Leadership Evergreen presents the annual Leader of the Year award to honor an outstanding individual who has demonstrated creative and innovative solutions to community issues in the greater Evergreen area.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LISA NIERENBERG – LEADERSHIP EVERGREEN’S 2023 LEADER OF THE YEAR
Lisa Nierenberg has been a leader in the nonprofit sector for almost 15 years. Most recently, she owned a boutique consulting firm that delivered expertise in philanthropic advising for individuals, families, and corporations. In addition, the firm specialized in helping nonprofits create and maximize their fundraising strategies. Before venturing out independently, she was Director of Principal Gifts for Mile High United Way. While at United Way, she successfully managed a portfolio of over $3 million. During her tenure, she worked with members of the Denver Broncos and was the point of contact for the NFL’s player engagement strategy. She also served on the United Way Worldwide Council for Major Gifts and Planned Giving. Previously, she was a senior account executive for PBS, primarily focusing on corporate giving. Before taking her talents to the nonprofit sector, she worked in media sales for Atlanta Magazine, KHOW & KOA Sports Radio and Comcast. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia. Lisa and her husband have lived in Evergreen for over 17 years with their two daughters.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO CLAYTON HUFFMAN – LEADERSHIP EVERGREEN’S 2022 LEADER OF THE YEAR
Clayton Huffman is a long-time resident of the Evergreen area, a Past Exalted Ruler at the Evergreen Elks Lodge, and a Veteran of the United States Air Force, having served in the Vietnam War.
He is an ever-present supporter of the Evergreen community through the Elks Lodge. He helps with the planning and execution of many Evergreen traditions, such as the Jazz Festival, Evergreen Rodeo, and the annual Easter Egg Hunt & Free Breakfast (which has been on hiatus due to COVID).
Clayton is always doing what he can to support and better the lives of his fellow Veterans, and his community. He is the CNW District Veterans Chair for the Colorado Elks Association, a Member of the CEA Veterans Committee and the Clear Creek Veterans Coalition, and the Evergreen Elks Lodge Chair for Laradon Hall and Veterans Services. When he is not fulfilling his duties for those roles, he is taking action to help Veterans in any way he can, including: transporting them to/from doctor’s appointments, the airport, etc., buying breakfast for Veterans awaiting appointments at the VA Hospital, planning Veterans Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day Dinners, helping out at Family Day, deployment, and other CO National Guard events, helping load and transport food to Buckley Space Force Base for National Guard Families, and SO much more. And, when he’s not doing those things, he’s participating in the 2021 Veteran’s Walk for Hunger (COANG), the annual 9/11 walk in Idaho Springs, delivering gift cards for Veterans in need funded by CEA grants, gloves for Veterans at the Spinal Ward at Aurora VA Hospital, or working on making each year’s Wreaths Across America Day in the Evergreen area bigger, better, and more meaningful than the year before. His dedication is unwavering, demonstrating his commitment and perseverance.
To say that his efforts go above and beyond would be an understatement. He strives to ensure that every Veteran he interacts with and supports knows, without any doubt, how valuable they and their service to the United States and its Armed Forces truly are. They part with him knowing that they are appreciated and honored, and, very likely, with Clayton’s phone number in their pocket so that, should they ever need a thing, they know how to reach him!
He is, without question, a selfless and devoted Champion for his fellow Veterans. Regardless of age, Branch, Rank, or any other factor, he treats every Veteran as a Hero, who deserves honor and respect from all American citizens. He never backs down from a challenging situation and is never too busy to lend a helping hand when it is needed. And all that he does, he does with a warm smile, and a kind heart, making him approachable and compassionate to all.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO BETSY HAYS – LEADERSHIP EVERGREEN’S 2020 LEADER OF THE YEAR
Betsy Hays is a long time and well recognized community leader. Through her various roles she is strongly connected to schools, businesses, Jefferson County government and her neighbors of over 20 years. She knows how to get things done, how to create consensus among multiple interests and has spent many years giving back to the community she loves in the public space.
Work wise, Betsy is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all of the Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice fundraising efforts including grants, annual fund, major gifts, corporate partnerships and fundraising events. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Wellesley College and an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Pennsylvania State University. She spent over ten years doing marketing and advertising for AT&T, then in 2001 started her own home-based stationery business called Write-On Evergreen which she ran until 2008. From 2008 to 2011 she was the Membership and Advertising Director for the Evergreen Chamber. In 2011 she became the Development Director for Mountain Area Land Trust. Just prior to becoming the President of the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce in 2015, she ran events for the Downtown Business Association. After six years as the Chamber President, Betsy joined the team at Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice as the Director of Resource Development in October 2020. She received the 2020 Leader of the Year Award from Leadership Evergreen, the 2020 Leadership Impact Award from the Rotary Club of Evergreen and was inducted into the Mountain Area Women in Business Hall of Fame in 2021.
Betsy and her husband John have lived in the Evergreen/Conifer area since 1995. They have three children. She loves to spend time outdoors running, skiing, biking, hiking, swimming, paddleboarding and is an avid reader. She has always been an active volunteer for our schools, sports teams, boy/girl scouts and our local nonprofit organizations. She has held leadership positions on most of the boards on which she has served and enjoys getting the word out about what is happening in our mountain community.
Betsy was recently elected to serve on the Evergreen Park and Recreation District Board of Directors. On serving on the EPRD Board of Directors she says, “I am honored to serve my local community by connecting the public with EPRD, the new EPRD Executive Director, the businesses, Jefferson County government, and others about how the Rec District serves us all and contributes to our way of life.”
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CONGRATULATIONS TO HEATHER ABERG WITH RESILIENCE 1220 – LEADERSHIP EVERGREEN’S 2019 LEADER OF THE YEAR!
Heather Aberg (2019 Leader of the Year) & Rabbi Jamie Arnold (2018 Leader of the Year)
Heather started Resilience 1220, a nonprofit created in 2019 to address the increasing number of suicides and attempted suicides in our community. This nonprofit provides free individual and group counseling (as well as outreach and programs) to youth to address their issues and increase their resilience. For years, Heather has run a monthly support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. She was a bereavement counselor with Mt. Evans for 20 years and had a private practice for over seven years.