
  • René Bullock, Commerce City Chamber of Commerce
  • Michelle Suebert, Manager Cherry Creek State Park
  • Jack Markovich, Senior Accountant at Denver Zoological Foundation

FFRWR Staff:

• Vanessa Thurk, General Manager
• Kim Lopez, Volunteer Coordinator
• Lori Torikai, Nature’s Nest Coordinator
• Kate Kramer, Manager of Generation Wild NEMC

 

Volunteer of the Year Award

Congratulations to our 2023 Volunteer of the Year, Maria Carabajal!

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