Durango Women’s Leadership Conference
2025 Conference Schedule
1:00 PM: Welcome and a special video kick-off from the first mayor of Durango, Maxine Peterson.
1:10 PM: Generational Leadership Panel - Brittany Bitsilly, Meredith Mapel, Christina Rinderle
1:45 PM: Mentorship Talk – Oseana Lacayo
2:00 PM: Authenticity Talk – Ashley Blackmore
2:20 PM: Community Advocacy Panel - Moira Compton, Beth Drum, Melissa Mount
2:55 PM: A short break
3:00 PM: Confidence Talk – Robin Duffy-Wirth
3:20 PM: Work-Life Balance Talk – Dr. Theresa Larson
3:40 PM: Financial Empowerment Panel - Morgan Kusian, Michelle Kooi, AmyBeth Shaffer
4:15 PM: Networking Talk – Sandy Lane
4:30 PM: Networking Social begins! Bar is open and food is served.
5:00 PM: Women in Sports Talk – Regina Curry
5:15 PM: A testimonial video will be played featuring 10 women student athletes and 2 coaches.
5:20 PM: Athletic Director, Travis Whipple, will wrap up the formal presentation with words on FLC Women’s Athletics.
6:30 PM: We all go home and celebrate a day well spent!
Durango Women’s Leadership Conference
2025 Speakers
Brittany Bitsilly
President, Associated Students of Fort Lewis College
Brittany Bitsilly serves as President of the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College while pursuing a double major in Political Science and Native American and Indigenous Studies. Her leadership is characterized by strong organizational skills and a deep commitment to community development.
As a dedicated advocate for policy change, Brittany focuses particularly on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within BIPOC communities. Her passion for Native American sovereignty and improving resource accessibility guides both her campus leadership and future aspirations. Brittany aims to leverage her college leadership experience toward a career in tribal or governmental offices, where she can continue driving meaningful impact and supporting underserved populations through informed policy work and community advocacy.
Meredith Mapel
President & CEO, Durango Coca-Cola
Meredith Mapel serves as President and CEO of Durango Coca-Cola. She joined the family-owned company in 1999 as part of the third generation. Meredith is the first woman to serve as the Mainstream President in North America representing small Coca-Cola ownerships and the first woman President of the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association.
Meredith currently serves on the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees, Coca-Cola Bottler's Association, and Colorado Beverage Association. Previous local boards include First National Bank of Durango, Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, San Juan Symphony, and Adaptive Sports Association.
Outside of work, Meredith enjoys an active lifestyle with her husband Jimmy Kight. They balance outdoor passions like cycling, skiing, and hiking with cultural interests in music and theater.
Christina Rinderle
Former 2 X Durango Mayor, Owner, Durango Land and Homes
Christina Rinderle, an environmental science graduate from Purdue University, transformed her passion for sustainability into community leadership after moving to Durango in 1999. As a two-term Durango City Council member, she served twice as Mayor, breaking ground as the city's youngest female mayor. Her public service extended to the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board, including a term as President.
A founding board member of the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance, Christina currently serves on the Durango Trails board while running her all-women real estate company, Durango Land and Homes. Her work reflects her commitment to green building practices and community-centered development, complemented by active involvement and contributions to numerous local nonprofits and charity organizations.
Oseana Lacayo
Executive Success Coordinator, Blackmore Group
Oseana Lacayo serves as the Executive Success Coordinator for Blackmore Group, where she embodies the company's commitment to lifelong client support and community upliftment. As a dynamic young professional speaking on mentorship at the conference, Oseana channels her high-achieving nature into developing strategic marketing platforms that connect buyers and sellers effectively.
Her leadership approach emphasizes individual agent development, where she creatively supports team members in reaching their potential while maintaining the company's bold marketing standards. Oseana's passion for mentorship stems from her own drive for continuous learning and achievement. When not advancing the success of real estate professionals and their clients, she embraces Colorado's outdoor lifestyle, particularly enjoying time on the ski slopes.
Ashley Blackmore, CEO of Blackmore Group, revolutionizes real estate with innovative marketing and concierge-level service. A Durango native, she disrupted the local market and built a team of 13 dedicated agents focused on community-driven real estate.
With nearly a decade in the industry, Ashley has gained national recognition for her transparent, client-first approach. Her leadership blends strategic marketing with authenticity, creating customized selling strategies beyond industry norms. She fosters genuine relationships, treating every transaction with the care she’d expect for herself. Her adaptability and forward-thinking mindset drive award-winning success, ensuring clients receive expert guidance at every step. Ashley’s vision continues to redefine the luxury and lifestyle real estate experience in Durango and beyond.
CEO, Blackmore Group
Ashley Blackmore
Moira Compton
Executive Director, Durango Mesa Park Foundation
Moira Compton serves as Executive Director of the Durango Mesa Park Foundation, overseeing one of the community's most transformative developments. This ambitious project includes hundreds of acres of preserved open space, creating Colorado's largest bike park, including a BMX track and community park areas for all ages, as well as a comprehensive trail network for multiple activities, and venues for cultural events and gatherings.
As the foundation's leader, Moira excels at community engagement, conducting resident consultations to ensure the park reflects local priorities. Her forward-thinking approach incorporates flexibility, deliberately preserving open spaces for future community needs that may emerge in the coming decades. When not advancing this landmark project, Moira enjoys Durango's natural beauty and adventures with her husband Ted and daughter Cecilia.
Beth Drum
SVP Community and Business Development, Alpine Bank
Beth Drum serves as Senior Vice President for Alpine Bank Durango, where she has built a 29-year career focused on business and community development and bank marketing. As a Colorado native who grew up in Denver, her professional role became a catalyst for deep engagement with nonprofit organizations throughout the region.
