Central Peaks Region
Counties: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park
Cities: Buena Vista, Canon City, Fairplay, Salida, Westcliffe
The Central Peaks Council has focused on affordable housing for the past few years but has also leveraged its funding more recently to meet various community needs in education, health and human services. Examples of the Council’s support include the Chaffee County Housing Authority, for an adaptive housing project in Salida, and 12 nonprofits around the region that deliver educational and mental health programs.
Meet Our Regional Council Members
Kyle Hybl currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for El Pomar Foundation and Vice President of The Garden City Company. Kyle is Chairman Emeritus of the University of Colorado System, a board he served on from 2007-2018. Kyle currently serves as Chairman of National Cybersecurity Center, Corporate Secretary for Junior Achievement, USA and on the boards of American Council of Young Political Leaders, Employers Council and Exponential Impact. In 2018, Kyle was appointed as a member of the Air Force Civic Leaders Program.
Kyle earned bachelor's and juris doctor degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a former Air Force Captain and Judge Advocate.
Kyle H. Hybl
President and Chief Executive Officer, El Pomar Foundation
A fly-fishing guide and outfitter on the Arkansas River since 1985, Greg Felt’s route to public service began with water. In advocating at the state level for the Arkansas River Voluntary Flow Management Program and for protecting the Right to Float, he grasped both the tenuous nature of non-consumptive beneficial use of water and its essential value to Colorado’s quality of life. Acting on this belief, he was appointed to the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District board in 2006, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District board in 2017, and was appointed Arkansas Basin Representative to the Colorado Water Conservation Board by Governor Polis in 2020. Along the way, he was elected Chaffee County Commissioner in 2016 and was reelected without opposition in 2020. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and of the county Board of Health, a normally low-key position that took on weighty significance in March of 2020. He has a daughter, Kestrel (27) and son, Rowen (24) and resides in Salida with his wife, Susan.
Greg Felt
County Commissioner, Chaffee County
Jim Little is retired editor and publisher of the Westcliffe Wet Mountain Tribune, a weekly newspaper serving Custer County. He has long been involved in numerous local and regional nonprofit organizations. He was a founding member and past chair of the Wet Mountain Valley Community Foundation, and also served as chair of the West Custer County Library District. He currently serves as a board member and volunteer for other nonprofits. He's a fifth generation native of Colorado and has lived in Wetmore since 1975.
Jim Little
Former Owner and Publisher, Wet Mountain Tribune
Judy Lohnes served 41 years with the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments in Cañon City, including 27 years as the Executive Director, Judy retired in March of 2020. During her tenure she has led numerous collaborative efforts in human services throughout Fremont, Chaffee, Lake and Custer counties. She recently facilitated a regional broadband strategic plan process for a five-county region and is an active convener of four industry sector partnerships. In addition to her professional efforts Judy has served on numerous non-profit boards and will continue her many community based efforts in retirement.
Judy Lohnes
Former Executive Director, Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments
Wendell Pryor retired as the Director of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation on June 30, 2021 after 12 years. He has been an Adjunct Professor/Lecturer with the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs for over 20 years, and Senior Fellow for Diversity and Inclusion. He also taught in the Graduate School of Public and Business Administration at California State University in San Bernardino. He retired as the State of Colorado Civil Rights Director, is a former lobbyist, and a social entrepreneur. He served as the Chair of the Foundation Board (now Next 50) and a member of the Board of Directors for Innovage, a senior care organization. He was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper as a Trustee for Adams State Colorado University and Board member on the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, and currently serves as a Governor Polis appointee on the Colorado Economic Development Commission. He served as the Human Resources Director for the City and County of San Francisco, City of Oakland, California, City of Riverside, California, City of Aurora, Colorado, and Acting Director of the Denver Career Service Authority. He was Co-Chair of the Administration Transition Team under Governor Elect Ritter. He has a law degree from the University of Denver, Masters in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, and undergraduate degree in Psychology from Western State Colorado University.
Wendell Pryor
Former Director of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation
F. Charles Schultz has lived in Park County near Fairplay since June 2001. After earning his bachelor's degree in architecture from Kansas State University, Charlie briefly worked for an architecture firm but quickly transitioned to building and general contracting. Charlie spent 34 years as a commercial general contractor in Kansas. Since moving to Park County, Charlie has been involved in the local community through his church, the school district, and the Salvation Army. He also served on the Board of South Park Health Service District as well as Chairperson of the Park County Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment.
Charlie Schultz
Chairperson, Park County Planning Commission
Sheri is a certified executive coach through Hudson Institute of Coaching. Before her executive coaching practice, Sheri led the executive team at St. Thomas More Hospital in Cañon City as Chief Executive Officer, a position she held since 2013. She spent her entire 32-year career with Centura Health, having served in various roles since her start as a junior accountant at St. Joseph Hospital in 1986. Sheri is a Certified Public Accountant and a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Active in the community, Sheri is a Board Member of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of Fremont’s Exceptional Women.
Sheri’s education includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University-Pueblo) and a master’s degree in finance and accounting from Regis University.
Sheri Trahern
Certified Executive Coach, Hudson Institute of Coaching
Senior Staff, Central Peaks Regional Council
Contact Elaine:
719-577-7068
Elaine Martinez
Chief Financial Officer, El Pomar Foundation
Contact Emily:
719-577-7066
Emily Wagner
Program Director, El Pomar Foundation
Contact Phoenix:
719-577-7032
Phoenix Chang Roper
Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation