Winter Programs Summer Programs Fundraising Events Veterans Programs Competition Programs Job Opportunities Volunteers & Interns |
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Our Staff OPERATIONS TEAM Houston Cowan 
CEOHouston@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 201 As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Houston has built Challenge Aspen into one of the world’s premier disabilities programs. Houston works closely with the Board of Directors to establish Challenge Aspen missions, goals and objectives and to prepare operating and capital budgets. It is also a critical part of Houston’s job as CEO to establish and develop close working relationships in the community, expanding disability networks and raising funds to maintain the organization’s budget. Anne Adams 
Director of Operationsanne@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 212 Anne has been with Challenge Aspen since winter 2005 in various critical operational roles and is now our Director of Operations. Anne’s vast and specialized experiences inside of the ski industry have prepared her for her new responsibilities at Challenge Aspen. Anne works hand-in-hand with Houston, focusing on the day-to-day running and long-term strategic planning for Challenge Aspen, management of staff, and special events and projects. Jenni Petersen 
Director of Finance & Human Resourcesjenni@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 200 Jenni started on a part-time basis with Challenge Aspen in 2004 and has been the Director of Finance & HR since 2005. Jenni is responsible for keeping the financial heart of Challenge Aspen ticking. She maintains all financial records, directs office and financial management issues, and administers the employee benefit plans and human resources objectives. Her responsibilities also include staying on top of legal and tax documentation, and looking after the Challenge Aspen marathon team administration and recruitment. Tracy Hansen 
Financial Assistanttracy@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 202 Tracy began as a Challenge Aspen volunteer in 2005 and joined the team on a part-time basis as our financial assistant in the summer of 2006. Her main responsibility is to assist Jenni Petersen with the processing of accounts payables, account receivables and coordinating numerous organizational tasks. REC PROGRAMS TEAM Sarah Williams Volf 
Director, REC Programssarah@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 205 Sarah Williams Volf is a native of Wales and came to Challenge Aspen in 2001. As the Recreation, Educational & Cultural (REC) Programs Director, Sarah is responsible for the development and management of all of Challenge Aspen’s summer and winter recreation, educational and cultural programs. This includes development of budgets, seeking funding, managing staff and seasonal instructors, and the long-term strategic planning of Challenge Aspen’s REC programs. Sarah also represents Challenge Aspen within the local community and at a national and international level. Laine Weinstein 
Winter Program Coordinator, REC Programslaine@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 213 Reporting to Sarah Williams Volf, Laine joined the Challenge Aspen REC Programs team in winter 2006 and is responsible for planning, implementing and operating all of Challenge Aspen’s winter camps, groups and special events. As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) Laine’s goal is to help our participants develop and maintain an enhanced quality of life through recreation and leisure activities. Laine is also responsible for our winter interns and volunteers. Spencer Crouch 
Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Supervisorspencer@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 215 Spencer's purpose is to lead, train and evaluate our adaptive instructors, volunteers and interns to provide participants with disabilities with an educational, fun and safe skiing environment. With assistance from the winter scheduler, he is responsible for the running of the daily ski/snowboard lessons and assists with camps and groups planning. Spencer is also the key liaison between Aspen Skiing Company, instructors, the REC Programs Director, and PSIA. Sally O'Keefe 
Volunteer Coordinatorsally@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 209 Sally is our volunteer liaison, and the first point of contact for all volunteers - whether they're helping in the office, on the ski slopes, at one of our summer or winter camps or at a fundraising event. Rebecca Shepherd 
Winter Lessons Reservationsreservations@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 208 Reporting to Spencer Crouch, Rebecca and Ann share the role of Winter Programs Scheduler to take adaptive ski and snowboard lesson bookings and communicate with participants and their families to ensure confirmation of bookings and receipt of medical details. Ann Mullins 
Winter Lessons Reservations (part-time)reservations@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 208 Adaptive Ski & Snowboard Instructors
Our instructors are the public face of Challenge Aspen on the ski slopes during winter. 15 full-time and 30 part-time PSIA adaptive certified ski and snowboard instructors provide some 2000+ adaptive ski and snowboard lessons during the winter. We pride ourselves on having the best and the largest team of adaptive instructors in the country. Their specialized techniques, coupled with the use of our cutting edge equipment, guarantees the experience of a lifetime, in a fun and safe environment, for all participants.