Her extensive dedication to nonprofit work reflects Beth's leadership philosophy, captured in her belief that "even if you impact just one person's life, you've made a difference." This commitment to meaningful individual impact has defined her approach to both banking and community service, creating a legacy of leadership that extends well beyond corporate success.
Melissa Mount
VP Advancement, CEO of the Fort Lewis Foundation at FLC
Melissa Mount serves as Vice President for Advancement and CEO of the Fort Lewis College Foundation, bringing her volunteer engagement and fundraising expertise and passion for education to advance the college's mission.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she discovered her talent for connecting donors and volunteers with meaningful causes while working at Second Chance Center for Animals. After honing her fundraising skills and spending a decade in philanthropy at Northern Arizona University, Mount now channels her relationship-building abilities to accelerate FLC’s strategic initiatives.
Under Mount’s leadership, FLC has reached unprecedented fundraising heights for three consecutive years. She's particularly passionate about the college's place-based and community-engaged learning opportunities and FLC’s focus on keeping student success at the center.
Robin Duffy-Wirth
Owner, EPIC Coaching and Consulting
Robin Duffy-Wirth is the Owner of EPIC Coaching and Consulting. A trailblazer in women's athletics, she was an All-American diver who rode the Title IX wave with a full scholarship to the University of Illinois, becoming a two-time Division 1 All-American. Her professional diving career took her to Europe, where she met her husband of 40 years and later owned "Fitness fur Frauen" in Switzerland.
After returning to the US, Robin served 10 years on the Bayfield School Board (earning Colorado's "School Board of the Year"), and retired as Director of the SunUte Community Center for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe after 22 years of service. She currently serves on the Community Foundation Serving SW Colorado Board. Throughout her career, Robin has fearlessly embraced new challenges across continents and cultures, embodying the confidence she inspires in others.
Dr. Theresa Larson
Founder and President, Movement RX
Dr. Theresa Larson, "Dr. T," is the founder of Movement Rx and a Marine Corps veteran whose personal journey through mental and physical injuries fuels her mission to support business leaders. Her expertise addresses how compromised wellbeing impacts critical business challenges including client attrition, employee retention, and scalability.
Under her leadership, Movement Rx has earned the Force for Good Award for its dedication to promoting healthy leadership practices. Dr. T's approach combines her military background with wellness expertise to build a community of resilient, healthy leaders. Her work demonstrates how physical and mental wellbeing serve as foundations for effective leadership, helping organizations thrive through the enhanced performance of their healthier, happier teams.
Morgan Kusian
Private Banking Officer, Central Bank
Morgan is an accomplished financial professional with over 5 years of experience in the banking industry. As the Private Banking Officer at Central Bank, Morgan has successfully led initiatives that have significantly grown the Central Bank footprint over the past 5 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Fort Lewis College, where she focused on analytical chemistry. A recognized expert in cash management products and relationship management, Morgan frequently shares insights and has sat on community boards and committees, such as the Durango Independent Film Festival, Durango Fiesta Days, and The local Boys & Girls Club charter. Outside of professional endeavors, she is dedicated to her family, cooking, and creating art through oil painting.
Michelle Kooi
CPA & Intuitive Coach, Confluence Coaching and Consulting
Michelle Kooi guides women entrepreneurs with an intuitive approach that addresses both business growth and personal wellbeing. With 20 years of experience supporting small business owners, she understands the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating ADHD, autoimmune conditions, or high sensitivity.
Her holistic coaching combines practical business strategies with mindful and spiritual practices, helping clients redefine success on their own terms. Michelle specializes in accountability, boundary-setting, financial empowerment, and burnout recovery, creating a judgment-free space where women can build confidence while achieving their business goals.
Through her personalized approach, she enables entrepreneurs to work authentically, feel empowered, and create impact while maintaining balance—helping them "feel good while doing good work and making good money."
AmyBeth Shaffer
Financial Advisor, Bank of Colorado Investment Services
As a Financial Advisor with Bank of Colorado Investment Services, AmyBeth excels at making complex financial concepts accessible. She provides personalized investment strategies through her Series 7 & 66 Licenses, Life & Health Insurance Licenses, and Accredited Asset Management Specialist™ designation.
Passionate about building relationships, she collaborates with clients and financial partners to create tailored plans aligned with individual goals. A Durango native, AmyBeth balances her professional commitment with family life alongside her husband and two children. Her community dedication continues through active involvement as an alumna of the Leadership La Plata Program.
Sandy Lane
Strategist, Sandy A Lane Consulting
Sandy A. Lane combines financial expertise with a passion for human potential development. As the first female partner at a prominent accounting firm during her 20-year tenure, she broke barriers while driving client success before co-founding and serving as CFO for a healthcare startup.
Today, Sandy works as a speaker, consultant, and certified coach, helping organizations maximize value while empowering individuals to reach their potential through confidence-building, communication skills, and authentic leadership.
Deeply committed to community service, Sandy balances professional achievements with outdoor pursuits and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Regina Curry
Wellness Coach, Fort Lewis College
Regina Curry brings over 20 years of counseling expertise to her multifaceted practice, helping clients achieve personal, mental, physical, emotional, and academic success. As a licensed professional counselor, school counselor, sports psychologist, and wellness coach for Fort Lewis College, she oversees professional development for coaches and the Athletic Wellness Mentorship Program. She's also a certified parenting expert with certifications in sex therapy and menopause coaching.
Regina, a Cornell University graduate with a B.S. in Architecture and former NCAA Division I student-athlete, earned her M.S. in Counseling and Therapy from the University of San Diego. Her Durango practice, Regina Curry Coaching & Therapy, creates a sanctuary for the highly spirited, fiercely driven, and emotionally sensitive, where clients arrive as they are and leave feeling empowered and understood.
Meet the Event Chairs!
