Welcome to the 2026 DWLC
Welcome to the 2026 DWLC
Session Details and Speaker Bios
BLOCK 1
1:15 - 1:50
Main Gym - TEDx-Style Talks
Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a choice you make every day. This talk reframes leadership as personal, practical, and accessible to all. By identifying your “one word,” you’ll unlock your everyday leadership superpower and gain a simple, powerful lens for leading with intention wherever you are.
Talk 1 - Leaders Among Us
Elizabeth Calagias
Elizabeth Calagias is the Business Manager at the Center for Innovation at Fort Lewis College, where she supports entrepreneurs, builds collaborative spaces, and designs programming that blends creativity with strategy. A Fort Lewis College alumna with a background in marketing and graphic design, she approaches complex challenges through a creative lens. Passionate about strengths-based leadership and personal growth, Elizabeth believes leadership is less about titles and more about how we choose to show up each day. She encourages others to identify their natural strengths and use them with clarity, purpose, and confidence.
Your voice only matters if it’s truly heard. This talk explores what it means to speak from the heart with clarity and conviction. By tapping into your inner strength and wisdom, you’ll gain the confidence to express yourself in a way that resonates, connects, and leads.
Talk 2 - Speak Your Truth
Barbara McLachlan
Barbara McLachlan is a former Colorado legislator and longtime high school teacher whose commitment to public service continues well beyond elected office. She currently serves on the Community Foundation board and works with the Colorado Department of Transportation, focusing on multi-modal travel, road safety, and the needs of rural communities. A fourth-generation Coloradan, Barbara brings both conviction and heart to her leadership. She is passionate about helping others find and use their voice—believing that true impact begins when we speak with clarity, courage, and authenticity.
Sports Performance Center - Breakout Sessions
From Managing to Empowering: Coaching Tools That Transform Leadership
Space A:
This engaging and participatory session introduces practical coaching tools leaders can use immediately to lead with more clarity, ease, and impact.
Adrea Bogle & Suzanne Phare
Adrea Bogle is the founder of Luminary Consulting and an experienced Executive Director who partners with rural nonprofits, schools, and community organizations to strengthen teams and build sustainable solutions for our rural communities. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, facilitation, and strategic planning, she brings a grounded, collaborative approach rooted in local strengths. Relationships are at the center of her work, and she ensures leaders have the resources and connections they need through strong networks and partnerships. Adrea is passionate about lifting our community by supporting and partnering with organizations that are working to create positive, lasting impact.
Suzanne Phare is a certified leadership and executive coach based in Durango, Colorado. With more than two decades of experience in HR and executive coaching, she helps individuals and organizations reconnect with their inner clarity and energy to grow, transform, and reach their full potential. Suzanne specializes in leadership development, team building, transitional guidance, and human-resources consulting. Her work focuses on equipping leaders with practical tools that strengthen communication, foster alignment, and create meaningful, lasting impact.
Reflect, Reframe, Rise: Using Feedback as a Leadership Advantage
Space B:
How leaders receive feedback—externally and internally—shapes confidence, growth, and effectiveness. This session invites participants to “opalize” feedback by reflecting, reframing perfectionism, and transforming constructive criticism into a leadership asset they can use in both work and life.
Morgan Kusian
Morgan Kusian is a young professional and emerging leader passionate about creating open dialogue around topics often kept behind closed doors. She focuses on empowering others through conversations on financial literacy and constructive feedback, fostering transparency, confidence, and growth in every environment. Morgan is committed to helping teams reframe feedback as an asset and turn essential leadership concepts into actionable strategies for success in both work and life.
Inner Wisdom Access: Unlocking Clarity Through Symbolic Regression
Space C:
This experiential breakout uses grounded, psychologically informed symbolic regression to help participants uncover recurring patterns, access inner wisdom, and gain clarity around leadership challenges. No belief in past lives required—this session focuses on insight, reflection, and meaningful self-discovery.
