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Who We Are
at ESA

We educate and empower our neighbors to embrace sustainable living practices through resources and programs that build a more connected and resilient mountain community. 

About Our Nonprofit

The Evergreen Sustainability Alliance brings together the people, resources, and inspiration needed to make sustainable living accessible for everyone in our mountain community. Through our five main programs and countless other events, we offer hands-on learning, opportunities to grow food in shared gardens, and volunteer projects that strengthen community bonds.

 

Whether you're joining a workshop, tending a garden bed, reducing waste, or showing up to support local initiatives, there are countless ways to get involved. Read on to learn more about how we work together to build a thriving, sustainable Evergreen.

About Our Nonprofit

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Food Scaps Collected Weekly

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Food Scaps Collected Weekly

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Food Scaps Collected Weekly

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Food Scaps Collected Weekly

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Meet the Team

Meet the Team

We are a dynamic team made up of 9 board members, 4 staff members, 5 action partners and many wonderful volunteers. ​It is because of these amazing individuals we are able to run this organization and continue to grow each year! Get to know the people behind the scenes.

Staff

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Executive Director

Wendy Neuman

Wendy brings a global perspective and over two decades of experience in market research to her role as Executive Director of the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance. Originally from Wyoming, she spent twelve years living and working in New York City and abroad before settling in Evergreen in 2007 with her husband. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Gerontology, both of which inform her understanding of social behavior and community needs. Wendy joined the ESA Board of Directors in 2014 and became Executive Director in 2023. She is passionate about creating a more sustainable, connected Evergreen and leads the organization with energy, vision, and a deep commitment to local impact. Outside of work, Wendy enjoys travel, outdoor sports, gardening, and exploring the wonders of life with her daughter.

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Social Media & Marketing Manager

Josie Pearson

Josie Pearson joined the Evergreen Sustainability Alliance in March 2022 and brings creative energy and a strong local connection to her role as Social Media Marketer. A native of Evergreen, she’s passionate about building a more sustainable future and uses her talents to amplify ESA’s mission across platforms like Instagram and Facebook. In addition to curating engaging digital content, Josie collaborates on community fundraisers, supports outreach events, and ensures ESA’s values are reflected in everything we share online. Her photography skills also shine through in our visuals—especially during her own outdoor adventures. Josie and her partner love to travel in their van with their two dogs, capturing beautiful landscapes and wildlife along the way. She sells some of her nature photography online and finds joy in merging creativity with environmental advocacy.

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Refill Station Store Manager

Natalie Halliday

Natalie Halliday is the friendly face behind ESA’s Refill Station, managing store operations and helping customers reduce waste one refill at a time. Originally from TX, Natalie recently moved to Evergreen after spending some time on the east coast. Natalie is a sustainability professional with experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors, working as a sustainability consultant for several years prior to joining ESA. She is passionate about community sustainability and improving the resilience and environment of the places where she lives. "ESA feels like the perfect intersection of my experience and my passions, and I’m excited to join a team that has a direct impact on our community. I’m also looking forward to becoming more immersed in my new home and meeting the many people and organizations that help make Evergreen what it is." Outside of work, Natalie enjoys attending markets and festivals, creative projects, listening to podcasts, and anything outside.

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Administrative Assistant

Katie White

Katie moved to Evergreen in 2023 from Washington state, although she is originally from the east coast. She has spent the last ten years working in conservation, environmental education, and neighborhood planning for local government and non-profit organizations and holds a bachelor's in Environmental Policy and Planning from Virginia Tech. She's excited to be a part of ESA's work to support a more sustainable and healthier community. She enjoys being outdoors, especially in the incredible open space that Evergreen and the surrounding area offers, and spending time with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Board of Directors

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President

Thomas Riggle

Thomas is the Water Resources Manager at Evergreen Metro District, where he ensures a sustainable water supply and promotes healthy watershed practices. He has led local and citywide sustainability efforts, including co-founding Resilient Denver and helping launch Denver’s Office of Climate Action. His work has helped advance renewable energy goals and community-based environmental action. Thomas moved to Evergreen in 2023 and enjoys gardening, hiking, and live music.

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Vice President

Bonnie Biafore

Bonnie is a long-time Conifer resident with a background in project management, technical writing, and bookkeeping. She creates training content for LinkedIn Learning and has written extensively about software and accounting tools like QuickBooks. Passionate about sustainability, she began her ESA journey in the Composting Program and has since deepened her commitment to reducing her footprint.

