Cristina Gair, Executive Director

Cristina Gair joined The Eagle River Youth Coalition as the Executive Director in 2005. Prior to joining The ERYC, Cristina was the Assistant Director of The Family Visitor Program in Glenwood Springs, Colo. She has more than eight years experience working with nonprofits as well as 12 years experience as a communications professional. Cristina has a Bachelor’s of Journalism from the University of Missouri. Cristina completed the Community Resource Center’s Leadership and Management Program for executive directors in 2007 as well as several leadership classes at Colorado Mountain College. Cristina serves on the board of The Red Ribbon Project, the Eagle County Public Safety Prevention Committee, and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Eagle River Valley. Cristina is a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, and she has worked in the prevention field for eight years. Cristina is trained as a suicide interventionist through the (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) ASIST and the SAFE:TEEN programs. She is also a trainer of the safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone) program.

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Elizabeth Eves, Youth Outreach Coordinator

Elizabeth Eves joined The Eagle River Youth Coalition in April of 2010 as the Youth Outreach Coordinator, and is the primary contact for The Youth Leaders Council and the high school social norms campaign. Elizabeth was born and raised in the Vail Valley and previously worked at EPS Design & Print and the Vail Valley Foundation. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Colorado State University. Elizabeth is trained in Applied Suicide Intervention. She is looking forward to working with the youth in the valley and giving back to the community she grew up in.

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Karen Koenemann, Program Director

Karen Koenemann is the Program Director for The Eagle River Youth Coalition. Karen is focused on engaging parents as well as facilitating and coordinating the first ever Colorado Healthy Kids Survey for middle school age youth. She coordinated the development of a parent social norms campaign, Parents You Matter, and will develop a middle school youth social norms campaign through her work with ERYC. Karen previously worked at Institute for Village Studies, Katmai National Park, Lake County High School, The Keystone Center, and the Spring Street International School. Karen is an educator with a Bachelors in Biology from the University of Alaska, a Masters in Geography from the University of Wyoming, and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Alaska.

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Meredith Van Ness, Special Projects Coordinator

Meredith Van Ness is the Special Projects Coordinator for The Eagle River Youth Coalition. Meredith is working with the grant awarded by the Office of Suicide Prevention. Through this grant, there will be 3 different gatekeeper trainings offered, to raise suicide awareness and increase prevention and intervention efforts throughout Eagle County. Meredith will also be working with a grant from the Division of Behavioral Health through the Colorado Department of Human Services on Persistent Drunk Driving. This grant will help to survey youth for persistent drunk driving as well as offer interventions through the Project Towards No Drug Abuse program.  Meredith worked for the Mental Health Center of Denver for 5 years before moving to the mountains and joining the staff of ERYC. Meredith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Bachelors of Arts from The University of Montana and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver.

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Rebecca Odom, Resource Development Coordinator 

Rebecca Odom joined the Eagle River Youth Coalition in September 2009 as it's AmeriCorps VISTA member and Resource Development Coordinator. Rebecca is focused on building capacity and sustainability with in the ERYC organization. Rebecca moved to the valley after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University. While in college, Rebecca was involved with many community organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. She looks forward to continuing her passion for service and youth while with ERYC.

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