Makenzie Eshelman (November 2009 - present): Makenzie joined the Buddy Program in November 2009 as Program Coordinator/Case Manager in Basalt. She works with the Buddy Pairs in Basalt. Makenzie has a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is bilingual in Spanish. She has worked with the youth of our valley in a variety of outlets, and is currently the Girls Varsity Soccer coach at Basalt High School.

Jennifer Greechan (April 2010 – present): Jen joins the Buddy Program as the Event Coordinator for Boogie’s Bash for the Buddies, having just wrapped up working with Aspen Skiing Company in their Event Marketing Department. Prior to her move from New York City to Aspen in March 2009, Jen worked at the National Football League and Major League Baseball doing events, television production, game operations, corporate hospitality and marketing. She brings over 9 years of event production experience to her new role along with 3 years of mentoring. Jen holds a Masters Degree from New York University in Media Ecology, with an emphasis on marketing and sports business.

Heather Hicks (May 2005-October 2008; June 2009 - present): Heather joined the Buddy Program in May 2005 as a Program Coordinator/Case Manager in Aspen. Heather worked previously at The Aspen Times before joining the Buddy Program and in January 2007, she added Public Relations Liaison to her title. She holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Spanish Language and Literature from The University of Michigan. In January 2009, Heather lived and worked abroad in Asturias, Spain, for 6 months before returning to The Roaring Fork Valley. Heather currently leads the Aspen School-based Program in addition to her role as Program Coordinator/Case Manager in the Aspen Community Program. Heather is bilingual in Spanish and has mentored a Latina girl in the Buddy Program since October 2005.

Carleen Joseph (January 2010 - present): Carleen joined the Buddy Program in 2010 as the Director of Experiential Programs. She was previously the Program Director at Aspen Youth Experience for five years. Carleen has her M.E. in Counseling Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Before moving to Aspen Carleen worked as a mental health clinician in Washington D.C. Carleen enjoys continuing her work with youth in the Roaring Fork Valley to provide quality experiential programming.

Cathy Fisher Grueter (7+ years): Cathy has worked at the Buddy Program since May 2002 in several program and administrative positions. Cathy is currently a Program Coordinator/Case Manager in the Aspen Community Program. Cathy has a B.A. in Psychology from Sewanee: The University of the South. She also has a Waldorf Teaching Certificate and is a former Waldorf Teacher. Cathy is a Big Buddy to two sisters in Aspen and a 2006 graduate of Roaring Fork Leadership.

Kim Kraunz (1+ years): Kim joined the Buddy Program in April of 2009 as the Business Manager and became the Aspen Peer to Peer Coordinator in September of 2009. Kim relocated from the East Coast and has her Sc.D. degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and brings her statistical knowledge to the program evaluation side of the Buddy Program.

Lindsay Lofaro (6+ years): Lindsay started at the Buddy Program in May 2003. She in a case manager for Buddy Pairs in Basalt and Aspen. In May 2006, Lindsay was promoted to Director of Programs. Lindsay holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sociology from Denison University. She is a Big Buddy and bilingual in Spanish and a 2005 graduate of Roaring Fork Leadership.

Natasha Long (3+ years): Natasha joined the Buddy Program in January 2007 in the role of Development Associate/Event Coordinator. In September 2007, she was promoted to Director of Events and Sponsorships. She moved to Aspen from London, England where she worked in Foreign Language Rights within the Children’s Book Publishing Industry. She graduated from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts with a B.A. in History and a focus on Latin America. While her primary role at the Buddy Program was as Event Director for Boogie’s Bash for the Buddies, Natasha is currently acting as Event Consultant through the end of July only, and in this capacity handing over both Boogie’s Bash and Boogie’s Diner Buddy 5-Mile Race to the next generation of Event Producers. She is also Silent Auction Coordinator, and launched the Buddy Program’s inaugural Leadership Development Board in 2010. Natasha is a member of the Board of Directors for Aspen Young Professionals Association.

Sole Lowe (7+ years): Sole started at the Buddy Program in August of 2002 as a Program Coordinator/Case Manager. She oversees Buddy Pairs in Basalt and is the Bilingual Liaison for the Buddy Program. In May 2006, Sole was promoted to Senior Program Coordinator. Sole is also a Public Relations/Marketing Coordinator for the Buddy Program. She has an A.A. in Business and a B.A. in Art and English Translation. Sole is from Argentina and Spanish is her first language. Sole is a Big Buddy, a Board Member for Basalt’s Old Brick - a Community Center, and a volunteer and donor to numerous other charitable organizations.

Karmen Pittenger, MSW (6+ years): In the fall of 2003, Karmen was hired to work part-time as the Enhanced Case Manager for the Buddy Program. In January 2004, Karmen became a full-time Enhanced Case Manager, working in Basalt and Aspen. In January 2005, Karmen oversaw the implementation of the School-based Mentoring Program in Basalt and in January 2006, implemented the Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program in Basalt. She continues to run these two programs in Basalt and her title is now Director of Youth and Family Services, overseeing the counseling referrals and all other counseling needs of our Little Buddies in Aspen and Basalt, while continuing to do enhanced case management. Karmen has her M.S.W. from the University of Denver and her Bachelors of Social Work from Metro State University. Karmen is also a Big Buddy.

Catherine Anne Provine, MBA (4+ years): Catherine Anne became the Executive Director of the Buddy Program in the fall of 2005. Before joining the Buddy Program, she worked in marketing, Games operations, and corporate sponsorship for the International Olympic Committee for nearly 10 years. She received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and has her M.B.A. from the University of Texas. Catherine Anne is responsible for organizational leadership, management of the day-to-day operations of the organization, including financial management, personnel, program direction, setting and implementing strategic goals and overseeing marketing and development, and reporting to the Board of Directors. Catherine Anne is on the National Council of the Buddy Program, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, and Aspen Valley Ski Club and a member of Les Dames d’Aspen and the Donor’s Circle of the Aspen Art Museum.

Kelly Voss (1+ years): Kelly joined the Buddy Program as the Director of Marketing and Development and brings over three years of non-profit fundraising experience to our organization. She has a B.A. degree in English and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin. Most recently, she was Development Manager for Challenge Aspen, and before that she was the Director of Community Campaigns for the United Performing Arts Fund in Milwaukee, WI. Prior to fundraising, Kelly owned two bookstores and gained solid customer service, marketing and internet development skills. Her directive is to increase sustainable dollars raised annually at the Buddy Program, so that the Buddy Program can continue to grow and offer an exceptional mentoring program for youth in The Roaring Fork Valley. Kelly enjoys all things outdoors: snowboarding, hiking, swiss-bobbing, running and more. She sits on the Aspen United Soccer Club Board of Directors and is presently enrolled in Roaring Fork Leadership.