Megan Oberholtzer, PhD
Megan Oberholtzer, PhD is a doctoral-level psychologist and founder of Insight Meditation and Hypnosis, LLC. She specializes in regression-based hypnosis, integrating psychological training with reflective practices to help clients uncover subconscious patterns influencing their current lives. Megan’s work supports clarity, emotional resilience, and meaningful personal insight. Through grounded, psychologically informed approaches, she guides individuals in accessing deeper self-awareness and unlocking inner wisdom to navigate leadership and life challenges with greater confidence and alignment.
BLOCK 2
2:00 - 2:35
Main Gym - Panel Discussion
First Responders Panel — Leadership on the Front Lines
Some of Durango’s most critical leadership happens in high-pressure environments where decisions carry real weight. Join local women leaders serving across La Plata County as they share what it takes to lead through risk, collaborate across jurisdictions, break barriers, and build strong, psychologically safe teams. It’s an honest look at leadership that protects, serves, and strengthens our community every day.
Shawna Legarza brings more than 31 years of leadership in wildland fire and emergency management. She was the inaugural superintendent of the San Juan Hotshots in Durango and later served as National Director of Fire and Aviation for the U.S. Forest Service. Over her career, Shawna led fire and aviation programs at regional and national levels and represented the United States internationally. She has also responded to major incidents including the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster and Hurricane Rita. Now serving as La Plata County Manager, Shawna continues her commitment to public service. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology and advanced degrees in kinesiology and exercise physiology.
Alayna Loutherback began her path in service as a collegiate basketball and track athlete before transitioning into law enforcement in 2020. She currently serves with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office as a member of the CORE team, partnering with a licensed therapist to respond to mental health calls throughout the Durango community. Alayna is dedicated to bringing empathy and specialized care to individuals during their most vulnerable moments. Her work reflects a deep commitment to service, resilience, and compassionate response. Outside of duty, she enjoys time with her husband, Noah, and their dog, Hosmer.
Camille Lauer began her career in emergency services as a ski patroller in Colorado, providing on-mountain medical care for five years before transitioning into fire and EMS. She has served with Upper Pine River Fire Protection District for the past three and a half years and currently works as a firefighter-paramedic. Camille brings hands-on field experience and a steady presence to high-pressure environments. Outside of work, she enjoys rafting, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with her dog, Basil.
Maggie Sullivan, BSN, RN, CCRN, CFRN, CMTE, is the Assistant Nurse Manager for Flight For Life’s Durango base (Lifeguard 5). A flight nurse since 2017, she stepped into leadership in 2022, driven by a commitment to support the dedicated medical professionals serving southwest Colorado. Maggie is drawn to the dynamic and demanding nature of flight nursing, providing critical care in remote and rural environments, from on-scene emergencies to specialty transport. She leads with compassion and resilience, ensuring high-quality care in high-stakes situations.
Casey Bartlett is entering her 10th wildland fire season with Durango Fire Protection District, where she serves as a Wildfire Division Captain and certified Firefighter II/EMT. Her career reflects a strong commitment to emergency response and community service. Prior to joining the fire service, Casey worked with the Boys & Girls Club in Durango and Seattle, supporting youth development. She brings steady leadership and field experience to protecting southwest Colorado. Outside of work, Casey enjoys audiobooks and creative pursuits, including woodburning and engraving.
Sports Performance Center - Breakout Sessions
Building Local and Regional Collaboration for Collective Impact
Space A:
Collaboration is a strategic leadership skill. Drawing on experience working across both local and regional systems, this session explores how intentional partnerships strengthen communities, organizations, and teams. Participants will gain insight into building trust-based collaboration, aligning stakeholders, and creating shared momentum.
