Former Community Relations Department Manager, Colorado Springs Utilities

Susan is a seasoned leader in community relations and nonprofit engagement, with a career spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She retired four years ago from Colorado Springs Utilities, where she spent more than 20 years leading community giving, employee volunteer programs, community education, and the corporate foundation, including oversight of Project COPE.

Prior to that, Susan held leadership roles with the American Heart Association Southeast Colorado Region and the Colorado Springs Symphony (now Philharmonic), focusing on fundraising, public relations, and operations. Earlier in her career, she worked in retail management and as an exploration geologist in the Rocky Mountain region.

Susan has served on numerous nonprofit boards, government advisory boards, and regional task forces. She currently serves as Vice President of the Makepeace Foundation Board and is a member of the CFOS Foundation Board and the Pikes Peak chapter of the School and Public Retirees Association Board.

She has been a member of the Fostering Hope Local Board since 2013 and has been elected as the 2026 inaugural Board Chair for the Colorado Springs Board of Directors. Susan brings strategic leadership, deep community engagement experience, and extensive nonprofit governance expertise to Fostering Hope.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Colorado College and an MBA from Colorado State University. Outside of her work, she enjoys skiing, bicycling, hiking, traveling, and equine sports.