Meet the Wildlife Council

On a welcome break from her corporate role in the healthcare industry, Lani caught her first mountain trout during the summer of 1979 in the Eastern Sierras. Since then, Lani’s love for the outdoors has flourished. Today, she’s become dedicated to her Flyfishing Outfit helping all levels of anglers feel as excited and confident about being out on the water as she is during all of her fishing forays.

What Lani enjoys most is talking about the wonderful attributes of fly-fishing and the closeness it brings us to nature.  And successfully hooking in a pure novice so they too can come to appreciate what the gifts of the river and its surroundings provide to the wide variety of wildlife it sustains.

Lani started with the Wildlife Council in 2021 as it’s Municipal Government representative. When her second elected term expired in 2024, her passion for the wilderness transitioned to becoming the West Slope Angler Representative and Wildlife Council chairperson. This continues to fuel her alignment with the missions of other environmentally focused partners and patrons that support the delicate balance between preserving science based conservation with the economic health of our historically rich and culturally diverse State.

Commissioner Dan Williams is a retired US Army Colonel, Apache Pilot and decorated 30-year Combat Veteran with combat deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Albania. His parents lived for many years in Teller County near Florissant. He returned to Teller County after serving his Country and lives with his wife Suzan, a retired US Army Nurse on their ranch near Cripple Creek.

Dan is a recognized Community and Veteran leader in Teller County. Dan has served Teller County as a consultant, the Teller County Planning Director and is currently serving as the District 1 County Commissioner. Prior to assuming office Dan assisted the previous Board of County Commissioners in writing both the Teller County Strategic Plan and the 2020 Teller County Growth Management Plan. He is a West Point graduate with two Master’s Degrees to include one from Kings College in London, England. He is a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Dan serves on numerous boards and organizations including, the 5th US Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Board; the 7th US Congressional District Service Academy Nomination Board; Coalition of the Upper South Platte (CUSP); the Pikes Peak Round Table; Daybreak Board of Directors; Community of Caring – Aspen Mine Center; Arkansas Basin Round Table Board Member; Member of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Environment, Energy and Land Use Board and Public Lands Board; the Southern Teller County Focus Group; the Southern Shooting Partnership Board; the Teller County Wildland Fire Counsel; and is on the executive committee and board member for the Court Appointed Special Advocate CASA organization. Dan is a member of VFW Post 6051 and commands American Legion Post 1980. Most recently, Dan has been selected to sit on the Congressional District 7 Veterans Advisory Board. Dan is a member of the Colorado Wildlife Council. Dan is also a council member with El Pomar Foundation representing the Pikes Peak Region.

He is also the 2023 Colorado Counties Commissioner of the Year.

Dan and his wife Suzan have two children and 3 grandchildren.

Residing just outside of Johnstown, Colorado, Don has always had a keen connection to Colorado’s outdoors. He’s always been committed to Colorado agriculture and producers around the state. In fact, he’s spent most of his career working with large commercial cattle feeding organizations, acting as an established member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

While he loves his work, Don’s favorite connection to the great outdoors is when he’s camping, fishing or chasing bugling elk in the backcountry. His goal is simple – to be a strong advocate for wildlife habitat, public access to state and federal lands, and our hunting and fishing heritage.

Brittni grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, spending the majority of her free time outdoors – hiking the rolling Allegheny Mountains and fishing on the river. As an indigenous person, Brittni values hunting and fishing as an integral part of life and a connection to her ancestral belonging.

She moved to Denver in 2013 and has over 14 years’ experience working in city, county and state government, and currently works for Colorado Parks and Wildlife as the digital marketing and social media strategist. She resides in Denver with her husband, Wes, and their cat, Rue.

Eeland Stribling is a CSU graduate with a degree in fish, wildlife and conservation biology. He’s also an outdoor educator for Lincoln Hills Cares, and currently works with Brown Folks Fishing, and many other conservation groups. His grandfather, Theodore Washington, was a wildlife biologist for the Division of Wildlife. When he’s not fly-fishing around the world, Eeland’s hanging with his dog. In addition to his work outside, he’s also a huge Formula 1 fan.

