Our Wonderful Board of Directors

President

Debra Morrison

Owner & Director of Camp Chip-a-Tooth

For the past 25 years, Deb Morrison has had both the blessing and the curse of knowing hundreds of midvalley children like they were her own family. Morrison is the owner and operator of Camp Chip-a-Tooth, an after-school facility during the school year and summer camp in Basalt for kids ages 5 to 12. She stays in touch with many of the children even after they reach their teens and move on. Countless ā€œcampersā€ over the years have returned during high school and college to work for her.
Treasurer

Martha O'Keefe

Project Accountant

I was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and just lived there for 3 short years when my parents moved our family to South Pasadena, CA, and then up to Marin County for my High School years. I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1982 and I have worked in accounting for most of my career.Business Manager for Aspen Magazine for 15 years. Now have been in the Construction Industry for the past 16 year. I have worked for G.F. Woods Construction since 2010 as their Controller and Project Accountant. I am married to a wonderful husband and step father ā€“ Tom Okeefe. While raising my two daughters in Basalt, I was very involved in the Basalt Community and school, was on the River Days Committee and was one of the founding members of the Taste of Basalt Committee. I have been very involved in the Rotary Club of Snowmass Village since 2004 and have been a co-chair of their annual fundraiser the Snowmass Wine Festival, since the summer of 2005. I am a firm believer in serving our local community in what ever way I can.
Member

Diane Frye Tanner

Diane is a marketing professional with 20+ years of experience, beginning in Magazine Publishing in NYC, including her role as a Senior Marketing Manager in Corporate Marketing with Time Inc./Time Warner, in NYC. Dianeā€™s decision to move from corporate work to non-profit mid-career led her to freelance for a variety of non-profits in the Bay Area and NYC.

Diane has been an active volunteer in various capacities over many years, having been actively involved with The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT), and the National Brain Tumor Foundation (eventually working as a consultant and then joining the Board of Directors), both in the Bay Area, as well as the Marymount School for Girls in Manhattan.

While in NYC, Diane and their family dog, Millie, became a certified Canine Therapy Team through The Good Dog Foundation and were honored to be selected as part of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Caring Canines program where they visited patients, family members and staff. She and Millie also worked with A Fair Shake 4 Youth, visiting schools as part of a social/emotional learning program for underprivileged youth.

Diane is a lifelong equestrian taking lessons and riding for pleasure both Western and English whenever possible and eventually competed on a national level in both Equitation and Junior Hunters on the East Coast ā€œAā€ Circuit. She and her thoroughbred ā€œGolden Ruleā€ qualified for the National Horse Shows including Madison Square Garden, where they finished 5th in the country in Small Junior Working Hunters in her final year as a Junior. While in the Bay Area, Diane pursued her dream of learning how to ride a cutting horse, and competed on her Quarter Horse Pepperio, in the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association until moving back to NYC.

Dianeā€™s appreciation of therapeutic riding began when she was in Jr. High, where she became familiar with the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Program, in Darien, CT. She was in awe of the difference the therapy horses and instructors were making in the lives of the participants and ever since that time, it was her goal be involved with therapeutic riding whenever she had the time. When she moved from NYC with her husband Brooks and their daughter Carolyn to Snowmass Village in 2020, she immediately reached out to WindWalkers and has been an active volunteer ever since.

She is beyond grateful to be involved with WindWalkers, and to witness the staff and therapy horses transform the lives of adults and children, every day.

Diane spends her free time with her Quarter Horse Duke and rescue QH Jake, as well as serving on two other local boards in the Valley.

Member

Ken Robinson

Former President Rotary Club of Glenwood Springs

I was born and raised in Glastonbury, CT. Left in 1968 to attend Colorado State University. Graduated in 1972 with a degree in Forest Management. Spent the summer as a forest technician engaged in timber inventory on the White River national forest. Spent the winter in Aspen as a ski bum. Worked many jobs, eventually became a journeyman mason. 1991 offered an opportunity to open and manage a new liquor store in Carbondale. Had a successful run, business was sold, and I went to work for the competition. A few years later, my wife and I, purchased Roaring Fork Liquors. Sold the business in 2017.

