• Encourage the community to integrate resource conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy into their daily lives
• Bring resource conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities to consumers, businesses and institutions
• Help regional resource conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy businesses to succeed and thrive
• Work collaboratively with regional organizations and municipalities to maximize efficiencies and carry out the mission

In November of 2006 a group of individuals including representatives from La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), the City of Durango, La Plata County, Southwest Colorado Renewable Energy Society (SWCRES), Sustainability Alliance of SW Colorado, San Juan Citizen's Alliance, San Juan RC&D, La Plata County Energy Council, Three Springs Development, BP America, Atmos Energy and the FLC Environmental Center formed a steering committee to explore the feasibility of establishing a regional, environmental organization for the purpose of increasing adoption of resource conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy activity in Southwest Colorado.

With funding jointly provided by LPEA, La Plata County, the City of Durango, BP America, Atmos and Three Springs, the committee retained the services of a local business consultant to develop a business plan for the proposed organization and, in doing so, define the potential scope of services to be offered, general administrative requirements and funding opportunities.

The 4CORE business plan, completed in September, 2007 and revised in November, 2007, proposed the formation of a local, non-profit 501(c) 3 environmental, public benefit coalition, called the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE). The 4CORE concept is modeled after similar organizations in other Colorado communities, as well as throughout the US, in response to growing concern about GHG emissions, rising energy costs and dependence on foreign oil.    

4CORE is managed by a team of paid staff, volunteers and student interns with the oversight and guidance of a volunteer board of directors.

Map of Service Region

(Click to enlarge)

Bob Dawes
Bob Dawes currently practices disability law at Dawes and Harriss, P.C. in Durango, CO.  Bob has been with this firm since 1991, but has practiced law in Durango since 1975. Bob received his B.A. from Syracuse University in 1968, and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1971.  He is admitted to practice law in the states of Colorado, Minnesota, Arizona, the Federal Districts of Colorado and Arizona, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Bob strongly supports 4CORE’s missions and goals, and is looking forward to contributing the knowledge he has gained from his previous experiences with non-profit board development.

Brad Broyles -- Treasurer
Brad is a Small Business Development Officer for First Southwest Bank, as well as the Co-Founder of Smi.sh.  Brad grew up in Alamosa, CO, but received a Bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance from the University of Phoenix in 2007.  In 2009 he then went on to earn a Masters in Real Estate Development from Arizona State University.
Brad was attracted to 4CORE because of the way that the goals of the organization support his own personal principles regarding energy efficiency initiatives.  Because of Brad’s strong background in business finance, cash flow management and business development he hopes to help 4CORE increase outreach to the business community and to improve their financial strength.

Bobbe Jones
Bobbe has been working for Empire Electric Association for eleven years, and is currently employed as the Assistant Member Services Manager, a position largely dedicated to public relations.  She is editor and writer for Empire’s member newsletter in the Colorado Country Life Magazine and writes a monthly column in the Cortez Journal called Powerful Solutions. Bobbe has been living in Southwest Colorado for over 30 years, and she and her husband own a small farm close to Cortez where they raise and market pumpkins, sheep and vegetables.  Bobbe is also an artist, with a focus on dog portraits.  Bobbe’s interest in 4CORE stems from its goal of motivating the community to voluntarily change behavior by offering the means and incentives to make a difference.  Bobbe hopes to use her talents for community education and outreach to help 4CORE promote energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Werner Heiber
Werner is a founder and board chair of the Sustainability Alliance of SW Colorado (SASCO).  In addition to his work with SASCO, Werner is also a Colorado Master Gardener and team leader at Shared Harvest Garden, as well as a founding member of Essential Housing Associates.  Werner has a B.S. degree in Organic Chemistry from Adelphi University and two certificate degrees from the University of Utah, one in Urban and Regional Planning and the other in Mediation, Conflict Resolution and Facilitation.  Werner’s interests lie is sustainable living and energy efficient homes and he has extensive experience with the construction of such homes.  With his past experiences, Werner hopes to help 4CORE live up to its mission and vision and meet its goals.

Greg Caton
Greg has served as Durango's Assistant City Manager since 2002.  He currently oversees several departments and in 2009, he became the Director of the newly created Department of Sustainable Services for the City of Durango.  Greg is a Credentialed City Manager and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fort Lewis College here in Durango, and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Greg started his local government career in 1998 with the City of Commerce City, Colorado.  Before working in local government Greg owned his own business.  He prides himself on bringing an innovative perspective to local government operations. 

Joelle Riddle
Joelle is the Vice Chair of the La Plata County Board of County Commissioners, a position she has held since being elected in the fall of 2006.  Prior to this she worked as an Education Program Manager for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains in Durango.  She has also owned a small business.  Joelle attended college at Colorado State University and Fort Lewis College, where she studied occupational therapy and social work.  Politics and community participation have been an important part of Joelle’s life.  She is a former chair of the La Plata County Democratic Party, an active volunteer for several nonprofits and community coalitions, and co-founded the Four Corner’s Safe School Coalition.  In March of 2007 Congressman John Salazar presented Joelle with the “Rising Star Award” at the 74th Annual Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner held by The Colorado Democratic Party. She was recently re-appointed to the Colorado State Board of Health for a second term by Governor Bill Ritter.

