About Us

Advancing The Common Good In Routt County

Routt County United Way (RCUW) creates solutions that advance the common good in Routt County. We’re improving education, strengthening financial stability, and making our community healthier. Our community-led solutions focus on four goals to make the greatest impact in our community: giving children a strong start through early childhood education, providing youth a safe, healthy and nurturing environment to promote successful youth, improving the financial stability of all Routt County citizens, and promoting access to mental health and crisis services. We mobilize change by funding local nonprofits through grants, encourage ideas and connection through partnerships, and foster initiatives that directly support RCUW’s values in the community through our programs.

RCUW is the leader in health and human services. We are a community builder, leader, unifier, and champion.

OUR VISION

We envision a county where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through access to education, opportunities to improve financial stability, and support to lead healthy lives.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to unite people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good in education, financial stability, and health.

How We Make Our Impact

Programs

Grants

Partners

The Team That Makes It Possible

Kate Nowak

Executive Director

Kate started with Routt County United Way in October 2013. Previously her 11 years of nonprofit work included Yampa Valley Data Partners and the International Erosion Control Association. Kate and her husband, Jim, have been in the Yampa Valley for 20+ years. Kate is passionate about serving people through United Way.

Jennifer Bruen

Community Impact Coordinator

Jen is a native Michigander. With an education in cultural anthropology, regional planning, and historic preservation, she’s built a 20-year career heavily focused on equitable, inclusive, and sustainable community and economic development. She’s worked with communities nationally and internationally on innovative projects in collaboration with universities, regional planning organizations, non-profits, businesses, and local governments. She loves the outdoors, traveling, volunteering and spending time with her family.

Sarah Lundahl

Marketing and Communications

Sarah recently moved to Steamboat following her graduation from the University of Utah with degrees in Marketing and Arts Technology. Her time as the digital marketing intern for the University of Utah’s Sustainability Office developed her devotion to bettering her community and the environment. Sarah is thrilled to be living in Steamboat and is taking full advantage of the mountain biking trails.

Our Board of Directors

We are governed by a Board of Directors, whose responsibilities include: reviewing and guiding organizational direction, ensuring effective management and financial stewardship, representing RCUW in the community, bringing the community’s voice to our decision-making, and maintaining the community’s trust in the organization.

Ciara Bartholomew

Finance/Business Manager, South Routt School District

Ciara Bartholomew is a Colorado native, born in Leadville and raised in Eagle County. Upon graduation from the University of Colorado-Boulder (Go Buffs!), Ciara embarked on an 11-year journey in our Nation’s Capital where she worked for a management consulting firm, McKinsey & Co. and a brief stint for a middle-market investment firm during the 2007-2011 financial crisis. Returning to her roots of Colorado, she now spends her time as the Finance/Business Manager for South Routt School District. Ciara holds a masters in finance from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado. You can find Ciara skiing, mountain biking, rafting and enjoying the fresh air of the Colorado mountains with her husband, their toddler, and the family favorite Homer (the dog).

Andrew Czysz

Director of Operations at Alpine Insurance Brokers

Andrew brings his contagious excitement to Steamboat as the new face of Alpine Insurance. As Director of Operations, he is tasked with community outreach, building relationships within the community, assisting agents with exceptional client service and creatively progressing our agency to the next level. A lifelong Chicago native, he has embraced all things Steamboat – from hiking and golfing to catching a soak after a morning workout at OTHS. Next on his list: learning the slopes. You’ll often find him at happy hour venues around town, ready for a good conversation with someone new. Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, as an agent, manager, recruiter, and owner. He also sits on both the finance committee and donor relations committee as a board member of the Routt County United Way.

Anamaria Flores

Yampa Valley Bank Operations Officer

I am a Mexico native. I moved to Colorado with my family at age of eight and have been living in Colorado ever since. I was hired at Yampa Valley Bank in 2014 as a teller and have worked in a variety of roles in the Operations Department. My most recent role at YVB is that of Operations Officer. My primary goals at Yampa Valley Bank are to support our team and customers. I have helped elevate YVB’s reach into the Yampa Valley’s Spanish speaking population. My passion for nonprofits partially comes from my experience in working with our community members and seeing firsthand the difference nonprofits like United Way make in our community and how Yampa Valley Bank makes an impact in the community as well. I also find satisfaction with being able to help customers navigate the complicated financial world and helping them to thrive in banking. I am thrilled to serve our community through United Way. I enjoy the outdoors, spending time with family and my furry friend Nala (my golden retriever) and friends.

