Southwest Regional Council

R. Thayer Tutt, Jr. is Vice Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of El Pomar Foundation and also serves as President & CEO of Garden City Company.

He is on the investment committee for Geological Society of America, finance committee of National Recreation Foundation, finance and investment committees of Pikes Peak Community Foundation, and investment committee of Fund for American Studies.

Tutt serves on the following nonprofit foundation boards: Care and Share of Colorado Foundation (Board Chair), Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College Foundation (Board President), Colorado Springs Philharmonic Foundation (Board Chair), and Pikes Peak or Bust Foundation.

He is also on the Board of Directors for Broadmoor World Arena (Board Chair), Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado College, Southern Colorado Children’s Hospital, UMB Bank of Colorado, and United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum. In 2009, he received the Business Citizen of the Year Award from the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Tutt is a graduate of Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in geological and geophysical sciences, and earned his master’s degree from Duke University in business administration.

Known as Ms. B., Elizabeth Barszcz has lived and taught in the town of Silverton for over 20 years. She began her teaching career there as a student teacher at Silverton School under the guidance of Kim White. That experience set the foundation for her love of the community. After graduating from Ft. Lewis College in Durango with a teaching degree, she took on a variety of teaching roles in Silverton, including Middle School English and Humanities, Elementary Math, High School Health and Wellness, and more.

Nearly a decade ago, she began transitioning into an administrative leadership role. Today, after serving as the principal of Silverton School, and then Assistant Superintendent, where she focused on supporting students, families, and staff in a close-knit learning environment, she has recently become Superintendent. She has two sons, Elliott and Lucas, and enjoys exploring the great outdoors—hiking, skiing, or simply soaking in Colorado’s natural beauty.
She says that being part of the Silverton community has been one of the greatest joys of her life, and that she’s deeply committed to fostering a nurturing and engaging environment where every student can thrive.

Beth retired in September 2025 after a distinguished 29-year career at Alpine Bank, where she served as Senior Vice President of Community and Business Development. A native Coloradan, her childhood in Denver and cherished weekends at the family cabin in Silverthorne cultivated a lasting affinity for mountain life, leading her to the Western Slope 35 years ago.

She served as a past Chairwoman of the Mercy Health Foundation Board and a past Board Member of the Mercy Regional Medical Center. She also contributed to the local business landscape through her dedicated involvement with numerous non-profit boards and committees, notably with the Durango Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Resource Center.

Recognizing the critical importance of high-quality healthcare and services in the Four Corners Region and driven by a profound desire to continue making a direct, meaningful impact through philanthropy, Beth embraced a new role as Philanthropy Officer with the Mercy Health Foundation. This exciting new chapter allows her to continue her dedication to the community she deeply values, translating her lifelong commitment to service into a focused effort to advance essential healthcare initiatives.

Joe Keck retired in 2015 from the position of Director of the Small Business Development Center at Fort Lewis College in Durango, serving the five-county area of Region 9 in southwestern Colorado. Joe has been a small-business owner since 1993 and worked in planning and economic development capacities with the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes for fifteen years. Joe and his wife Susan were owners of Susie’s Gifts on Main (formerly Susie’s Hallmark Shop) and Cortez Catalog Sales (a JC Penney Catalog Merchant). Joe has served in a number of public capacities including eight years of service on the Cortez City Council as Council Member, of which four years were as Mayor, with the Cortez Downtown Association, the Cortez Chamber of Commerce Board, Mesa Verde Country Tourism Board and the Colorado Aeronautical Board. Joe served as a Trustee on the Ballantine Family Fund from 2001 to 2019. In 2013, Joe was recognized as Southwest Colorado Economic Development Leader of the Year by the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado. He was recognized as the Colorado State Star by the Colorado Small Business Development Network in 2004 at the National Association of Small Business Development Centers Conference in New Orleans and received the SBA Excellence in Innovation Award in 2015.

Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English at Fort Lewis College in Durango, and has completed work toward a master’s degree in Planning and Community Development. He has also completed extensive training in business, community and economic development from the Association of Small Business Development Centers and the National Development Council.

Bruce LeClaire is Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. He has worked with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe for eight years. Previously Bruce worked five years with the Durango School District as the first Title VII Coordinator, now Title VI. Bruce provided support and helped Native American students and families develop a sense of belonging/community. Bruce also worked as an Independent Living Specialist for five years providing independent living skills training and support for Native American Youth in NW New Mexico who had “aged out” of foster care. Bruce was a Project Director for fifteen years of a Residential Behavioral Treatment Program for Native American Adolescents. Bruce serves on the Durango Adult Education Center and KSUT Four Corners Public Radio Board of Directors. He is Treasurer of the Southern Ute Veterans Association. Bruce has served on various community committees to include: two terms on the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Advisory Committee, the La Plata County Suicide Prevention Steering Committee, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Native Connections Advisory Committee, Ignacio School District Multi-Cultural Committee, and was a key leader for the La Plata County Communities that Care program. Bruce is also a member of the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce.

Bruce was born and raised in South Dakota. He moved to Durango, Colorado in 1982, where he graduated from high school. Bruce served in the United States Army as a Combat Engineer, he obtained the rank of Sergeant. He then attended Ft. Lewis College before beginning his 30+ years working with youth, 25 of those years with Native American youth.

