Kate is a software architect who works “in the cloud” helping nonprofits and education institutions use technology to do good in the world. She was raised in Europe and the UK, has lived in more places than she can count, and is glad to have finally settled. A valley resident since 2016, she is a founding board member of Trails for All, enjoys the outdoors with her horses and alpacas, and loves traveling to visit her adult children and to see the world.

Richard has lived part time in the Valley since 2005 and moved here full time in 2013. He has been active in education for much of his life, working with children as a social worker starting in the 1970s. He is Professor Emeritus of the University of Alaska, where teaching was the favorite part of his job. After retirement, Richard was a substitute teacher both in Juneau and here in Custer County. He enjoyed being a volunteer in Custer County school classrooms for another five years thereafter. He is a member of the Alaska Bar Association (retirement status) and was the Municipal Judge for the towns of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe for two years.

Clark is Senior Managing Partner at Trailcrest Capital Advisors, a high net worth consultant and family office manager. As former Director of Research and Portfolio Manager at New York Life Investment Management, Dr. Maxam combines over 25 years of proprietary fixed income, equity and derivatives trading experience with a Ph.D. in finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. At New York Life, he led product development in both equities and fixed income and managed or co-managed over $1 billion in assets for their $4 billion quantitative strategies group. His market experience includes proprietary fixed income and derivative arbitrage trading and market making as Senior Vice President at Security Pacific Global Trading and NatWest Capital Markets. He is a past member of both the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange and was Senior Vice President of financial futures floor trading and sales from 1988-1993.

Dirk is a practicing architect and land developer. Prior to moving recently to our glorious Valley, he was the design manager for an architectural/engineering ministry non-profit based in Colorado Springs that provides strategic design services for global ministries. His focus centered on educational and healthcare facilities, while international exposure ignited a passion for cross-cultural connection and catalyzing under-resourced people groups. Now that their adulting children are thriving on their own journeys, he and his wife Joy have delighted settling into the dynamic Westcliffe environment and community.

Dr. Alma Golden is a pediatrician who retired full-time to her home in the Wet Mountain Valley in 2021, where her family has had roots and property for over 25 years. Her most recent assignment was in Washington, DC leading the Bureau for Global Health in the United States Agency for International Development as the White House Appointed, Senate-confirmed Assistant Administrator. Previously (2002-2006) she served under President George W. Bush in Health and Human Services leading the Office of Population Affairs. Her career has included private pediatrics, indigent health services, academic medicine (University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and Texas A&M University), healthcare administration, adolescent health, and national and international public health policy. She began her professional career as a 7th grade Life Science teacher before entering medicine. Alma is delighted to be the grandmother of 13 wonderful children and young adults.

Heidi is a career professional musician with two Grammy nominations. She is the founder and director of the Youth Music Program at High Mountain Hay Fever, the High Mountain Hayseeds, which is celebrating nearly 20 years of offering youth music instruction to our community. She is also on the Board of High Mountain Hay Fever which has raised nearly $1,000,000 for children’s health in Custer County. Heidi was the Hellman Visiting Artist at the Memory and Aging Center, University of California at San Francisco and has completed a Brain Health Fellowship at the Global Brain Health Institute, also at UCSF in the Department of Neurology. She holds a Master of Education Degree in music and has taught in public schools as well as privately for many years. She is on the grant review team for the International Bluegrass Music Association. Recently, she co-founded the Hayseeds Instrument Library, a program for all ages that provides bluegrass instruments for check out at our local West Custer County Library as well as music classes and lessons. Heidi was raised in the rural community of Covelo, CA where she learned to enjoy the outdoors, her horses, and, of course, music.

Lived in Connecticut through college. Followed by California, Colorado (1970’s), Illinois, Texas, and then to Westcliffe in 2004. Naval officer for three years, two of which spent in Vietnam. After that experience worked with IBM for almost thirty years in sales, computer development, and management. Retired in 1996, and then earned masters’ degrees in history, and education. Since moving to Westcliffe my participation in the community includes; Board of Zoning (2013 to present), Business Advisor to the Clinic Board and Clinic staff (2012-2014), Search & Rescue (2005-2013), Planning Commission Alternate (2008-2012), Volunteer Advisor to School Superintendents and Principals (2016 – present), Bring It To The Table Custer County (BITTTCC) (2020 - present), Education Legacy Fund Board (2019 - present).

Troy is an educator and guidance counselor and has been enthusiastically involved with Custer County Schools since 2012.

Reggie is the President for Custer County’s BOE (Board of Education) as well as the County’s Public Information Officer.

Walter is an entrepreneur, business owner, and investor. He was born in the Netherlands, raised in Australia, and has lived in South Africa and Canada, before moving to Colorado with his family in 1988. Walter was educated as a Mechanical Engineer. Since building their home in the Wet Mountain Valley in 2000, Walter and his wife Els have focused on supporting our local schools and students, founding the Adopt a Class program and Education Legacy Fund 501c(3).

Susan is a retired educator with 20 years of experience as a teacher in elementary schools. She taught fifth grade for many years before becoming a math and reading specialist. Education is her passion! She recently relocated to Westcliffe with her husband, Don, from Kansas City. They are looking forward to getting involved in the community and they also have three grown sons who are enjoying their visits to Westcliffe. Her role as Community Coordinator for Education Enrichment is to coordinate educational activities for both children and adults in Custer County. She will also assist the ELF Board of Directors with special projects and events.

Are you interested in helping shape the future of lifelong learning in the Wet Mountain Valley? The Education Legacy Fund of Custer County is currently seeking a Student Advisor. Fill out our contact form to apply — we look forward to filling this necessary position soon!