Staff

Kara Heide, Executive Director
Kara arrived in Colorado driving a 1968 Ford Mustang pulling a one horse trailer. She is proud of her long history of community involvement in Eagle County. In the early 1980's, Kara founded the Vail Handicapped Ski School, the first program of its kind in the county. She brings to the Land Trust 32 years of experience in philanthropy and public affairs. As a result of her long history of involvement with non-profits, in 1994 she was awarded the coveted Citizen of the year Award by the Vail Valley Foundation for her accomplishments in serving the special needs community. She served as a liaison for Vail Resorts to federal, state and local government officials. In 2006 she ran for public office and served as an Eagle County Home Rule Commissioner. She received an executive order appointment by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter to serve on the Governor's Forest Health Advisory Council as well as an appointment by Governor Bill Owens to serve as a Commissioner for the Colorado Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission. She continues to serve on multiple non-profits Boards in both Eagle and Summit County. Quality of life, protection of our environment and providing for our citizens prompts her favorite quote; "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."

New New Wallace, Development & Marketing Director
New New Wallace has lived in the Vail Valley since 1984. Before joining the EVLT team, she was a full-time "mom" raising two daughters and community volunteer extraordinaire. She has served as a member of Board of Directors of the Vail Valley Charitable Fund; a member of the Eagle County Open Space Advisory Committee, a member of the capital campaign committee of Stone Creek School, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Homestead Homeowner's Association. She has served as co-chair of the Eagle County Democrats and as a volunteer for the Vail Valley Foundation, including coordinating and producing the Repeat Performance Designer Tag Sale, a fundraiser for the Vail International Dance Festival.

Paul Bird, Projects Coordinator
Paul is a Colorado Native and has been in the Vail Valley for three years. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a degree in environmental policy and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, graduating with a Masters of Resource Law studies with an emphasis in land use law and policy. Paul is also an amazing skier and great with kids.  For the past three years, Paul has been a freestyle skiing coach with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.  Prior to his coming on board, Paul was an invaluable volunteer at the Land Trust and some of you may remember him as one of the Green Men at last summer’s EverGreen Ball.