Verde Staff Bios
![]() |
Kristin Carpenter-Ogden – Founder, CEO Kristin Carpenter-Ogden founded Verde PR & Consulting from a decade-long journalism career, working on staff for major consumer lifestyle magazines, business and trade titles. Over the past nine years, Verde has become well known as an agency known for strong results that drive sales for clients, and a highly creative, service-oriented approach to integrated brand communications. As director of strategy for Verde’s clients, the agency and its divisions, Kristin leads business development at Verde. She also launched the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice and is pursuing an MBA in sustainable business practices from Green Mountain College in Vermont. Kristin has lived in Durango since 1994. She enjoys outdoor pursuits with her husband, Jared, their two kids, Tobin and Bella, and Neve the Malamute. |
![]() |
Kelly Blake - Director of New Business Development Kelly Blake has over 18 years of marketing experience with an emphasis in public relations and brand strategy. Kelly has worked both in-house with manufacturers and on the agency side. She has been instrumental in the success for communications campaigns for a variety of the top brands in the industry. Kelly holds a degree from the University of Oregon and is a Duck football fan. She is the mother of her 9 year old daughter, 6 year old son and 11 year old Swiss Mountain Dog. In her spare time she has adjusted to family camping by turning in all her lightweight packing gear for the luxuries of car camping. She also loves to hike and ski. |
![]() |
Anna Peterson - Operations Manager and Director of Human Resources Anna Peterson, Verde's Director of Human Resources and Operations Manager joined the Verde team in July 2011. Anna has a BA in Art, Political Science and Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and a Masters of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana. Anna has worked on corporate social responsibility, human rights, immigration, public health, wilderness, 1872 mining law reform, climate change, renewable energy, forest and roadless campaigns for over ten years. Anna has been fortunate to live in many of the West's best mountain towns and currently lives in Durango, Colorado with her husband Tim and dog Greta. When not striving to keep Verde organized and working on corporate accountability campaigns, Anna enjoys politics, exploring the West, gardening, sunshine, traveling, hiking, swimming, hot springs, art work, camping and other activities that allow her to spend time outdoors |
![]() |
Amanda Markert - Digital Division Manager |
![]() |
Claire Rabun – Account Manager After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2009, Claire packed up her car and made the trek across the Mason-Dixon line, through cow-and-corn country, and finally on to the happiest place on Earth, Jackson, WY. With more than a few rivers run, trails explored, nights spent at the Caddi and almost a year of mountain fun under her belt, she took a brief stint back down South to begin her career in communications. Claire joined Verde and returned to Jackson in September 2010 to bring her passions for the outdoors and public relations together at long last. |
![]() |
Craig Randall - Director of Verde’s Digital and Content Division Craig is a former freelance writer who has been on the Verde staff for 4 years. He is steeped in traditional PR execution, formerly managing accounts in the bike, consumer tech, and active lifestyle markets. Craig’s visual-based approach to traditional PR intersects with the agency’s Digital Division, where he oversees opportunity insights, planning, executing, and innovating for Verde’s clients’ social platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and more) along with blog best practices and content development. |
![]() |
Dave Simpson – Senior Account Executive After a decade-long career in journalism, a few years in specialty outdoor retail and a couple of seasons behind a ski-tuning bench, Dave Simpson combined all those skills by jumping into public relations in the outdoor, action sports and adventure travel industries. An account executive with Verde PR since 2003, Dave brings to his role a personal interest in gear and outdoor sports, an inside perspective on the media and the outdoor industry, a still-passable ability to tune a pair of skis, and a dedication to coffee. In his free time (or for work when he can occasionally get away with it), Dave enjoys skiing, climbing, biking, hiking, backpacking and travel. |
![]() |
Rachel Walker- Social & Digital Coordinator Rachel Walker has 15 years of journalism experience that includes daily newspaper reporting, magazine editing, and freelance writing. She launched her career in 1998 as the environmental reporter for the Jackson Hole News and then reported the same beat for the Bend, Ore., Bulletin starting in 2001. In 2004, Rachel was one of five journalists selected for a prestigious Ted Scripps Fellow in Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Following the fellowship, she joined SkiingMagazine as an associate editor. Since 2008, Rachel has been a full time freelancer, contributing reported pieces and essays to the New York Times, Backpacker, Skiing,babble.com, grist.org, Mountain Magazine, 5280, and others. Her corporate clients have included Vail Resorts, Verde PR, Deuter, and Polar Field Services, a National Science Foundation-contracted logistics provider for Arctic research. When she's not fretting over the use of semi colons and mixed metaphors, Rachel mountain bikes, trail runs, skis, and participates in races for which she has no qualifications (see her 2012 cyclocross race results). She also has two young sons who are a full contact sport all of their own. |
![]() |
Julie Evans – PR Director Julie joined Verde in April 2004, and has worked extensively on a wide variety of accounts in the outdoor, snowsports, bike and fitness markets during her tenure. She has an affinity for southern hospitality, which is why she moved back to her hometown in Louisville, Kentucky after spending years in Colorado. That and Triple Crown Thoroughbred Racing. Prior to joining the team at Verde, Julie served as a senior reporter for a trade publication covering the beauty industry. Julie enjoys mountain biking, hiking, skiing, yoga, and being outdoors with her husband, two daughters and their dog. |
