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Women's Leadership Summit Speakers
Keynote Speakers | Breakout Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Experience Yes
Gail Montgomery is Co-Founder, with Bruce, and CEO of ExperienceYes, a women-owned, NOT boring consulting business that teaches companies how to embrace and practice “The Improv Mindset.” Gail has worked in Corporate Human Resources as a recruiter for a Fortune 50 Global insurance company, as an Executive Director for a Non-profit Arts organization, and as a Director for a SAAS tech start-up developing Change Management and Training and Onboarding programs. She is a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, a member of the ACMP (Association of Change Management Professionals), and co-authored, with Bruce, two books: “The Improv Mindset” and the newly released “CHANGE! A Leaders Guide to Fixing Sh*t.”
Bruce Montgomery has over 15 years in IT and Management consulting, where he focused on driving adoption through structured change management and training & development. He ran the IT organization for one of the country’s largest non-profit theatres and was the leader of Key Accounts for a sports and entertainment analytics company for NHL, NFL, NASCAR, and The Shubert Organization
Michele Taylor
Michele Taylor was sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador (and Permanent Representative) to the UN Human Rights Council on February 22, 2022. Ambassador Taylor is a lifelong human rights activist and advocate with a determined commitment to service. As a daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Ambassador Taylor brings to the Human Rights Council a profound appreciation for the crucial role the Council can and must play to promote universal human rights and protect human rights defenders.
Ambassador Taylor is an advocate of women and girls in all their diversity, having long championed access to STEM careers, action to end violence against women, and equality for LGBTQI+ persons.
Prior to assuming her current appointment, Ambassador Taylor served in leadership on the board of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Additionally, she was a member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council and served on the museum’s Committee on State Sponsored Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial as well as the Committee on Conscience. Ambassador Taylor was a member of the Anti-Defamation League’s Southeast regional board, and Vice-Chair of the National Finance Committee for the Democratic Party. For over two decades she served in various roles for the North Carolina Outward Bound School, including as vice chair of the board, instructor, and course director.
Ambassador Taylor and her husband Kenneth are the proud parents of two. She was educated at Mills College (B.A.) and Boston University (M.A.), and in her free time the Ambassador can be found scaling mountains, skiing the slopes, or as stoker on the tandem bike she and her husband travel with throughout the U.S. and overseas.
Danielle Shoots
Danielle Shoots is the Managing Partner and Managing Director of the New Community Transformation fund – Denver, a venture capital fund for BIPOC founders and the President and CEO of Wealth Equity Enterprises, a holdings company that owns several businesses that support the mission of building BIPOC wealth and leadership. Born and raised in Colorado, Danielle is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Denver, where she earned a degree in Business Administration.
At the age of 26, Danielle embarked on her executive leadership path ascending to the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
After the state, Danielle served as the Vice President of Finance and Business Operations for the West Division of Comcast, managing a billion-dollar capital portfolio, strategic FP&A, Mergers and Acquisitions and a team of sixty employees located in seven states. Most recently Danielle, was the Chief Financial Officer for the Colorado Trust where she grew the foundation’s endowment from $430 million to nearly $600 million and reduced cash on hand to a recurring 1% while still operating the foundation. She also launched a direct investment portfolio across the State making investments in local media companies, real estate, housing, small businesses and leveraging the endowments’ balance sheet for creative bridge financing across multiple sectors and industries.
Danielle is a passionate community member and serves as a trustee for the Women’s Foundation, a mayoral-appointed board member for the Prosper Denver Fund, and the chief economic equity advisor to State Senator, James Coleman and State Representative, Leslie Herod.