Leslie Gibson

Sales & Marketing Special Projects Supervisor, Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation

Leslie has been an integral member of the Steamboat Ski Resort team since 2009 in a variety of roles in both the Mountain Operations and the Brand and Resort Strategy divisions. Before working at the resort, Leslie attended the Art Institute of Colorado and worked as a cabinet designer at Rustic Woodworks. Leslie is a second-generation leader at the resort.

As a Routt County native, Leslie has huge respect and admiration for the history and traditions of the Yampa Valley community and that is what drew her to the United Way Board. She hopes that through her work with United Way, she can make a positive difference in our community and beyond through serving, advocating, and empowering others.

Karen Goedert

Director of Employee Engagement, Big Agnes/BAP

Karen Goedert currently holds the job of Director of Employee Engagement with Big Agnes/BAP located in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She joined Big Agnes, BAP and their sister company Honey Stinger in March of 2019 and is currently responsible for all employee engagement functions, recruiting, training, employee retention, benefit administration and current COVID deputy for Big Agnes and BAP. Karen holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Regis University as well as the SHRM HR Generalist certificate, SHRM- CP certificate and the CIR (Certified Internet Recruiter) certificate. Current active HR Affiliations include memberships in the Society for Human Resource Management, the Colorado Human Resource Association and High Country Human Resources Association. 

A few of her accomplishments with her work with Human Resources/Recruiting include:

  • Managing director/owner of Columbine Consulting, LLC offering HR services to resort businesses
  • Managing director/owner of Resort Recruiters, working as a talent acquisition expert assisting resort businesses in sourcing professional employees for their resort businesses. Resort Recruiters offer headhunting searches, advertising opportunities, interview assistance, background screens and “match-making” assistance between the employer needs and the employee’s qualifications. 
  • Building unique HR systems for new businesses (small and large)
  • Resort Management experience developing operating procedures and driving corporate culture for five-star resorts in resort locations. 

Eron Haubert

Assistant Principal, Strawberry Park Elementary

Eron Haubert moved to Steamboat eight years ago with her husband and two girls and began working at Strawberry Park Elementary as a 4th-grade teacher. She is now the assistant principal and utilizes her 24 years of educational experience to support the amazing students, staff, and community that make up the district.  She is excited and can’t believe that her daughters are old enough to start middle school and high school next year. Her entire family is deeply involved and invested in the community and is so grateful for the many opportunities that are available in this tremendous town.

Given this opportunity to serve the community at an even deeper level by being on the board of the Routt County United Way, is something Eron is very thankful for and is committed to in order to ensure that her expertise is utilized to continue to grow the already enriching programming in place. She has seen her school and students directly benefit from all the support that United Way has been able to provide to various programs, and to be a part of continuing this connection is an honor.

Carrie Helmcamp

14th Judicial District Family Court Facilitator for Routt and Moffat counties

Carrie moved to Steamboat in 2016 and joined the United Way Board in April 2019. After practicing law in Texas for over 20 years, Carrie and her husband (and their dogs) relocated to the Yampa Valley in 2016. A strong believer in United Way’s mission to “improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community,” she looks forward to becoming more deeply involved in programs supported by Routt County United Way and its community partners.

Carrie works with the 14th Judicial District as the Family Court Facilitator for Routt and Moffat counties, and enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, and fly-fishing.

Dave Kinnear

Community Member

Dave Kinnear grew up in Minnesota and received his degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota. Dave held two different positions with the State of Minnesota before beginning a 34-year career with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in Minnesota and Wisconsin. After leaving Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dave has been pursuing an active retirement, which includes skiing, biking, hiking, photography and travel.

Dave has been a supporter of the United Way for many years and has volunteered with a number of organizations in the Milwaukee area and beyond.

Since moving full-time to Steamboat Springs in 2017, Dave has been involved with the Steamboat Springs Over the Hill Gang, for which he currently runs the web site and leads bicycling outings.

David Lundeen

Community Member

David moved to Steamboat in 2013 after over 35 years in the Oil and Gas Business where he managed large international projects in numerous countries. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He has supported United Way in many communities where he has lived around the country.

David joined the Routt County United Way Board to serve the community and help Routt County be a great place to live for all people. He has one child at Steamboat High School and two grandchildren in the Steamboat school system. He is an active member of Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church and enjoys golf, tennis, fishing and plans every year to do some mountain biking.

Debra Sauermann

Community Member

Debra Sauermann has been behind the scenes for 5 years, since Kate has been working at RCUW. With a BA in math from Austin College in Sherman Texas, and an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School, she worked 25 years at Exxon (1985-2010). After leaving ExxonMobil, she consulted at SGV International, her husband’s company.