Lisa Scott is a community volunteer in Pagosa Springs and has been a resident since 1998. She has been involved with a variety of nonprofit organizations and has held numerous leadership positions with the United Way of Southwest Colorado, Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Foundation and Archuleta County Education Center. Prior to moving to Pagosa Springs, she lived in San Francisco and Denver, and her volunteer affiliations were with the Junior League, Women’s Foundation of Colorado and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Colorado and had a career in investment banking in San Francisco.

Gus Westerman grew up in Dolores Colorado where he resides today. Gus received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Biology and Agriculture Science Minor from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO in 2011. He received a Master of Agriculture from Colorado State University in 2018 with concentrations in rangeland science, animal science, and agricultural business. Upon completing his bachelor of science Gus was employed by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe as a Rangeland Technician where he assisted the SUIT Department of Natural Resources to manage grazing allotments and to ensure environmental compliance with all surface disturbing activities such as energy development on Tribal Lands. In 2014 Gus was employed by Colorado State University Extension as the County Extension Director and Agent based in Dolores County, CO. Gus is responsible for providing research based information to the Dolores County Communities in the focus areas of agriculture, community and economic development, and 4-H youth development. Gus is currently Chairperson for the Dolores County Development Corporation, a member of the Axis Health System Board of Directors, a technical advisor to the Dove Creek Mandatory Weed District, and 4-H liaison for the Dolores County Fair Board.

Ashley has worked across many systems including the health care system, the department of human services, and the education and early childhood education systems.   These works included helping to bridge systems and break down silos in order for communities to implement better services for families. Her work has included both large group stakeholder meetings and development of common goals along with technical assistance and training opportunities for agencies, down to coaching individual professionals. Ashley is currently the director of Public Health for Archuleta County, the president of the Early Childhood Council of Archuleta County, and TA and evaluation consultant for the state Domestic Violence Program. She has previously worked with the City of San Antonio Public Health Department – Violence Prevention Unit, as they went through a full transformation of structure, moving from the umbrella of Law Enforcement to the Public Health Department. Ashley has worked with her local food coalition on community food assessments, participatory community project selections, and a community health assessment. She also has a fundraising background that includes grant management, event planning and execution, as well as donor outreach, cultivation, and management. Overall her experience in early childhood, public health and violence prevention inform her professional lens and work with her community.

Erin Hannan serves as Senior Vice President of Communications for El Pomar Foundation, overseeing the strategic communication initiatives that tell the stories of the Foundation’s mission to enhance, encourage, and promote the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado. This includes management of web, digital and social media; print and video collateral and assets; press relations; brand management and virtual program development. She also serves as the senior staff member for El Pomar’s Southwest Regional Council. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, and held leadership positions at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Vladimir Jones Advertising Agency, and Guess?, Inc. in Los Angeles, California.

She has served on a number of community nonprofit boards and currently serves on the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Broadmoor World Arena, and Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region boards. An early recipient of the Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 recognition (now Rising Stars), she has also been awarded the Pikes Peak Advertising Federation’s Silver Medal Award and recognized as a Colorado Springs Woman of Influence, and is a graduate of both Leadership Pikes Peak and Colorado Springs Leadership Institute.

Elizabeth Gumper joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2024 Fellowship class. As a 2nd Year Fellow, Elizabeth serves on Alumni Relations, Forum for Civic Advancement, and PeOPLE. She also supports the Pikes Peak and Southwest regions.

Elizabeth is a Colorado Springs native and graduated from Colorado State University in 2024. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and obtained two certificates: one in Business-to-Business Selling and another in Youth Mentoring. Dedicated to youth mental health, Elizabeth served as a mentor for at-risk youth during her time at CSU through Campus Connections. In this role, she connected with at-risk youth to help them develop emotional regulation, social skills, and self-advocacy techniques.

Beyond the college classroom, Elizabeth has worked as a K-12 substitute teacher for Poudre School District. She also has served as the Chairman of CSU’s College of Business Student Technology Advisory Committee, aiding in the allocation of student funds to implement student-facing improvements within the College of Business.

In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys dancing, singing at open-mic nights, reading, and exploring her beautiful state through camping, running, and hiking.

Mia Dischner joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2025 Fellowship class. As a 1st Year Fellow, she serves as Fellow for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Awards for Excellence, Investment Challenge, and the Sally Beck Fund. She also supports the Central Peaks and Southwest regions.

Originally from Yuma, Colorado, Mia completed a 10-month term of service with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps before graduating from Colorado State University (CSU) in 2025 with a Bachelor of Natural Science in Psychology. During her time at CSU, she was involved in Ram$ for Change—a student-led volunteer club that connected students with local service opportunities. As an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar, Mia designed a service trip in the summer of 2024 focused on grassroots community organizing abroad. Her travels took her to Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.

Mia also played for the CSU Women’s Club Rugby team, where she enjoyed the boisterous team atmosphere and intense physical competition. Off campus, she volunteered as a high school girls’ wrestling coach at two different schools, believing that sports are a powerful tool for youth mentorship.

In her free time, Mia enjoys listening to scientific podcasts, experimenting with new recipes, traveling, and reading Stephen King novels.