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Treasurer

Adam Bjelica

Adam has lived in Colorado since 2010 and works in renewable energy tax strategy. Inspired by his company’s sustainable practices, he embraced composting, gardening, and water-wise living as a way to lead by example for his three young sons. He recently joined the Green Committee at Bergen Elementary and works closely with ESA to expand composting awareness in local schools. Adam lives in Evergreen with his family, his mother-in-law, and their dog Gus.

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Secretary

Claire Naumer

Claire is a senior at Evergreen High School with a lifelong interest in sustainability and community service. She joined ESA in 2022 and brings a fresh youth perspective to the board. Claire is passionate about educating others on small changes that make a big environmental impact. She also volunteers through the National Charity League and enjoys skiing, swimming, and music.

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Board Member

Miles Radin

Miles has worked in environmental sustainability for over a decade across nonprofits, the federal government, and the private sector. He founded the first sustainable housing program in a U.S. national park while working in Yosemite and earned a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Yale. Now a consultant helping major companies reduce emissions, Miles brings deep expertise in corporate sustainability. He’s excited to make Evergreen home and is often found hiking, playing volleyball, or attending a local yoga class.

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Board Member

Annie Loechell

Annie is a former science teacher and environmental educator originally from Fort Collins. She’s worked with the Forest Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and even volunteered in Argentina with Amazon parrots. Now a business owner and mom, Annie is excited to support ESA’s work bringing sustainable practices to local families. She joined the board in 2022 and lives in Genesee with her husband, two kids, and their dog Penny.

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Board Member

Bonnie Miller-McLemore

Bonnie moved to Evergreen in 2023 with her husband, Mark, to be closer to their three sons and growing families across Colorado. Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, she spent nearly 20 years in Chicago before relocating to Nashville, where she taught at Vanderbilt University. Her involvement with ESA began after joining the Buffalo Community Garden, which led to volunteering at the Refill Station and supporting recycling events, the compost program, and the annual Alternative Gift Fair. Passionate about practical sustainability and climate solutions, Bonnie focuses on reducing fossil fuel use and encouraging more mindful energy consumption. She is a member of the Evergreen Garden Club and Evergreen Audubon, serves as a fire ambassador in the Brook Forest area, and enjoys hiking with her dogs, reading, and spending time with family.

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Board Member

Hannah Bet Hayes 

Hannah worked in the natural products industry for decades, from the Real Food Store at Wah Kee Nee Park in the 1970s to bringing Cold Snap to the national marketplace. She is a former educator, opinion columnist for the Canyon Courier, and editor. In 2025, she published A Stellar Life, a novel exploring alternative medicine and activism. Hannah is passionate about serving the mountain community by advancing ESA’s mission and promoting sustainable living. She tends a native garden, follows a vegetarian lifestyle, and enjoys hiking Evergreen’s trails. She is a member of History Evergreen and the Evergreen Garden Club and treasures time with her two grandsons.

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Board Member

Kathy Dekker

Kathy is thrilled to be an Evergreen resident after living in Colorado since 2021. Coming from Florida, she has experience in conservation non-profits, leading environmental education experiences in a large corporation, and developing public programming with conservation storytelling at the center point. She has a BS in Ecology Conservation and an MBA in Organizational Leadership. Today, you can find her working behind the scenes at EPRD. In her spare time, Kathy and her husband enjoy snowing boarding in the winter and paddle boarding in the summer with their pup. She is looking forward to supporting the excellent work of ESA and being a more involved member of this incredible community of passionate people!

Action Partners

Action Partners are vital to the success of ESA’s programs. They are community members who are actively involved in at least one ESA program. They support in many ways, from being a sounding board to ensuring volunteers are taken care of to helping programs run smoothly.

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Evergreen Refill Station | Financial Advisor

Bob Judge

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CMR | Database Management

Rita Kau

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Tree and Styrofoam Recycling

Dave Lystrom

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Organizational Advisor

Heather Miner

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Design Advisor

Brailey Lisath

Sponsors and Partners

Supporters

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Individuals

𖠰  G. and A. Ades  𖠰  D. and K. Lystrom  𖠰  J. Church  𖠰  J. and H. Miner 𖠰  B. Biafore  𖠰 K. Spencer  𖠰  R. Williams  𖠰  A. Bjelica

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Contact Us

720 536 0069

P.O Box 236, Evergreen, CO 80437

EIN:    27 1759397

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