Senior Vice President, Utilities, Supply Chain, and Trade, CoBank
Christopher Shaffner is the senior vice president for the utilities, supply chain and global trade finance divisions, and is a member of the enterprise leadership team of CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses and rural infrastructure providers throughout the United States. Prior to CoBank, Christopher held various leadership positions in both public and private organizations, including executive leadership positions in public housing authorities in Colorado and in New York where he served as the Manhattan Borough Director, leading operations for the New York City Housing Authority during Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. A graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Christopher is also a Finance Leaders Fellow at the Aspen Institute.
Vice President, Colorado Farm Bureau
James Henderson is a 5th generation farmer and rancher. The ranch, located in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, has been in continuous family operation for over 140 years. They raise cattle, oats, barley and other forage crops including alfalfa for use in the dairy industry. Henderson has served as the Vice President of Colorado Farm Bureau since 2020 and also serves on several water boards in his community. He is a graduate of the College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. James and his wife Kiley have 6 children.
Project Development Manager, Blue Forest
Emma Troller is a Project Development Manager at Blue Forest, a non-profit conservation finance organization. Coming from a background in environmental planning, community engagement, and land conservation, at Blue Forest she is responsible for developing public-private partnerships and conservation finance mechanisms across landownership types to improve ecological resilience and reduce wildfire risk throughout the American West.
In Colorado, she previously spent three years at Palmer Land Conservancy. As the Conservation and Recreation Program Manager, Emma managed conservation easement transactions and built trust with rural landowners to negotiate public access for recreation projects. She currently serves on the board of Rocky Mountain Women’s Film, and previously held board positions at the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance and the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway. Emma holds a Bachelors of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Graduate Certificate in Natural Resource Management & Sustainable Ecosystems.
Managing Partner, Culp & Kelly, LLP
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Peter is a nationally-recognized Western water law and policy attorney, with nearly 25 years of experience representing and partnering with foundations and NGOs, municipalities, industry, tribal governments, agricultural interests, and investors, including extensive work in the Colorado River Basin. Over the past decade, Peter has also worked extensively on the development and deployment of innovative approaches to conservation finance, and has worked with various partners to create water-related impact investments throughout the Western United States and northern Mexico.
Peter is the managing partner and co-founder of Culp & Kelly, LLP, a mission-driven law and policy firm, as well as its affiliated consulting and project incubation firm, CK Blueshift, LLC. The two firms work as an integrated team to address a range of water, natural resource, and climate resilience challenges, and together support a growing set of innovative enterprises, projects, and restoration efforts throughout the Western United States.
University Distinguished Professor, College of Liberal Arts, Colorado State University
Dr. Kathleen Galvin is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Geography and former Director of the Africa Center at Colorado State University. She is also an Advising Faculty member for the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, where she founded the Human-Environment Interactions specialization for graduate students interested in a robust academic background in social-ecological systems.
She has conducted interdisciplinary social-ecological systems research in the drylands of East Africa and East Asia. Galvin has worked with local communities on land-use change, biodiversity conservation, food security, and climate change impacts and adaptation. She uses social-ecological systems frameworks, simulation modeling, and geospatial tools to understand human-environment issues and interactions. Her current research examines local perceptions of climate change and environmental issues, and explores actions to achieve viable solutions in Kenya. Another project focuses on understanding the trade-offs of community-based conservation for people and the environment throughout Africa. She has just completed a NASA grant to understand household decisions, ecosystem change, and atmospheric water recycling in Kenya through modeling for water futures.
She has taken on transdisciplinary science, linking science with society to ensure that her work’s impact goes well beyond the academy. As a lead author of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2019), she was instrumental in linking the science of biodiversity and ecosystem services with diverse governance and knowledge systems worldwide.
She is a Fellow in the Society of Applied Anthropology, a past Fellow in the Aldo Leopold Leadership Program, and a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. In 2012, she received the National Sustainability Science award from the Ecological Society of America for her team’s efforts to use their scholarship to collaborate with pastoral communities and policymakers in eastern Africa. In 2017, the College of Liberal Arts awarded her the John N. Stern Distinguished Professor Award, recognizing a career of outstanding research, teaching, and service achievement.