For the past five years she’s worked with RCUW to do donor outreach in and beyond Routt County, and has researched low income populations in Routt to support the collective impact initiative. She and her husband Roland have a son who lives in New York. She lives the majority of the time in Houston, Texas;. her second home is in Steamboat Springs, which she bought in 2007. But because her extended family is from Steamboat (her cousins all graduated from SSHS), she’s been coming to Steamboat for most of her life.

Alan M. Sidman

Community Member

Alan is a former finance executive having worked for Arthur Andersen & Co after receiving a degree in Accounting from the University of Southern Maine. He has also worked at ITT Grinnell, Altria and Instrumentarium in finance capacities. Alan has acted as a Data Base Consultant to major money center banks in the Chicago area as well as Not-For-Profit and Education organizations.

Alan has been a supporter of United Way in other parts of the country since early in his business career. Now, with time availability, volunteering with Routt County United Way is an opportunity to make a direct and positive contribution. Alan moved to Steamboat in 2014 and enjoys skiing, hiking, golf and reading.

Maggie Taylor

Director of Youth and Connectional Ministry, Heart of Steamboat

Maggie is a Nashville, TN native who moved to Steamboat a year ago to join the ministry team at Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church. She is the associate pastor and focuses on youth and connectional ministry. She completed her undergraduate in psychology and religion at Martin Methodist College and her Master of Divinity at Boston University.

Maggie is passionate about advocating for the active involvement of young people in their communities and co-chairs the Division on Ministries with Young People for the global United Methodist Church. She enjoys CrossFit, baking, hiking, and spending times with friends and family.

Marci Valicenti

Broker Associate | Partner, The Group Real Estate

Marci is a Broker Associate and Partner at The Group Real Estate. Marci has been fortunate to be part of the Valicenti Team, which her husband established in 1991 and son, Zach joined in 2018. The family real estate team primarily serves the real estate needs of Routt and Moffatt counties.  Marci has a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University. Her real estate designations include a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and e-PRO which relates to technology. In addition to her real estate experience, Marci skills include interior design and staging.

After visiting Ground Zero with her family in 2002, she co-found “Support the Troops” – a local grass-roots effort via the Yampa Valley Community Foundation where thousands and thousands of monetary and tangible donations were raised for care packages that were sent to American military stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq for approximately 10 years. The Valicenti’s have long been supporters of the United Way and for all the good that it does. Marci’s husband Tom served previously on the United Way Board for the term limit of five years to include serving as vice-president and president. While an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs, Marci believes in UW’s mantra “advancing the common good in Routt County” and wants to help this non-profit where she can.

Adam Wilson

Market President, Vectra Bank

Adam Wilson is the husband to Mary, father to Parker and AJ, and the Market President for Vectra Bank in Steamboat Springs. Adam graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs. Adam was fortunate that his 10+ year banking career brought him and his family to Steamboat Springs in December 2018. Before that, he lived in SW Ohio and Denver. Adam has a long history with United Ways in Denver and Ohio and brings his passion for helping others to Routt County United Way. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing in the trees, mountain biking, the Cleveland Browns, traveling, and serving the community.

Lynn F. Zinn

Co-Chair Women United

Lynn has been in the field of education for 53 years and considers herself only semi-retired at this point. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, her master’s in special education at the University of Maine, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. She has been a classroom teacher, special education resource teacher and consultant, reading consultant, central office administrator, graduate instructor in educational leadership, and educational consultant. In her work as an educational consultant, she has travelled to school districts all over the country (including Alaska), where she has served as a curriculum management auditor and facilitated work of school personnel in effecting curriculum change. She has made herself available to various nonprofit and governmental agencies to assist grant writing and in designing, implementing and evaluating programs. She is a self-admitted data geek!

She grew up in New England, but she, her husband Harry and her two children, Dave and Katie, spent seven years in Fort Collins before moving to Pennsylvania for her husband’s work. After Harry retired at the end of 2011, they immediately returned to Colorado, moving to Steamboat Springs to partake in the outdoor lifestyle so many of us enjoy.

In addition to other volunteer positions, Lynn is currently co-chair of the Steering Committee of Women United, where she gets to support the members of four very active committees (Events, Literacy, Membership and Financial Literacy) work to make a difference here in Routt County. She has loved getting to work with this group of remarkably talented, engaged women.

Financials &
Policies

Financials

Year ending August, 2021

Year ending August, 2020

Year ending August, 2019

IRS Form 990

August 2020 Public Disclosure

August 2018 Public Disclosure

August 2017 Public Disclosure

Policies

Core Values & DEI Statement

Code of Ethics

Privacy Statement

Annually, all United Ways certify their adherence to standards that include comprehensive requirements for financial reporting, governance, ethics, diversity and operations.

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