Jamie Church
Jamie Church is President and CEO of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce. She is the founder of the Four Corners Professional Women’s Summit and creator of Focus on Farmington Community Building events. A graduate of Fort Lewis College and Leadership San Juan, Jamie is known for strengthening cross-regional partnerships and building collaborative momentum across communities. Inspired by generations of women in her own family who were active in civic leadership, she is committed to fostering strong relationships and advancing collective impact throughout the Four Corners region.
Worthy of More: The Identity Shift Behind Leadership and Wealth
Space B:
Every leap in leadership and every increase in income begins with an identity shift. In this session, Maggie explores why women often stay stuck trying to do more instead of becoming the version of themselves who naturally leads, earns, and receives more. Participants will examine how identity shapes confidence, decision-making, and financial growth—and leave with clarity on the internal shifts required to expand both their wealth and leadership capacity.
Maggie Emerson
Maggie Emerson is a Money Mentor and Coach who believes money gets to feel good. After moving from financial struggle as a single mother to building a thriving, aligned life and business, she now helps women and creative entrepreneurs shift from survival mode into steady abundance. Maggie blends practical strategy with intuitive and energetic work to support sustainable money flow and business models that feel spacious and authentic. Her work centers on identity, confidence, and the internal shifts required to expand both leadership capacity and wealth.
The Resonance of Empowered Leadership: Leading with Alignment, Presence, and Clarity
Space C:
Women leaders are stepping into a new paradigm of leadership rooted in embodied alignment rather than over-responsibility or emotional labor. This experiential session explores leadership through resonance, authenticity, and presence—helping participants feel the difference between obligation-based leadership and empowered leadership. The session concludes with a harmonizing practice that attunes body, mind, and spirit—supporting you to lead from coherence, clarity, and embodied confidence.
Caren Truske
Caren Truske is a transformational leader, educator, and vibrational sound practitioner whose work explores human potential, feminine leadership, and embodied intelligence. With a background spanning Transformational Kinesiology, Educational Neuroscience, Vibrational Sound Therapy, and more than 30 years of teaching and facilitation, she guides women in activating authentic resonance and leading from inner coherence. Caren’s approach integrates science and experiential practice to support clarity, presence, and empowered contribution in both leadership and life.
BLOCK 3
2:45 - 3:20
Main Gym - Panel Discussion
Outdoor Recreation and Responsibility Panel
In Southwest Colorado, the outdoors isn’t just recreation — it’s identity, economy, and community. This panel brings together women working across recreation, land use, education, and community engagement to explore what responsible leadership looks like in the places we love. Facilitated by a Fort Lewis College student-athlete, the conversation bridges generations and perspectives, focusing not on technical environmental details, but on leadership — decision-making, tradeoffs, collaboration, and accountability where passion, play, and protection intersect.
Ella Merrill is a third-year student at Fort Lewis College studying Adventure Education and Snow and Avalanche Science. Originally from Palmer, Alaska, she brings a deep appreciation for the outdoors and experiential leadership. A member of the Fort Lewis cycling team, Ella is passionate about backcountry skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering, and hiking. She is committed to exploring the intersection of outdoor recreation and responsibility, helping facilitate conversations that support sustainable adventure and community stewardship.
Sage Cramer is an outdoor educator based in southwest Colorado and a 2024 graduate of Fort Lewis College, where she studied Adventure Education, Regenerative Food Systems, and Environmental Studies. She serves as an Education Specialist with the San Juan Mountains Association, teaching ecology and environmental science through hands-on, place-based learning. Sage is passionate about fostering environmental stewardship and connecting communities to the land. She lives in Mancos, where she enjoys gardening, crafting, and spending time outdoors with her wife and their many animal companions.
Ashley Carruth Ashley Carruth is Dean of Experiential Education at Animas High School, where she also teaches 9th grade Humanities and Avalanche Education. She co-founded and directs San Juan Mountain SOLES, an outdoor leadership program for high school female-identifying youth. For 15 years in Durango, she has connected students to wild places through rigorous experiential learning that cultivates civic engagement, environmental stewardship, belonging and a strong sense of place. Ashley holds a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a Master’s in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from Stanford University. She brings energy, grit, and deep love for the San Juan Mountains, guiding young leaders to grow through challenge and adventure.
