YVHA Board Members
The Board of Directors govern and control all YVHA business affairs and properties and guide the strategic direction of the organization.
The board consists of volunteers who must work or live within the YVHA’s jurisdiction.
YVHA Board Members
The Board of Directors govern and control all YVHA business affairs and properties and guide the strategic direction of the organization.
The board consists of volunteers who must work or live within the YVHA’s jurisdiction.
Kathi Meyer
Board President
In 1996, Kathi and her husband, Jim Peterson, moved to Steamboat Springs and she quickly became involved in the community. Kathi was elected twice to the Steamboat Springs City Council where her peers chose her to act as its President Pro-Tem. She also served two terms on the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission including as its chairperson. She is the president of the board of directors for the Yampa Valley Housing Authority and has been part of the board since its inception in 2004. In 2017, Kathi was elected to the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board where she served as its treasurer, vice president and president.
Her commitment to affordable housing has spanned decades including the past President of the Routt County Habitat for Humanity, and the Regional Affordable Living Foundation, an organization that existed before YVHA. She spent 25 years in the banking and financial management field working for Colorado National Bank, GE Capital, and Southern California Savings.
Kathi Meyer was born and raised in the Chicago area which explains why she’s an avid Bears and Cubs fan. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from Bradley University. In her free time, she has embraced Steamboat’s ski culture serving as co-chair of several Nordic Combined World Cups, National Championships, and Continental Cups sponsored by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. She also served as a FIS official for the Nordic Combined events at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.
Lou Tortora
Board Vice President
Lou’s consulting, engineering, and construction background is an asset to both the YVHA board, which he joined in 2023, and the City of Steamboat Springs Planning Commission, where he has served since 2020. He has held operational and leadership positions for some of the largest engineering and construction firms in the world and was responsible for leading and managing business lines generating between $20 million to $750 million annually. He was an Executive Vice President for AECOM, a global engineering and construction firm with current annual revenues of more than $15 billion dollars and 45,000 staff.
Lou started his career in Florida at the privately held consulting, engineering, construction, and operations firm, Camp, Dresser and McKee. Lou maintains his Florida Professional Engineers License and has graduate degrees in Environmental Engineering and Biological Sciences. He received the first undergraduate degree awarded in Environmental Science from Texas Christian University.
Lou was a member of Who’s Who in Environmental Engineering and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers until retirement in 2012. He also served on the Governor’s Council on the Environment for the State of Delaware.
When not volunteering in the Yampa Valley he enjoys hiking with his dog, skiing, golfing, and working out at the Old Town Hot Springs.
Cole Hewitt
Secretary/Treasurer
Always dedicated to his community, Cole joined the YVHA board in 2013, after moving to Steamboat Springs in 2011. He is passionate about the local and regional economy, specifically how housing impacts economic vitality and growth. He has 13 years of experience in debt, equity, and fixed income markets, which serves the YVHA board well.
Cole was the YVHA board president from 2018 – 2021 and now serves as the secretary and treasurer. He also serves on the grants committee of the Human Resource Coalition and is a board member of REPS and Lift Up. He was the chair of the Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council (EDC) and a member of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Network (YPN). When not volunteering, he has been the Chief Financial Officer for Yampa Valley Bank since 2018. Cole is a University of Wyoming graduate and has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Accounting.
He married Lauren in 2018 and they enjoy year round, outdoor activities in NW Colorado.
Daniel Buri
Board Member
During his time in the valley, he has earned dual degrees from Steamboat’s local Colorado Mountain College campus in Ski and Snowboard Business and Leadership and Management, and graduated from Western Colorado University with an Outdoor-Industry focused MBA. Daniel was appointed to the YVHA board in 2026 after serving on phase one of the Brown Ranch Deliberation and Stewardship Team, and he also serves his community as a part of the Hayden Economic Development Commission.
A longtime community member that is directly affected by Steamboat’s housing crisis, Daniel brings to the board the perspective of his lived experience. Originally attracted to the valley by the unique character of Steamboat Springs – a mountain town with a thriving, year-round community of locals, and an economy that is not solely reliant on its adjacent ski resort – he has watched as the cost of living in the valley has increasingly threatened this character. Over the years, Daniel has experienced a plurality of his contemporaries leaving the valley due to economic conditions that have put the Steamboat Dream farther and farther out of reach for young and working class people. As a resident of Hayden and young professional at a local Steamboat business, his intention is to advocate for hardworking locals, including those who commute to Steamboat from outlying communities.
