Term Expires: July 1, 2028
 

Born in Arapahoe County, at a time when it was a much more rural area, Tutchton grew up playing outside and became captivated by the idea of protecting nature from rapidly expanding urban sprawl. He only willingly left the state to attend college and law school, at the University of Notre Dame and UCLA respectively, graduating with honors from both institutions, and then promptly returning home to protect the wild creatures and places he enjoyed as a child.

As a lawyer Tutchton spent 27 years litigating in the Federal Court system throughout the United States, typically representing environmental organizations and individuals seeking to protect the environment. Tutchton also helped to start the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law and has taught a variety of courses on Wildlife, Animal, and Environmental Law. Among his greatest joys is introducing young lawyers to the possibilities of pursuing careers advocating for wildlife protection and a clean environment.

An avid outdoor recreationist, and one committed to taking the road less traveled, Tutchton hopes to ensure that less-traveled paths remain available to future generations and that Colorado becomes the best state in the country to be a wild animal.

Term Expires: July 1, 2030

Born and raised in western Colorado, Gabriel is a fourth generation Coloradan, avid sportsman and conservationist.

Otero’s deep connection and appreciation for nature and wildlife was instilled in him at an early age. He grew up living farm to table and because of Otero’s family history stretching back multiple generations he has developed an appreciation for farming and ranching.  

Passionate about volunteering his time, Gabriel collaborates with public, nonprofit and private organizations to serve his community. He currently serves as a board member for the Riverside Educational Center. It is a nonprofit that provides Mesa County students with high-quality academic and extracurricular experiences during out-of-school time to foster individual growth and to create community within a safe, diverse, equitable, inclusive environment. He also volunteers at Homeward​Bound of the Grand Valley and has coached youth sports, being a father, he has gained a tremendous devotion to children and their future.

Otero is the Director for Equitable Funding Policy for The Wilderness Society. He has a combined 15 years’ experience working in the oil and gas energy sector and conservation. He’s worked on efforts that provide equitable access to nature, national monument designations, land management plans, resource management plans and oil and gas development.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends in nature.

Term Expires: July 1, 2027

Jessica Beaulieu is an active attorney and the manager of the University of Denver’s Animal Law Program. She grew up in the Southeastern United States, passionate about wildlife and wild places. Pursuing that passion, she began studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. Through her studies, she also spent time in Australia studying the impact of species such as dingoes and cane toads on ecosystems.

Realizing the importance of law and policy to conservation efforts, Jessica then pursued a Juris Doctorate at Stetson University College of Law, where she focused on environmental and animal law. Enchanted by the Western United States, she interned with the U.S Fish & Wildlife Service’s Sacramento Office her first year, and with an environmental nonprofit in Washington State her second year.

After graduating with honors, her law school offered her a funded opportunity to work with a nonprofit in Denver. Seeing the parallels between environmental and human welfare, Jessica began practicing as a public interest attorney in the field of dependency and neglect at the law firm Muhaisen & Muhaisen, LLC. And after several years of practice, she returned to her focus on wildlife and wild places by managing the University of Denver’s Animal Law Program.

In her spare time, Jessica is a fitness instructor, a Board Member of the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, and an Executive Council Member of the Colorado Bar Association Environmental Law Section.

A professional fly fishing outfitter. She co-owns Canopy Fly Fishing. A recognized leader in the outdoor community, Silva Blayney serves as Co-Chair of Wild Watershed Broads, is an active volunteer in CPW’s River Watch Program, and has held leadership positions with the Colorado Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, and numerous local environmental and water protection initiatives.

Term Expires: July 1, 2028

Tai Jacober of Carbondale was appointed to serve on the Commission as a representative of agriculture producers west of the Continental Divide, with a term expiring July 1, 2028. Jacober is a distinguished rancher and owner of Phoenix Ranching, a thriving cattle operation across multiple counties. Once the largest producer of grass-fed beef in Colorado, Jacober brings a robust background in production agriculture to the Parks and Wildlife Commission. His ranch also produces organic hay, which supplies his own cattle herd. Tai and his wife also operate an agritourism lodge, where they raise sheep, chickens, and pigs and maintain several greenhouses, and also provide educational agriculture classes for children. Jacober is also an avid lifelong sportsman and outdoor recreation. 

Term Expires: July 1, 2030.