COMPETITION PROGRAM TEAM Kevin Jardine 
Director, Competition Programkevin@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 226, voicemail ext 222 Kevin joined the Challenge Aspen team in spring 2006 and has earned a worldwide reputation as one of the most respected coaches in the field of disabled skiing. Among his most recent honors is recognition as 2006 USSA International Disabled Coach of the Year, the sports’ highest award, but it is his love of the people and sport of adaptive skiing that makes Kevin the perfect fit for Challenge Aspen. Kevin is in charge of the development and management of the competition division for the Challenge Aspen Competition Program, with the goal of training and developing disabled alpine skiers to National and Paralympic team status. Kevin also represents adaptive skiing in his roles as a member of the USSA Disabled Winter Sports Committee and the IPC Alpine Rules Committee. Gwynn Watkins 
Head Alpine Coach, Competition Programgwynn@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 227, voicemail ext 223 Gwynn joined us in September 2007 to head up the Challenge Aspen Race Team. Reporting to Kevin Jardine, and holding a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire, Gwynn is responsible for the daily on and off hill direction of the Race Team. Gwynn has worked with athletes from the development level up to and including Paralympic athletes, is a certified USSA Alpine Coach, and has been involved with ski racing for 28 years. Having been a Head Coach and Program Director all over the country from New Hampshire to California, Gwynn is a great asset to the Challenge Aspen team. Jonathan Mika
Assistant Coach, Competition Program
jonathan@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 227, voicemail ext 223 Jonathan Mika assists Gwynn in coaching and training the Race Team as well as assisting with our Learn to Race training camps and recruiting of future athletes. MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT Kirsten Munachen 
Marketing & Development Directorkirsten@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 204 Kirsten joined us for the 2006/07 winter season as an Intern from Sydney, Australia. During her 3 month internship she convinced us that she had the much-needed marketing and development skills we desired! Kirsten’s overall purpose is to build national and international awareness of the Challenge Aspen brand. She is responsible for Challenge Aspen’s branding, advertising, PR (in conjunction with our publicist Melissa Campbell), newsletters, promotional materials, website management, annual appeal and marketing support for our fundraising events, plus leading the development team in achieving the annual operating income. Kirsten also represents Challenge Aspen in the community as a Snowmass Village Rotarian and a board member of the Aspen Young Professionals Association. Kelly Voss 
Development Managerkelly@challengeaspen.com Tel: 970-923-0578 ext 207 Kelly Voss brings over three years of non-profit fundraising experience to Challenge Aspen. Most recently she was the Director of Community Campaigns for the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, WI and raised over 1 million dollars for the performing arts groups in that regional area. Prior to fundraising, she owned two bookstores and gained solid customer service, marketing and internet development skills. Her directive is to increase the dollars raised annually at Challenge Aspen, so that CA can continue to grow and offer exceptional programming for people with disabilities. Her son Tristan keeps her busy when she isn’t working at Challenge Aspen. John Klonowski 
Development Account Managerjohn@challengeaspen.com Tel: 970-923-0578 ext 214 A chef by trade, John volunteered with Challenge Aspen during the 2006/07 winter season as an adaptive assistant. It was the best ski season of his 20 years in Aspen! He received his certification to teach visually impaired skiers and will continue to train in the bi/mono-ski discipline this season. John joined the development team this season to help the fruition of our goal of an Adaptive Wilderness Ranch. Geneva Templeton 
Events Managergeneva@challengeaspen.com tel: 970-923-0578 ext 203 Geneva joins us from the Aspen Skiing Company where she was marketing coordinator for the Ski & Snowboard Schools for the past 2 ½ years. Prior to this she was the project manager for a local event marketing and product promotions company, and in her home state of Louisiana was a member of the Executive Staff of the Louisiana Department of Labor. Having been involved in events, marketing and politics for the past decade, Geneva brings great expertise to the Challenge Aspen team in creating our wonderful fundraising and special events throughout the year. Melissa Campbell 
Publicistcam@edge.net tel: 931.598.5075 Melissa became impassioned about Challenge Aspen in 2006 after a memorable chairlift ride with Houston Cowan and an avid supporter of Challenge Aspen. Her background is based in sports (US Olympic Committee Intern, Denver Nuggets Employee) and subsequently in the entertainment industry. Her primary professional focus, since 1987, has been rooted in music industry publicity and touring. As Publicist, Melissa works hand in hand with Marketing & Development and REC & Competition Programming to tell the life-changing events and powerful stories of participants of Challenge Aspen to local, regional and national media outlets in an effort to garner understanding, participation and financial support. Jay Cherski 
Technology Solutions Managerjay@challengeaspen.com Jay skied with our participants as an Adaptive Assistant in the winter of 2006/07 and introduced us to his technology expertise. As a consultant to Challenge Aspen, he is bringing our technology into the 21st century – including our reservations system, our database and our website. The aim is to have cutting edge systems in place by winter 2007! Eric Lee 
IT Administrator/Developereric@challengeaspen.com Eric's purpose is to ensure smooth running of all Challenge Aspen hardware, software and web applications. His main responsibilities are to provide day-to-day technical support for the Challenge Aspen team, assist in the development of in-house productivity applications and integrating these applications with Office 2007 applications and assist in the development and expansion of our existing website. |
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