As Branch Executive, Nicholas Sly serves as the KC Fed’s regional economist and its representative in Colorado, Wyoming, and northern New Mexico, leading the local research and public engagement teams. He works closely with the Denver Branch’s board of directors, as well as local functional leadership, to foster branch culture and effectiveness. As Vice President, he provides strategic support for community development teams across all offices of the Tenth Federal Reserve District. He is also responsible for briefing the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City on economic conditions in the region. The combined portfolio of regional economic research and community development ensures those briefings include the perspectives of the region’s unique economic footprint and the perspectives of low- and moderate-income households.

Before joining the Bank in 2015, Mr. Sly was associate professor of economics at the University of Oregon. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in mathematics and economics and earned his Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University. Mr. Sly is also a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Gloria Kaasch-Buerger serves as the Town Manager for Basalt, Colorado, bringing over 15 years of municipal, non-profit, and corporate leadership experience to the role. Recognized as the 2024 Colorado Manager of the Year for Small Communities, her background includes four years as Town Administrator in Silverton, Colorado, along with deep expertise in strategic planning, grant and financial management, and community relations across mountain towns.

Gloria holds a B.A. in English-Communications from Fort Lewis College, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado, and a Certified Public Management Certificate from CU. Known for her big-picture vision, collaborative approach, and dedication to local governance, she works alongside residents, staff, and leadership to advance community priorities and future opportunities.

As the CEO of Aspen Skiing Company, Geoff oversees all winter and summer mountain operations at Aspen Snowmass, including revenue centers such as Mountain Food & Beverage, Four Mountain Sports, and Mountain Sales & Schools. Geoff joined Aspen Skiing Company from his previous role as Chief Operating Officer at Whistler Blackcomb, the largest resort in North America, where he had been since 2019.

Buchheister has nearly 25 years of overall ski industry experience, primarily gained at Park City where he spent 16 years in various leadership roles. He joined Vail Resorts in 2014 when they acquired Park City Mountain Resort, and then was appointed to lead the company’s urban ski areas: Afton Alps, Minnesota; Mt. Brighton, Michigan; and Wilmot, Wisconsin. In 2017 he was named general manager of Keystone, Colorado before taking the COO role at Whistler Blackcomb.

Buchheister is a Colorado native who grew up in Winter Park and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where he was a three-time NCAA All-American racer on the ski team.

Kara Silbernagel is the Pitkin County Manager, where she leads the organization in delivering essential services, advancing community priorities and planning for Pitkin County’s future. She brings more than a decade of experience with the County, beginning in 2014 as a University of Colorado Best and Brightest Fellow and policy analyst before moving into leadership roles, including Deputy County Manager. In that role, Kara oversaw Community Development, Public Health, Human Services, Housing and Resiliency, Community Relations, and the Pitkin County Library, while helping lead long-range community planning efforts including Vision 2050.

Kara brings a strong background in public service and community-focused leadership. Prior to joining Pitkin County, she spent five years overseeing AmeriCorps programs for youth corps organizations across Colorado and two years with the National Park Service. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver and a bachelor’s degree in Statistics from the University of Denver.

Diane Jackson is the Airport Director for Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE), where she leads the team responsible for the airport’s operations, safety, strategic planning, financial management and long-term development. She guides efforts to provide safe, reliable and efficient air service while advancing major infrastructure investments, including the Airport Modernization Project, to meet the evolving needs of the community and traveling public.

Diane brings more than 20 years of experience in aviation and airport management. Prior to becoming Airport Director, she served as Deputy Director at ASE and previously as Airport Manager with AFCO/AvPORTS Management at Tweed-New Haven Airport. Her work is focused on ensuring ASE continues to safely and effectively serve residents, visitors and the Roaring Fork Valley for generations to come.

Bill Tomcich has more than thirty years of experience in the unique field of attracting airlines into regional communities.

Bill’s expert knowledge and analytical understanding of both the mountain resort and hospitality industries, along with the airline industry, has commanded respect throughout Colorado communities and throughout the Rocky Mountain ski industry. He sits on the boards of both the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, and the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame and is actively involved with regional and statewide air transportation issues. He is best known as Aspen’s foremost commercial aviation expert and local spokesperson on all issues related to airlines and hospitality metrics.

Josh Cullen serves as the Resident Engineer for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 3 Glenwood Springs Residency. Bringing 26 years of dedicated service to CDOT Region 3, Josh spent over two decades as a Project Engineer delivering essential highway and infrastructure improvements before stepping into his current leadership role in 2022. Today Josh serves as the bridge between high-level regional leadership, engineering design teams, field staff, and private contractors.

Based in New Castle, Josh is deeply connected to the Western Slope communities he serves. Outside of work, he takes full advantage of the Colorado outdoors—enjoying skiing, biking, and hiking alongside his wife, two children, and their two dogs.

Charles “Chuck” Marsh is the Colorado Department of Transportation Regional Communications Manager and is responsible for all public and media relations for CDOT for most of the western half of the state.

Chuck retired after 26 years in the Air Force, having served at all levels of government public relations ranging from basic journalist and photographer to public relations representative for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He arrived to Colorado in 2014, working for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, tracking ballistic missiles, wildfires and…Santa. Upon retiring in 2020, he returned to the commands as a government civilian for several years before joining the CDOT team.

In his CDOT role, Chuck is the Regional Communications Manager based in Grand Junction and together with his Region 3 partner, Austyn Dineen, CDOT I-70 Mountain Corridor Communications Manager, is responsible for CDOT communications across 15 western Colorado counties. This includes managing an array of public information managers subcontracted to provide communications for various CDOT projects; media relations; community affairs and internal communications, all designed to keep communities informed of CDOT projects and roadway issues.

Chuck is married to Heather Marsh, a Department of the Interior Public Affairs Officer supporting the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Together they have two children, Braden (22) and Abigail (20), who are both college students studying mechanical engineering and law, and two German Shorthaired Pointers, Maximus and Thalia. When not engaged at work, Chuck volunteers with the Palisade-based non-profit Hope ‘n Horses, an equine therapy organization dedicated to helping military veterans and first responders. He also enjoys hiking, driving jeep trails and taking in Colorado’s natural beauty.

A Colorado Springs native, Austyn moved to the Colorado High Country nearly two decades ago. She has built an impressive career, holding strategic public relations roles with Vail Resorts, Powdr, Swift Communications, Breckenridge Tourism Office and Backbone Media. Today, she serves as the Communications Manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s I-70 Mountain Corridor, managing crucial public messaging for the stretch between the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel and Glenwood Springs. When she isn’t keeping mountain travelers informed or supporting local boards, Austyn can be found enjoying the outdoors with her husband, their two boys, and their dog, Barley.

Kris Mattera is the President & CEO of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce. With over eight years of dedicated service, she has been a steadfast advocate for the midvalley business community, representing the interests of 400 chamber members.