Staff and Board

In her most recent role as Event and Development Manager at Colorado Preservation, Inc. (CPI), Nicole was instrumental in planning and executing a range of successful education and fundraising events. Her responsibilities included managing membership programs, soliciting major gifts, grant writing, and overseeing communication plans. Notable achievements include securing significant grants and expanding the donor base, contributing to the organization’s overall success.

As President of Ideas Amplified, Inc., Nicole served as a project-based consultant, providing expertise in areas such as appraisal, land use, historic preservation, economic development, and graphic design. She has worked with a diverse range of clients, including the National Park Service, Urban Neighborhoods, Inc., the Federal Boulevard Partnership, and the Colorado Department of Transportation, among others.

During her tenure as Executive Director of the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund (GRPF), Nicole played a pivotal role in expanding programming, creating more access leveraging a robust volunteer program, and revenue through collaboration and strategic partnerships. She successfully secured grants from local, state, and national foundations and implemented mechanisms to increase earned income, contributing to the organization’s financial stability.

Nicole’s leadership experience also extends to the business sector, where she served as Managing Partner of r + d Wine Shop, LLC, overseeing strategic planning and operations. Her business acumen and strategic thinking were key factors in the success of the boutique wine shop, which garnered recognition as 5280’s Top of the Town Wine Shop.

Nicole holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s degree in U.S. History from the University of Colorado. A Colorado native, Nicole is deeply connected to her community and is passionate about community planning and placemaking. In her free time, she enjoys running, yoga, reading, birdwatching, and spending quality time with her family and furry friend, Bowie Bopp.

Kate is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, but her love for the ocean took her to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. There, Kate interned with  Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, where she learned, “You haven’t lived until you’ve bleached an ENTIRE puffin exhibit and shoveled polar bear poop!“ Kate has a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science-Biology and a Master’s in Nonprofit Business Management. In 2012, she joined Denver Audubon and loves getting our message out into the community. She currently lives in Parker with her husband Bryan, daughters Caitlyn and Danielle, and son Luke.

Kieran’s background is in conservation and science education, including ornithological research in the Florida Everglades and habitat restoration in the Sierra Nevada. Kieran has a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s degree in education. As a teacher, he shared his love of nature and science with children from pre-K to high school through hands on, real-life experiences. He believes that nature has endless lessons to teach us, and strives to create opportunities for all people to participate in the outdoors.

Kristen taught in Ohio, Philadelphia, and San Francisco before finding her true home here in Denver. She has a degree in Environmental Education and a passion for science and youth development. She has taught both in the classroom and outdoors as a middle school science teacher, wilderness adventure guide, environmental educator, and summer camp director. She loves backpacking and being outdoors with her family and dog.

Lara was born and raised in Colorado and has a lifelong love of nature fostered on camping trips throughout the West with her family. She holds degrees in Archaeology and Sustainable Tourism Management, and has lived and worked around the world in the ecotourism and hospitality industry, from Switzerland to Greece to the Virgin Islands and finally back to Denver. Her love for nature led her to initially volunteer with Denver Audubon, and she’s excited to bring her organizational and project management skills to further support the work of the organization. She currently lives in Centennial with her partner and two dogs, and her free time is mostly spent reading, gardening, exploring the outdoors, and obsessing over birds.

Angel has over three decades of experience in environmental education, interpretation, and volunteer management. She retired from Roxborough State Park in 2022 as their Volunteer & Interpretive Services Manager, where she worked for 22 years. Her passion is to bring awareness through education and to inspire others to take action towards protecting, sustaining, and enjoying Colorado’s natural environments. She loves to engage and support volunteers who are dedicated to doing the same. She enjoys walking, hiking, camping, traveling, music, dancing, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Audrey has a M.S. in Environmental Science and a deep love of the outdoors. She is an avid birder and has experience with guiding, surveying, and banding birds in South Texas. Before pursuing her Masters, she lived and worked in Tanzania for 6 years, first as a Health Educator in the Peace Corps and then as a manager at a non-profit. She lives in Littleton and enjoys reading, painting, and spending time in nature with her husband and son.

Birds changed Dori’s life. From once being unsuspectingly appointed as a pelican crossing guard, to having a penguin as a friend, she has been fortunate to experience the joy of relationship with winged beings. An animal lover, explorer, and devoted storyteller, she has spent the last ten years embracing the power of story to affect environmental change. After graduating from UCLA in Communications and Anthropology, she spent six years as an educator for Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation in the state of California.    

In her most recent conservation communication career, Dori was the Content Creator and Marketing Coordinator for the AZA-recognized Santa Barbara Zoo. She worked as a multimedia creative, blending visual and verbal story to create global impact across all social media channels. While there, Dori also authored a children’s book, Monty’s Marvelous Adventures, which is inspired by the true story of how the viral sensation of a Humboldt penguin named Monty uplifted a world during the unprecedented year of 2020.

The human-animal connection amplifies hope, joy, and curiosity, which makes a better world for everyone. Dori is honored that her own connection with birds has once again changed her life and brought her here, where she hopes to be a bridge between the beautiful beings of this planet. In her free time, she loves to hike, write, dance, play soccer, make tea, and say hi to all the dogs she meets in Denver.