Nick Zielinski - Executive Director
Nick is a graduate of Prescott College and Cleveland State University. He has spent the last two decades working to support educational initiatives, especially those which make outdoor experiences more accessible. Nick and his family spend most of their free-time hiking, biking, rafting, and fishing in the NCAs. He is excited to share his passion for wild places with the CCA community.
Lisa Boyko - River Program Manager
A teacher by trade, Lisa grew up in Pennsylvania but fell in love with Colorado when she worked at an adventure summer camp backpacking through the Collegiate Peaks with middle schoolers. Passionate about the outdoors, she dreamed of living out west, eventually taking a job as a middle and high school music teacher in Olathe. As someone who loves whitewater, it only made sense for Lisa to pair her teaching career with river guiding in the summers. After seven years in education, Lisa fell into guiding full time where she has spent the past few years working in both Western Colorado and Costa Rica managing logistics, helping train young guides, and advocating for a Costa Rican national river guide standard. She loves sharing rivers with people of all ages, especially youth, and has loved learning more about sustainable tourism and river law.
Annie Carter - Education Programs Manager
A Cleveland native, Annie began her career in environmental education teaching about native Ohio wildlife before majoring in Biopsychology and Environmental Science at Tufts University. She developed a passion for connecting people to the natural world and promoting active stewardship through community outreach and outdoor education experience across multiple states. Annie first joined CCA in 2020, serving as the AmeriCorps VISTA in Montrose for a year. Before returning to CCA, she facilitated social-emotional learning curriculum and outdoor programming with at-risk youth in the local community. After a long day in the field, Annie loves coming home to her cat, Tofu. She also enjoys reading, climbing, hiking, and cooking elaborate meals with friends.
Morgan Rossway - Volunteer Program Manager
Morgan grew up in the Midwest, and after seeing her first mountain at 19, she knew she belonged out West. After “retiring” from her career as a flight attendant of 5 years, she completed her BA in Anthropology with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability. She and her husband recently moved to the Western Slope from Arizona in 2020 and are enthusiastic rock climbers, fly fishers, and adventurers. You can also find Morgan helping organize monthly public land clean-ups at the Nine Mile Hill area in Unaweep canyon with fellow members of the Western Colorado Climbers Coalition. She is excited to join the team here at CCA and share her passion for stewardship, conservation, and learning with residents and visitors alike, to these three beautiful National Conservation Areas we are so lucky to have in our backyard!
Bronwen Nicholls-Hill - Development Coordinator
Bronwen’s love and appreciation for public outdoor spaces was fostered by growing up in Alaska and recreating in the abundance of its public lands. Her background is in communications and working with non-profits that assist our most vulnerable community members. Bronwen joins CCA with extensive management and outdoor recreation experience. Having moved from Alaska to the Western Slope in 2023, she has found great fulfillment and joy during her adventures within our National Conservation Areas. She is enthusiastic to continue learning and fostering stewardship and education for these beautiful spaces. You can often find Bronwen and her family hiking, floating, skiing and biking around the Western Slope.
Jeremy Rice - eeCorps NCA Environmental Educator
Jeremy grew up right here in the valley in Fruita. After high school, he earned a bachelor's degree in art and minored in outdoor studies while playing division II lacrosse at Young Harris College in north Georgia. His time away from the west grew his appreciation and care for the area. After graduating college, Jeremy began his pursuit of environmental education at Eureka! Science Museum as an environmental instructor. This experience created a new spark and has inspired him to continue engaging with local youth in the outdoors through experiential learning. Whether he is hiking, fly fishing, or just sitting outside, Jeremy continues to build his relationship with the natural world to better facilitate positive experiences for those around him. Jeremy is eager to form meaningful connections with his community through shared experiences in the outdoors, and to spread stewardship and understanding of our beautiful natural areas.