Staff List

Debbie Contini Braun, IOM
President and CEO
970-925-1940
dbraun@aspenchamber.org
Debbie started with the Aspen Chamber Resort Association in 1999 as the membership director, she was promoted to vice president of business development in 2003 and was then appointed president and CEO the summer of 2005.  Debbie is married with two children.  She serves on the advisory board for the 20-year facility master plan for Aspen Valley Hospital, the Aspen Airport Advisory Committee, she is a member of the Lift-one COWOP, and is a board member with the Roaring Fork Valley Community Health Plan.  Community involvement includes taking part in the Aspen Area Community Plan, and ZG master plan and fundraising and volunteering for Roaring Fork Kids and Basalt Elementary School. 

In the summer of 2009, Debbie graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management and received her certificate for 96 hours of Nonprofit Organizational Management coursework.

Prior to joining the Chamber, she was project manager of the Children's Diabetes Foundation in Denver where she helped to produce The Carousel of Hope - the single largest one-night fundraiser in the United States raising over $6 million.  Debbie has worked for CE Sports as an event manager and the Budweiser Mogul Tour as athlete relations manager.

Debbie was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska.  She graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1988 with a degree in Public Relations/Journalism, and a minor in psychology.

Michelle Miller
Executive Administrative Assistant 
970-920-7142
mmiller@aspenchamber.org
Michelle works directly with the President and CEO of the Aspen Chamber, provides administrative support to the staff, including Human Resources, Office Management and Finance.

Michelle previously worked at the Snowmass Resort Association in Snowmass Village and has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for over 12 years, originally from the Chicagoland area.

Jennifer Albright Carney
Vice President of Event Marketing 
970-920-7143
jalbright@aspenchamber.org
Jennifer Albright Carney manages the special events department and produces Wintersköl, the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, Aspen's Old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration and the Aspen Arts Festival.

After graduating from Michigan State University in 1992, Jennifer spent the summer working on Nantucket Island and three months in Hong Kong before moving to Aspen.  Jennifer has lived in Aspen for the past 15 years.  Prior to joining the Chamber, Jennifer worked for the Ritz-Carlton Aspen and at the Aspen Art Museum as membership director.

Julie Hardman
Special Events Manager
970-920-7146
jhardman@aspenchamber.org
Julie Hardman assists with the production of Wintersköl, the FOOD&WINE Classic, Old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, and the Aspen Arts Festival.  Julie has worked in the events department at the Aspen Chamber for 6 years.  Prior to joining the Aspen Chamber, Julie worked for Ski.com, the Snowmass Village Resort Association as the events manager, and taught kids skiing for the Aspen Skiing Company. 

Julie grew up in Atlanta, GA and graduated from the Collage of Charleston, SC in 1995 with a degree in Communications/Journalism.  She moved to Aspen, CO the summer of 1995 to escape the humidity and settle down in her favorite ski town!

Erik Klanderud
Director of Member & Visitor Services
970-925-1940
eklanderud@aspenchamber.org
Erik Klanderud is the Director of Member & Visitor Services at the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA), and he just might be this mountain town's No. 1 fan. Klanderud (who also happens to be former mayor Helen Klanderud's son) has been graciously providing visitors and curious locals with vital Aspen information through ACRA for the last four years. That task comes easy to Klanderud, who has has spent the last three decades living in our mountain town and cultivating his expert status on all things Aspen (he is even a graduate of Aspen High School, Class of '84). Whether you're wondering what trail to hike, where to eat, or when the Wheeler Opera House was constructed, Erik always has an answer, and it almost always comes with a smile. For great conversation and an Aspen factoid, you can find this hometown boy at the ACRA offices at 425 Rio Grande Place.

Karen Keeley
Guest Service Manager
970-920-7145
kkeeley@aspenchamber.org
Karen is the manager of guest services program and oversees the daily operation of the three in town visitor centers: the Rio Grande Visitor Center, the Wheeler Opera House Visitor Center and the Guest Pavilion on the corner of Cooper and Galena Streets.      

