Our Team

Aaron grew up in central Pennsylvania, spending his youth exploring the hardwood forests, waterways, and mountains of the east coast. He earned a degree in Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Shortly after graduating, Aaron headed off to Namibia for two years volunteering with the Cheetah Conservation Fund. This experience exposed him to all of the facets of the operation of an international conservation project and African wildlife management while allowing him to live out of a childhood dream. After a brief period of travel, he had an opportunity to work with Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar, East Africa.

Chumbe Island allowed Aaron to learn about and be a part of developing an eco tourism project that encompassed education, marine biology, conservation, and the protection of a reef ecosystem. Aaron now lives in the San Luis Valley of Colorado and owns a retail business in the nearby town of Salida. He still spends as much time outdoors as possible, adding bow hunting and fly fishing to his many other outdoor pursuits.

Coming Soon

Ashley was born and raised in the San Luis Valley. After 5 years at Arizona State University, she returned to live close to her family. Ashley and her husband, Russell, are raising a wild, spunky, beautiful, baby girl named Leighton, the light of their lives!

Ash is on AAI’s staff as the Human Resources Manager. HR is her bread and butter and she loves everything about being a people-person and someone who can jump in and help wherever, however!

Lianna was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She began her career in accounting in accounts payable at a manufacturing company and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Management from Columbia College of Missouri. After earning her degree, she jumped into the non-profit world working for the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. It was there that Lianna learned the basics of corporate accounting and discovered a passion for financial statements.

Lianna moved to Colorado in 2012 and enjoys hiking, horseback riding and the Chicago Bears. Currently working as a Consultant for NOW CFO, she’s excited to have the opportunity to get back into non-profit and do her part in making the world a better place. As acting Treasurer to the Board, Lianna is committed to providing her expertise and knowledge to AAI’s financial position and providing guidance for future endeavors.

Born and raised in the UK, Pip graduated from University with a major in English and minor in Education. Following a career in Human Resources, she went to Africa for four months and ended up staying for nearly five years. Pip worked initially with a Youth Development Organization focused on developing team building and leadership skills through tangible projects. She then volunteered for 18 months with the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, traveled around the southern countries of Africa for four months, and then managed an eco lodge off the coast of Zanzibar—Chumbe Island Coral Park. She did all of this with her husband, Aaron, who she had met in Namibia.

Pip moved to the US in 2002 and found Villa Grove, Colorado where she has lived since. In 2006, Pip and her husband bought First Street Flooring in Salida and have worked there since. Pip has always seen giving back to the community as one of the responsibilities of a business owner. Aside from numerous financial contributions over the years, Pip was very involved with the Saguache County Credit Union, Rotary, the Salida Business Alliance, and the Salida Chamber of Commerce, sitting on boards or committees for each of them. Hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, downhill, gardening, and friends and family fill the rest of Pip’s time.

Connor Kelly grew up near Portland, Oregon. His experiences teaching classes for the Adventure Leadership Institute at Oregon State University led him to a degree and career in education. He moved to Colorado two years ago to serve with Americorps, completing his first term in Alamosa and his second term in Salida at Salida Montessori Charter School (SMCS). He now works as a teacher at SMCS, thankful that his AmeriCorps experiences led him to a community he is proud to call home. When not working, he spends his free time cooking, reading, doing crosswords, or engaging in the many outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer.

Chuck grew up near Toledo, Ohio and earned a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Toledo. He then moved to Salt Lake City and found his passion for working with students, starting in a High School. Chuck then entered a Trappist Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado for four years of silence; upon leaving, he earned an MA in Counseling Psychology.

Since that time, Chuck has worked as a K-12 teacher, a Principal, an Interim Superintendent, and a psychotherapist, as well as an instructor of psychology in community colleges. He has been married for the past 28 years to his wife Wendy (26 years in Salida), and they have two daughters, Faith (26) and Melissa (22). Chuck is currently teaching at Colorado Mountain College and has a psychotherapy practice. He’s honored to be a part of the Alpine Achiever’s Board—especially with the Americorps Program—and helping the members and their students grow and learn and I love being in the outdoors whenever possible.