| Staff | |
| Aaron Carlson | Executive Director |
| Brian Rodine | Marketing and Events Director, Trailhead Program Manager |
| Katie Thibideau | Development Officer |
| Kia Soden | Membership and Development Coordinator |
| Sam Gifford | Education and Programs Coordinator |
| Board of Directors | |
| Markian Feduschak | Board Chair |
| Brent Brown | Board Vice Chair |
| Bill Mueller | Board Treasurer |
| Heidi Ruckriegle | Board Secretary |
| Jonathan Lantz | Board Member |
| Rusty Perry | Board Member |
| Samantha Killgore | Board Member |
| David W. Clark | Board Member |
| Ethan Greene | Non Voting CAIC Liaison |
Aaron Carlson, Executive Director
Aaron grew up skiing the 299 vertical foot hills in Minnesota. After moving to Utah in 2001, Aaron discovered his passion for the backcountry. In 2008, Aaron brought his dedication for the backcountry community to the CAIC Benefit Bash. As the co-organizer, he was able to design, organize, and run the largest fundraiser in CAIC history. Aaron became the first employee and executive director of the Friends of CAIC in 2013 and has overseen the tremendous impact the organization has had on avalanche safety. Aaron has a B.S. degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism from the University of Utah. He resides in Evergreen and can be found skiing, mountain biking, and adventuring with his boys.
Brian Rodine, Marketing and Events Director, Trailhead Program Manager
Brian grew up on the front range and translated a love of skiing and a business degree from Colorado State into a career in marketing mostly around the ski industry. He’s spent time touring in the Alps, Iceland, Alaska, and around the continental US, and loves skiing, hiking, and riding with his wife and daughter. Brian also serves on the board of his local trails association, the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, and loves baking bread, soccer, and the non-fiction section of the library.
Katie Thibideau, Development Officer
Katie grew up in Michigan, where she first developed a love for skiing, hiking, and spending time in the great outdoors. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Michigan, she moved to Colorado in search of bigger hills and powder days. Katie brings over five years of nonprofit marketing and fundraising experience to Friends of CAIC. When she’s not on the slopes or in the backcountry, you can find her hiking, biking, and continuing to explore Colorado with family and friends.
Kia Soden, Membership and Development Coordinator
Kia is an adventure enthusiast with a passion for climbing, hiking, snowboarding and everything in between. Growing up at a lake in the Midwest, Kia started her love for extreme sports by boating and water skiing her way through childhood, and has continued her adventure all over the US, spending time hiking and climbing in Colorado, Utah, Tennessee, Wyoming, and Alaska. Professionally, Kia brings 5+ years of experience in the outdoor industry, spending time in membership outreach programs, community development, and facility management, and is excited to bring her passion to Friends of CAIC to serve the Colorado backcountry community.
Sam Gifford, Education and Programs Coordinator
Originally from Massachusetts, Sam got his start in the backcountry, riding Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mt Washington. After migrating west and discovering splitboarding, he has relentlessly pursued his passion through continued education and exploration of the western mountains. Sam was a student in the Colorado Mountain College Avalanche Science program and is pursuing an AMGA Ski Guide certification on a splitboard. He has completed the AAA Pro 1, AIARE I, AIARE II, and Companion Rescue. Keep an eye out for him at your local trailhead this season where he’ll be sharing his passion for responsible winter backcountry travel as Friends of CAIC Education and Programs Coordinator.
Board of Directors
Markian Feduschak
Markian is the president of Walking Mountains School in Avon. He joined Walking Mountains after fifteen years with Outward Bound West where he served as a field instructor, course director and Colorado program director. Throughout his career in outdoor education, Markian has focused on leadership development, effective team building, staff training, and risk management. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Colorado and resides in Eagle with his wife and two daughters.
Brent Brown
Brent grew up on the East Coast where he started skiing at the age of 3, competitively raced for several years, and was a Ski Race Coach for over 10 years. Brent graduated from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania with a degree in Business Information Systems. After moving to Denver in 2007 he was quickly bitten by the Colorado outdoor bug and began venturing into the backcountry to ski. He has AIARE Level 1 and 2 avalanche training. With his wife and 2 dogs they continue to explore Colorado with all the outdoors has to offer.
Bill Mueller
Bill grew up on the Front Range of Colorado and graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in Political Science. After a brief stint working with the CAIC, he went on to spend time with various outdoor brands including SCARPA, DPS and Flylow. Mueller holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver, is a NOLS Semester in the Rockies Graduate and currently works as President of Yeti Cycles in Golden. When not on the bike or skiing, you will find Bill exploring somewhere out west with his dogs.
David W. Clark
David moved to Aspen in 2007 where he joined Aspen Skiing Company’s legal Department after spending 20 years working inside the insurance industry. His responsibilities as Deputy General Counsel include providing legal support for various aspects of ski area operations. David sits on several boards and actively volunteers for community projects in the Roaring Fork Valley. With a particular love for the backcountry and high places, he is a lifelong skier and climber. David completed his undergraduate studies at Portland State University following a six-year enlistment in the United States Navy and received his law degree from the University of Denver. He is a member of the Colorado Bar and lives in Aspen with his wife and best friend, Sue. David can be reached at dclark@aspensnowmass.com.
Samantha Killgore
Samantha (Sam) is the Communications Manager at Protect Our Winters, a Boulder-based non-profit that works to mobilize the outdoor community in climate advocacy. While her career has taken a recent turn toward the nonprofit world, it has always been centered on the outdoors. Spanning multiple brands, Sam’s efforts have helped to develop marketing communication strategies for well-known outdoor brands such as OR, Rab, and SCARPA. Sam grew up in Washington state, but in 2009, she followed her passion for the outdoors to the sunshine and mountains of Colorado. You’ll find her and her husband Jason, and a beloved pooch, trail running in the Flatirons of Boulder or meadow skipping in Summit County.
Jonathan Lantz
Jonathan is the President of la Sportiva North America based in Boulder, CO. He has lived in Nederland, CO for 23 years with his wife Alisa and their two children Talus (18) and Kale (16). He is a well-known local in the Eldora ski community and his passion is backcountry skiing, climbing, trail running and mountain biking. In addition to running La Sportiva, he has served on the Board of Directors of LERT or Lake Eldora Race Team a 501 c non-profit which is the parent organization for EMSC (Eldora Mountain Ski Club) and SMBA (Single Track Mountainbike Adventures).
Rusty Perry
Rusty grew up skiing the East Coast and finally escaped when he came to the University of Colorado, Boulder for undergrad in 1987 and he’s been skiing the backcountry of Colorado ever since. The Colorado snowpack hasn’t changed much since then but backcountry gear, travel and knowledge has. Rusty kept law school at the University of Denver fun by scheduling classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and skiing five days a week. He is basically an attorney but also is a partner in two wearable technology companies and Quiver Killer, a ski binding mounting system company. However, odds are that you can find him wandering around the mountains in Colorado, Utah or Hokkaido.
Heidi Ruckriegle
Originally from Breckenridge, Heidi has always had a special love for the Colorado Mountains. After graduating from University of Colorado Boulder she moved south to work for Costa Rica Outward Bound. Eventually she missed the snow and cold and returned to study law at the University of Denver. Her practice focuses on natural resources, energy, environmental and public lands matters. Winter is Heidi’s favorite season and she enjoys skiing as much as possible.