Daniel and his wife Hayleigh met while instructing at Steamboat Resort, and in their free time they can be found skiing, snowboarding, biking, hiking, paddleboarding, and enjoying the Yampa Valley’s natural recreation opportunities.
Catherine Carson
Board Member
Catherine is a fourth generation Coloradan and has lived in Steamboat Springs for over twenty years. She serves as the Policy Committee Chair for the Yampa Valley Housing Authority, actively tracking rate policy that will affect local affordable housing. Prior to moving to Steamboat Springs, she worked in the financial area of the energy industry from operational to executive levels and responsibilities. She is an energized community activist and volunteer whose roles have included the Routt County United Way Board, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Advisory Board, Yampa Valley Recycles Treasurer plus actively volunteering for local organizations including Lift Up of Routt County, Yampa River Botanic Park and more!
Catherine is active in local, district and state politics including leading local housing campaigns such as the 2017 YVHA mil levy and the 2022 and 2023 short term rental tax ballot issues. She is a leader in the Routt County Democratic Party along with the Colorado Democratic Party local Senate, House and Judicial Districts. She is passionate about housing policy and is an activist for local, state and national housing policy.
Catherine enjoys running, speed walking, skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and living in Colorado!
Shannon Doin-Landers
Board Member
Shannon Doin-Landers brings a strong commitment to community well-being and a deep understanding of the intersection between housing, health, and social services to her role as a community advocate in the Yampa Valley. Originally from New York, Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science from St. Lawrence University, where she graduated Cum Laude with a double major in Government and Biology, blending her passion for public systems with a strong foundation in science.
Shannon currently serves as an Integrated Community Care Coordinator at The Health Partnership in Steamboat Springs, where she leads cross-agency, data-driven initiatives to improve access to healthcare across Northwest Colorado’s rural communities. Through a trauma-informed approach, she works directly with clients to navigate complex systems, reduce barriers to care, and build stronger, more responsive support networks. She also serves as a Safeline Advocate with Advocates of Routt County, providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and mentorship to volunteers in high-stakes, emotionally demanding environments.
Her professional experience also includes serving as a Judicial Assistant with Routt County Combined Courts, where she managed complex legal cases and supported judicial proceedings, as well as contributing to local housing solutions as a member of the Brown Ranch Community Deliberation and Stewardship Team. In that role, she helped facilitate community engagement, rebuild trust among stakeholders, and develop policy recommendations to address Steamboat Springs’ housing challenges.
Living and working in the Yampa Valley, Shannon sees firsthand the impact that access to housing, healthcare, and supportive services has on individuals and families. She is passionate about building collaborative, community-driven solutions that strengthen resilience and improve quality of life for all residents.
Outside of her professional work, Shannon enjoys spending time outdoors, connecting with her community, and embracing the mountain lifestyle that makes Northwest Colorado such a special place to call home.
Mark Halvorson
Board Member
Mark Halvorson brings over five decades of experience in mountain construction, project management, and development to his role on the Yampa Valley Housing Authority. Throughout his career, he has served as a general contractor, construction manager, owner’s representative, consultant, and expert witness, contributing to a wide range of high-end commercial and residential projects across the region.
His portfolio includes the construction of high-rise condominiums, banks, and notable public structures such as the first terminal at Hayden Airport and its expansion, the first Strings in the Mountains structure, and Storm Peak Laboratory atop Mt. Werner. He has played a key role in over 50 projects at the Sheraton Hotel, as well as the development of the Timber & Torch restaurant and the latest hangar project at the Steamboat Springs Airport. His experience extends to owner representation and construction management for major projects at the Steamboat Ski Area, including the expansion of the Thunderhead Terminal, Hazie’s Restaurant, and the Rendezvous Saddle Building with Ragnar’s Restaurant.
Beyond construction, Mark has personally developed high-rise condominiums, live/work commercial units, speculative homes, and various commercial and office tenant finishes. His expertise has also been instrumental in advisory roles, including serving as a construction consultant for the Casey’s Pond senior living facility, where he dedicated eight years to the board. He has actively contributed to numerous committees focused on construction-related initiatives, ensuring thoughtful planning and execution of key community projects.
