Board of Directors
a month ago
Meeting Dates for 2024/25:
07/25/24, 08/22/24, 09/26/24, 10/17/24, 12/12/24, 01/30/25
02/27/25, 03/20/25, 04/24/25
05/22/25, and 06/26/25
Kristin Davis, Vice President
January 2022-June 2025
board.kristindavis@rossmontessori.org
Kristin has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years. She and her husband Joe have two children: a Ross alum high school son and an upper elementary daughter. Kristin received two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Management and Marketing. Since attending Texas Lutheran University, she has pursued the entrepreneurial path and owned and operated a small appliance company in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for seven years. She then moved to Aspen and began her career at Bishop Plumbing and Heating in 2001. Now the owner, she brings experience in leadership and vision and has an extensive background in accounting, performing all financial duties for the company. She has continued management training throughout her career. Kristin brings board experience, having served on the Blue Lake Preschool board for several years. It is rumored that she always gets in 10,000 steps a day, sometimes more. She has also volunteered countless hours as a Ross Montessori volunteer.
January 2022-June 2025
board.kristindavis@rossmontessori.org
Kristin has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 20 years. She and her husband Joe have two children: a Ross alum high school son and an upper elementary daughter. Kristin received two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Management and Marketing. Since attending Texas Lutheran University, she has pursued the entrepreneurial path and owned and operated a small appliance company in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for seven years. She then moved to Aspen and began her career at Bishop Plumbing and Heating in 2001. Now the owner, she brings experience in leadership and vision and has an extensive background in accounting, performing all financial duties for the company. She has continued management training throughout her career. Kristin brings board experience, having served on the Blue Lake Preschool board for several years. It is rumored that she always gets in 10,000 steps a day, sometimes more. She has also volunteered countless hours as a Ross Montessori volunteer.
Kara Gallagher
May 2024-June 2027
Kara is a Managing Director at Baker Tilly US, LLP over the healthcare IT practice. Baker Tilly is a nationwide CPA advisory firm. She has been responsible for all aspects of the practice's operations and hiring since 2013. Her experience includes employee attraction and retention, training and development, performance management, benefits, and compensation. Before joining Baker Tilly, Kara was a Human Resources Manager for the Idaho National Laboratory, a 6,000-person, federally funded energy research facility. She also possesses prior experience as a middle school math and science teacher in Salem, MA. Kara and her family have lived in Carbondale for eleven years, and her son is a high school student who attended Ross Montessori for grades 1-8. Kara previously served as the secretary and president of the RMS PTO.
May 2024-June 2027
Kara is a Managing Director at Baker Tilly US, LLP over the healthcare IT practice. Baker Tilly is a nationwide CPA advisory firm. She has been responsible for all aspects of the practice's operations and hiring since 2013. Her experience includes employee attraction and retention, training and development, performance management, benefits, and compensation. Before joining Baker Tilly, Kara was a Human Resources Manager for the Idaho National Laboratory, a 6,000-person, federally funded energy research facility. She also possesses prior experience as a middle school math and science teacher in Salem, MA. Kara and her family have lived in Carbondale for eleven years, and her son is a high school student who attended Ross Montessori for grades 1-8. Kara previously served as the secretary and president of the RMS PTO.
Jen Holmgren, Treasurer
June 2023-May 2026
June 2023-May 2026
Jen is a flexible, versatile, and efficient self-employed business professional with over 20 years of experience. In a company such as bookkeeping, no two clients are the same, and she inspires them to adjust and adapt the required skills to match the client with their business needs. Jen successfully guides and supports construction, property management, retail, and real estate businesses. Her son attended Ross Montessori for a while and is now a Basalt Police Department officer. Jen has lived in the valley since the late 1990s and is excited to provide financial governance for the Ross Montessori School.
Rob Nelson, SecretaryMay 2024 - June 2027
board.robnelson@rossmontessori.org
After earning a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry, Rob completed the Physician Assistant program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver. In addition to seeing patients for primary care and wellness visits, his clinical focus is caring for people with diabetes. Robert also functions as Valley View's Executive Director of Quality and Patient Safety and is committed to providing patient-centered care. His family is Robert's priority outside of work, and they enjoy Colorado's many outdoor activities.
Sarah Oates, President
February 2021-June 2027
board.sarahoates@rossmontessori.org
Sarah Oates has worked at Oates, Knezevich, Gardenswartz, Kelly & Ticsaw, P.C. since 2009 in the primary areas of legal, due diligence of land use, and real estate. Growing up in Aspen and having worked in the local government and non-profit sectors before becoming a lawyer, Sarah has an extensive understanding of the local community. Sarah also has strong regional ties to Aspen. Sarah has been a distance runner since 2017 and frequently places in the top three fastest runners in her age group. She has served on the RMS board and provides us with a community member's outlook.
February 2021-June 2027
board.sarahoates@rossmontessori.org
Sarah Oates has worked at Oates, Knezevich, Gardenswartz, Kelly & Ticsaw, P.C. since 2009 in the primary areas of legal, due diligence of land use, and real estate. Growing up in Aspen and having worked in the local government and non-profit sectors before becoming a lawyer, Sarah has an extensive understanding of the local community. Sarah also has strong regional ties to Aspen. Sarah has been a distance runner since 2017 and frequently places in the top three fastest runners in her age group. She has served on the RMS board and provides us with a community member's outlook.
