Our Team
Michelle Furi
Michelle Furi
Secretary
As a Colorado resident, and parent of two children raised in the unparalleled scenery of the Rocky Mountains, I know that living in Colorado is not just about having a home, it’s capturing a way of life. I have built a career dedicated to strengthening communities and increasing economic vitality while preserving the natural landscape and planning for a sustainable future.
I have worked to enhance all that Colorado has to offer, including safe and healthy communities, clean water, access to broadband, education and recreation opportunities, climate resiliency, and wildlife conservation. I hold a degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of New Mexico, and I started my career as a Ranger for the BLM in the Lower Rio Grande Gorge outside of Taos in the early 2000s.
I moved on to local government, with the Town of Silverton, CO, where I learned to navigate regulatory processes and how to build public/private partnerships for maximum collaborative efficiency. I also served as the Deputy Director for Mountain Studies Institute where I led programs and personnel, primarily focused on: 1)Mine remediation and CERCLA actions in the Bonita Peak Mining District with large federal contractors like EPA, BLM, and Army Corps of Engineers. 2) Ecological restoration and monitoring across a multi-county region including on the Telluride Valley Floor Conservation Easement, San Juan County wetlands and fens, and the E. Mancos River Restoration Project.
Today I run operations for the LaPlata County Economic Development Alliance, where I once again leverage public/private partnerships to address some of the largest challenges in one of the fastest-growing communities on the Western Slope, and I hold a real estate broker license in Colorado.