Boettcher Foundation
Event overview

Program & people

See the system. Meet the people. Do the work.

The day begins with a confirmed speaker panel, continues through the Boulder County Recycling Center, Eco-Cycle CHaRM, and Resource Central Materials Reuse facility, moves into a book-sorting volunteer project, and closes with drinks and lunch in Boulder.

Confirmed agenda

A full day, built to move.

The Summit moves from learning to observation to service, then closes with time to reconnect. All times are Mountain Time.

  1. Arrival

    Arrive and get settled

    Check in at the Boulder County Recycling Center and get ready for the day.

    Boulder County Recycling Center

  2. Welcome

    Welcome and agenda review

    Open the Summit with the day’s purpose, program sequence, and practical details.

    Boulder County Recycling Center

  3. Learn together

    Colorado environmental speaker panel

    K.J. McCorry will moderate a conversation with Suzanne “Zan” Jones and Jonathan Asher about climate preparedness, Zero Waste, and local action.

    Conference room

  4. Pause

    Break

    Take a short break before the facility tours begin.

  5. See the system

    Boulder County Recycling Center tour

    Tour the materials recovery facility with Eco-Cycle Executive Director Suzanne “Zan” Jones.

    1901 63rd St., Boulder, CO 80301

  6. Travel

    Drive to Eco-Cycle CHaRM

    Continue to the co-located CHaRM and Resource Central program sites.

    6400 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder, CO 80303

  7. Explore reuse

    Tour CHaRM and Resource Central

    Visit Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials and Resource Central’s Materials Reuse facility.

    6400 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder, CO 80303

  8. Main service project

    Book-sorting volunteer activity

    Work side by side to evaluate books for reuse or recycling and help valuable materials find their next chapter.

    Eco-Cycle CHaRM

  9. Stay connected

    Drinks and lunch in Boulder

    Close the day over drinks and lunch with Scholars, alumni, families, guests, and partners.

Confirmed speakers

Colorado perspectives in one conversation.

KJ McCorry will moderate a conversation with Suzanne “Zan” Jones, Jonathan Asher, and Matt Nuñez about Zero Waste, climate preparedness, outdoor recreation, and community resilience.

Moderator · CEO, Officiency Inc. · Board President, Eco-Cycle

KJ McCorry

K.J. McCorry is the CEO of Officiency Inc., an organizational effectiveness and productivity consulting firm. A seasoned facilitator and speaker, K.J. has also served on more than 18 nonprofit boards, frequently in leadership roles, and is a Colorado Governor’s Fellow and Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Fellow. Environmental sustainability has been a consistent thread throughout K.J.’s professional and civic life for more than four decades. Through her sustainability consulting work, she has facilitated sustainability strategic planning, conducted organizational assessments, and helped organizations integrate greater efficiency and sustainability into their operations. She has taught sustainability programs at the University of Colorado Boulder, contributed to Simple Path to Sustainability: Green Business Strategies for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, and has extensive training in sustainability practices. Today, K.J. serves as Board President of Eco-Cycle, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers and a leader in Zero Waste solutions, continuing her longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and community impact.

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Panelist · Executive Director, Eco-Cycle

Suzanne “Zan” Jones

Suzanne “Zan” Jones is Executive Director of Eco-Cycle, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers and a national leader in Zero Waste solutions. Since becoming Executive Director in 2014, Zan has helped expand Eco-Cycle’s impact throughout Colorado, advancing innovative recycling, composting, circular economy, and Zero Waste policies and partnerships. She has spent her career at the intersection of environmental advocacy, nonprofit leadership, public policy, and civic engagement. Prior to joining Eco-Cycle, Zan spent 16 years with The Wilderness Society, including serving as Central Rockies Regional Director, where she led conservation and public lands initiatives. Her extensive civic leadership includes serving on the Boulder City Council and as Mayor of the City of Boulder. Throughout her career, Zan has been a collaborative community leader, bringing together government, nonprofit, business, and community partners to advance environmental conservation, climate solutions, and a more sustainable future.

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Panelist · Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery

Jonathan Asher

Jonathan currently serves as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery. He returned to Colorado in 2020 to serve as Governor Polis’s senior policy advisor after fifteen years in Washington D.C. where he held senior energy and environment roles on Capitol Hill. He also served as the Obama administration’s appointee at the Environmental Protection Agency, and as the Director of Government Relations at The Wilderness Society where he was closely involved in passage of the Dingell conservation bill and the Great American Outdoors Act. Outside of state work, Jonathan serves on the faculty as an advisor for the University of Colorado Masters in the Environment program. Jonathan is a former whitewater river guide, former ski instructor and remains an avid climber, kayaker, skier and tries to get any outside time possible now with a 1-year-old.

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Panelist · Senior Program Manager, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office

Matt Nuñez

Matt is a 2024 Boettcher Fellow from Colorado Springs. He grew up as an Air Force brat, making his way around the world before returning to Colorado after graduating from St. Edward’s University. Matt is a fifth-generation Coloradan, with family roots that trace back to the Hispanic migrant communities that worked for Charles Boettcher’s Great Western Sugar Company in the Greeley area. Matt is an economic development professional, currently working for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. In his free time, you can find Matt enjoying any outdoor activity, reading a good book, playing or listening to music, or taking photos of Colorado’s pristine landscapes. Fun fact: Matt’s photo of Mt. Sneffels is the design of the Colorado driver’s license!

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Program sites

Three sites across Boulder’s Zero Waste system.

02

Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials

6400 Arapahoe Rd.
Boulder, CO 80303

Eco-Cycle’s CHaRM facility keeps books and other difficult materials out of the landfill through reuse and specialized recycling.

Explore CHaRM

03

Resource Central Materials Reuse facility

6400 Arapahoe Rd., Suite B
Boulder, CO 80303

Resource Central keeps usable building materials in circulation through donation, resale, and community reuse.

Explore Materials Reuse

One registration for your whole party

Join the Boettcher community in Boulder.

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