Adam Nubern
Board Treasurer, Nuventure CPA LLC
Adam Nubern spends his mornings on the jiu jitsu mats and his weekends in the mountains with his wife and two kids, living the outdoor lifestyle that defines the Pikes Peak region. He channels his passion for adventure into his accounting practice, helping digital nomads, full-time RVers, and outdoor industry entrepreneurs solve the complex tax challenges that come with location-independent living.
April Estep
Board Ex Officio, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Deputy Regional Manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. April navigates the complex intersection of public recreation, habitat conservation, and multi-agency collaboration.
Lisa Tormoen Hickey
Board Secretary, Tormoen Hickey LLC
Lisa Tormoen Hickey spends her days consulting for non-profits, regulators and businesses to accelerate investments in large infrastructure projects, including transmission and renewable energy projects. She is fascinated by the connection between energy policy and business growth and enjoys promoting economic development while preserving the natural environment and wildlife habitat. When she is not working or studying foreign languages you can find Lisa bicycling or hiking in the Rocky Mountains.
Steve Brown
Board At Large, Slalom
Sarah Heinen
Board At Large, Springs Wealth Group
Bobby Mikulas
Board At Large, Kinship Landing
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, I am a lifelong outdoor enthusiast and ever learning steward of our natural resources in this beautiful state. I love all things outdoors but especially fly fishing, climbing and alpinism, running, biking, and snowboarding. The Rocky Mountains have shaped me and inspired me to explore the rugged mountains of Ecuador, the limestone cliffs of Thailand, mossy trails of New Zealand, black sand beaches of Iceland, and more. I love to plan, guide, and facilitate adventure trips with my family and friends, new and old. I studied at CU Boulder and Colorado Springs campuses, earning the Eldon Stephens Thesis of the year award for my studies in philosophy and business. In 2016 was very lucky to travel the world with my bride, which inspired us to collaborate with our partners on a hospitality startup in Colorado Springs where I have served for the last six years as the founding CEO for Kinship Landing, an internationally recognized friendly boutique hotel with it’s award winning Homa Cafe and Bar. I also consult for founders and entrepreneurs and am an active member of our downtown community. My sweet spot is recognizing opportunities and designing and implementing solutions that synthesize ideas, people, and resources.
When not working on our businesses or out adventuring, I stay engaged in my local community by volunteering on boards and organizations, hosting community gatherings, kicking around in the woods, and playing with my kiddos and hanging with friends. My three young sons and my wife are my joy and passion. I love and enjoy literature, art, and philosophy. On any given week you can catch me on local trails in my hometown of Colorado Springs, reading, and piddling around barefoot in the yard with my fam.
I joined PPORA Board because I understand the importance of embracing changing demands and user volume when it comes to our outdoors. We must anticipate and respond with the essential infrastructure to support not only the thriving of our trails, plants, animals, and terra, but also sustainable, fair and diverse access for all.
Chris Gonzales
Board At Large, Teller Trail Team
Growing up in Florida, Chris Gonzales has always had a passion for being active and in nature.
In 2018, he and his wife felt the call of the mountains and moved to Woodland Park to raise their children in the great outdoors.
Chris is the owner of The Movement Training Company, where he works with outdoor athletes to help them prepare their bodies to adventure forever. As a Sport & Orthopedic Massage Therapist and Functional Movement Consultant, he loves getting to help everyone from Olympians to weekend warriors prevent injury, recover faster, and train better so they can continue to enjoy their time outdoors. While his day job is centered around keeping people fit and functional to go on adventures, his volunteer work is focused on making sure they will always have places to go. He is the founder of Teller Trail Team, whose mission is to help create, maintain, and advocate for better trails and outdoor reaction opportunities in and around Teller County. He also serves on the Woodland Park Parks & Rec. Advisory Board where he was a part of creating their new Master Plan, which will guide their City for the next 10+ years. He also spearheaded the Avenger Open Space Project, which will triple the amount of Open Space/Green Way Property held by the City, and usher them into a new era of providing outdoor recreation opportunities for the community.
When he is not helping people live happier, healthier lives, you can find him rock climbing, camping, shooting his bow, or hiking with his family.
Mike Rigney
Board At Large, Trails and Open Space Coalition
Since moving to Colorado in 2013, Mike has been actively engaged in outdoor culture of Colorado Springs. Drawing on his experience in building trails in Arizona, Mike joined the board of Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates and was heavily involved in building the Lake Moraine Trail. He is also a volunteer with the Trails and Open Space Coalition where he has spearheaded the Ring the Peak Trail project.
Jeff Mosher
Board Past Chair, City of Cripple Creek
Jeff Mosher moved to the Pikes Peak region in late 2005 to complete his master’s degree and work for several national sports organizations within the Olympic Movement. He transitioned to work for the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, helping produce some of the most iconic events held in the area. He is currently the Marketing & Events Director for the City of Cripple Creek with responsibilities for economic and community development as well. These efforts include outdoor recreation initiatives in Cripple Creek and the surrounding area.
