Our Team
Our Staff
Laura Quattrini - Executive Director
Laura brings over 20 years of experience working for conservation non-profits and an educational background in Wildlife Biology. During this time, she has focused on applying science to natural resource management and engaging in collaborative conservation efforts with a wide range of stakeholders, partners, and landowners. Through this work, she has become deeply embedded in many conservation initiatives in Colorado and acutely familiar with the watershed and forestry issues facing western communities. She is excited to work on these issues at a more localized level in the Big Thompson watershed.
Will Davis - Communications & Development Program Manager
Will brings a background in collaborative conservation, community engagement, event planning, and an M.S. in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University to the BTWC team. He has worked on conservation projects across the Western U.S. and co-led an ethical research and community development project in Eastern Kenya. Through these experiences, Will developed a passion for engaging communities, building local connections, and raising awareness around conservation initiatives.
Will joined BTWC as a Project Coordinator in 2019 and has played a few roles at the Coalition before stepping into his current position as Communications & Development Program Manager. Will helps grow BTWC’s outreach, communications, fundraising, and community engagement efforts across the watershed. Through his time with BTWC, Will has developed deep connections to the Big Thompson watershed and a strong appreciation for the people, communities, and landscapes that make this place so meaningful.
Marin Oschmann - Riverscape Program Manager
Marin brings a background in land stewardship, ecological monitoring, and environmental outreach to the BTWC team. She holds an M.S. in Restoration Ecology from Colorado State University, where her research focused on beaver occupancy and wetland habitat dynamics in Rocky Mountain National Park. Originally from Wisconsin, Marin’s early connection to wetlands and streams continues to shape her work. As BTWC’s Stream Restoration Project Manager, she supports post-fire recovery and leads efforts to enhance stream health and resilience across the watershed.
Emily Way - Forestry Program Manager
Emily received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 2017, focusing in ecology, chemistry, and environmental studies. Born and raised in Michigan, it took one family vacation out west for her to decide she needed to pursue an outdoor career in a place where the topography is more than just rolling hills. Since graduating and moving west, she has worked in various aspects of ecological research and land management and has happily settled into forestry and fire ecology. Emily is an experienced wildland firefighter and is actively involved in local emergency response outside of her time with BTWC. When not out trekking through the woods, you can find her tending to her chickens and her garden. Emily joined BTWC in December 2024 and looks forward to the opportunity to connect with Big Thompson community members and help bring their forests back into balance.
Andy Gent - Riverscape Project Manager
Andy earned his bachelor’s degree in Hydrology from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. During that time, he had an internship in Kremmling, Colorado where he fell in love with the mountains. After graduation, he worked for the San Juan National Forest hydrology team in Durango, CO for 7 years. In 2024, he went back to school and completed a Masters of Natural Resource Stewardship degree with an emphasis in Ecological Restoration. When he’s not working in streams and wetlands, he’s either adventuring in the mountains or playing the keys in various bands around Fort Collins.
Tim Koski - Forestry Project Manager
Tim was born and raised on the plains North of Wellington, CO and grew up learning about mountain pine beetle and grasses from his parents. Not fully appreciating the grandeur of the Front Range he completed his B.S. in natural resources/forestry at a small college in rural Wisconsin, focusing his studies on invasive plant control and forest restoration. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa, working on natural resource and agricultural extension projects. He met is now wife there and in the tumult of being evacuated due to the COVID-19 pandemic they eventually succeeded in getting their dog, Hei Bai, brought to the US. Other notable experiences include his time a volunteer ranger with the USFS in the Boundary Waters Wilderness, working for New York State doing invasive species control and forest health management, and most recently as a municipal Urban Forester overseeing development projects in Virginia. When not working Tim can be found walking the dog, making a mess in the kitchen and reporting noxious weeds.
Heidi Vilhauer - Bookkeeper
Heidi is BTWC’s part-time bookkeeper and brings a strong appreciation for the intricacies of financial systems and spreadsheets. She enjoys working alongside a mission-driven team and looks forward to growing relationships and expanding her knowledge of nonprofit operations, grant funding, and watershed conservation.
Our Board of Directors
Jerry Gibbens, President of the Board
Jerry is Director of Operations for Northern Water in Berthoud, Colorado, where he oversees operation and maintenance of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Windy Gap Project and other water storage, conveyance and hydropower facilities that deliver supplemental water supplies to more than 1,000,000 people and 615,000 acres of irrigated land in Northeastern Colorado. He also serves as Treasurer for both the Northern Water and Municipal Sub-District boards. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Colorado State University and is a registered professional engineer in Colorado and Wyoming. Jerry lives in Loveland with his wife, Shelli, and enjoys everything that his native Colorado and surrounding states have to offer, including vacationing, chasing his adult kids and extended family from place-to-place, outdoor activities, and home improvement.
Lauren Hillmer, Vice-President of the Board
Lauren is the Stormwater Quality Administrator at the City of Greeley and has over 10 years’ experience in the environmental and natural resources field. She holds a Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science and Land Management from Montana State University-Bozeman and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is passionate about surface water protection, watershed management, forest health, and post-fire recovery. Lauren lives in Berthoud with her husband and rough collie and in her free time she enjoys skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and fly fishing in the Big Thompson Watershed.
