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.

Julia Theisen
Vice President of 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.

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 16 years.  Prior to joining the Chamber, Jennifer worked for the Ritz-Carlton Aspen and at the Aspen Art Museum as membership director.

Holly Pagan
Executive Assistant
970-920-7142
hpagan@aspenchamber.org
Holly Pagan is the executive assistant for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association. She works directly with the president and CEO as her assistant.  Holly was born in Aspen and raised in the Roaring Fork Valley.  She has lived back in the valley for the last 6 years.  Before joining the Chamber, Holly has worked in finance and human resources in Denver and worked for the Roaring Fork School District.  She is married and has two boys.

Julie Hardman
Senior 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 7 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 Services
970-925-1940
eklanderud@aspenchamber.org
Erik Klanderud is the Director of Member 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 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.

Stephanie Power Smith
Member Services Coordinator
spowersmith@aspenchamber.org
Stephanie Power Smith has been with the Aspen Chamber for close to 6 years and is currently the assistant to the Director of Member Services.  She can assist you with all things membership so please contact her for any information you need or changes, additions, etc. on your account.  

Stephanie moved to this beautiful valley in 1993 and has loved every minute of these past 19 years.  She moved here from Gainesville, Fl after graduating from the University of Fla.  She is married to Tim Power Smith and they have 2 children, Jacob and Jenna.

Karen Keeley
Visitor/Member Services 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.   

Dorothy Frommer
Director of Guest Services
FACES of ASPEN/SNOWMASS
970-920-7144
dfrommer@aspenchamber.org
Dorothy is the Director of Guest Service for the Aspen Chamber. She created and manages the "FACES of Aspen/Snowmass", a multi-faceted program focused on raising the level of Guest Service in the community. The goal is to have Aspen/Snowmass become the number one destination resort in the country for its outstanding Guest Service. In 2007, she started a year-round Ambassador program for the Aspen Airport. Our smiling, caring 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 when she moved here, had a logo merchandise business selling to hotels, athletic clubs and special events, managed other apparel stores, and ended her retail career as the Director of the CHANEL boutique. She has a passion for Aspen and its history, and outstanding Guest Service.

Toni Case
Senior Marketing Manager
970-920-7169
tcase@aspenchamber.org
Toni 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. 

Toni moved to Aspen in 2008 to marry long time local Charles Case. She enjoys all that Aspen has to offer. Charles and Toni look forward to introducing their new daughter, Charlotte, to the great outdoors as soon as possible! 

Sarah Reynolds
National Sales Manager, Aspen Groups
970-920-7185 
sreynolds@aspenchamber.org
Sarah Reynolds is the National Sales Manager for Aspen Groups. Sarah joined the ACRA after six years in the hospitality industry at Hotel Jerome and Ritz-Carlton Club Aspen Highlands.  She first came to Aspen on a college spring break and soon returned to work and enjoy Aspen's glorious summer months and great skiing.  Sarah grew up in Raleigh, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University where she majored in Hospitality and Tourism Management, as well as Marketing. Sarah lives Aspen's mind, body and spirit idea and can be found enjoying all of the outdoor activities, art, culture, film, and music.

Eliza Voss
Marketing Manager
970-920-7125 
evoss@aspenchamber.org
Eliza is part of the Destination Marketing program at the Aspen Chamber, promoting tourism to Aspen in the non-winter months. Prior to joining the Aspen Chamber Eliza worked at the Limelight Lodge.

Eliza has been in Aspen since 2006 and enjoys biking, hiking with her dog Kodah, and of course skiing. She grew up in Connecticut, and went to college in Gettysburg, PA but feels that Aspen is her home for the foreseeable future.

Hannah Christian
Special Events Coordinator
970-920-7197
hchristian@aspenchamber.org
Hannah is part of the special events department and assists with the production of their annual events including 12 Days of Aspen, Winterskol, Outside in Aspen, and the Food & Wine Magazine Classic.  She joined the Chamber full time in the Fall of 2011 after serving as their Special Events Intern three summers prior.  In the interim, she was the Program Coordinator at the Aspen Youth Center.

Hannah moved to Aspen in 2006 after graduating from the University of Virginia.  She loves skiing Ajax, dancing front row at Belly Up, and getting phillies from Zanes.