Chad Tidwell – Chair
Chad is the Vice-President of Engineering & Development for Red Willow Production Company, the oil and gas exploration and production business of the Southern Ute Growth Fund.  Prior to joining Red Willow, he most recently held roles in operations and project management for BP America in Durango.  Chad has formerly served as the President of the Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a graduate of the Leadership La Plata program.  He has coached youth soccer and/or softball most of his six years in the community.  Chad has a Chemical Engineering degree from Texas A&M and an M.B.A. from Rice University.

Pat Senecal -- Secretary
Pat is the Assistant Town Manager and Planner for the Town of Ignacio. Previous to her work with communities, she served as an organizational development consultant to Fortune 50 companies globally. She and her husband, Paul, came to Durango to build an Earthship and work in various community sustainability groups, from educational alternatives to natural building. Having begun and led the annual National Solar Building Tour in Durango and the county for 9 years, it was taken over by 4 CORE in 2009. Pat is also an artist using an impressionist style to capture scenes, moods, animals and people. She has commissioned work throughout the United States

Ed Zink – Vice-Chair
Ed is a rancher, spending much of his time at Waterfall Ranch, and owner of Mountain Bike Specialists. He is a Durango native and holds a B.A. in Business Management from Fort Lewis College. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for La Plata Electric Association.
With over 35 years involvement in the cycling scene, Ed has put on dozens of races, including the World Championships in 1990, the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, and the NORBA Nationals. Ed Zink is a recipient of numerous awards, including an induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, as well being named Durango’s Citizen of the Year in 2004. 

Please join us: Monthly Board meetings, 4th Thursday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

See calendar for location and agenda

April Minutes
April Progress Report

4CORE Staff

Aileen is responsible for facilitating efforts to promote resource conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of clean, renewable sources of energy.

Aileen has 30 years of experience ranging from military service, government contracting, corporate information technology and project management, to non-profit executive leadership. In the private sector, she worked in the space program, to include managing software development for the International Microgravity space lab mission. While serving as a commissioned officer in the US Air Force, Aileen earned a master’s degree in systems technology from the University of Southern California. In 2005, she earned a second master’s in environmental policy and management from the University of Denver.

Teresa Shishim
Program Manager

Cori Andreatta
Program Specialist

When asked in her interview what her weak points were Cori replied, “Writing bios”.

Cori moved to Durango 14 years ago and earned a BA in Computer Information Systems from Fort Lewis College. For the next 5 years she worked at a local web programming company and became interested in alternative, environmentally friendly construction methods, and energy conservation while in the process of building her own home with her husband.  This experience prompted her to make a career change and became the Assistant Manager of the Eco Home Center in 2006. She joined the 4CORE team in April of 2009.

When not at work, she can be found enjoying the Four Corners area by mountain biking, hiking, rafting, snowboarding and looking at flowers really really closely while sipping on green tea.

Gregg Dubit
Project Manager

Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area Gregg has been in Southwest Colorado for over 20 years.  As Weatherization Project Manager Gregg eats cellulose insulation on a regular basis and states that fiber is good for the diet.  Gregg has a Bachelors degree from The University of New Hampshire, Durham in Forest Resource Management, and from Fort Lewis College, Durango in secondary education. 

Greggs’ previous experience includes  Commercial energy auditing, Residential Services Network training and certification, residential general contracting, residential real estate inspection services, high school math and science teacher, former ski patroller, and aged outward bound instructor.  In addition, Gregg is an avid dog musher, proud father of Lydia and Hayden, and happily married to Gretchen.

Heather recently received her Bachelor's Degree from Fort Lewis College in Psychology. She thoroughly enjoys people and is excited to see all the different ways the Weatherization Program will help others.  She has experience in managing small businesses and working with people from different backgrounds.  She enjoys watching movies and working in the yard on weekends.    

Tom moved to Durango two years ago from Ithaca, New York. His interest in green building and energy efficiency lead him to choose 4CORE for an internship, and he was hired within two months as an Inspector.

Tom's varied previous experience includes home building, field biology, outdoor education, and industrial roped access inspection. When not working Tom is off to the mountains, canyons and deserts of the four corners area.

Kirk's background is in Commercial Construction, including the Springs Hotel’s new building and the Sky Ute Casino project.  He has been involved in heavily themed exterior building skin projects including the Wynn and three Residences at MGM towers in Las Vegas, a new facility for the oldest dental school in the nation in Washington DC, and the University of Maryland’s Comcast Basketball Arena. 

Building exteriors have been his passion and strength for the past 10 years and he really enjoys helping with weatherization projects.
Kirk is a native local who loves the mountains and Southwest Colorado.  He and his family enjoy getting out and camping as well as playing in the forests and national parks that surround us. 

Funding Sources

Local Clean Energy Fund and Program Support Donations

Your contribution to 4CORE goes to

Select the Donate button above and/or set up recurring donations in your online bill pay account if your bank offers that feature.

OR

download, complete, and mail the 4CORE  pledge form with your check or money order.

Coalition Partners

Click here to learn about our Coalition Partners

Financials and Reports