Le Coq is a longtime West Slope landowner whose family property encompasses more than 400 acres of grazing land. The ranch had been stewarded for generations, remains protected under a conservation easement held by American Farmland Trust, and supports ongoing agricultural use. He is also the founder of Fishpond, one of the world’s most respected fly fishing and outdoor gear brands and a Certified B Corporation, and previously founded Case Logic, a now leading global brand of photo and storage accessories. Le Coq serves on the Board of Directors of Woodwell Climate Research Center and the Board of Trustees of the Nature Conservancy, and is co-founder of Science on the Fly, which uses citizen science to collect river water data that informs climate and research policy. 

Term Expires: July 1, 2027

An active big and small game hunter and angler, Dr. Maguire has held Colorado hunting and fishing licenses for many years. He began hunting during veterinary school in the 90s and has pursued big and small game annually ever since. Dr. Maguire primarily hunts elk, while also enjoying mule deer, pheasant and blue grouse hunting. Having hunted and fished throughout Colorado, he has spent significant time recreating on the Grand Mesa and brings a deep appreciation of outdoor traditions. He is a board-certified veterinary neurologist with more than 25 years of clinical experience and founder of SpecialtyVetCare, LLC, providing advanced neurological and neurosurgical referral services across Western Colorado. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from Colorado State University, where he also completed a neurology residency and served as an assistant professor. Dr. Maguire has practiced veterinary medicine for nearly 25 years and has lived in Western Colorado for almost 2 decades.

Term Expires: July 1, 2028

Dallas May was born and raised in Colorado in a ranching and farming family.

When he was young, he started a herd of purebred Limousin cattle from one heifer calf given to him by his grandpa on his thirteenth birthday. That began a lifelong quest to protect native grassland and wildlife habitat.

Today, he sells purebred breeding stock all over the United States and Mexico, and also operates an irrigated farm operation raising alfalfa and corn. His three grown children and their spouses are actively involved in the operation.

As he was growing up, May watched most of the remaining ranches around be converted to farmland. This had a profound effect on him as wildlife habitat disappeared in order for families to find a way to survive economically. This shaped his philosophy in searching for ways in which farming, ranching and the preservation of wildlife and associated habitat could coexist.

Ranchers and farmers were basically on their own in achieving sustainability by being able to support their families and provide a dependable and affordable supply of food for the growing population, while protecting the environment that they loved and worked for. If not for ranching and ranching families, very few if any pristine native grass ranches would be in tact today. This is the reason ranchers are the ultimate conservationists.

Today is a different environment. Even though the economic pressures are still daunting there are an extraordinary number of organizations and people who are seeking to form collaborations to achieve these important goals.

Several years ago, May partnered with Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, The Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Western Landowners Alliance and several other groups to place a conservation easement on his ranch.

His desire has always been to conserve wildlife, wildlife habitat, water, property rights, working lands and ranching and farming families. This has to be done from the ground up, literally. May’s ranch strives to maintain maximum diversity from the ground up and believe that an all-natural balance is important from the tiniest lifeforms in soil to the largest species of wildlife.

May serves on several boards and committees associated with water issues to protect water rights and keep local communities viable and give them the opportunity to thrive.

Term Expires: July 1, 2027

Jack is a co-founder and president of Urban Wildlife Rescue which provides humane solutions to wildlife conflicts, wildlife education and wildlife rehabilitation. Jack and his late wife Penny became licensed wildlife rehabilitators in 1988. In 1991 they formed the non-profit organization Urban Wildlife Rescue which has rescued and rehabilitated thousands of animals over the last few decades.
 

Jack is a Wildlife Control Operator who resolves wildlife conflicts using only non-lethal and humane methods of wildlife eviction and exclusion techniques when education and/or co-existence are not a viable option.
 

Jack is the author of "Humane Solutions to Wildlife Problems" which was written in the early 90's as a self-help guide for those who wish to resolve certain wildlife conflicts on their own. He has also written and lectured on numerous topics involving wildlife rehabilitation, living with wildlife, wildlife conflict resolutions, humane capture and handling techniques and more. Jack also provided educational programs to the Wildlife Masters programs for the CSU Extension Service.
 

Jack was a co-founder and board member of the Colorado Council for Wildlife Rehabilitation and was made a lifetime member and appointed to the advisory board. Jack has also served on the Colorado Nongame Conservation and Wildlife Restoration board, served on the board of The Colorado Wildlife Control Operators Association as the secretary and vice president and served on the board of Colorado Animal Protectors.

Jack has taught classes for the Colorado Animal Control Officers Association and served on the Rabies Taskforce. In the 90's, Jack was a visiting science teacher through Metro State University which involved providing wildlife education programs throughout the metro Denver school systems. He was also an instructor for volunteers and new recruits for the Colorado Division of Wildlife teaching humane capture and handling techniques and wildlife conflict resolutions.