Gordon Gilstrap, Treasurer of the Board
Gordon Gilstrap is a retired Hewlett-Packard executive who personally organized the Little Thompson Watershed Coalition (LTWC) and during 2015, was the chairman for both the LTWC and Big Thompson Watershed Coalition. Gordon is very active in supporting all the business functions of a children’s therapy clinic in Loveland and has helped Larimer County develop their Comprehensive Plan for the future of the County.
Richard Alper, Board Director
Mr. Alper is an attorney with experience in environmental law. He serves on various Larimer County boards and commissions and is an instructor at the University of Northern Colorado.
Beth Low, Board Director
Beth is a Colorado native and 3rd generation landowner in the Big Thompson Canyon, right on the river in Waltonia. She learned to fish on the Big T and has a passion for seeing the watershed thrive after the 2 floods (’76 and ’13) and the Cameron Peak Fire (’20). Prior to joining the ranks of retired folks, she was a teacher and instructional coach in the Denver area. She loves photography and music, hiking and biking, science and learning.
Chris Carlson, Board Director
Chris Carlson is a 4th generation Coloradoan, a CSU civil engineering graduate, and the Stormwater Division Manager for the City of Loveland. He leads a team responsible for the Big Thompson River Corridor Master Plan, the city’s stormwater capital improvement program, asset management, stormwater quality, floodplain management, an early flood warning alarm system, CCTV pipe inspection crew, stormwater maintenance, and street sweeping. After the 2013 Big Thompson River flood, Chris led the City’s “River Team”, which coordinated six years of flood recovery work. As part of that effort, he led the development of a multi-objective river master plan that will mitigate flood risk, improve resiliency to future floods, improve river and riparian corridor health, and provide better recreational opportunities. As a part-time side project, he started a stormwater quality company called Aqua de Vita. Chris loves spending time outdoors with his family where he enjoys cycling, hiking, fly fishing, backpacking, camping, hunting, archery, watching rivers from a camp chair – just about anything outdoors.
Phil Bender, Board Director
Will Ettema, Board Director
Representative from City of Greeley. Bio to come.
Jessica Arnold, Secretary of the Board
Jessica brings extensive experience in environmental health, botany, and community engagement. As the Environmental Health & Safety Manager for the Thompson School District, she has led impactful initiatives to foster a safer environment for students and staff. She is passionate about building connections between local groups and students and will help BTWC to expand our education and outreach program.
Kristyn Unrein, Board Director
Kristyn has been the Finance Director at the Town of Johnstown since March, 2025. In her role, she serves on the executive leadership team for the Town, alongside eleven other executive leaders. She oversees the staff who are responsible for the financial functions of the Town, including budgeting, accounting, utility billing, revenue and expense analysis/management, debt management, asset management, grant management, auditing, financial reporting, and Town Hall front desk customer service.
Kristyn earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Colorado in 2004 and has worked in government auditing and finance for most of her career. She served as the Grant Accounting Supervisor at Boulder County through the 2013 Flood recovery effort and as the Financial Services Manager at Northern Water until early 2025. Her experience also includes public procurement, federal/state/non-profit grants, and disaster financial management/recovery. She holds a Certified Public Finance Officer and Certified Government Financial Manager and stays active with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the Colorado chapter of GFOA.
Kristyn lives within the Big Thompson basin in unincorporated Larimer County with her husband and two sons who drag race and are a competitive bowler and soccer player, along with their rescue dog, “Lucky”.
Our Advisory Committee
Andy Fayram, Advisor
Andrew has been involved with, and interested in, water quality and aquatic ecosystems for his entire career. He holds a PhD in Biological Sciences (minor in Statistics) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has worked for federal agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, state agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and non-profit organizations such as World Wildlife Fund. In addition to his current position as the Source Water Coordinator with Loveland Water and Power, he teaches classes (limnology, biogeography, and water resources management) for Prescott College.
Mickey McGuire, Advisor
Mickey has over 30 years’ experience as an entomologist and worked for the in-house research Agency for USDA. After retirement, he became involved in conservation issues with Rocky Mountain Flycasters, the local Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He served in leadership roles and is currently leading leadership recruitment efforts for the Chapter. Mickey also served on the BTWC Board for several years and now serves on its advisory committee. In his spare time, Mickey can be found on one of our fabulous fisheries with a fly rod in hand or on the pickleball court.
David Jessup, Advisor
Gretchen Reuning, Advisor
Gretchen is the Executive Director for the Larimer Conservation District, overseeing their Forest Health, Riverscape Restoration, and Soil Health programs.
Arnfinn Austefjord, Advisor
Arnfinn owns a farm in Loveland where he practices Regenerative Agriculture. His farm is part of the National STAR Program. In addition to being on the BTWC Advisory Board, Arnfinn is a Supervisor on the Larimer Conservation District.
Elle Bergley, Advisor
Beth Hutchinson, Advisor
Beth, a Fort Collins native, is the founder and steward of Tally Services, Inc., where she focuses on providing approachable, collaborative financial support for small businesses. With a passion for business and finance discovered during her years as a paralegal, Beth launched Tally Services in 2003 after falling in love with accounting. She specializes in Fractional CFO support and creating streamlined financial systems that set businesses up for success. Beth is deeply proud of Tally’s culture of honoring people and the diverse expertise her team brings to every client relationship. Outside of work, Beth enjoys traveling, live music, and outdoor activities like mountain biking, camping, and gardening. She also values spending time with her aging parents and growing children, embracing the importance of family connections.