The UP Project has three part-time, outside contractors to assist with the facilitation and organization of all UP activities: a Technical Coordinator, Public Education/Outreach Coordinator, and Grants Coordinator. These positions are contracted by Unc/Com, Inc.  The Coordinators receive direction from the UP Technical Committee.

Technical Coordinator

As Technical Coordinator, Jim coordinates all of the activities of the UP Project.  He facilitates activities with a variety of agencies, organizations and institutions to develop plans for the implementation and evaluation of restoration and enhancement projects on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Jim shares some responsibilities with Pam, the Outreach and Public Education Coordinator, to facilitate meetings and to present information and reports to the public, the Technical Committee and others.

Jim Free spent the previous thirty-six years working for the US Forest Service in the Rocky Mountain Region.  He held a variety of positions including Range Staff Specialist for the Rocky Mountain Region.  He has been a line officer for 22 years on four national forest ranger districts. From 1991 until 2005, he held the position of Ouray District Ranger on the GMUG National Forest. Jim holds a B.S. and M.S. from Colorado State University in Forest and Range Management. 

Public Education & Outreach Coordinator

As the Public Education and Outreach Coordinator, Pam is in charge of developing and implementing a communications plan for the project. Her general responsibilities are to keep the public informed, channel public participation, organize educational opportunities, and create forums for different interest groups to meet and engage in constructive dialogue.  Among her specific duties are the development of communication tools (newsletter, website) and information tools (public presentations, letters, reports).

Pam received her B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Chemistry from Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.  As an undergraduate, she worked as the manager of an EPA-funded water monitoring project for non-point source pollution of surface water. As a graduate student, her work focused on the use of plants to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils. Pam worked as a researcher for the UP Project in the 2003- 2005 field seasons before accepting the position of Public Education Coordinator.

Grants Coordinator

As the Grants Coordinator, April's general responsibilities are to seek and inform the Technical Committee of new grant opportunities, to assist the Technical Coordinator in drafting grant proposals, and to track grant submissions. The UP Project also benefits from April's legal wizardry when it comes to drafting and editing contracts and agreements.

From 1991 through 2000, April was employed by San Miguel County, Colorado as a Planner and the Open Space & Recreation Director. She holds a B.A. in government and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia.  Following law school, she clerked for Colorado Supreme Court Justice Mullarkey and she remains a member of the Colorado Bar. Currently, April works with numerous non-profits and local governments in western Colorado as a grant writer, project administrator, strategic planner and consultant. She also found time in her busy schedule to run this cold March Grand Canyon river trip last year. You go girl!