![]() |
Meghan Grabow - Account Manager Meghan comes to Verde with over seven years of marketing communications experience in the bike, resort and snowsports industries. After exploring the West, including stints in Southern California and Seattle, WA, she's excited to be back on her home turf of Colorado. Meghan spends her time hiking, biking, skiing and snowboarding. When she's not running around outside, you can find her cooking, arm wrestling, or restoring a 1969 Nomad camper that's seen way better days. |
![]() |
Kendall Schoemann – Account Coordinator |
![]() |
Keith Cozzens – Senior Account Executive Born on the tough streets of New York City, Keith (AKA Da Cuz) was raised 20 miles east of the city in Long Island in a much gentler atmosphere filled with sports, Sunday family dinners, driving convertibles, chasing cheerleaders and drinking lots of milk (no joke). Friends and the mountains eventually lured Keith to Jackson, WY in 2001. Eight years later, he’s served and bussed a few tables, schlepped gear, made a rap video, scaled some peaks, ran some rivers, rode some bikes, snowboarded some terrain, ran some trails, moved four times, had a few late-nights at the Stagecoach, learned about the media and freelanced for a handful of outdoor mag. |
![]() |
Lisa Mullen - Senior Account Executive Lisa has nearly a decade of public relations experience, specializing in outdoor, snowsports and natural/organic products. Prior to joining Verde in January 2010, Lisa worked as a PR specialist in the lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) arena. Now, leading the Boulder office for Verde, she brings her expertise in media relations and brand strategy to a variety of the top brands in the industry. Lisa’s PR philosophy brings out-of-the-box ideas to clients while providing tangible results. |
![]() |
Mary Jane Carroll – Account Executive After a globe-trotting adventure following graduation from the University of Colorado, MJ circled back to her native Durang-a-tang stomping grounds. MJ joined Verde in March ’09 and helped establish the Account Coordinator Division at Verde. MJ’s passions for skiing powder days, mountain biking in the desert, hiking with her dog, writing, travel and an eagerness for knowledge and adventure, make for a perfect match at Verde. |
![]() |
Alex Hunt - Key Account Coordinator Alex grew up in the Denver area as a huge Broncos fan. After graduating from Cherry Creek High School he moved east where he attended Lehigh University. Four years later he quickly returned west and began a life of skiing powder and chasing single track. As an employee at Silverton Mountain Ski Area his interest in public relations was piqued during frequent media visits. Alex now calls Boulder home and is looking forward to the next Broncos Super Bowl appearance. |
![]() |
Lauren Fallert- Account Manager Lauren graduated from Penn State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Minor in Spanish. She has been working with Verde in different capacities for the past several years. She began in 2009 as a student-intern and today she is an Account Manager. Although she is in love with the Colorado sunshine, Lauren still calls Pittsburgh home (Go Steelers!). She lights up when globetrotting, playing outdoors, cooking, capturing moments, wearing a tutu, challenging others to a bowling match, guzzling Tabasco and gnawing on Habanero peppers (the girl breathes fire). She prefers to do all of the above alongside her adored friends and family and her dog Tank. |
![]() |
Andrew Small - Account Coordinator |
![]() |
Patrick Shehan - Account Coordinator Patrick is a firm believer in “making dreams happen” and is committed to personal progression. When not hard at work he can be found sliding around the streets on his longboard, jumping off of cliffs into the Animas River, traveling to music festivals around the nation or shredding anything and everything on his skis. |
![]() |
Kyle Dowman – Account Coordinator |
![]() |
William Glenn – Digital Services & Paid Advertising Contractor William has worked with Verde for the past 5 years and currently manages Verde’s online media advertising planning, Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO), ad production and creative direction for Verde’s family of clients. In addition to geeking out over website analytics and organic versus paid search trends, William is a longtime resident of Durango and enjoys snowboarding, backpacking and hiking with his wife, and their two canine companions. |
![]() |
Sarah Steinwand – Account Coordinator Sarah Steinwand grew up amongst the mountains of Boulder, Colorado and found a passion for them at a young age. After graduating from CU in 2005, she decided the “real world” could wait because all she wanted to do was snowboard. After spending six years in Crested Butte and gaining Marketing experience with Burton and Mountain Sports International, she joined the Verde team in Durango. She lives for deep powder days on her splitboard, shredding single track on her mountain bike, growing vegetables in her garden, and hiking with her dog Homie. |
![]() |
Tessa Sibbet - Account Manager A love for the outdoors and adventure sports was instilled in Tessa Sibbet at a young age. Growing up in California, Tahoe was a common playground for Tessa’s family, and they spent time camping, bike riding or skiing depending on the season. When Tessa left for college, her family moved to a small town in the Sierra foothills along the American River. The main industry there is river rafting, so Tessa went to guide school and began working summers as a guide on rivers all over California. After graduating from UCLA, she worked for rafting companies doing social media, PR, marketing, and SEO. Working remotely from ski towns (Salt Lake, Tahoe, and Jackson), Tessa was able to ski often and work in ski shops on the side. She spent the off seasons kayaking, surfing, playing music, and traveling in foreign countries. Her career as a river guide during the summers continued, taking her to Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona, but Jackson was calling Tessa’s name. She is excited to be back in Jackson, working with an awesome team at Verde and combining her passions: writing, marketing, adventure sports, and the outdoor industry
|
























