Meet Our Staff

You can often find us at our offices in the Third Street Center in Carbondale. But more often, you’ll find us out of the office – getting to know the landscapes where we work, meeting with community members, advocating with decision-makers, or throwing fun and educational events. If you’re unsure of which staff member to reach out to, send an email to info@wildernessworkshop.org or give us a ring: 970-963-3977.

Will Roush, Executive Director

Will first joined Wilderness Workshop to inventory lands for citizen wilderness proposals, then worked as an organizer and advocate for efforts to designate new wilderness and protect the Thompson Divide. He went on to conduct outreach and advocacy for WW’s federal lands policy work, organized the popular Naturalist Nights winter speaker series, started the restoration program, and led our advocacy work to move water rights for dams on Castle and Maroon Creeks. Will served as Conservation Director for four years before becoming Executive Director in 2018. Today, Will leads an amazing team and collaborates with staff to determine and execute conservation priorities and programs, raise funds for the organization, and oversees its community and outreach programs. A native of the Roaring Fork Valley, he has a Master’s in Geography and Environmental Science examining the impact of climate change on alpine ecosystems.

Email Will to discuss collaborating with WW, landscape conservation opportunities, and tips for getting your children on your skis early.

Sam Feuerborn, Field Coordinator

Sam Feuerborn joined WW after spending the previous 8 years with Colorado Mountain College teaching as adjunct faculty, managing the Outdoor Studies Program, and facilitating on the challenge course, while also guiding seasonally for Aspen Expeditions. He is excited to spend more time inventorying public lands, engaging with the recreation community, and developing programs aimed at helping more people get out and responsibly recreate on public lands. Sam is originally from the Front Range and has an underutilized degree in European History from Fort Lewis College. When not in the office he can be found mountain biking, climbing, skiing in the backcountry, fly fishing, and trying to wear out his pup Freya.

Email Sam if you would like to discuss WW’s field programs, have a mapping or GIS question, or want to discuss the finer points of bow hunting.

Michael Gorman, Campaign Manager

Michael manages WW’s campaigns to protect public lands and waters. Prior to joining the Workshop, he spent over a decade working on conservation education and advocacy programs with the nonprofit EcoFlight, based in Aspen. He organized strategic overflight missions and explored Western public lands from the aerial perspective, helping dozens of organizations advance their conservation efforts by bringing together diverse stakeholders on public lands issues. Michael grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley – where you can still find him hiking and skiing the mountains and boating local rivers – and is passionate about working with the local community to protect the lands and waters that helped shape the passionate advocate he is today.

Email Michael to discuss the latest on our campaigns to protect the Thomspon Divide or the Homestake Valley, he’s alos got suggestions on when to raft the Crystal River.

Peter Hart, Legal Director

Peter is the point person for WW’s defensive work, primarily related to the National Environmental Policy Act. In addition to leading WW’s work to protect the Thompson Divide, his docket also includes reviewing proposed actions like oil and gas lease sales, agency rule changes, timber projects, and recreational developments impacting public lands. He files technical comments on Environmental Impact Statements and works with outside counsel on legal actions. A native of Vail, Peter earned a law degree and master’s degree in environmental law from the University of Denver. He clerked for the water rights division of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, worked on endangered species claims at the University of Denver Environmental Law Clinic, and worked on toxic tort litigation at a Denver law firm. He enjoys riding his bike and spending time with his family, including raising two young boys with an appreciation for the great outdoors.

Email Peter to discuss public participation in agency decision-making, how to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, or to hear about his favorite roadless area.

Emily Kay, Philanthropy Director

Emily oversees Wilderness Workshop’s philanthropy program, including major gifts, grants, donor communications, sponsorships, and fundraising events. She loves sharing updates our work to protect wilderness, water and wildlife with WW’s passionate community of supporters. Emily has worked with and volunteered for nonprofits for over a decade, and learns a lot from opportunities to partner with many other nonprofits in the Roaring Fork Valley. Before joining WW Emily was Development Officer at Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, where she worked on the hospital’s $60 million capital campaign. Emily sought higher elevation and sunnier days not long after graduating from Cornell University in upstate New York. When she’s not busy talking about public lands campaigns Emily is usually outside playing with WW Watchdog Miley, spending time with local family members, or enjoying endless recreation opportunities from her front door.