I am an Eagle scout, member of the Rotary club of Glenwood Springs (past president twice) and Aspen Elks lodge #224. I am involved with many non-profit groups in the valley. I offered to muck stalls many years ago, and I continue to muck and make minor repairs on the property. I was aware and supported the need to purchase the property. As a board member, I intend to support Gabrielle and the staff to make this a first class facility.

Member Nominating Committee

Anne Merz

We lived in New York City for 10 years before moving to Greenwich, Connecticut to raise our family. Daughter, and two sons. Once they all moved out to start their own lives we retired and moved to Colorado, our happy place. We are now enjoying our lives here in Carbondale. Two grandchildren are the only reasons we might have for traveling. Since my diagnosis with MS in 1975, I find great benefit and comfort riding at WindWalkers. It is truly my Happy Place!
Member

Dr. Dustin Anderson

The Steadman Clinic

Dr. Dustin Anderson was born and raised near his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. He obtained his medical degree at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed residency training at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus in Denver. He served as Chief Resident before completing advanced fellowship training in Pain Medicine and serving as a Clinical Instructor in the department.

During his time at Anschutz, Dr. Anderson spent four years at the Spine Center, taking care of patients with complex spine and sports issues and served as the team physician for the University of Denverā€™s Division I womenā€™s soccer, basketball, volleyball and lacrosse teams.

He has also worked with elite athletes at the University of Colorado Champions Center in Boulder and at UCHealthā€”the official healthcare partner of the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, and other local sports teams.

Dr. Anderson is an expert in regenerative medicine, ultrasound and fluoroscopically guided (X-ray) procedures. He specializes in nonoperative care for disorders of the bones, nerves, joints and muscles.

Dr. Anderson has a passion for machine learning and artificial intelligence and is currently involved in a Google-funded research project. New to the Aspen area, Dr. Anderson grew up visiting family in Marble, Colorado and enjoys hiking, skiing, rafting, and all that the Roaring Fork Valley has to offer.

According to Dr. Anderson, ā€œMy passion is caring for patients suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, including spine and sports injuries, using every available tool to help folks get back to their highest level of function. Compassion, quality of life and patient-focused care are central to my philosophy. I strive to treat my patients like family. Every person has a unique story, a special set of circumstances that brought them here, and I enjoy working with patients on a treatment plan to achieve their best outcome and highest goals.ā€

Member

Susan Touchette

Architecture and Interior Design

Susan Touchette is a dedicated member of the Board of Directors at Windwalkers. A recent transplant to Raleigh, NC, Susan remains passionate about serving the Roaring Fork Valley, her past community of 30+ years. With an expertise in Architecture and Interiors, she brings time tested project management skills, communication expertise and long range planning insight to the team. Also the mother of a Windwalkers graduate, she has witnessed first-hand the transformative work achieved by the WindWalkers programs. She is committed to fostering a supportive environment that empowers individuals and families to achieve their goals.

Fun Fact - While clearly not a "horse person," as a young girl Susan tagged along with her older sister who was a certified barn rat! She watched riding lessons and attended barn outings in support of her sister who was a steadfast horse girl, owning two horses and showing in local riding events. With her sister, she experienced the joy and impact of loving and caring for a large animal.

Member

John J. Vierthaler

Attorney, Board Member of CTRC & Beth Gusick's Dad!

John is a highly experienced and successful attorney working for over 50 years helping clients navigate through complex legal issues. John has received an AV rating from Martindale Hubble, the highest ranking possible. John is proud to have served our country for four years as a Captain in the United States Air Force, he has called Littleton, Colorado home for 40 years and has maintained the same office in the US Bank Building at Wadsworth and Bowles since 1984.

John has been involved in the community in various ways, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of several non-profit organizations and is presently in the Board of the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center.

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