Meet Our Team

  • A fourth generation Coloradan and Denver native, Vivian graduated with honors from Colorado College in 2001 with a BA in English. She then lived in San Francisco for four years and worked and volunteered with several nonprofits including: Project Open Hand, San Francisco School Volunteers, James S. Brady Therapeutic Riding Program, Junior League, and Arts in Action. In 2005, Vivian was hired as the Development Associate for Save Our Youth Mentoring Project in Denver, an agency serving over 500 urban youth per year. After moving to Telluride in 2007, Vivian served for five years as the Executive Director of One to One San Miguel Mentoring Program, where she created the annual Top Chef fundraiser, multi-day summer camping trip, and grew the organization to serve more youth than ever before. In 2009 she was awarded a scholarship from the El Pomar Foundation and Telluride Foundation to participate in the Colorado Community Resource Center's Nonprofit Leadership and Management Program, of which she is a graduate. In 2014, after recognizing a need in the region for a teen-specific mentoring program, Vivian co-founded True North along with Lanier Nelson and Betsy Walker. The three all worked as unpaid staff for four years to build the organization on a grass-roots model. Vivian is passionate about education and loves helping students find a pathway to college. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking for family and friends as well as exploring and photographing river canyons and other wilderness places.

  • Allie resides in Nucla and is a Colorado native with a passion for her community! She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Health Science with an emphasis in childhood and adolescent disorders. Allie also holds an associate's degree in psychology and is currently working on her masters of social work credential. Allie is certified as a victim advocate in Colorado, crisis prevention and intervention, and has over 15 years experience working in non-profit, specifically in children's programs.

    You will often find Allie outdoors hiking, camping, fishing and doing all the things Colorado life has to offer. Her passion for children extends to the community where she is a mother, foster parent, mentor, and caregiver to just about every child she encounters. Volunteer work over the years has included serving as a trustee for the Town of Naturita board, previously serving on Montrose West Recreation board, and various other Board of Directors when needed.

    Allie brings a love of her community and a strong knowledge in programming and social-emotional development that she is excited to share with True North participants and families.

  • Destiny is a Colorado native with deep family roots in Nucla going back to the Colorado Cooperative Company origination. She has been loving her move from the Denver Metro area and is experiencing all that small-town life has to offer with her two children. She is currently studying for a Bachelor's in Elementary Education, with an end goal of being a middle school English Language Arts teacher. Destiny was recently elected Secretary of the Tabeguache Trail Riders and works as a Paraprofessional at Nucla High School. She is extremely excited to be involved in such an enriching program here at True North!

  • Ray has been working with youth since 2018, when he started as a middle school science mentor in the Bay Area. Ray was introduced to the True North community through working with students at the Telluride Nordic Center and as an instructor at Telluride Academy. He is in his second year living in the region and is excited to be more involved with the True North community. Ray comes from the Pacific Northwest and went to school in California. He also spent the first half of 2023 studying and working as a researcher at the Navdanya Institute in Uttarakhand, India. Ray holds a B.s. in Society and Environment from the University of California, Berkeley, and he is excited to learn from the experience of the True North team.

  • Erin grew up in Boulder and then spent 20 years in the South. She is happy to be back in her home state getting to rediscover all the amazing things Colorado has to offer. From building her little farm to exploring the mountains, Erin believes there is so much to do and see and she loves sharing it with others. Erin also teaches math and science at Nucla High School.

  • Originally from central Ohio, Ashley is deeply grateful to have found a home nestled in the San Juans. Born and raised in Columbus, Ashley graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Environmental Sciences. She has an extensive background regarding just about anything with nature and animals, beginning with her attendance at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for her junior and senior years of high school and later becoming a zookeeper. Once in college, her passion for the natural world shifted from wildlife conservation to ecosystem restoration and reclamation. In her last semester, she kickstarted her career as an independent restoration contractor for a local nature preserve and a research partner at her university. Much of her work and research has focused on mitigating invasive species and restoring degraded farmlands in the midwest. When she moved out west she briefly continued her contracting work with a local research and education non profit organization, conducting invasive species surveys on the Telluride valley floor.

    Ashley’s journey to the San Juans began with a pop up camper and an eagerness to explore. She crossed the Mississippi for the first time and landed in the Telluride area where she fell in love with the natural beauty and the community. Here, Ashley has begun to dig into the world of sustainable food systems and farming. In the process of doing what she can to aid in feeding this lovely community, Ashley has gained a sense of purpose and she plans to continue chasing that feeling through her work with True North.

Meet Our Board

  • Retired Journalist

    Rose specializes as a True North College & Career Readiness volunteer. She works with True North staff regularly to assist with Telluride in-school programming, and volunteers regularly as a tutor for After School Base Camp.

  • Rentals Manager, Telluride Sports

    Dave specializes in True North's outdoor programs and has lent his time and talent as a chaperone and yoga instructor for our group activities.

  • Real Estate Lawyer

    Suse is a real-estate lawyer and specializes in editing internal documents, sourcing new scholarship opportunities for students, as well as editing student essays and applications for jobs, scholarships, and college.

