| Colorado Environmental Health Association |
CEHA BOARD
The CEHA Board is volunteer lead and set forth in the CEHA Bylaws. The Board of Directors can maintain up to 14 members. Nominations for open positions typically take place at the Business Meeting of the Annual Education Conference.
President Term 2021-2024 Conner Gerken My name is Conner Gerken. I was born and raised in Fort Morgan, Colorado. I graduated from Fort Morgan High School in May of 2012. I attended Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado and received my bachelor’s degree in biology in December of 2016. While attend school I worked numerous jobs in the healthcare field. I worked at Eben-Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush as a CNA, Home Care of the Grand Valley in Grand Junction as a CNA, and at Community Hospital in Grand Junction as a surgical aide. After graduating from CMU I worked as a service member for AmeriCorps doing after school science programs for children from low income households. In June of 2017 I was hired as an Environmental Health Specialist at the Northeastern Colorado Health Department and have been in love with EH ever since. I have served as the northeast representative for the CEHA board as an interim until I was voted in at the AEC in 2018. I was chair for the 2021 AEC. | 
President Elect Term 2022-2025 Aaron Chavez Huerfano Counties District Health Department I received a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University - Ft. Collins, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Science in Environmental Health. Upon graduation, I moved to Minnesota where I briefly worked for the City of Minneapolis as a health inspector as well as Deli Express and Pillsbury as part of their food safety teams. The bulk of my career (17 years) was spent at Ramsey County (EHS II) as part of the Solid and Hazardous Waste unit where I conducted inspections of factories, hospitals, schools, pre-demolition inspections, and various other industries. I also served as an educator and participated in various outreach activities. My current employment with LA-H involves the inspection of food, childcare, OWTS and marijuana, as well as other duties related to mosquitos, radon, tires and public health nuisances. |
Term 2020-2023 Josh Skeggs Josh started his public health career by obtaining a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Colorado Denver before starting at Tri-County Health Department as an Environmental Health Specialist. Josh remained a part of the consumer protection program for over 4 years before becoming a Plan Review Specialist and Food Program Enforcement Specialist. Josh has been a member of the Colorado Environmental Health Association Board since 2018. In his free time he enjoys hiking and camping throughout Colorado, reading a myriad of fiction and non-fiction novels, and playing board and video games with friends. |
Past President
Term 2021-2024 Laura DeGolier Arapahoe County Public Health I grew up in the Chicago burbs and moved to Colorado in 1993 right after I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. Later, I received my Master’s in Public Health at the University of Denver. I got my start in environmental health as an intern at Summit County and eventually made my way to Tri-County Health Department where I’ve settled in for 27 years assuming various positions including an Environmental Health Specialist, Communicable Disease Control Specialist/Supervisor and now in my current role as an Environmental Health Manager. I enjoy the outdoors whether hiking, stand up paddle boarding, gardening or hanging out on the patio or hammock. I also have a love for genealogy, investigating the past and learning history. |
Term 2021-2023 Monica Dupler Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Monica Dupler is an Environmental Protection Specialist at CDPHE, where she works in the Retail Food Program. Prior to taking on her role at CDPHE, Monica earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in Food Safety at Colorado State University – Fort Collins in 2016 before starting her career with the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment from 2018-2021. Monica has a passion for health communications, fermentation science, and gardening. |
Conference Chair Term 2022-2023 Kara Cohen El Paso County Public Health Hi! My name is Kara. I am from all over the world and have lived on 3 continents (non military). I have a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University, class of 2008 (whoop!). After working as a wildlife biologist for a few years, I stumbled into Environmental Health working for a small suburb of Dallas, TX. In 2019, I wanted to live somewhere I could live my best outdoors life and found a job with El Paso County, Colorado. I am currently a Lead Environmental Health Specialist for El Paso County’s Retail Food Program and I absolutely love my job. I’ve served on the CEHA planning committee since 2019 and am really excited to serve as the Chair for the 2023 AEC. I enjoy backpacking, hiking, camping, snow shoeing, scuba diving (not in Colorado), baking, and spending my time with my animals and my family and friends. |
Treasurer
Annual Education
