Learn. Grow. Connect. Enjoy.

Sara Stookey is a Colorado native, born and raised in ski country. She is the Public Relations Coordinator for Snowmass Tourism, working to promote Snowmass as a year round destination. Prior to her appointment at Snowmass Tourism, Sara worked for Wagstaff Worldwide, a nationally recognized hospitality PR firm. Before moving to Aspen, Sara attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, graduating with a degree in Communication and minor in English. After graduation she spent two years working as a marketing assistant and social media coordinator at a health club in Sacramento, California. However, the need for actual seasons, and her passion for skiing brought her back to the Colorado. Sara is a die hard Broncos fan and expert thrift shopper. When not digging for new thrift store finds or watching the Broncos, she can be found skiing, hiking, exploring new restaurants, or at the gym.

Contact: [email protected]

A native of Atlanta, GA, Jessica moved to Aspen in August 2014 to assume the position of Marketing Manager for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet where she is responsible for all marketing, PR, and communications efforts for both the Aspen and Santa Fe areas. Jessica earned her Masters in Arts Administration from Columbia University and her Bachelors from Emory University with degrees in Dance and Journalism. Prior to relocating to Aspen, she was the Marketing Associate for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. When she’s not taking advantage of this valley’s incredible recreational opportunities, Jessica is a devoted member of the Crossfit ‘cult’ and a loyal fan of Auburn Tigers football.

Contact: [email protected]

Maren Quanbeck moved to Aspen in the fall of 2015 to fill the role as Music Production Coordinator for the Aspen Music Festival and School. Originally from Minnesota, she studied music at Luther College in Decorah, IA and received her Masters of Music at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2014. Outside of partaking in music-related events, she enjoys hiking, cross-country skiing, and trying new foods in the valley. She is very excited to have recently joined the AYPA board and looks forward to getting to meet other members at future events!

Contact: [email protected] 970.205.5031

Emily currently works in Development at Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. As a graduate of Cornell University, Emily worked in Human Resources in the finance and technology industries in Denver and on the East Coast before joining much of her family in Aspen. When she finds time to escape the Valley, Emily works as a volunteer for Phish Inc.’s Waterwheel Foundation, where she travels across the country to help raise money for a number of different community-based charities. Emily is a live music and documentary fanatic, and of course loves the many outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer.

Claire moved to Aspen from the east coast in 2013 to be a ski instructor, and immediately fell in love with the deep powder and blue skies. While making time to explore the mountains and the Roaring Fork Valley, Claire works at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association in the membership department. She graduated from Connecticut College with degrees in International Relations and French, and she enjoys working with Aspen’s business community and the City of Aspen to make Aspen a vibrant, thriving town.

Contact: [email protected]

Reilly is a city planner at BendonAdams in Aspen. She has extensive experience in developing and managing outreach programs in both public and digital settings and is extremely passionate about policy development and community outreach processes. Reilly graduated with a Masters of Urban Planning from the University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia. Reilly started her career in international development and community planning focusing her work overseas in Melbourne, Australia; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Mannar, Sri Lanka. Reilly is an active member of the American Planning Association and the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association. Reilly recently presented on the community engagement techniques she employed during the City of Aspen’s Land Use Moratorium at the APA Colorado Chapter State Conference in Telluride, and has authored articles about international development and future land use planning. With a lifelong passion for travel and photography, you can often find Reilly exploring the Southwest or heading overseas, flooding her Instagram with beautiful landscapes. In town, you can find her hiking, golfing, skiing and boxing.

To pass the summers during college, her love for the mountains all started while working at a Colorado Dude Ranch. She knew Colorado was where she belonged and after a successful internship, has now made the valley her home. After graduating with and Interior Architecture and Design degree, now works as a lighting designer for Robert Singer and Associates, specializing in Residential and Commercial design. Born and raised in Oklahoma, are where her strong work ethic and family values began. When she is not working, you can find her taking in the fresh air with a cup of jo, hiking, skiing, painting, or catching the great local bands.

Alex Brough is an entrepreneurial force and Co-Founder of Keneh Ventures, a Private Equity Fund focusing on deploying capital to the ancillary cannabis space. With his proven expertise in the entertainment industry, as well as the cannabis industry, he has been instrumental in cultivating and managing Native Roots Aspen, part of the largest cannabis dispensary chain in the world, with 19 locations in Colorado. Within the entertainment space, Alex produced and was the executive producer of the award winning documentary, Charles Bradley: Soul of America. In addition, he has worked with The Overthrow, a culture collective promoting music and culture in Miami. At Studio411, Alex worked in sales and marketing for the world’s largest distributor of action sports content at the time. As a cultural marketing strategist, he has organized and executed huge brand activations and created poignant content in numerous industries. Alex has curated art exhibits, produced successful music videos, managed artists, has been a valuable asset in organizing music festivals, and collaborated with promoters and brands to create impactful culture marketing strategies. Alex’s diverse experience is invaluable on the AYPA board, he is an entrepreneur, content producer, trendsetter and a taste-maker.

Stephen was born in Houston, TX where he spent the entirety of his childhood and teenage years. For Undergraduate studies, Stephen attended the University of Oklahoma where he majored in Accounting. After a brief stint as an Auditor with the State of Texas, Stephen moved to Denver where he began graduate studies at the University of Denver. Finding a career in Aspen, Stephen currently works as an accountant at the Snowmass Country Club. Finding a completely new lifestyle in the mountains, Stephen has taken to snowboarding, backcountry skiing, hiking and discovering new mountain sceneries on his dirt bike.

Melissa Dunfee is a polished, media-savvy Artistic Director at Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design, who believes that her mission in life is to connect communities and establish lasting relationships for organizations. She is truly in her element planning local events, working with media to promote and grow attendances, and planning every detail of a campaign from inception to completion. Melissa earned her Associates in Liberal Arts from Ohio State University in 2005, Associates of Applied Science in Digital Media Design from Central Ohio Technical College in 2007, Bachelors of Fine Art in Fine Art Photography in 2009, and Masters of Arts in Arts Administration in 2016. Before moving to Aspen in January 2016, she worked as a producer, on-set stylist, and assistant photographer on commercial photography and videography projects in the Midwest, as well as owned both a fine art gallery and furniture consignment estate sale business in Cleveland, OH. Now an active part of Aspen’s community as Co-Chair of the Aspen Art Museum’s Contemporaries, a board member of Aspen Young Professionals Association, and a member of Aspen Entrepreneurs and Investors Network, Melissa’s passion for creativity, organization, and community has grown and continues to make an impact locally.