STAFF
![]() Camille Richard, Executive Director
Camille was born in Lawton, OK, but has spent her childhood summers at the family cabin in Lake City since 1965, moving here permanently in 1995. She received her Bachelor's degree in 1984 from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, but eventually returned to Colorado to earn a Master's in Rangeland Management and Mine Land Reclamation at Colorado State University in 1990. She then embarked on an international career as a rangeland conservation and development specialist, starting with Peace Corps in Nepal, and later working throughout the Himalayan regions of India, Pakistan, and Bhutan, the Tibetan regions within China, and Mongolia. In her times stateside, her focus has been on the restoration of severely disturbed lands, one area of which was Summitville Mine near South Fork, where she helped develop the revegetation plan, as well as helping to establish the Lake Fork Land Trust in the late 1990’s. She has been working with the LFVC since 2006, first as a volunteer assisting with long-term planning and monitoring, and now as Executive Director. c.richard@lfvc.org ![]() Jodi Linsey, Administrative Assistant
Jodi was raised in the Hill Country of Texas and ended up in Lake City cooking at a summer camp for children with serious health issues. When September came and the aspens turned the mountains a thousand shades of flame, she decided she had found home. She has spent over twenty years finding ways to serve the Lake City community, either as a volunteer or in local government. She is presently the President of the Board of the Lake City Public Library and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Hearts & Spades Community Garden. In addition to working for the LFVC she also serves as Administrative Assistant for Lake City Arts and will soon be receiving her BA in Organizational Leadership. When she gets a chance she likes to spend time with her partner Bruce and dog Piper, exploring the Rocky Mountains, gardening, and hiking. She was raised in the Hill Country of Texas and ended up in Lake City cooking at a summer camp for children with serious health issues. When September came and the aspens turned the mountains a thousand shades of flame, she decided she had found home. She has spent over twenty years finding ways to serve the Lake City community, either as a volunteer or in local government. She is presently the President of the Board of the Lake City Public Library and Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Hearts & Spades Community Garden. In addition to working for the LFVC she also serves as Administrative Assistant for Lake City Arts and will soon be receiving her BA in Organizational Leadership. When she gets a chance she likes to spend time with her partner Bruce and dog Piper, exploring the Rocky Mountains, gardening, and hiking. ![]() Ellen Patten, New AmeriCorps VISTA!
Ellen grew up in the mountains above Boulder, Colorado. Since she was a youth she has had a passion for art and the outdoors, and it was this that led her to pursue a BA in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She graduated in December of 2013 from CU Boulder with an emphasis on Industrial Design, focusing on building furniture from salvaged materials. In 2015, Ellen moved to Gunnison, Colorado to attend Western State Colorado University (WSCU) in pursuit of a Master in Environmental Management, with a focus on sustainable and resilient communities. After her first semester at WSCU, Ellen received an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer position working towards creating strategic partnerships between Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, Coldharbour Institute, Green Builder Media Meriposa Meadows, and other organizations in Gunnison, Hindsdale, and surrounding counties devoted to creating sustainable communities for our future. |
Board
![]() Harvey DuChene, President
Harvey is a full-time resident of Lake City and property owner since 2003. He moved to Colorado 1973, after completing his education at the University of New Mexico and spending three years on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Immediately he fell in love with the mountains and decided that this is where he wanted to spend his life and raise his children. He enjoys mountaineering, white water canoeing, trout fishing and cave exploration. He has had a long career as a professional geologist and has an insatiable curiosity about the natural history of the earth. He is especially interested in the Four Corners region and the geologic evolution of the San Juan Mountains. ![]() Lyn Lampert, Vice President
Lyn is an active, full-time resident of Lake City. He is a writer, a veteran professional angler, a hiker, a pastor, and the former Mayor of Lake City. Lyn's favorite quote is from Gandhi: "There is more to life than increasing its speed." ![]() Konrad Rock, Treasurer
Konrad is a full-time Lake City resident, having visited this area since 1949. He appreciates the tranquility, clean air and water, and the grandeur of the landscape, and wishes to see it maintained in a pristine manner. Konrad retired from a long career as a Periodontist in 2007; currently, he serves as a priest in the Diocese of Colorado. ![]() Sara Gutterman, Board member
