After a seven-month search process, the Western Colorado Congress Board of Directors is excited to announce David Reed as the organization’s new Executive Director, starting January 1.  Reed has worked for the past 11 years with the Wilderness Workshop in the Roaring Fork Valley, most recently as its Development and Communications Director.

“WCC has a broad network of citizen activists, a deep reservoir of goodwill across the Western Slope, and an inspiring mission of empowering people to make their communities more healthy and sustainable. I’m excited to be part of this team and I can’t wait to get started,” Reed said.

At its recent board meeting in early November, the WCC Board of Directors and staff unanimously selected Mr. Reed from an initially large pool of applicants. Taking the helm of the member-led organization with grassroots community groups in five western slope counties with hundreds of members in other counties, Reed will provide leadership in lifting members’ voices on issues of their interest. These include oil and gas concerns, promoting renewable energy, protecting our public lands, cleaning up the legacy of uranium mining, and working to keep our western slope farmers and ranchers on their land.

David Reed

Originally from Connecticut, Dave moved West in 1979 to attend Colorado State University, where he studied forestry but ended up getting an English degree.

His first career was in journalism, first reporting for the Aspen Times and then, after some world travels, landing in London, England, where he worked as a trade journalist and travel writer.

Reed has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 1992. He has been development and communications director for the Wilderness Workshop since 2003, after working as staff editor/writer for the Rocky Mountain Institute. Dave also authored five editions of The Rough Guide to Nepal.

In his spare time, Reed serves on the board of Clean Energy Economy for the Region, and as a Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteer and chapter co-leader. Other interests include adventure travel and international development.

Reed is married to Krysia Carter-Giez and has two children, Lily and Durga.