Board Members & Staff

Board Members

William Tookey is a long time Silverton resident, being born and raised here. He has had a variety of public servant roles from Town Trustee, Mayor, Public Works Director and for almost two decades the current County Administrator. In his free time, he enjoys hiking or snowshoeing throughout the San Juan Mountains and also plays the alto horn in the Silverton Brass Band.

Kim White has been the Superintendent of the Silverton School District for the past 18 years. She has overseen and administered a number of initiatives including the rehabilitation and historical restoration of the Silverton School Building and Gym, the successful implementation of multiple 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, and the Comprehensive School Reform efforts to implement the Expeditionary Learning Educational Model in a rural school district. As a longtime resident of Silverton, she has been involved in many efforts to improve family and youth services within the community. Over the past 18 years, she has been involved with the San Juan Economic Development Association, affordable housing efforts in San Juan County, the efforts to bring fiber connections to the community , and ongoing attempts to increase access to mental health and health care supports in San Juan County.

DeAnne is the Executive Director of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce and the current Treasurer for San Juan Development. DeAnne grew up in Denver but her grandparents lived in Silverton and parents met and married here in Silverton which created the foundation of her lifelong love for the San Juan Mountains.

Laura serves as the Executive Director of the Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado. She has a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, Masters in Business Administration and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Laura serves on numerous boards including the Homes Fund, and United Way of Southwest Colorado. She has been on the National Association of Development Organization’s (NADO) Board of Directors since 2009. She is also Chair of the Economic Development Council of Colorado. Other recognition includes: 2015, Leadership La Plata -Barbara Conrad Leadership Award; 2008 Economic Development Leader of the Year; 2005, Marshall Memorial Fellow for the German Marshall Fund; and 2004 Extraordinary Woman Award. She has lived in Durango since 1990 where she has raised two sons. Her husband is a school administrator.

Gloria Kaasch-Buerger serves as the Town Administrator for the Town of Silverton. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Fort Lewis College, a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science, and a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from the University of Colorado. She has previously worked in different roles serving the City of Durango, Colorado City and County Management Association, and the SW Colorado Council of Government. In her spare time, she is an avid skier, hiker and watcher of science fiction.

Staff

Beth joined SJDA in March of 2021 with goal of supporting different community programs and increasing support to small businesses. Raised in upstate New York, Beth went to Villanova University and obtained a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Since joining the workforce, she has had roles in project management, supply chain, operations management and HR. A resident of Durango, CO for 5 years, her and her husband moved to Silverton in 2020 where they are excited about being part of the community.

Anne grew up in Durango, CO, and has lived in Silverton since 2020. She studied at Quest University Canada and finished her bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Western Washington University. Anne is a founding artist of the Silverton Powerhouse Collective and an AIARE Avalanche Education Instructor for San Juan Expeditions. She has deep ties to the San Juan Mountains and the small communities within.

Sarah Moore moved to the beautiful San Juans in 2015 attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business-Marketing, and a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. After graduating, she left the area for about 2 years, but was drawn back to the mountains that she's always called home in 2021. She currently manages Silverton's year round guide service, San Juan Expeditions, while also guiding ice, rock, backcountry skiing/split-boarding, and hiking expeditions. She is also a co-owner of Silverton's only yoga studio and gym space, MOVE | Yoga & Fitness. She has a deep passion for Silverton's local community and the towns effort to bring more resources to our mountain town.