Senior Associate, Superbloom
Christina has over 9 years of professional experience in bringing landscape projects to life on varied sites: from well-loved public parks, art and science museums, university courtyards, to many-acre, ecologically-sensitive residences. While seeing projects through from concept to construction, Christina places a high priority on the relationship with the client, on meeting project milestones, and on attention to detail. She admires the rugged hardiness of Colorado’s native plants: their ability to thrive in harsh conditions, to sustain wildlife, to embody resilient beauty. When they are authentic to the place, elegant and logical, she believes that the right plants and good design have the ability to lift our spirits. She believes in bringing this beauty to the neglected, in practicing restraint and clarity in design, and in welcoming the rambunctiousness of life, whether in plant or human form.
Associate Professor and Tracy Family Faculty Fellow, College of Business, Colorado State University
Boris Nikolaev is an Associate Professor and the Tracy Family Faculty Fellow at the College of Business at Colorado State University. He studies entrepreneurship, well-being, and how emerging technologies are affecting the future of work.
He is also an Editor at Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Foundations and Trends in Entrepreneurship, and an instructor for Statistical Horizons.
His research includes over 50 peer-reviewed publications, including a dozen articles in premier journals such as JBV, ETP, JAP, SEJ, and JIBS. His work has been featured in the Economist, Forbes, TechCrunch, the Atlantic, and many other media outlets. He has been honored to receive multiple research excellence awards, including the Habicht Early Career Research Award and Business for Better World Research Award.
In the classroom, his passion for innovative teaching has earned recognition from the Academy of Management. He has also received several university-wide teaching awards, including the William H. Fox Teaching Award for Emerging Excellence (Emory University), the N. Preston Davis Award for Instructional Innovation (Colorado State University), the Provost Award for Outstanding Teaching (University of South Florida), and the Innovation in Entrepreneurship Pedagogy Award (AOM ENT Division).
What drives him? A curiosity about how entrepreneurship shapes our world and a commitment to nurturing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurship scholars. Whether he’s exploring the impact of AI on value creation or investigating the well-being of entrepreneurs, his goal is to produce research that matters and education that inspires.
Executive Director, Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency
Elizabeth Babcock is the Executive Director for Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency. She has over 20 years of experience managing collaborative and transformational projects. During her 12 years with the City and County of Denver, Elizabeth acted as a leader in the development of Denver’s climate office and created nationally recognized programs under Denver’s Climate Protection Fund. She has managed several multimillion-dollar grants, including the Denver Energy Challenge, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. She also led Denver’s participation in the American Cities Climate Challenge, driving climate action across city government. In previous roles, she worked with universities around the world to advance sustainability and civic engagement through the Talloires Network and community engagement through the Civic Knowledge Project at the University of Chicago. She holds a BA with highest honors from the University of Florida and an MA from the University of Chicago.
Professional Faculty, University of California Berkeley
Alex Budak is an educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and author who helps people cultivate courage and turn everyday moments into change. A UC Berkeley faculty member, he holds a triple appointment at the Haas School of Business, School of Public Health, and College of Natural Resources, where his courses teach students and executives to lead with character, connection, and contribution—and have even inspired student tattoos.
His book, Becoming a Changemaker, is being translated into 27 languages. CNBC named it a top-five nonfiction book about work and Inc. named him a top 50 leadership and management expert.
Budak’s change journey began when he co-founded StartSomeGood, which has raised more than $12 million to launch and scale new initiatives in more than 50 countries.
A UCLA and Georgetown graduate, he delivers keynotes on leadership, change, and courage to audiences worldwide, from Ukraine to Cambodia, and regularly leads interactive sessions for organizations such as Accenture, Salesforce, the World Bank, and UNHCR.
Formerly a travel writer, Alex now enjoys the everyday adventures of life with his two young kids—his favorite changemakers. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he brings the same loyalty to his work, though he admits one lesson came the hard way: never go budget skydiving.
Director, Colorado Water Center
Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.
Policy Manager for Municipal Conservation, Western Resource Advocates
Lindsay Rogers is the Policy Manager for Municipal Conservation at Western Resource Advocates. Rogers advances water conservation at the municipal level to bolster communities’ water security and reduce pressure on Western rivers and streams. As climate change and population growth further strain Western waterways, she works closely with municipalities, water utilities, partners, and decision makers to improve water efficiency, boost local resilience, and protect rivers. By facilitating local and state-level policy development and providing direct project support, Lindsay helps communities and utilities pursue innovative and tailored water-saving strategies such as graywater ordinances, waterwise landscaping policies, and better integrated water and land-use planning. Previously, she spent five years as the Colorado Basin Program Manager at WaterNow Alliance, focused on advancing sustainable water policies and programs in the West by working directly with municipal water decision makers. Lindsay serves on the board of Colorado WaterWise. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and International Relations from Tufts University and is pursuing an MPA from CU Denver.
