During that time, she founded or helped start 7 different youth and civilian service corps programs in Colorado and nationally. Immediately prior to VOC, Ann served as the founding director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association, where she was Executive Director for 11 years.

Ann has been a visionary, strategic, and bold leader for VOC, effectively guiding the organization with cost-effective and impactful programmatic development. During her tenure, Ann successfully led the implementation of three large-scale strategic plans, transitioning VOC from its historical “trail club” roots to a statewide stewardship leader, recognized across the country for its effective volunteer programs. Under her  leadership, VOC has received numerous prestigious awards including the “Making a Difference Award” for exceptional contributions to conservation and management of public lands, the highest national award from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

In 2017, Ann was recognized by the Denver Business Journal as a Colorado Thought Leader, reflecting the characteristics she embodied as she skillfully developed a talented professional staff team, including the establishment of two VOC partnership offices in the San Luis Valley and Weld County. Together with Ann, this team has championed effective ways to build lifelong outdoor stewards through VOC’s Boots on the Ground programs and expanded Colorado’s stewardship capacity and collaborative efforts through the organization’s Stepping Up Stewardship and Naturally United program areas.

In addition, Ann’s fundraising acumen successfully increased VOC’s overall operating budget three-fold to $1.4 million while also doubling the organization’s $2.0 million endowment. In 2014, she led a capital campaign to remodel the VOC office at Denver’s historic Dos Chappell Bathhouse in Washington Park, including the installation of a donor recognition patio to commemorate VOC’s 30^th anniversary. More recently, she was instrumental in VOC’s establishment of the Grossman Scholarship Program, a donor-advised education fund for post-secondary students pursuing careers in environmental science and conservation work.

“I am so very grateful to the whole VOC community,” said Ann, “I expressly want to thank the many donors, volunteers and talented VOC volunteer leaders who unselfishly give their time and talents in support of Colorado’s great outdoors. Their actions inspire and remind me to always pay it forward by giving back and giving often. And, never have I worked with a more talented staff team. I will miss them – largely because I may never have another group who will so patiently endure my bad jokes as this team has done. And my heartfelt gratitude extends to the current and former VOC Board members who believed in me in 2007 and have been my mentors and guides ever since. Together we have chartered an amazing positive stewardship course for Colorado! Thank you all.”

The VOC Board has formed a search committee to determine forthcoming details on securing Ann’s replacement. Please stay tuned to www.voc.org or sign up for our e-newsletter, The VOC Voice, for more information.