Karin Rueff (founder)

Karin is a strategic thinker, relationship builder, problem solver, and policy nerd with extensive experience working in the local, regional, state, and federal levels of government in the United States. Her mix of expertise in policy analysis, program & project management, community engagement, and the legislative process gives her the unique capacity to support leaders and policymakers in developing and implementing policy solutions that are well-informed, equitable, actionable, and place-based.

Karin holds a master’s degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Most recently, she was a nonpartisan senior staffer for the Utah State Legislature. Prior to her work at the Utah State Legislature, Karin led large-scale collaborative planning efforts in Salt Lake County, the Lake Tahoe Region, and San Francisco. Karin’s policy issue experience spans health and human services, economic and workforce development, immigration, public lands, urban planning, environment and natural resources, climate adaptation & mitigation, sustainable communities, administrative rules, and criminal justice. 

Karin is a former collegiate athlete and raced professionally for the Northstar at Tahoe/Giant mountain bike team. She now loves to camp, mountain bike, ski, and rock climb with her husband, twin boys, and two dogs. Karin and her family reside in the mountains west of Golden, Colorado. She serves on the Jefferson County Open Space Advisory Committee and volunteers with the Conifer Area Council.

Patrick Edwards (collective member)

Patrick is a licensed architect, national security advisor, AI expert, and veteran. His success as an architect and an officer in the U.S. military has been in part due to his ability to apply the design thinking framework to organizational management and leadership, national security issues, and large-scale design & build projects.

Patrick holds a master’s degree in architecture from Montana State University and an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Colorado Boulder.