Program Officer in the Environment Program, Walton Family Foundation
Jared Romero, Ph.D., is a Program Officer in the Environment Program at the Walton Family Foundation, where he works to advance conservation solutions in the Colorado River Basin. His career bridges science, education, and conservation leadership, shaped by a lifelong connection to the outdoors and a belief in the power of education to transform lives.
Jared previously served as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, where he built coalitions to expand equity in outdoor recreation and conservation policy. Earlier in his career, he held academic and research leadership roles at Boise State University and Adams State University, spearheading the development of One Health programs connecting human, animal, and environmental health.
He has been recognized as a Colorado Water Hero, served on boards for national and regional conservation organizations, and is known for creating inclusive spaces that elevate underrepresented voices in conservation. Jared holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees in natural and biological sciences.
Grounded in humility and service, Jared sees the outdoors as both refuge and responsibility. The outdoors are a place that inspires his work to ensure future generations have access to healthy lands and waters.
Executive Director, Farmers Conservation Alliance
Julie Davies O’Shea has guided FCA through two decades of growth, positioning the organization as a national leader in irrigation modernization. As a founder and executive director of Farmers Conservation Alliance, Julie’s expertise begins with her ability to foster relationships with key partners in irrigation across the West. Under her leadership, FCA has partnered with 55 irrigation communities to implement projects that improve agricultural efficiency, increase water reliability, and deliver lasting environmental and community benefits.
CEO, Karmous Edwards Consulting
Over the course of more than 25 years, Gigi Karmous-Edwards has worked in various domains of digital technologies, spanning the Data Communications industry, Academia, and most recently, dedicating the last 13 years to the Water Sector. Gigi is the technical lead and Co-PI of a GenAI WRF #5321 (GenAI for the Global Water Sector) project. Gigi is the founder and former chair of the SWAN Digital Twin H2O Work Group, leads AI market insights at BlueTech Research as a Technology Advisor Group (TAG) member, and serves on the Advisory Boards of Veralto and Qatium.
Gigi has authored over 40 publications and frequently speaks at global conferences. As the CEO of Karmous-Edwards Consulting, she advises global utilities and technology companies on digital transformation and GenAI. B.S. in Chemical Eng and M.S. Electrical Eng.
Senior Research Scholar, College of Business, Colorado State University
Mary (“Mara”) J. Waller, Ph.D., is a leading authority on team dynamics and crisis management. A professor of organizational behavior, her work focuses on how teams adapt, coordinate, and make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and high risk. Over the course of her career, Dr. Waller has authored numerous articles and books that bridge rigorous research with real-world application. Her latest book, Crisis-Ready Teams, provides evidence-based strategies for preparing teams to navigate disruption and perform effectively under pressure.
Dr. Waller is a sought-after speaker and consultant who has worked with organizations across industries, helping leaders strengthen team resilience and improve performance in turbulent environments. Her expertise has been featured in academic, business, and media outlets worldwide. With a reputation for making complex research both engaging and actionable, she brings practical insights to audiences ranging from executives and policymakers to educators and students.
Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.
He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.
Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.
Colorado State Demographer
Kate Watkins is Colorado’s State Demographer. She leads the State Demography Office within the Department of Local Affairs. The State Demography Office produces population and economic estimates and forecasts for use by the business community, nonprofits, and state and local governments. Kate has nearly two decades of experience analyzing economic and demographic trends in Colorado and beyond. Her career history includes serving as the Chief Economist for Colorado’s state legislature, as an economist at the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and as a private sector consultant. Kate holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Chancellor, CSU System
Dr. Tony Frank is the Chancellor of the CSU System. He previously served for 11 years as the 14th president of CSU in Fort Collins. Dr. Frank earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Wartburg College, followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. and residencies in pathology and toxicology at Purdue. Prior to his appointment as CSU’s president in 2008, he served as the University’s provost and executive vice president, vice president for research, chairman of the Pathology Department, and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was appointed to a dual role as Chancellor in 2015 and became full-time System chancellor in July 2019.
Dr. Frank serves on a number of state and national boards, has authored and co-authored numerous scientific publications, and has been honored with state and national awards for his leadership in higher education.
Dr. Frank and his wife, Dr. Patti Helper, have three daughters.
It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (Dec. 13), and this month is a winter festival. Celebrate the season with a holiday market featuring local vendors and unique gifts, warm treats, winter crafts, and a joyful community atmosphere.