President of the Aspen Elevation Institute Board of Directors

Patrick Tierney serves as Vice President, Associate General Counsel for Aspen One and is the President of the Aspen Elevation Institute Board of Directors. A graduate of the University of Minnesota and Harvard Law School, Patrick brings a wealth of legal expertise shaped by his work in the federal government, leading law firms, and Fortune 500 companies. He is passionate about fostering inclusive access to the Roaring Fork Valley’s recreational opportunities and believes deeply in their power to promote healing, personal growth, and community connection. Patrick enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with his wife, young daughters, and rescue dog.

Board of Directors

Chris Miller is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Aspen One, where he leads the company’s efforts to embed sustainability into business strategy and operations—while using Aspen’s voice, influence, and resources to help shape more just and sustainable systems beyond the company.

Prior to joining Aspen One, Chris spent 14 years at Ben & Jerry’s, where he was the Global Social Mission Director and a member of the company’s executive leadership team. He led the integration of Ben & Jerry’s progressive values into day-to-day operations, including sustainability strategy, values-led sourcing and supply chain development, and the company’s unique, award-winning model of corporate activism.

Before Ben & Jerry’s, Chris led sustainability efforts at Seventh Generation, a leader in non-toxic household and personal care products. His earlier work includes directing Greenpeace USA’s national climate campaign in the early 2000s and serving on the staff of Congressman Bernie Sanders.

Chris splits his time between the Roaring Fork Valley and Burlington, Vermont, where he lives with his partner Ashley, her 13-year-old son Walker, and their dog Hewie and cat Boo.

Board of Directors

Kristen is an advocate, community-builder, and independent consultant with deep expertise in veterans’ affairs, emergency preparedness, and coalition building.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard, she has served more than 30 years, including three deployments to Afghanistan and active service supporting the Department of Defense’s COVID-19 vaccination mission. Kristen is the founder of NYC Veterans Alliance, where she led landmark legislative campaigns benefiting veterans and their families, and previously served as Deputy Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services, launching the agency’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Her writing and commentary on military and veteran issues have appeared in major national outlets. A Brooklyn resident, Kristen is a strong believer in the restorative power of outdoor experiences for veterans and is an alumna of the Colorado Outward Bound School’s veterans program.

Board of Directors

Erik DaRosa, known by friends as “Yoda,” is the Founder and CEO of From Survivor to Thriver, a mental health advocate, speaker, author, podcaster, ski instructor and creator of the U-MOST (Unlocking Minds On Snow Together) Ski and Snowboard Program. Through his work and his own lived experience, Erik is upending the front-end of the mental health space and building a bridge between those who seek resources and those who provide both help and hope. He aims to normalize discussions around mental health topics while reminding others they are not alone, there is strength in community, and “it’s perfectly okay to not be okay”

In 2011, Erik traded in a successful career as a NYC finance executive when he moved to Colorado with his wife and two cats. Erik has spent 14 winters as a full-time ski instructor for the Aspen Skiing Company and launched U-MOST (visit u-most.com for more information) in December 2024.

Born and raised in New England, Erik earned his MBA from the NYU Stern School ofBusiness and his BA in Economics from Brandeis University.

Development Strategy Consultant

Courtney is a nonprofit management and development strategy consultant with 10+ years of experience helping mission-driven organizations strengthen leadership, fundraising, partnerships, and operational effectiveness. She works with nonprofits, higher education institutions, and philanthropic organizations to build sustainable, data-informed systems that align mission with measurable impact.

She is also an Adjunct Professor at Southern New Hampshire University, teaching nonprofit management and leadership since 2015. Courtney holds a Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University and a Juris Doctor from Texas A&M School of Law. As the owner of a successful food business, she brings a practical, entrepreneurial lens to helping values-driven organizations grow and thrive.