Maggie Magierski (Tlingit) is the Environmental Experiential Learning Coordinator at Fort Lewis College. Her work centers on place-based education and the belief that the natural world offers powerful classrooms for hands-on, sensory learning. Maggie is passionate about the intersection of plants, people, and land stewardship, exploring how experiential education can foster reconciliation, healing, and environmental responsibility. She is committed to cultivating meaningful connections between communities and the landscapes they inhabit.
Jen LaCroix is the owner of Durango Outdoor Exchange, a used gear consignment shop that has served the community for more than a decade. With 20 years of small business experience, she has built her company on a commitment to customer service and the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit. Jen is passionate about making outdoor recreation accessible and sustainable for the local community. When she’s not at the shop, she can be found exploring trails and rivers with her husband and two children, living the values she brings to her work.
Sports Performance Center - Breakout Sessions
Using the 4 C’s to Build Confidence and Create Change
Space A:
With energy, humor, and personal stories, this session guides participants through the Four C’s—Courage, Confidence, Choices, and Change. Attendees will explore how to identify their fears, opening the door to their courage, confidence, and change.
Robin Duffy-Wirth
Robin Duffy-Wirth recently retired after 22 years with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, where she served as Director of the SunUte Community Center for 8 years. Her diverse career has always centered around people and leadership. A former collegiate and professional diver, Robin also lived in Switzerland for a decade and served 10 years on the Bayfield school board while raising three children. Today, she coaches professionals, loves public speaking, and teaches The Power of Professional Kindness, helping individuals understand and appreciate those around them. Her main focus is to guide people to their courage, build confidence to inspire meaningful change in their lives and communities.
Lessons I Learned from Burnout
(So You Don’t Have To)
Space B:
This session is a candid leadership story, not a coaching lesson. Melissa shares her personal journey through burnout, the signals she missed, and what hindsight taught her. In this interactive session, participants will gain insight into recognizing burnout early and navigating stress more intentionally.
Melissa May
Melissa May has spent the past nine years leading in the nonprofit, local government, and collaborative conservation sectors. Her recent experience with stress and burnout inspired her to share her story openly, with the belief that sustainable leadership begins with caring for ourselves, each other, and the communities we serve. Melissa brings a candid, reflective lens to leadership, encouraging others to recognize burnout early and approach their work with greater intention, resilience, and balance.
Nineteen Years in Business: Lessons in Resilience, Adaptability, and Growth
Space C:
Drawing from nearly two decades of running a creative business in Durango, this session blends storytelling with practical insights on adaptability, resilience, and long-term sustainability. Participants will gain perspective on navigating market shifts, personal priorities, and evolving industries while staying aligned and creative.
Allison Ragsdale & Hannah Pavon
Allison Ragsdale is the owner of Allison Ragsdale Photography, a Durango-based studio she founded in 2007. After earning her degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Colorado, she quickly built a reputation for creating authentic, people-centered portraits. Specializing in senior portraits, Allison has been voted Best Photographer in Durango for the past 10 consecutive years. With nearly two decades of experience running a creative business, she brings practical insight on resilience, adaptability, and staying aligned while evolving through industry and market shifts.
BLOCK 4
3:30 - 4:05
Main Gym - TEDx-Style Talks
Making a difference comes when we activate a drive inside us that is truly authentic. This talk explores what we value, what’s meaningful, and why it matters—because real change begins with showing up fully as ourselves. Through reflection and interactive action-setting, you’ll build the foundation to inspire others and create lasting change in your community.
