“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead
Jim Stuart, Board Chair
Jim Stuart was born and raised in Pueblo and graduated from Central High School in 1954. His employment experience includes Broome Brothers (Sparkletone Photo Service) and Estes Industries, the world’s largest model rocket manufacturer, in Penrose, Colorado. In 1971, he founded Sangray Corporation, and assumed the position of President and CEO. He retired from Sangray in late 2001. Mr. Stuart has two sons, two stepdaughters, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. His hobbies include photography, woodworking, reading and stained glass. His volunteer activities are numerous and include Congressional Medal of Honor Convention held in Pueblo in the year 2000, Friends of the Pueblo Library District, Pueblo Library District Board of Trustees, Pueblo Library Foundation and the Pueblo Home of Heroes Association Board. Jim was awarded the Friends of the Library “Friend of the Year” in 2011, was recently honored by the Colorado Association of Libraries with the Outstanding Library Trustee of 2012 and was inducted into the Pueblo Hall of Fame in March 2014.
Lamar Trant, Board Vice-Chair
Lamar Trant is a Licensed Psychologist who has worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities for over 40 years. She was a co-founder of Energy Alternatives in Pueblo and Exquisite Taste on Union Avenue, featuring Life Is Good clothing which supports the Kids Foundation, a nonprofit for children facing unfair challenges. A Colorado native, Lamar has a background in tree climbing, hiking, playing with reptiles, and spending as much time outside as possible. Current hobbies include travel and attending music concerts, working out and Tai Chi.
Brad Whitney, Board Secretary
Brad was born and raised is Wisconsin, earned a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and began his career with Trane air conditioning. He relocated to Pueblo in 1987 when Trane built a new manufacturing facility in Pueblo and retired after 32 years with Trane in 2012. During his career, Brad held various product management, marketing and product support roles. The outdoors has always been an important part of his life from early childhood, continuing with an “Outdoor Education” middle school experience, and in raising his own family. Brad enjoys hiking, biking, backpacking, hunting and fishing. He recently completed hiking the entire 486 miles of the Colorado Trail.
Mike Spahr, Board Treasurer
Mike was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved with his family to Colorado in the 1980’s. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Beaver Creek Youth Camp along with being a member and Executive Director of a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Mike was a committee member of the local Pueblo CSAC during 2008/09. His wife Sandy, and his children are active members and volunteers of many non-profits and are involved in building healthy communities on varying levels. Mike brings a strong professional background in finance and business to his role as a Board of Trustee Member. A desire to improve the environment for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren is a driving force behind Mike’s service to the Mountain Park Environmental Center.
Sheila Cover
Sheila brings a passion for children and education, which includes 27 years of experience teaching elementary age students, to MPEC’s Board of Trustees. She is currently the Kindergarten teacher at St. Therese in Pueblo. Sheila received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and Art Education from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. She enjoys hiking, gardening, walking and running, reading and watching sporting
Marc Pratarelli
Marc Pratarelli has been Professor of Psychology at Colorado State University-Pueblo since 1999. He has authored more than 150 research publications, books, chapters and abstracts, many of which focus on human-environment interaction. He is a member of the International Institute for the Study of Man in Florence, Italy; the current editor of the international journal, Global Bioethics; and an advisor to EU, UNESCO and Biotechnology Ethics committees. He has been a Beulah resident since 2003 and lectures internationally on the subject of environmental ethics.
Patrick Galvin
(photo & bio coming soon)
Christian Avila
Christian Avila was born in Denver and raised in Pueblo. He has working in the insurance industry for the past fifteen years. He has worked as an Underwriter for home and auto insurance, and for the past six years he has been an insurance agent. He recently moved to High Desert Insurance as an independent insurance broker. Christian and his wife Heather have three sons, ages twenty-three, sixteen, and six. Christian brings a strong background in risk management, business, and marketing to his new role as a Board of Trustee Member.
Warren Nolan
Warren is a Pueblo native and retired school teacher. He is president of the Pueblo Archaeological and Historical Society. He has participated in innumerable archeological projects and likes that archaeology brings together a mix of gritty, often eccentric people from various fields of study to work in wild, feral landscapes. He notes that archaeology, unlike most academic
disciplines, encourages and welcomes participation by avocational amateurs (citizen scientists). In his mind there are few greater goods than introducing people, especially children, to the outdoors.
He is both amazed by and thankful for the Earth Studies Program that brings fifth graders from Pueblo City Schools to the Mountain Park Environmental Center four times each year. He challenges someone, anyone to find anywhere a more outstanding outdoor education program for children. He enjoys gardening, reading, and taking walks with his wife.
Jon Walker
Jon was born in southeastern Kansas and lived a number of years in Oklahoma. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Arts from the University of Tulsa, and a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma. He now serves as the Executive Director for the Pueblo City-County Library District. He lives in Pueblo with his wife, Stacy. They have two sons, Ian, who is 21 years old and recently graduated college, and Sean, who is 17 years old and a high school senior. For leisure, Jon enjoys reading and the arts, long distance running and all things outdoors, community service, and coffee with friends.
“The breeze,