MEET OUR staff

  • A woman smiling outdoors in a mountainous area with green trees and blue sky with white clouds.

    Amy Schwarzbach

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
    director@durangonordic.org

    Amy has lived in Durango for nearly 25 years, and has served in community roles as the Public Service Staff Officer at the San Juan National Forest, Natural Resource Manager for the City of Durango, and Executive Director of La Plata Open Space Conservancy. Her degree is in International Agriculture and Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and her early career combined summer seasons as a National Park Service backcountry biologist with winter seasons in mountain town outdoor retail. Her passions for outdoor recreation and land stewardship extend beyond work into personal life where she skis, bikes, hikes, backpacks, and paddles. Relaxing at home really means fun home improvement or other handmade projects.

  • Person in snow gear dressed as Wonder Woman holding ski poles and skis, smiling outdoors in snowy area with wooden building in background.

    Helen Low

    NORDIC CENTER MANAGER
    helen@durangonordic.org

    Helen has worked at the Durango Nordic Center for more than two decades. She started as a volunteer, transitioned to an instructor, and then took over as manager of the Center over a decade ago. She has a Masters in Outdoor Education and worked for Outward Bound for 11 years. Helen is originally from the Isle of Wight which is off the South coast of England, but she has now made Durango her home. In the summertime Helen is a river guide on the beautiful Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.

  • A woman in a red puffy jacket and white knit hat is smiling with eyes closed in a foggy outdoor setting with trees and a cloudy sky.

    Lauren Echo

    MARKETING & EVENTS
    lauren@durangonordic.org

    Lauren grew up skiing in the Sierra Mountains and has a deep love for the outdoors. With her background in marketing and event production, she brings a creative energy to our team. Expect to see her out on the trails connecting with our community.

  • A man with a beard smiling outdoors, wearing a helmet, a bandana, and a backpack, holding a ski pole, with a background of trees and mountains.

    Abe Ott

    HEAD COACH
    coach@durangonordic.org

    Abe grew up in Durango and started training and racing with DNSC at an early age. After many successful seasons and more than a few lessons learned, he graduated from DHS and spent a few years traveling, working as a guide and as a ranch hand. He then went back to school and earned a degree in Economics with a minor in Business Administration and Education. After managing a ranch in Fort Collins for 3 years and meeting his wife, he moved back to Durango and started managing the cattle at the James Ranch. Abe has been coaching for Durango Nordic off and on since 2014. Abe finds coaching is fulfilling and feels it is a privilege to teach kids.

OUR board members

  • A man wearing sunglasses, a black cap, and a blue athletic shirt smiling outdoors.

    Marc Basiliere

    BOARD PRESIDENT

  • Three people in winter sports attire standing outdoors in snowy mountain landscape. Two adults, a man and a woman, and a young girl. The man is wearing sunglasses, a beige cap, and a white sports bib with the number 55. The woman is wearing sunglasses, a blue cap with Olaf and Durango Nordic written on it, and a white sports bib with the number 69. The young girl wears sunglasses, a hooded jacket, and a backpack. All are smiling and holding ski poles.

    CALEY FRETZ

  • Portrait of a man with a beard and a checkered shirt, smiling, standing against a plain wall.

    DANIEL MURRAY

  • A man with a mustache wearing a visor and an outdoor jacket, standing near a body of water with trees and a house in the background during sunset.

    MITCH DION

  • A woman with short curly hair smiling, wearing a red top.

    SHERE KUSS

  • A woman smiling wearing sunglasses and a cap with a desert landscape in the background.

    Jaime wienk

  • A woman in a winter outfit, including a blue and gray beanie, sunglasses, and a purple jacket, smiling outdoors in a snowy forest.

    terryl peterson