Confluence Program

Andrés Esparza

Senior Consultant

Andrés Esparza has worked in the conservation and education field for the better part of two decades on public lands throughout the Western US. Through his time in a variety of roles, Andrés has always strived to engage diverse and often underrepresented populations with their public lands through education, recreation, advocacy, and stewardship in an effort to ensure the survival, inclusivity, and relevancy of our public lands in the years to come. Additionally, Andres is a proud dad to his adorable toddler (Ames), a partner to his equally charming and adventurous wife (Kira) and an elected representative in Mancos, CO.
Andrés holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master in Environmental Management degree from Western Colorado University. He works and lives in Southwest Colorado where he enjoys whatever outdoor recreation opportunities the season permits.

Chela Garcia Irlando

Next 100 Coalition

Chela Garcia Irlando is the inaugural Executive Director of the Next 100 Coalition. She received her B.A. in Ethnic Studies and International Affairs, and Masters of Environmental Studies in Planning and Community Engagement from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

She has worked on several state and local campaigns, including running the successful campaign to elect Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2018. Chela was formerly the Director of Conservation Programs at Hispanic Access Foundation, the Colorado Regional Coordinator at Latino Outdoors establishing
the Colorado chapter, and a founding leader of Brown Girls Climb.

In her most recent role, Chela was the inaugural Executive Director of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, supporting fourteen Latino state legislators in their efforts to represent and engage Latino voices in state-level advocacy in Colorado. She currently resides in Denver with her family and enjoys spending time outside.

Betsy Harter

Kahtoola

Betsy Harter has a rich background blending outdoor adventure, conservation advocacy, and sustainability. Her current role at Kahtoola focuses on integrating these values into the company’s mission of promoting safe outdoor experiences through innovative gear. Her notable achievement includes working on a campaign to protect nearly 1 million acres of land surrounding Grand Canyon National Park to establish The Baaj Nywavjo I’tah Kukeveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Before joining Kahtoola, Betsy Harter spent over 20 years as an Outdoor Adventure Guide. During this time, she led extended backcountry trips, fostering connections between the people she led and the landscapes they explored by educating her guests on a variety of diverse topics, such as wildlife, biology, geology, history, and contemporary issues related to the areas they explored. She is committed to educating and inspiring others about the natural world and advocating for its conservation.

Blair Kanis

Cocona Labs

Blair Kanis is President and General Counsel at Cocona Labs, creator of 37.5® Technology.  Previously, Blair was an attorney with a national law firm where her practice focused on intellectual property and Corporate Social Responsibility, and she has taught as an adjunct professor on business and human rights.

Blair has worked with marginalized communities for many years, including on corporate human rights due diligence projects in Latin America. She co-founded the Colorado Poverty Law Project in 2013 and works with mobile home park communities across Colorado to offer know-your-rights trainings, legal representation, and policy support.

Blair lives in Ouray, Colorado and, in her free time, she loves to climb, bike and ski and enjoy all that outdoor Western Colorado has to offer.

Sanober Mirza

National Parks Conservation Association

Sanober Mirza works as the Arizona Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Prior to working at NPCA, Sanober worked in climate policy research and has a background in landscape conservation, with a focus on natural resource conflicts. Sanober has always been passionate about advancing diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice in the conservation field, especially through creating a pipeline for a new generation of environmental professionals who are ready to challenge what it means to be a conservationist.

Kim Paymaster

The Conservation Alliance

Kim has a passion for building relationships and creating community, and believes in the ability of these relationships to drive change. In both her professional and personal life, she has a strong focus on working with community members and local organizations to increase access and equity. Through her current role as the Grant Program Director at The Conservation Alliance, Kim strives to support and learn from the Confluence Program and then weave those lessons through the organization’s larger efforts aimed at equitable conservation.

Outside of work, Kim serves as a board member of the Scattergood Foundation which aims to create a more inclusive society where behavioral health is central and is also the chair of the Plastics Reduction Task Force at Weaver’s Way Co-op. Kim currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter, where they are always looking for new adventures and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

Jillian Waln

Konekted

Jillian Waln is the owner of Konekted, a Lakota-owned media agency. She is an enrolled member of the Siċaƞġu Lak̇ot̄a Oyate (Rosebud Sioux Tribe). Her passion for reclaiming sovereignty, storytelling, decolonizing political and social systems, and empowering Indigenous identity through storytelling can be seen through her work with Siċaƞġu Co and personal endeavors including writing, building brands, videography, podcasting, and other community-facing work.