Sara is the Co-Founder and CEO of Green Builder® Media, the leading media company in North America focused on green building and sustainable living. Green Builder Media assists building professionals in preparing themselves for the new green economy and helps homeowners understand how to live more sustainably. As CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara has established a reputation for herself as a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. She works closely with Green Builder Media’s advertisers, including major corporations such as Ingersoll Rand, DuPont, BASF, Panasonic, Whirlpool, Kohler, and others, to develop long-term green strategies that make a profound impact on the market and are simultaneously sustainable and profitable. Since its inception, Green Builder Media has received a multitude of editorial and design awards from leading publishing industry groups. Sara has also received accolades for her work, including the Folio 40, which is a prestigious publishing industry award that is bestowed on 'C-Level Visionaries’. Sara has been involved in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies. Sara graduated Cum Laude from Dartmouth College. She holds an MBA in entrepreneurship and finance from the University of Colorado, where she taught classes on entrepreneurship and the environment. She has also studied at Oxford University in England and the University of St. Petersburg in Russia. The LFVC is thrilled to welcome Sara to our Board of Directors! ![]() Steve LaGrone, Board member
Steve is a retired business man who has vacationed in Lake City almost every year since 1957. Since 2007 he and his wife have become “seasonal residents,” spending 3-4 months each year in their cabin. His keen love of dry-fly fishing, trail hiking, fourteener climbing, and Hinsdale County drives his desire for streams full of trout and wild, rugged mountains. He joined LFVC's board to keep our mountains and streams clean and beautiful for his kids, grandkids, and future generations. ![]() Barbara J. Hite, Board member
Barbara grew up in various cities in the southeastern U.S. before earning a bachelor’s degree in geology at West Georgia College in Carrollton, Georgia, then a master’s degree in geology at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. After completing her education she worked for 15 years at the U.S. Bureau of Mines in the area of mineral economics until Congress closed the agency in 1995. Then she went to work for the Bureau of Land Management in the Abandoned Mine Land Program for another 15 years until she retired in 2010. Since retiring she has enjoyed serving on the LFVC board twice. While her permanent residence is in Lakewood, Colorado, she spends her winters in San Pedro, Belize and a good bit of the summer at her cabin in Powderhorn, Colorado. ![]() Frank Lake, Board member
In the 1940’s, many a young boy living in the swamps of southwest Louisiana yearned to live the life of a cowboy and ride through the mountains chasings cows and outlaws. These dreams were fueled by the Saturday afternoon westerns that were shown each week. Although he did not become a cowboy (or outlaw), Frank was able to fulfill his childhood desire when his wife’s parents bought acreage near Lake City in 1961. Frank is a retired dental educator, having previously served in the US Army and practicing general dentistry. He now lives in the foothills of north Georgia, but spends three to four months each year in Lake City. He and his wife Laney have four children and twelve grandchildren. They enjoy entertaining family and friends at their cabin to share with them the beauty and solitude of the San Juans. In addition to his delight in family and friends, Frank enjoys hiking and reading in the areas of history, theology, American culture, education and politics. He also has a longstanding interest in using conservation easements to preserve and protect privately owned lands. |
LFVC Board, EmeriTus

Bernie Krystyniak
Bernie is a full-time Lake City resident, who fell for the area's natural charms upon his first visit in 1975. An active member of the community, he serves on the Lake Fork Health Service District Board, acts as the Logistics and Planning Coordinator for Hinsdale County Search and Rescue, and is a Life Member of Trout Unlimited.
The avid fisherman now basks in the company of his wife, daughters, and the local trout population, having retired from a career in change management, information tech, and finance with a global Fortune 100 company.
Bernie is a full-time Lake City resident, who fell for the area's natural charms upon his first visit in 1975. An active member of the community, he serves on the Lake Fork Health Service District Board, acts as the Logistics and Planning Coordinator for Hinsdale County Search and Rescue, and is a Life Member of Trout Unlimited.
The avid fisherman now basks in the company of his wife, daughters, and the local trout population, having retired from a career in change management, information tech, and finance with a global Fortune 100 company.

Philip Virden
Phillip moved to Lake City in 1973 after graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He has since owned two businesses in Lake City – Hall Realty, Inc. and the Mountaineer Movie Theatre (which will reopen summer 2013). Phillip has been an active volunteer over his 40 years in Lake City and Gunnison – serving as school board director for nearly 20 years, Chamber of Commerce president, youth basketball coach, President of the Colorado Association of School Boards and other various area and state organizations.
Phillip has been married to his wife Carolyn Armstrong for 37 years and they have two daughters, Lily and Dasha. Phillip’s favorite activities include hiking, astronomy, travel, and photography. Recently, Phillip went to Kenya in 2006 and 2012 to teach, assist orphans, and support endangered wildlife in Africa.
Phillip moved to Lake City in 1973 after graduating from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He has since owned two businesses in Lake City – Hall Realty, Inc. and the Mountaineer Movie Theatre (which will reopen summer 2013). Phillip has been an active volunteer over his 40 years in Lake City and Gunnison – serving as school board director for nearly 20 years, Chamber of Commerce president, youth basketball coach, President of the Colorado Association of School Boards and other various area and state organizations.
Phillip has been married to his wife Carolyn Armstrong for 37 years and they have two daughters, Lily and Dasha. Phillip’s favorite activities include hiking, astronomy, travel, and photography. Recently, Phillip went to Kenya in 2006 and 2012 to teach, assist orphans, and support endangered wildlife in Africa.