Most recently, he completed an extensive remodel of the 25,000-square-foot U.S. Forest Service building and stepped in as an owner’s representative for a 10,000-square-foot residential project after the original contractor abandoned the job. His lifelong commitment to quality construction, thoughtful development, and community service continues to shape the built environment of the region.
Mark and his wife Diane enjoy the beautiful Yampa Valley together and you can find Mark in his retirement hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing, and golfing.
Michael Ann LaMotte
Board Member
Originally from Louisiana, Michael fell in love early with the Yampa Valley, learning how to ski in Steamboat at age 4. She attended Louisiana State University and earned a degree in Disaster Science Management. She started her career in residential real estate with a desire to help young professionals achieve home ownership. It is her core belief that a resort economy cannot thrive without housing for local employees; in Michael’s view houses equal jobs, jobs equal opportunity, and opportunity where you live creates community.
With her passion, Michael then set her career sights on real estate development of housing for locals. From 2017 to 2021 she worked on the West Steamboat Neighborhoods project with developer Brynn Grey and was the Development Director for their other residential projects throughout Northwest Colorado until early 2023. In her current professional role as Director of Development for Steamboat Resort she plays a key role as a connector between Alterra Mountain Company’s development team, Steamboat Resort’s leadership team, and local agencies to complete the next generation of projects at the ski area. Michael was appointed to the YVHA board in 2019.
Her other civic involvement includes: the Steamboat Springs Chamber Board of Directors and the Routt County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors. Michael is also the chair of the Economic Development Council. Her track record of dedication to her community was rewarded in 2021 when she was one of 20 individuals under 40 recognized for their positive impact on Steamboat.
When not working, she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hikes with her Australian Labradoodle named Poppy, and traveling with her husband.
John Spezia
Board Member
John brings a lifelong commitment to community, environmental stewardship, and affordable housing to his work in the Yampa Valley. Raised in the Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. area, he earned his undergraduate degree in mathematical analysis and computer science before later returning to graduate school to study oceanography and geology. His passion for science and education led him to teach meteorology courses at the Snow Lab atop Mount Werner, blending academic expertise with hands-on, place-based learning.
John’s career spans education, technology, and outdoor leadership. He began his professional journey at Boeing Aerospace in 1968 and later worked in early computer systems at Safeco Insurance. His path then took him abroad, where he served in the Peace Corps in Liberia, teaching middle school science and math. After moving to the Yampa Valley in 1973, he dedicated nearly three decades to Colorado Mountain College, where he founded the outdoor program and developed an interdisciplinary geology, oceanography, and meteorology curriculum. He also led trail crews in national parks and instructed mountaineering courses for both Northwest and Colorado Outward Bound, helping shape generations of outdoor leaders.
John has long been a civic leader and advocate in the Yampa Valley. He was a founding member of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority (YVHA) in 2004 and served on the original board of the Regional Affordable Living Foundation. His community involvement also includes founding roles with the Community Alliance of the Yampa Valley, Trappers Lake Sierra Club, and Friends of the Yampa. Through these efforts, he has worked to protect the region’s natural resources while advancing solutions to the growing housing challenges facing local residents.
Having experienced housing instability firsthand after moving to Steamboat, John understands the profound impact of stable, attainable housing. After years of working multiple jobs, he was able to purchase a modest home with the help of a friend—an experience that shaped his belief that homeownership fosters a deep connection to community. This perspective has fueled his decades-long advocacy for affordable housing, driven by a desire to ensure that local workers and future generations can continue to live and thrive in the Yampa Valley.
Outside of his professional and civic work, John has spent a lifetime exploring the outdoors. His adventures have taken him to climbing expeditions across multiple continents, whitewater and sea kayaking journeys throughout North America and beyond, and extensive backcountry travel across the Rocky Mountain West. Closer to home, he continues to enjoy skiing, paddling, fishing, and multi-day wilderness trips.
John lives in Fairview with his partner of 40 years, Diane, in a net-zero home powered by solar energy. Together, they maintain a large garden and care for a flock of hens, continuing their shared commitment to sustainability and a deeply rooted life in the Yampa Valley.
Scott Yeates
Board Member
His broader development experience includes ground-up market-rate multifamily and commercial projects throughout Colorado.