Lizzie Larock
Lizzie Larock is a coach, podcaster, and creator of the popular online and “in the wild” program, the Life Feast. Through her lively mashup of positive-psychology and creativity, she helps people find their spark, achieve goals, get out of their own way, and find more joy, all while making it feel like a playful adventure. When Lizzie is not leading workshops or coaching clients, you can find her taking photos, sipping tea, hanging with her twins or performing her parodied mom life to 80’s rock songs for Steamboat’s Cabaret. Learn More & Listen to the Podcast
Angela Melzer
Angela has a master’s degree in social work, and a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Angela has studied mindfulness and neuroscience extensively. She is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, which is a three-year study program that approaches trauma by working with the nervous system. She is currently in a two-year study program for Contemplative Psychology. Angela uses her knowledge from the medical and psychological components of her education to address the whole body. Angela started her career as a neuro-based Occupational Therapist. After receiving her Master’s degree in Social Work she created, opened, and directed the Integrated Health Department at Yampa Valley Medical Center (currently UC Health at YVMC). Learn More
Valerie D'Ambrosio
Valerie is a joy pollinator, midwife for the soul, and healer. As a Master Guide she uses her superpowers of inspiration, truth seeking and observing energy to guide others toward continuous, transformational growth. She is committed to supporting others in their personal awakening. Valerie holds compassionate space for her clients as they dismantle false perceptions and limiting beliefs on their path to return back to the wisdom of their Soul. It is a privilege for Valerie to be a witness of their powerful reconnection, as a life they truly love begins to unfold. Learn More
Julie Germond
Julie Germond is the Director of Resort Transformation for Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, where she helps lead adoption of the resort's most strategic initiatives, including the $200M capital investment named Full Steam Ahead. Germond previously provided program leadership for clients across a variety of industries as a Managing Consultant for Point B. With a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver, Germond also has her Project Management Professional certification and is a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner. When not leading change initiatives, you can find Julie and her husband enjoying adventures in skiing and kiteboarding, as well as wrangling their toddlers. Learn More
Sarah Jones & Michelle Stewart
Sarah Jones, Director of Sustainability and Community Engagement, has more than 25 years of experience investigating, evaluating and presenting information about environmental issues. At Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation (SSRC), she oversees operational sustainability, works with local municipalities to advance climate action, and partners with local government agencies and nonprofits on the preservation of local natural resources. Learn More
Michelle O. Stewart, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC). Michelle has over 20 years of professional experience in sustainability and climate change-related research, program development, and teaching. Michelle holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame; a M.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California-Santa Cruz; a Ph.D. in Human-Environment Geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder; and was a doctoral fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Learn More
Christine Walsh
Christine Walsh is a money coach, author, and speaker, using her over 25 years of experience in finance and accounting to help visionary women master their inner money game. Founded in personal growth and practical strategies, Christine brings clients her cutting edge money wisdom, forward thinking money mindset, and Wall Street investment experience together so they can break through their money ceilings, reduce financial fear, and increase their income all without busting their butt to get there. She is the author of the Amazon Bestseller Be The Queen of Your Money: How to Create Financial Freedom With Ease and Grace. Learn More
Paula Black
After two years of commuting to Steamboat from Denver, Paula Cooper Black moved to Steamboat Springs in 1973. Paula was elected to serve on the Steamboat Springs City Council in 1988. She served three consecutive four-year terms until 2000. While on City Council, Paula served six years as President pro tempore, and represented the Council on various local, regional and state committees. Paula served on the Yampa Valley Medical Center Ethics Committee for nine years and on the board of the Medical Center’s Foundation for two years. Since 1995, she has sat on the board of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, serving as board chair three different terms. She continues to serve on the Yampa Valley Community Foundation as Board Member Emeritus and is chair of the Nominating Committee.
Panel Speakers 
Alex Kaulbach has made hospitality his life from an early age. After UT Austin, he worked and traveled through Europe as a chef and eventually settled in Colorado, running and owning multiple operations as well as selling and consulting into the industry for 10 years. He is a father, husband, goat herder and music lover with a passion for the outdoors.
Karen Goedert currently holds the job of Director of Employee Engagement with Big Agnes/BAP located in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She joined Big Agnes, BAP in March of 2019 and is currently responsible for all employee engagement functions, recruiting, training, employee retention, and benefit administration.
Amy Davis brings over 25 years’ of experience as a Sales and Marketing Professional. Before joining Moving Mountains, Amy was a pillar sales team member at the Debbie Aragon State Farm Insurance Agency and prior, served as a Sales & Marketing Manager for SmartWool. She has also worked in coaching & leadership roles for both Macy’s and Lancôme cosmetics and hasn’t lost her love for shopping. In her free time, Amy enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, and spending time in the Yampa Valley with her husband & son. She loves to entertain and throw a good party.
Speaker Sponsors