Jeff joined the PPORA board because of his desire to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for citizens, visitors, and businesses within the Pikes Peak region. The rapid population growth and high visitation rates in the area requires that we be proactive with conservation and stewardship while also providing ample access to our abundant natural resources for all to enjoy. PPORA has done a terrific job of getting all the right people to the table to discuss these issues and act accordingly. The Pikes Peak region is fortunate to have such a positive organization advocating for the outdoor recreation industry.
Dr. JD McKenna
Board Chair, Scaled Capability
JD grew up in central Minnesota, where he joined the Boy Scouts at age 6 and joined the military as an Army Ranger and Green Beret. The first time JD came to Colorado, was to train up the newly formed El Paso County Search and Rescue team. Based on that experience, he spent the next dozen years working towards getting back to Colorado permanently.
JD has a Doctoral degree in Business Management with emphasis on Strategic Planning and Organizational Development; with a minor in Information Assurance and Security from Colorado Technical University (CTU). JD is the owner of a consulting and coaching hybrid business, where he helps SMB organizations solve their complex strategic level problems. This is collectively accomplished through facilitated workshops, and tools such as the Business Model Canvas and a Capability Gap Analysis.
JD supports several local organizations that help military personnel, on their transitional journey out of military service. He enjoys mountain biking, backcountry skiing, fishing with his family, and volunteering at local sporting events.
A little-known fact about JD, is that he spent 1 ½ years training in Europe as a mountain guide and wrote a training manual for the Army Special Forces community on winter and high-altitude survival.
David Leinweber
Founder, Board Ex-Officio, Angler's Covey Owner, City of Colorado Springs City Council
David lives and breathes the outdoors – both recreationally and professionally. He has worked as a sales associate, manager, buyer, and owner in outdoor retail industry for over 35 years. Companies he has worked for include; Mountain Miser, REI, Colorado Outdoor Sports, Chickenhead Mountain Sports, Gart Sports, and Grandwest Outfitters. For the last 20+ years he has managed and owned Angler’s Covey, a Colorado Springs specialty fly shop and learning center.
In 2015 David took on the new challenge as founder of the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance partnering with Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and Visit Colorado Springs. As chairman, he is working to promote the value of the Outdoor Industry to the Pikes Peak community and bring together stakeholders to increase our outdoor amenities, create better access to recreational areas, and promote greater participation in outdoor activities.
David currently serves on the executive committee of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office’s Advisory Board and the Pikes Peak Chapter Trout Unlimited Board. He also has served on the American Fly Fishing Trade Association Board for 4 years from 2006 till 2010. Angler’s Covey is also a member of the Outdoor Industry Association and is an Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter and was honored to be selected as the national Orvis Outfitter of the Year 2012 and Fly Shop of the Year in 2019.
Walt Hecox
Board At Large
Walt grew up in Denver, attended Colorado College, and after graduate school and service in the Army returned to Colorado Springs for a career as a CC faculty member. Hiking, skiing, backpacking, Eagle Scout activities, and a love for Colorado’s outdoors tethered him here for 43 years of active teaching and now retirement. Walt Hecox professor emeritus of economics in the environmental program, Colorado College, received his Ph.D. from Syracuse University (1969)
His specialization in courses and research related to regional resource, sustainable development and ecological economics questions. As a consultant he has managed and performed research for the World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, Southern African Development Coordination Conference, U.S. Military Academy, Ford Foundation, National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Energy and Colorado Department of Natural Resources. He helped organize a citizens group: Advocates For Pikes Peak Summit House; served for 4 years as Senior Program Advisor for El Pomar Foundation’s Pikes Peak Heritage Series; has written about the outdoors as a Guest Contributor to the Colorado Springs Business Journal and Colorado Springs Gazette on Pikes Peak region tourism and recreation issues. Regional economics and management have been central to his research over the past 2 decades. He created and directed the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project 2004-2016 that brought student researchers to over 40 topics driving the economic and environmental dimensions to the 8-state Rockies Region, with annual Report Cards, Conservation surveys, and publication as well as press coverage in state, regional, national and international publications.
Jeff Thormosdgaard
Ex-Officio, Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corporation
Skyler Rorabaugh
Pikes Peak America's Mountain, Manager
Skyler Rorabaugh is a native western Kansan with an affinity towards the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas Jayhawks and has lived and worked in Colorado since 2012. Since March of 2022, Skyler has served as the Manager of Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain for the City of Colorado Springs. He has provided leadership in the recreation, parks, open space, and sports industry for over 27 years and exudes a passion for service.
He enjoys spending time with his family (first and foremost) and friends and participates in a variety of recreation activities including baseball, basketball, volleyball, hiking, skiing, running, disc golf, whitewater rafting, hunting, and going to concerts, musical theater, and sports games as well as volunteering for his church and coaching youth sports.
He has been blessed with a wonderful wife, Kristen, and their children Jaysa and Chase as well as their dog, Pearl.
He is passionate about parks, recreation, and cultural services because of the overall wellness benefits they contribute to enhancing everyone’s overall quality of life. He relishes the opportunity to spend time in the great outdoors and is passionate about enhancing opportunities and access for current and future generations. He enjoys creating a vision for the people he serves and working towards that vision collectively to create lifelong memorable experiences.
