Karen Barger, Board Member

Karen Barger is widely known as the owner of Seasons Rotisserie Grill, having joined the team in 1995, shortly after its opening, serving assistant manager. She had previously worked for a restaurant group in Albuquerque, N.M., overseeing operations and development of the wine lists and menus for the company’s three establishments. Her husband securing a position at Fort Lewis College brought the young family to Durango.

Having a passion for wine and interested in expanding her knowledge, Karen took a position with Denver-based Classic Wines for a time, promoting smaller “boutique” wines from throughout the world across her Western Slope territory. She never entirely “left” Seasons, however, and was at the forefront when former owner Roger Roessler turned his focus fully on his winery in California. Karen made an offer to purchase, and in 2003, she assumed ownership of the popular Durango dining establishment.

Taking her interest in wine and desire to enhance business in the BID to a “next” level, Karen is the co-founder, with Joe Leder, of the extremely successful Durango Wine Experience. She also serves on the board of directors for the Durango Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association. karen@seasonsofdurango.com

 

Rod Barker, Board Member

Rod Barker, BID co-founder and president and CEO of the Historic Strater Hotel, has been involved in hotel operations and design for most of his life. His grandfather, Earl Barker Sr., and a group of businessmen, formed the New Strater Corporation in 1926 and took over management of the hotel. Earl and later his son Earl, Jr. eventually became sole owners.   As 3^rd generation owner, Rod learned the industry from literally the ground up, serving as everything from bellman, buffet cook and accounting clerk, to general manager.

He did, however, take time away from Durango to attend college in Boulder and Colorado Springs, eventually returning to Fort Lewis to complete his Business degree. Rod’s experience in the tourism industry includes serving as a tour escort for Tauck World Discovery, and various positions at fine hotels including the Broadmoor, Colorado Springs; the Brown Palace, Denver; and Westin Crown Center, Kansas City, before settling back in Durango at the Strater.

In 1980 Rod founded Strater Interiors, an interior design service, and has since been employing his talents in the redesign of the Strater’s “look” – including the work done on The Office and Mahogany Grille. In 2008, the old Diamond Circle Theater came under the Strater umbrella, and as the Henry Strater Theatre, is offering expanded musical and theatrical options to locals and guests. RBarker@strater.com

 

John Wells, Board Member

John Wells, partner/broker of the Wells Group, is a graduate of Fort Lewis College with a degree in Business Administration. Following graduation, he pursued real estate, and after obtaining his credentials, managed Purgatory’s real estate company for two years. He, along with his partners, established The Wells Group in 1985, and has worked successfully since that time to build a reputation of integrity and superior service.

John has been a member of both the Colorado Association of Realtors and Durango Area Association of Realtors since 1979, serving in numerous leadership capacities. He received Realtor of the Year in 1991.  Annually, John and his Wells Group team host a free economic forum, providing customers and concerned stakeholders with the data needed to make informed decisions going forward during the year.

A member of the BID board since 2000, John is active in a variety of non-profit organizations and businesses, including the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees, First National Bank Board of Directors, the La Plata Forum and the Colorado Forum. jmwells@frontier.net

 

Antonia Clark, Board Member

Antonia Clark, a fifth generation Durangoan, is part of the family-owned Toh-Atin Gallery in Downtown Durango.

A graduate of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City with a degree in Physical Education, Clark went on to receive her Colorado Teacher Certification from Fort Lewis College. Following graduation she was employed in the ski industry for eight years before accepting a teaching position with Durango School District 9-R. In 1981 she left teaching to join Toh-Atin. The Clark family has been involved with wholesale and retail commerce in Durango since the railroad arrived in 1882.

Over the years with Toh-Atin, Clark has managed Toh-Atin’s Art Publishing division, as well as operated the retail outlet for it, Toh-Atin’s Art on Main. The art publishing business eventually relocated out of Downtown to the Grandview area and was sold in 2008. Clark currently is involved in administration and sales for the Gallery on 9^th Ave. in Downtown.

During her four-year tenure as a member of the Durango Area Chamber Resort Association board of directors, Clark served as chair of the Central Business District Merchants Group, working with retailers and the City on parking issues and solutions, as well as promoting special events in the shoulder seasons and developing “Local Appreciation” events in an effort to bring more locals Downtown. Her involvements have also included the Citizen’s Advisory and Comprehensive Plan committees for the City and she is a member of the La Plata Forum. antonia@frontier.net

 

Bob Allen, Board Member

Bob Allen, owner/principal of Allen & Associates, has served on the BID board since 2005. He is currently serving as Presiding Officer of the board.

A graduate of Colgate University in central New York, Allen established Allen & Associates in Durango in 1989. He is currently one of the most well-known commercial appraisers in the region and a community resource for real estate and economic information, maintaining arguably the most comprehensive real estate database in the county. Annually, Allen provides a regional “trends” analysis as a public forum for the Wells Group.

A founding board president of Trails 2000, Allen has also served on the La Plata County Community Development Council, Durango School District 9R Finance Advisory Committee and the La Plata Forum, among other involvements. boballen@allendurango.com

 

Pam Glasco, Community Relations Coordinator

Pam has more than 25 years of experience in community relations. She is a graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in Economics. She has operated a desktop publishing business, served on several local non-profit boards and community groups, been active in fundraising, philanthropic giving, and as a youth sports and activities mentor. For her community involvement, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, emphasizing the impact of her public service. Pam provides office assistance and is the community relations coordinator for the Durango Business Improvement District (BID). She represents the interests of the BID and communicates with constituents and organizations at community meetings and social engagements. pamg@downtowndurango.org

 

 

 

Tim Walsworth, Executive Director

Prior to assuming the position of Executive Director of the Durango Business Improvement District in January 2013, Tim Walsworth served as the President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado for 10 years. Additionally, he has more than 15 years of nonprofit management experience and worked for two leading United Way chapters prior to arriving in Southwest Colorado.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus on Public Relations, Walsworth began working for United Way/Capital Area in Austin in 1996. Within three years, he rose to the senior staff for the organization’s Community Investment department, responsible for investing United Way resources for the improvement of the overall health of the community.

In Oct. 1999, Walsworth took on a consulting role with Pikes Peak United Way, but soon secured a permanent position as a lead fundraiser overseeing the fundraising activities for nearly 300 accounts in Colorado Springs. He supervised loaned employees (employees of other businesses that are loaned to United Way to augment campaign staff as part of the business’ support of the annual campaign) and other support staff. In 2001, Walsworth accepted the Director of Marketing and Communications position within the same United Way.

In January 2003, Walsworth moved to Durango to assume the position of President and CEO for United Way of Southwest Colorado. During his tenure, United Way of Southwest Colorado generated more than $6.1 million in funding for local needs and revamped the process it uses to invest the funds raised each year. TimW@downtowndurango.org