Born and raised in Colorado, he understands the value of biodiversity, diversity and conservation. All are needed to ensure that we keep Colorado beautiful and to make sure everyone can enjoy it. Eeland sees his passion for fishing as a way to inspire people to protect the places we all so desperately love.

When Tim turned 19, he packed his bags and moved away from the state where he grew up, Colorado. It wasn’t until spending a handful of years away that he realized what a gift it is to grow up in such a beautiful and wild state. He has now been back in Colorado for 15 years with his wife Rebekah, and they are proud to be raising their three kids in the state they love.

Tim is a partner and the head of production at the commercial and documentary production company, Household. His work there is focused on leading a team that tells impactful stories to move brands and brand sentiment with their customers. Outside of work, he’s an avid hunter and spends a lot of time camping, fishing and hiking with his family. When Tim’s not out enjoying the nature of Colorado, you can typically find him studying some maps and planning his next hunt.

As a lifelong resident of Colorado, it’s been true love between Kelly and the outdoors since birth. That passion began early while on the farm where he grew up near Cortez. Since childhood, he has treasured his encounters with our state’s diverse wildlife. In fact, many of his earliest memories are of small-game hunting and fishing. For Kelly, Colorado’s beautiful wilds just feel like home. That’s why it was always so hard to keep him indoors when he was younger. And, in the 35 years that followed, not much has changed. During those years, Kelly has focused on hunting big game. That pursuit has even taken him to other countries.

He particularly enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Stacey and their two boys, Coulter and Bridger. Together, his family hunts to collect meat they carefully freeze and use all year long. They’re determined to educate their boys and others on the importance of conservation and ethics in hunting. Today, he belongs to several conservation groups. Additionally, he serves as the county’s 4H Shooting Sports superintendent and he’s also an archery coach for 4H and S3DA. On top of all that, Kelly and Stacey even find time to own and operate their own insurance agency. Now you know who to call if you need to practice your archery or get better insurance.

Growing up in central Illinois, Bryan’s father introduced him to the sportsman’s lifestyle through bone-chilling, tree-stand sits; the camaraderie and commotion of deer camp; squirrel stew; and walking fence lines for pheasants. Success meant that venison of some variety was on offer throughout the year, which was mildly exotic fare for pleasantly surprised dinner guests.

Since relocating to Colorado, Bryan has been exploring its beautiful backcountry for over 20 years and enjoying the western big game pursuits he had only read and dreamed about from the flatlands. Early on, with a $40 tag, a compass, plentiful public lands and large dose of naivete, he began a lifelong journey of exploring wild places and learning the habits and rhythms of our land and animals. Although he’s harvested mule deer, elk and even a coveted bighorn ram with his bow, these highlights only punctuate the importance of hunting in his life – as the source of adventure, solitude, a taste of ancient traditions and connection to the natural world.

Bryan also volunteers as a legislative liaison for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA), focusing on state legislative policy matters. He’s a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a lifetime member of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society, and is involved in several other conservation and policy efforts that promote the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Bryan lives in Denver with his wife and three children and is a partner in a law firm in Englewood.

Kristen Bertuglia is a lifelong advocate for the natural world and its wild inhabitants. Originally from the Chicago area, she found her true home in the mountains of the West. Twenty-seven years ago, she left the Midwest for her first role with the U.S. Forest Service in the Inyo National Forest, where she worked as a naturalist, wetland builder, tour guide and educator.

Now based in Colorado, Kristen has spent the past 21 years living, working and exploring in the Vail area. With a background in natural resource management and policy, she serves as the director of environmental sustainability for the town of Vail. In this role, she leads efforts in open space acquisition, conservation, habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement, along with overseeing initiatives related to water quality, watershed health, waste diversion, energy, mobility, climate action, legislative issues and public education.

A dedicated advocate for public lands and community engagement, Kristen also serves as a director for Walking Mountains Science Center, Holy Cross Energy electric cooperative, the Institute for Environmental Solutions and Colorado Communities for Climate Action. An avid hiker, skier and river enthusiast, she also enjoys wildlife photography, capturing the beauty of the landscapes she works to protect.