About Us

Staff

Staff Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Contact Cristina at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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.

Contact Elizabeth at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.

Contact Karen at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.

Contact Meredith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.

Contact Rebecca at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Board of Directors

The ERYC Board of Directors is comprised of key stake holders from across our community. If you're looking to get involved please click here.

Board of Directors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Officers Name / Email Organization
President Matt Teeters
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Alpine Bank
VP/ Treasurer  Sheri Mintz
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Bright Future Foundation
Secretary Jeanne McQueeney
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Early Childhood Partners
Youth Leader Brianna Johnson Student at Battle Mountain
  Andrej Birjulin
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Eagle County School District
  Janet DeClark
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Eagle County Parent Network
 

Bob Ticer

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Avon Police Department
  Sara Fisher
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Eagle County Commissioner
  Aaron Hill
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Otten Johnson Law Firm
  Sherri Almond
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EC Health and Human Services
  Beth Reilly
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Jason Platt
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Trinity Church
  Tony Mauro
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 KZYR Radio
 

History

The Eagle River Youth Coalition was officially formed as a 501c3, nonprofit agency, in 2001, as several individuals realized the importance of working collaboratively to assess and meet the changing needs of youth. The Family Center had formed a networking/training group. Leadership Vail Valley put together the Eagle CARES survey as its project to assess the needs of youth and determine youth programming. Finally, another group was addressing youth substance abuse and use. The groups making separate efforts decided to form one organization focused to mobilize the community and prioritize the needs of youth.

Since that time, The ERYC continues to focus on moving to the highest level of collaboration with its member agencies, and has an initiative called The Eagle County Youth Collaborative. In addition, The ERYC focuses on community outreach to influence positive community change. This year is the organization’s ninth year serving youth organizations and advocating for youth to guarantee young people are best served in Eagle County.

 

Press

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Annual Report

The Eagle River Youth Coalition prepares a report of its activities and accomplishments each year. We also use this report to thank our members, contributors and friends.

Thank you to everyone for your support and partnership.

Without you our work would not happen!

Thanks to our 2009 Members:

  • 1st Bank
  • Battle Mountain High School
  • Berry Creek Middle School
  • Bravo!
  • Bright Future Foundation
  • CSU Extension
  • Colorado West Regional Mental Health
  • Early Childhood Partners
  • Eagle County Board of County Commissioners
  • Eagle County Health & Human Services
  • Eagle County Public Safety Council Prevention Committee
  • Eagle County School District
  • Eagle River Watershed Council
  • Eagle Valley High School
  • Gore Range Natural Science School
  • Red Canyon High School
  • Red Ribbon Project
  • Samaritan Center of the Rockies
  • Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
  • SOS Outreach
  • The Literacy Project
  • The Vail Police Department
  • The Youth Foundation
  • Vail Performing Arts Academy
  • Wheels for Eagle

Thanks to our 2009 Supporters:

  • Anschutz Family Foundation
  • Colorado Department of Health and Human Services: Division of Behavioral Health
  • Alpine Bank
  • Vail Resorts
  • Eagle County Board of County Commissioners
  • Eagle County Health & Human Services
  • Eagle County School District
  • El Polmar
  • Office of National Drug Control Policy
  • United Way of Eagle River Valley

Download past reports:

 

Contact Us

Click here to send us a general contact form!

 


Upcoming Events
Monday, September 6th, @7:00pm
Tuesday, September 7th, @6:00pm
Thursday, September 9th, @5:30pm
Thursday, September 9th, @6:00pm
Tuesday, September 14th, @6:00pm

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