Bringing people together. Advocating for change.
Published writer, professional speaker, and staunch advocate for natural resources – Larissa brings an exceptional understanding of our environment and the impact we can have on it to the Vail Centre.
Larissa’s background is as rich as the content she excels in. For over 13 years she’s held a number of impactful roles at the National Park Service and the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department. As a project manager and natural resource specialist, she worked to create professional and innovative planning services to the national parks and their partners. Larissa also developed and tested methods to incorporate climate change into plans related to transportation, visitor experience and more within the national park system. She co-led, facilitated, and authored national workshops, projects, and publications on natural and cultural resources, climate change, and planning.
Larissa has also managed complex, long-term and highly controversial projects that integrated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act compliance, and Foundation Documents.
An educator at heart, Larissa has been influential in bringing together conferences and training sessions to educate professionals on climate change, open space, working landscapes, and more.
Larissa serves on the Eagle River Watershed Council Board of Directors and is a TEDx Vail volunteer. She is an active member of the Vail Valley Vixens Women’s Cycling Club. She is a previous member of the City of Boulder’s Environmental Advisory Board, adult literacy tutor for the Boulder Public Library’s BoulderReads program, and Title 9 Boulder Women’s Cycling Club Board Member.
Larissa received her bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in environmental science from the University of Virginia. She is also the recipient of many awards, including six NPS Performance Awards for Exceptional Rating at the Denver Service Center and seven other NPS service awards for outstanding leadership and exceptional efforts. Larissa is also a recipient of the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department award for Best in Public Service.