Karen joined the Chamber after working for Stay Aspen Snowmass as a group sales manager for four years.  Before that she worked for the Snowmass Resort Association in the central reservations office for nine years. Karen has lived in the valley since May of 1988.   

Sue Wall 
Guest Service Supervisor
970-920-7148
swall@aspenchamber.org
Sue is the Supervisor of guest services for two of the Aspen Chamber visitor centers located in the heart of downtown Aspen: the Wheeler Opera House Visitor Center and the guest Pavilion Visitor on the corner of Cooper and Galena Streets.

Sue joined the Chamber as the Guest Service Supervisor at the Aspen Airport in the Spring of 2005.  Previously, she worked many years in retail businesses, including owning a restaurant in Washington State and a gallery/gift shop in Arizona.  Prior to joining the Aspen Chamber, she worked for eight years as the manager of Toklat Gallery at Ashcroft.

Sue grew up in Aspen and has lived in this great town for thirty years.

Dorothy Frommer
Director of Guest Services
FACES of ASPEN/SNOWMASS
970-920-7144
dfrommer@aspenchamber.org
Dorothy is the creator and manager of the community wide multi-faceted guest service initiative called "The FACES of ASPEN/SNOWMASS".  With several aspects to the program, the mission is to raise the level of guest service throughout the community, and the goal is to have ASPEN/SNOWMASS become the number one destination resort in the country for its outstanding guest service. An Ambassador program for the Aspen Airport was started with the Winter 2007/08 season. Our smiling, patient Ambassadors connect with residents and visitors on their arrival and departure.

A native New Yorker, Dorothy has lived in Aspen for over 30 years. She opened a women's clothing and accessory Boutique in Aspen in 1975, and has been involved with retail in Aspen ever since.  She has a passion for Aspen history and excellent customer service.

Julia Theisen
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
970-920-7141
jtheisen@aspenchamber.org
Julia manages Destination Marketing and Group Sales at the Aspen Chamber, implementing a comprehensive marketing and sales plan annually for the City of Aspen.  With advertising, marketing, sales, public relations and web marketing programs, the primary objective of the department is to bring new visitors and groups to Aspen. 

Julia joins the Chamber with twenty years of experience in global event management, sales and marketing.   She recently moved to Aspen from Santa Barbara where she worked for two non-profit organizations.  Previous to that, she spent six years in sales and marketing for the PGA TOUR.  Julia loves to travel and has lived and worked in London, South Africa and across the United States.

Annie Watts Dockter
Marketing Manager
970-920-7122
adockter@aspenchamber.org
Annie Dockter is part of the Destination Marketing program at the Aspen Chamber, which develops strategies and the marketing plan to promote tourism to Aspen in the non-winter months.  Born and raised in the Seattle area, a graduate of Washington State University and moved to the Aspen area in 2002. Annie enjoys all that Aspen has to offer and you can find her hiking or skiing most of her weekends away! 

JoAnna Eisler
National Sales Manager, Aspen Groups
970-920-7185 
jeisler@aspenchamber.org
JoAnna Eisler is the National Sales & Marketing Manager for Aspen Groups.  JoAnna works to promote Aspen as a year round destination to group planners.  She is focused on generating group revenues to our hotel lodging properties and to participating businesses that benefit from group business.  Keeping Aspen front of mind as a group destination and making it an accessible option for corporate and social meeting planners are her core objectives.  She is a proud member of Meeting Professionals International Rocky Mountain Chapter, Destination Colorado, Green Meetings Industry Council, Rocky Mountain PCMA and Southern Colorado HSMAI. 

JoAnna joined the ACRA team after 5 years with Kimpton Hotels in operations management, catering & conference services and sales.  JoAnna's strong hospitality experience also includes stints with Vail Resorts, TriStar Restaurants (Maui) and the Stein Erikson Lodge.  JoAnna began following her passion for resort life after attending Stephen F. Austin University where she majored in English & History.  She met the ski bum of her dreams shortly thereafter, and is thrilled to call the Roaring Fork Valley home since March of 2007.  She and her husband have three dogs and enjoy all of the outdoor fun the Rocky Mountains have to offer.