Email Emily to discuss ways to support WW’s work, why you should attend the best benefit in town (Wild Feast, of course!), or for suggestions on mountain biking trails.

Beverly Patera, Operations Director

Beverly brings with her a strong background in finance and systems management, as well as an innate appreciation for the outdoors. With a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Valdosta State University, she devoted an extra focus on small business operations and has applied those principles throughout her career managing restaurants, family businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in South Lake Tahoe and a resident of Carbondale since 2013, Beverly enjoys immersing herself in the beautiful surrounding landscapes, whether that be via hiking, skiing, biking, or rafting with her husband and young daughter. She enthusiastically provides operational support to the meaningful and important work WW does protecting the public lands in her family’s backyard.

Email Beverly if you have questions about your membership or donation, want to learn about our annual events, or for her suggestions on the best places to float the Roaring Fork.

Erin Riccio, Advocacy Director

As Advocacy Director, Erin directs our community engagement and public advocacy efforts in support of WW’s conservation priorities; she is passionate about bringing communities together to advocate on behalf of our wild places and landscapes. Prior to working at WW, Erin spent several years working on public lands, water, and climate issues and supporting pro-conservation candidates as a community organizer for Conservation Colorado in communities across the Western Slope, including Grand Junction and the Roaring Fork Valley. She has also done conservation work internationally, including a year-long stint in Cusco, Peru. Originally from the Front Range, Erin has a BA in Environmental Studies from Gonzaga University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside exploring the public lands she works to protect, primarily on skis.

Email Erin if you’re a community member who wants to take action for public lands, if you’re an elected official supporting conservation, or to join her trivia team.

Omar Sarabia, Defiende Nuestra Tierra Director

Omar serves as Director of WW’s Defiende Nuestra Tierra (Defend Our Land) program and comes to WW with a diverse background in environmental issues and a deep passion for engaging his community. Born in California, he grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, and graduated from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, before leading a program to protect groundwater and combat and eradicate illegal water wells. In January 2015, he came to the Roaring Fork Valley and like so many others, fell in love with area; his initial plan to stay for 6 months has now become 8 years. With his wife and two children, Sarabia enjoys everything from hikes in the mountains to Carnes Asadas on the lake, but is perhaps most happy when snowboarding.

Email Omar to learn more about the Defiende program, to discuss ways our public lands can be managed more equitably, or to discuss the best hot sauce for every situation.

Juli Slivka, Policy Director

Juli has dedicated her career to protecting Colorado’s wild public lands. She joined WW after spending more than a decade with The Wilderness Society, where she specialized in public lands policy, land management planning, and federal oil and gas issues. As Policy Director, Juli develops and implements WW’s programs for healthy forests and rivers, BLM wildlands, habitat conservation, responsible recreation, and wilderness stewardship. Through these campaigns, Juli collaborates with the talented team at WW, our local communities, conservation and recreation partners, land management agencies, and our elected officials. She is a Colorado native who grew up camping, skiing, hiking, and cultivating a love of all things wild in the White River National Forest.

Email Juli with questions about WW’s conservation priorities, to learn more about the intricacies of federal land management decisions, or to discuss the best BLM camping locations.

Francis Sanzaro, Communications Director

As Communications Director, Francis brings with him decades of experience in media, communications, writing and, of course, advocacy work in the outdoor space. Prior to joining Wilderness Workshop, he was the editor-in-chief at Big Stone Publications, where, in collaboration with partners, he helped rally national support for a successful campaign to protect Bears Ears, among other landscapes. Born in Baltimore, Francis has been adventuring in the Roaring Fork and Crystal Valleys for twenty years. Francis has a PhD from Syracuse University and is the author of four books, including Society Elsewhere: Why the Greatest Threat to Humanity Will Come From Within and The Zen of Climbing. He is currently writing a book on the intersection of wilderness appreciation and neuroscience.

Email Francis to discuss anything communications or media related, or to request information about Wilderness Workshop and our staff.