Jack is dedicated to protecting and preserving our wildlife and our environment for everyone.​

Term Expires: July 1, 2029

Dr. Niemiec is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University's Warner College of Natural Resources, where she founded and co-directs the Animal-Human Policy Center, a policy research center focused on the social science of human-animal relations. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. Her research on public perspectives on wildlife management, human-wildlife coexistence, and conservation policy has resulted in more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and over $2.5 million in grant funding. She previously served in the Colorado Department of Agriculture as Manager of the Bureau of Animal Protection. Dr. Niemiec has visited state parks all around Colorado, as she enjoys backpacking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, rock climbing and trail running and will serve as a member at-large. 

Term Expires: July 1, 2030.

Dr. Reading recently retired as Vice President for Science and Conservation at Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. He holds a Ph.D. and three Master's degrees in Wildlife Ecology and the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management from Yale University and previously spent 19 years at Denver Zoo founding and leading its conservation biology program. He also holds affiliate faculty positions at Colorado State University and the University of Denver. A lifelong outdoor recreationist, Dr. Reading regularly visits Barr Lake, St. Vrain and Chatfield for hiking and mountain biking. Dr. Reading will continue to serve as a member at-large. 

Kate Greenberg was appointed the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture by Governor Jared Polis in December 2018. As commissioner, Greenberg will lead the department’s daily operations, direct its 300 employees, and oversee the agency’s seven divisions: Animal Health; Brand Inspection; Colorado State Fair; Conservation Services; Inspection and Consumer Services; Markets; and Plant Industry.

“For the last ten years, I have dedicated my work to those who work the land. Throughout that time, I have sat around dozens of kitchen tables, worked with hundreds of farmers and ranchers, and have been a fierce advocate for family agriculture and its essential role in what we value most about Colorado,” said Greenberg. “I have worked the land, and worked on behalf of those that work the land. I have no delusion that the challenges family agriculture faces in this state and nation are deeply complex, or that the responsibility to deliver smart, innovative, and bold ways forward for Colorado agriculture is urgent.”

As Executive Director, Dan Gibbs leads the development and execution of the Department’s initiatives for the balanced management of the state’s natural resources. Dan works on an array of issues pertaining to all of Colorado’s natural resources, including water, wildlife, state lands, oil and gas and mining.

Dan is a respected collaborator and a strong proponent of building partnerships across agencies, nonprofits and private-sector organizations to improve the productivity and success of government operations and services.

Prior to joining the Department of Natural Resources, Dan served as a Summit County Commissioner from 2010-2018. As County Commissioner, Dan successfully pushed for wildfire preparedness, affordable workforce housing, lower health insurance costs, and protection and improvements to transportation infrastructure.

Prior to his tenure as a Commissioner, Dan served in the Colorado House of Representatives and in the Colorado State Senate where he served on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. His legislative accomplishments include securing funding for wildfire mitigation and forest health, creating the Colorado Kids Outdoors grant program, supporting watershed health initiatives, and increasing environmental protections for wildlife from oil and gas development.

Dan is a certified wildland firefighter and is affiliated with the ROSS system, through which he is on call to fight wildfires throughout the United States. He chaired the statewide Wildland Fire and Prescribed Fire Matters Advisory Council, and represented county governments on the Forest Health Advisory Committee. Dan has served on a variety of civic boards including: Search and Rescue Advisory, Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus, Tourism Office, Youth Corps Association, Friends of the Dillon Ranger District and the Keystone Science School.

Dan is a graduate of Western State Colorado University and completed the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program. He is also a Marshall Memorial Fellow.

Dan enjoys all that living in the high country has to offer, including skiing, running, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. He is a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado, where he lives with his wife, Johanna; daughter, Grace; and son, Tate.

Laura Clellan assumed the role of Acting Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, on December 1, 2025. Clellan comes to CPW with extensive management, organization, and military experience.

Laura came from her most recent position as the Executive Director for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, dual-hatted as the Adjutant General for the Colorado National Guard before retiring in October 2025. In this role, she was responsible for the operation and management of readiness, fiscal, personnel, equipment, and real property resources of the Department, ensuring the training readiness of all personnel to accomplish both state and federal missions. In her civilian life, Clellan was Chief for Leadership and Employee Development in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Lakewood, prior to that she worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  As a military officer, Clellan has more than three decades of decorated military service and multiple overseas deployments. She has a BS in Biology and a MA in Educational Administration and also a MA in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.