Northeast Representative Term 2022-2023 Dan Joseph Weld County Health Department I am originally from Illinois and ended up moving to Colorado to attend UNC. I earned a degree in environmental earth science with a minor in environmental studies. My studies required an internship and I found one with the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment. Six months after graduating a position opened with Weld and I was hired. That was 22 years ago! My entire career has been with Weld, but it has allowed me to hold many different positions at many different levels giving me a lot of knowledge and relationships to draw upon. I love my new position, but retail food will always be close to my heart. When I am not working, I love playing sports (racquetball and hockey) and spending time with family and friends. I have been a member of CEHA for a long time and am happy to be part of the team. | 
Southeast Representative Term 2022-2024 Kelli Powell Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment Kelli is an Environmental Health Specialist with Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment where she primarily works in the Retail Food and Marijuana programs. In 2006 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Denver where she went on to explore professions in banking, law enforcement, and liquor and marijuana licensing before taking an interest in public health. Kelli is a Pueblo native with a passion for making the community where she lives and works a healthy and thriving environment. Kelli joined the Colorado Environmental Health Association’s (CEHA) Annual Education Conference (AEC) Planning Committee during the 2020-2021 year and went on to hold the position of AEC Chair for 2021-2022. She is excited to fulfill her new role as Southeast Representative for 2022-2023. In her free time, she enjoys photography, hiking, exploring all that colorful Colorado has to offer, cooking and baking, and spending quality time with friends and family. |
Term 2021-2023 Hannah Wynd Grand County Public Health Hannah Wynd is an Environmental Health Specialist at Grand County Public Health overseeing the rather new department of Environmental Health. Previously she was an Environmental Health Specialist at Summit County Public Health beginning in 2017 and worked within food safety, water quality, and air quality. She was raised in Colorado and received her Bachelor of Arts in 2015 from the University of Colorado Boulder double majoring in Environmental Studies and Geography with a specialization in Sustainable Development. Her interest in environmental health lead her to pursue a Master of Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health Anschutz Medical Campus with a concentration in Global Environmental and Occupational Health in 2016. In addition, she also obtained the REHS credential in 2018. Hannah looks forward to the opportunity to serve Colorado’s environmental health community with providing a focus on the unique and diverse needs of the Western Slope. She loves living in rural Northwestern Colorado with her family and two dogs. |
West Slope RepresentativeMetro Representative Term 2022-2024 Connor Carrillo Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Connor Carrillo is a Communicable Disease Epidemiologist with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Connor earned a B.S. in Microbiology from Washington State University and MPH in Epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health. Connor started his career as an Environmental Health Specialist with Tri-County Health Department before transitioning to an Epidemiology role at Tri-County and then later joining DDPHE. Connor’s work is primarily focused around enteric diseases in retail food establishments, childcare centers, and long term care facilities. Outside of work you can find Connor trail running in the mountain parks along the front range. | Industry Representative Term 2021-2023 Stacey Baker Lewis Palmer School District 38 Stacey Baker has been the Director of Nutrition for Lewis-Palmer School District 38 since 2019. She currently oversees all aspects of the Nutrition Department for the school district, including meal pattern requirements, food safety, staffing, budget, wellness, and the immense amount of regulations pertaining to school nutrition. Prior to that she was an Environmental Health Field Supervisor for Tri-County Health Department, where she worked for 12 years. As a Field Supervisor she supervised staff in retail food safety, OWTS, childcares, vector, disease control, and was the Safety Officer for the Public Health Incident Management Team. Stacey has a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University. Outside of work, Stacey enjoys gardening, cooking, working out, and spending time with her family, including her two children, who keep her busy with their activities. | EH Director Dan Joseph Term: No Limit |
Student Representative, Term 2022-2024 Veronica Neujahr Colorado State University- Fort Collins I am a third-year student at Colorado State University studying Environmental Public Health. I decided to study Environmental Public Health because I am fascinated by how our environment can cause adverse health effects and how we can find those patterns in public health. I have developed a strong curiosity for this field and love learning about it! I am originally from Larkspur, CO. When I am not doing schoolwork, I love to run and crochet. I would love to get out and hike more, though! | Student Representative, Term 2022-2024 Claire Conkling Colorado State University- Fort Collins I am a third-year student at Colorado State University studying Environmental Public Health with a minor in Food Science and Safety. I chose Environmental Health because I’m passionate about science and helping people. I’m originally from Fruita, CO and when I’m not doing schoolwork, I love exploring the great outdoors, hanging out with friends, and collecting vinyl records. |