Scott is a Steamboat business owner and employer of local community members. As both an employer and resident, he believes attainable housing is essential to sustaining a vibrant, year-round workforce and preserving the character of the Yampa Valley.
You can find Scott and his wife Lauren skiing, camping, biking, and spending time outdoors with their friends and dog, Whiskey.
Steve Muntean
City of Steamboat Springs Representative
Councilor Steve Muntean was elected to the two-year At-Large seat during the November 2023 election. For over 34 years, Muntean and his wife have run the Muntean Leadership Group, which helps organizations vision their future, identify initiatives & strategies to achieve that vision, develop win-win partnerships, collaborate & communicate effectively, and develop leaders that have a solution focused leadership style.
Muntean knows Steamboat Springs well and the needs of various groups and stakeholders. The last 12 years, he has worked with over 100 local businesses and more than 20 non-profits, city departments including finance, planning and IT, county department managers as well as the commissioners, the school board, and Leadership Steamboat.
He is also a board member of the LMD (local marketing district) and board member of The Health Partnership, which connects people to health and wellness resources so that they live longer healthier lives. In addition, he was the co-chair of the Yes to Education campaign which resulted in building the Sleeping Giant school.
Muntean feels the focus of City Council should be to identify and implement the best solutions to address Steamboat Springs’ challenges and opportunities, which will enrich our culture, character and lifestyle – affordable housing, managing growth, promoting mental and behavior health services, environmental sustainability and increase council’s team effectiveness.
Dave Barnes
City Council – Alternate
Dave Barnes’ career began in Rhode Island’s commercial fishing industry, where he learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and community at a young age. At 19, he purchased his first home while supporting parents, and by 24, he became the owner of the Mews Tavern. Over the years, Barnes grew it from a small local bar into a successful hospitality business with multiple properties, including nearby housing investments to help address employee housing needs.
Since moving full-time to Steamboat Springs in 2002, Barnes has worked across a variety of local industries—from guiding with Steamboat Powder Cats to property management, construction, real estate, and fitness. These experiences have deepened his understanding of the local economy and the challenges and opportunities facing the community.
Along with his wife of 21 years and three children, the Barnes live downtown in the historic FM Light house, where they continue to embrace the “Steamboat Dream.” Barnes is deeply grateful for the people and opportunities that have shaped his journey and remains committed to hard work, resilience, and the shared values that make Steamboat Springs such a special place to call home. Dave loves to snowboard, river raft , hiking camping as well is an Ocean surfer and sailor.
Angelica Salinas
Routt County Commissioner
Angelica Salinas serves as Routt County Commissioner for District I, bringing a strong record of leadership in community engagement, economic development, and advocacy for working families. As a Routt County resident, Angelica has dedicated her career to fostering collaboration and building a thriving, resilient community.
Before taking office, Angelica worked as the Director of Community Engagement and Membership for the Steamboat Springs Chamber, where she led initiatives to address workforce housing, childcare, and economic opportunity. Her leadership roles include serving as Chair of the Young Professionals Network and a board member for United Way of the Yampa Valley. She also coaches youth volleyball and is involved in programs supporting youth across the county.
As Commissioner, Angelica is committed to finding ways to balance the needs of our workforce, economy and natural resources. Angelica is excited to work on projects advancing solutions for housing, childcare, and environmental resilience. She is also looking forward to hearing directly from the folks in Routt County about what matters to them.
Angelica enjoys exploring Routt County’s natural beauty and spending time with her pup, family, and friends.
Sonja Macys
Routt County Representative – Alternate
Sonja was elected as Routt County Commissioner in November of 2022 and sworn into office on January 10, 2023. She has held a variety of elected positions in the Yampa Valley, including two terms as a Steamboat Springs City Council Member and one term on the Yampa Valley Electric Association Board.
Sonja and her husband, Chuck Willard, live near the Steamboat Ski Area but the south valley is close to their hearts. They were engaged at South Shore in Stagecoach and married at High Meadows Ranch on Lynx Pass.
Sonja’s professional background is in natural resources. Locally, she has served as Executive Director of the non-profit environmental education organization Yampatika, and worked for the Colorado Division of Water Resources.
She enjoys horseback riding, skiing, hiking, camping, and attending bluegrass festivals.
The next board election will be in December 2026.
*If you would like to contact a Board Member or Advisor, please send an email to inquiry@yvha.org