  • McKay and his wife Nina raised five children in Colorado and have opened up their home and farm in Norwood for True North activities and programs. True North participants have enjoyed many fond memories at the Valentine Farm and Jubilee Stables including equine activities, the annual Valentine Has Heart Valentines Day celebration, the summer retreat for the Rising Stars, and helping out at the fireman's fundraiser. McKay also lends his longtime business expertise to our organization.

  • Tanya Morlang was born and raised in the Norwood area. After high school, she left the area for a short time to attend college. Her love for this area drew her back to start her business, Total Image Salon, in 2001. Her and her husband Mike, knew that this was where they wanted to raise their children. Tanya’s true passion is her family. She has three kids, her oldest Saige attends CSU, Brenna attends Norwood High School, and Cooper attends Norwood Elementary School. In her free-time, Tanya enjoys outdoor activities with her family and can be found exploring off-road trails, snowmobiling, and boating.

  • Matt is an avid skier, mentor and volunteer! If he's not maintaining properties or out skiing, he can be found at any one of our programs. He especially enjoys getting outdoors and working with our youth to build new skills!

  • While growing up in the south, Lanier was exposed to volunteer work early on with his mother who would bring him and his brother along to deliver meals to the elderly. In high school Lanier was involved in sports to keep him occupied and out of trouble, which proved to be effective. His volunteer spirit was again fed in college by becoming a volunteer tutor with Western Youth Network. In the summers he was a camp counselor at a camp for adopted children. To this day Lanier still speaks to one of his campers twice a month.In his time as an adult Lanier wasted little time at pouring himself into mentoring. He started mentoring shortly after his arrival in Telluride, CO. He is still in contact with his original mentee. Lanier taught him how to drive a manual transmission, be respectful of others, give a firm handshake and to give more than he takes. Lanier coached Telluride High School soccer, was a One-to-One Mentor, and a Young Life leader in Telluride, before co-founding True North Youth Program in 2014. He now lives in Texas with his wife Denee and their son, Benjamin True Nelson. He graduated with his Master's in Social Work In October of 2019 to broaden his impact on the world. Lanier is currently working at a mental health authority on the crisis outreach team. He and his family often make the trip to Telluride for graduation.

  • Jody is passionate about her three kids and dog, education and learning, personal growth, self-awareness and authenticity, neurodiversity, reading, writing, music, truth, honesty, spending time outdoors, exercising, eating healthy food (especially all kinds of vegetables), and getting to know quirky and curious people of all ages. She is the founder of 2e Blossom Through Strengths, a strengths based assessment program to help students and parents in educational discoveries.

True North’s Advisory Board

Because of our belief in the power of community feedback and positive youth development, True North actively consults our Advisory Board, a group of former True North participants and community members. This Board is invaluable as they have each been involved in True North programming and provide incredible direction through their expertise and know-how. Thank you to all who have given of their talents to True North.

Betsy Walker, (Sawpit, CO) - Co-Founder of True North Youth Program. Betsy served on the board for 8 years. Betsy helped develop the five core programs and served as a tutor and college preparedness Navigator. Betsy has volunteered with youth programs for more than twenty years.

Ashley Coady Smith, (Telluride, CO) - Founder of Sage Advice Telluride (a capacity building and project management business for nonprofits in Telluride, CO), Ashely has worked in outdoor education, nonprofit management and sales/marketing for over 11 years. 

Alex Jones, (Sawpit, CO) - Telluride High School Guidance Counselor.

Bianca Schillaci, (Telluride, CO) - Telluride High School Student Ambassador, previously a summer 2022 intern.

​John Mansfield, dec. (Norwood, CO) - Founder of One to One San Miguel Mentoring Program, former director of San Miguel County Juvenile Diversion and professor of fine art. John is also a former True North Board member and founder of the Tom Hale Memorial Scholarship. Upon his passing, True North started a scholarship in his name, The Jon Mansfield Memorial Scholarship.

​​Ashley Williamson, (Ophir, CO) - Telluride Intermediate School Teacher, English Language Learner specialist, Director of 2018 Rising Stars Summer Bridge Program, True North Founding Board Member.​

Susan Oupadia, MD, (Telluride, CO) - Board of Telluride Museum, Telluride Women's Network, former leader of adolescent girls program for Peace Corps in Albania.

Cheryl Carstens Miller, (Telluride, CO) - Former School Board Director, AVID sponsor, Just for Kids Board Member.​

Erik Fallenius, (Telluride, CO) - Just for Kids Foundation founder, Director of Mountains to Desert ride, owner of Nevasca Realty.​​​

Ross Williams, (Ridgeway, CO) - Former Co-Executive Director, Founder of Ouray Ice Festival and Ice Climbing adventure.​

Jenna Hagen, (Telluride, CO) - ESL Teacher, TIS.​

Don Mitchell, (San Bernardo) - Founding True North Board Member, Educator, former One Telluride Executive Director.

Nancy Hild, (Telluride, CO) - Founding True North Board of Directors, business owner, raised three sons in Telluride. 

David Almaraz, (Boulder, CO) - True North alumni who graduated from the Leeds School of Business in 2023.

Brenda Gutierrez, (Durango, CO) - True North alumni currently studying Education at Fort Lewis College.