Environmental Leadership Awards

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Events
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Environmental Leadership Awards

Celebrating leadership in climate action and resilience across the Yampa Valley.

How It Works

Each year, Western Resilience Center honors individuals, organizations, and partners who are making a lasting impact through climate action, collaboration, and community leadership. The Environmental Leadership Awards shine a light on those helping to build a stronger, more resilient Yampa Valley from quiet innovators to public champions.

Awards are presented each January to recognize the previous year’s achievements.

Image of two people standing together with an award and smiling.

A group of people pose together holding up their Sustainability Awards.

2025 Awards

Nominations are now closed for the 2025 Environmental Leadership Awards. Awards will be announced and celebrated during a ceremony at Bud Werner Memorial Library Hall Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 from 5-6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

Thank you to our sponsor

Recent Honorees

Know someone making a difference? Make a nomination for the 2025 awards here.

A group of 17 people pose indoors, each holding a wooden plaque shaped like a tree slice, smiling at the camera, suggesting an awards or recognition event.

2024 Sustainability Awards – Honorees

Environmental Cairn

Yampa River Scorecard Project
Recognized for creating a science-based river health monitoring program to guide restoration, management, and community engagement throughout the Yampa Basin.

Shining Star

Catherine Carson
Honored for persistent civic engagement and climate advocacy, including support for local climate policy and grassroots organizing.

Volunteer of the Year

Si Axtell
Celebrated for his exceptional climate action work through the Yampa Valley Climate Crew, ReTree events, wet meadow restoration, and serving as a Firewise Ambassador.

Sustainable Business

Eagle Creek (Steamboat Springs)
Awarded for leadership in sustainable product design, durability and repair programs, eliminating harmful chemicals, and reducing waste throughout their operations.

Sustainable Government Leadership

Routt County Planning Department
Recognized for finalizing a new Unified Development Code incorporating sustainability strategies around open space, landscaping, building size limits, and habitat protection.

Student Rising Leader

Benjamin Cavarra (Steamboat Resort Sustainability Coordinator)
Presented for advancing sustainable business practices at the resort, including EV transition planning and advocacy.

Partner of the Year

Energy Smart Colorado (Summit County)
Awarded for a decade of consistent energy assessments and home efficiency improvements benefiting low-income households in the Yampa Valley.

Yampa Valley Connector

Nelly Navarro
Honored for fostering collaborative climate and equity initiatives throughout the valley, connecting immigrant communities and local programs.

Waste Diversion Award

UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center
Recognized for innovative waste reduction strategies including compost diversion, reusable surgical caskets, and sustainable anesthesia practices.

2023 Sustainability Awards – Honorees

Yampa Valley Connector Award

Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust & Yampa Valley Conservation Partnership
Recognized for building connection and collaboration across local food-system conservation and land stewardship, preserving over 111,000 acres in the valley.

Sustainable Business Award

Big Agnes
Honored for operational leadership in sustainability through renewable energy sourcing, ethical manufacturing practices, and community engagement.

Shining Star Award

Dylan Anderson
Awarded for elevating community voices through founding The Yampa Valley Bugle and providing trusted local climate and civic journalism.

Rising Leader Award

Marguerite Pilon
Celebrated for using art and design to increase climate literacy and lead creative community engagement as a youth advocate.

Sustainable Government Leadership Award

Routt County Regional Building Department
Recognized for advancing sustainability through county-wide green building codes, EV readiness, and community education.

Partner of the Year

United States Forest Service (local district offices)
Honored for collaborative leadership in meadow restoration, tree planting, seed collection, and growing community scientific participation.

Environmental Cairn Award

Routt County Climate Action Plan Working Groups
Acknowledged for bringing dozens of volunteers to craft high-impact climate actions and guide local policy implementations.

Sustainable Community Leader Award

Colorado Mountain College, Steamboat Springs
Recognized for sustainability education, workforce training, and sponsoring the Yampa Basin Rendezvous conference.

Volunteer of the Year

Liz Green
Honored for dedicated volunteer contributions across reforestation, climate crew, fire preparedness, and restoration events.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Liz Schnackenberg
Celebrated for her decades of leadership in watershed health, riparian ecosystems, wildfire response, and national conservation training.

2022 Sustainability Awards – Honorees

Sustainable Business

Aspen Tree Service
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Shining Star

George O’Brien
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Recycler of the Year

Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Government Leadership in Sustainability

Melissa Dressen, USFS
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Environmental Cairn

Integrated Water Management Plan
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Partner of the Year

City of Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Partner of the Year

Frank Alfone
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Volunteer of the Year

Suzy Sayle
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Yampa Valley Connector

Jennifer Holloway, Craig Chamber
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Educator of the Year

Yampatika
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Rising Leader

Margaux Shea
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

Rising Leader

Thomas Cooper
Summary of contributions recognized under this award.

2021 Sustainability Awards

Shining Star

Jill Bergman

Sustainable Government Leadership

Northwest Colorado Regional Solar Partners

Partner of the Year

Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District

Recycler of the Year

Stantec

Sustainable Business

BAR-U-EAT

Educator of the Year

Kristyl Boies

Volunteer of the Year

Mary Ann Ninger

Sustainable Community Leader

Brown Ranch Strategic Committee

Lifetime Achievement

Geoff and Betsy Blakeslee

Lifetime Achievement

CJ Mucklow

Environmental Cairn

Yampa River Fund

Yampa Valley Connector

Sasha Nelson

Rising Leader

Sidney Barbier

2020 Sustainability Awards

Sustainable Business

Snow Bowl

Shining Star

Yampa Valley Community Foundation

Recycler of the Year

Innovative Regeneration Colorado

Sustainable Government Official

Kelly Romero-Heaney

Environmental Cairn

Climate Action Plan Project Management Team

Partner of the Year

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps

Volunteer of the Year

Brian Ashley

Volunteer of the Year

Meredith Rose

Sustainable Community Leader

Community Agriculture Alliance

Exceptional Dedication and Commitment

Scott Conner

Sustainable Home of the Year

311 Pearl St, designed and built by workshopL

2019 Sustainability Awards

Shining Star

Emi Cooper

Volunteer of the Decade

Sarah Jones

Volunteer of the Year

Liz Wahl

Sustainable Business

PureBuilt Inc and Brad Bartels

Sustainable Educator

Jeff Troeger

Sustainable Government Official

Mike Zopf