Board Member Bios
Karn Stiegelmeier was born and raised in Colorado. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Environmental Conservation, Karn worked for the US Forest Service and National Park Service in a variety of jobs and locations in Oregon, Wyoming and Florida. After completing graduate work in Education, she taught all subjects to 5th and 6th grades, and then taught outdoor education and science for all grades in California, returning to Colorado in 1995. Karn taught science at a Charter school in Dillon, CO and then worked for various local nonprofits and in 2009 became a Summit County Commissioner, completing 3 terms as County Commissioner. As Commissioner, she served on over 12 different water boards or committees, many related to mining clean-up efforts. She has been an avid river kayaker since college and enjoys being in our beautiful Colorado outdoors anywhere any season.
Jill is a Mining Engineer who started her career with Shell Mining Company. She spent ten years in coal mining, including project management and business development of new mines and expansions, operations, permitting, and development of clean coal technologies.
She moved into the waste industry for BFI, managing complex remediation projects, EH&S, then into managing hazardous waste landfills at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. She returned to BFI as their landfill sales manager. This provided her over 15 years' experience in RCRA Subtitle C and D landfill business including sales, operations, environmental, health and safety programs and remediation in both public and private sectors.
In 2008, Jill segued into recruiting in the mining industry with a large international firm. In 2016, Jill co-founded Brooks & Nelson to provide excellent talent for their clients. Services include due diligence assessments for private equity companies. She is passionate about helping clients build high performing teams.
Jill lives in Golden, Colorado with her husband and Maine coon cat. She enjoys people and anything outdoors, especially hiking, cycling, and gardening. She serves on the Colorado Mining Association Board of Directors, CMA Education Foundation Board, SME Foundation Board of Trustees and is on the Executive Industry Committee for the Mining Department at the Colorado School of Mines. She spent 15 years on the SDSM&T Mining Department Industry Advisory Board.
As Deputy Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Windi works across all Divisions and with the Governor’s Office to develop and coordinate policy as well as manage day-to-day operations.
Windi’s first job in high school was as a “Youth in Natural Resources” team member for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Windi has been with the Department for more than 20 years, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer.
Windi holds a bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado - Denver.
Coming Soon.
Doug Ouren grew up Colorado’s San Luis Valley where he currently resides and has spent most of his personal and professional life pursuing his interests in wildland and wildlife conservation. Doug recently retired from a 32-year career as a physical scientist with the USGS. As a researcher he focused much of his work on utilizing GPS technology to address questions related to wildlife habitat conservation and sustainability for various wildlife species, including grizzly bears, elk and Gunnison sage-grouse.
Currently, Doug is a seasonal contractor for Colorado Parks and Wildlife working as an Elk Distribution and Dispersal Liaison as well as a part-time Ducks Unlimited employee working on wetlands restoration. He is a longtime member of the Wildlife Society and a lifetime member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society. He has also served on the board of directors for local land trusts and done a variety of other conservation volunteer work.
Doug and his family also enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities including skiing, biking, hunting, fishing and wildlife photography.
As a Strategic Community Development Manager for Climax Molybdenum Company, a subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan, Nell Wareham works in partnership with the four-county operating area of Climax Mine to build their capacity and sustainable futures with a commitment to implementing strategies to drive collaborative work and transformative change increasing individual and community opportunity, wellbeing, and success.
Nell is passionate about access to early childhood and STEM education, sustainable careers, retention of working families, and attainable housing. She sits on various community boards such as The Summit Foundation, Education Foundation of the Summit, Summit County Chamber of Commerce, Summit Economic Partnership, Lake County Economic Development Corporation, and Lake County Community Fund.
Born in Pueblo, to a 5th generation local family. Educated in Pueblo, both public and Catholic schools. Attended SCSC, now called USC Pueblo for 1 year. My business background is many years in the Office Products Industry. All of my experience is at the National level. Companies, Dymo, Avery Dennison, Rolodex, Panasonic. Later I started my own company "Office Snax", a food snack and beverage firm serving offices nationwide. Came back home to Colorado 13 years ago and I live in the SW part of Colorado Springs. Married, one grown up child.