Talk 1 - Make a Difference
Jenn Bartlett
Jenn Bartlett is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado, a role she began in 2022 after serving as Director of Human Resources and Staff Development for Conservation Legacy. A longtime advocate for youth development, Jenn has served on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and has been a Big Sister for more than a decade. Her leadership spans local nonprofits, tribal programs, youth sports, and Chamber leadership initiatives, where she was honored with the Barbara Conrad Leadership Award. Jenn is passionate about activating authentic leadership that inspires collective impact across generations and communities.
People first starts with self first. It isn't selfish: When you are grounded, you listen better. When you're fulfilled, you create environments where others can thrive. When you model self-respect, your team learns to respect themselves and others.
Talk 2 - People First
Tamara Vermette
Tamara Vermette has been part of the leadership team at Star Liquors in Durango for more than 16 years, working alongside her husband, Mike Vermette. As of January 1, 2026, they officially became co-owners. A longtime member of the Durango community with a background in fine arts, Tamara brings creativity, candor, and a people-first philosophy to business. She believes leadership starts with self-awareness and grounded presence—because when leaders care for themselves, they create environments where others can thrive. Whether building community through business or carving fresh snow at Purgatory, Tamara leads with authenticity and heart.
Sports Performance Center - Breakout Sessions
Is Your Visibility Gap Showing? The GROW Framework to Spot Where Your Expertise is Leaking
Space A:
This session guides you in fine-tuning your leadership style. Using the strategic GROW 4-Box Framework, we'll pinpoint what causes you to settle for positions and roles that dishonor your purpose, erode your presence, and threaten belonging. We’ll practice the ABC Method to bridge your expertise with undeniable impact. You'll walk away with a high-leverage “Power Move” and a tactical cheat sheet to make your expertise impossible to ignore.
Michelle Flemmings, MD
Dr. Michelle Flemmings is an Emergency Medicine physician with 30 years of clinical and healthcare leadership experience, including serving as Chief Medical Officer and Industry Executive Director at Oracle Health/Cerner. She helps high-achieving women leaders transform invisible expertise into undeniable influence through strategic visibility frameworks. As founder of Working While Female™, Michelle specializes in supporting leaders in healthcare, STEM, and innovation who are ready to stop being overlooked. She brings both national expertise and regional relevance to her work, equipping women with practical tools to elevate their presence and impact.
This interactive session introduces neuroscience-based, embodied leadership practices that help leaders manage stress and maintain presence. Through hands-on somatic techniques, participants will learn to recognize stress responses, regulate their nervous systems, and lead with greater clarity and effectiveness.
Practical Tools for Embodied Leadership
Space B:
Amber Blake
Amber Blake is the CEO and Founder of Ascend Beyond, bringing more than 20 years of experience in leadership and organizational development, specializing in organizational transformation. A certified professional coach through the International Coaching Federation and Somatic Coaching Academy, she has supported more than 10,000 participants across multiple organizations. Amber partners with leadership teams and governing boards to facilitate strategic planning, board retreats, and organizational development initiatives that align vision, strengthen governance, and build high-performing cultures. At the individual level, she equips leaders with neuroscience-based and embodied practices that strengthen communication, influence, and strategic decision-making.
The Financial Questions Every Leader Should Be Asking (But Usually Isn’t)
Space C:
Many leaders have access to financial reports but still feel uncertain or hesitant when making money-related decisions. This interactive session helps identify the practical leadership-level financial questions that drive clarity around cash, pricing, and risk, so finances become a tool for confident decision-making rather than a source of avoidance or stress.
Chelsea Murphree
Chelsea Murphree is the founder of Ascendera, where she partners with entrepreneurs and growing businesses to provide accounting solutions and fractional CFO services. With a background in business and accounting and experience overseeing multi-million-dollar assets, she helps leaders gain financial clarity, optimize operations, and make confident, strategic decisions. Chelsea’s work focuses on equipping leaders with the practical financial questions and tools needed to drive clarity around cash, pricing, and risk—turning finance into a source of confidence rather than uncertainty.