Chimney Rock Interpretive Association, a non-profit organization, is devoted to providing our community, youth, visitors and volunteers a meaningful connection with the National Monument by creating enjoyable, educational, interpretative programs that connect our modern lives to those of the ancestral Puebloans.

Denise Fisk – President

Originally from Iowa, Denise moved to Colorado in 1984.  Leaving behind her 11 years teaching elementary art in Iowa Public Schools, she moved to the Denver area.  Her background includes property management of some of the largest communities in Denver plus 25 years in real estate sales where she earned membership in the million-dollar club at RE/MAX.

She met her husband, Eric, in 1988 and together they moved to the mountains outside of Denver.  During her life in the mountains she became president of the Conifer Chamber of Commerce, President of the Board of Directors for PeaceWorks (a domestic violence safe house) and served on the Board for the Mountain Metro Association of Realtors.  She is co-founder of Mountain Women in Business which is an active group of women business owners living in the Evergreen-Conifer-Bailey area.  She has received numerous awards over the years including the MMAR Community Service Award, the West Chamber’s Women of the Year Award and the Conifer Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2018 she and Eric decided to “retire” and moved to Pagosa Springs where they can fly-fish, hike and play golf in between helping their community become even a better place to live.  Right away she fell in love with Chimney Rock and its volunteers and is looking forward to its future growth and opportunities.  Denise is a member of Pagosa Bible Church and is also a member of the board for Pagosa Springs Instrumental Music Society and plays flute/piccolo in the band.

Bernadette Sikes – Vice President

I am a southern Colorado native and was born in Trinidad. I was raised in Thornton and briefly attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. In my adult life, I have lived in Loveland, Denver, Elizabeth, Parker, and now Pagosa Springs.  My husband, Bob, and I moved to Pagosa Springs in 2020 wishing to enjoy our retirement in this beautiful locale and to be closer to our family. We will celebrate our 52nd Anniversary in October. We have been blessed with 2 children, 9 Grandchildren, and 2 (soon to be 3) Great Grandchildren. I love being a Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.

Along the way, I have also worn many other hats. I started as a receptionist in a doctor’s office (2 years), then worked for Hewlett Packard in their Payroll and Service departments (7 years) while Bob was going to college and establishing our businesses.  We built and ran several successful businesses which included a
very large construction framing company; a general contracting business; a development company; a mortgage company; a retail sales company for appliances and cabinets; a water company; and a restaurant (18 years). After some serious family medical issues, I went to work for Liberty Mutual Insurance in their
Regional Marketing Department as Executive Assistant to the VP of Marketing, retiring from that position after 21 years.

I fell in love with Chimney Rock the first time that I visited the Monument. There is just something special there that makes me feel comfortable and at peace. I knew I wanted to be there a lot and set out to find out how to accomplish that. I found CRIA and became a volunteer.

Jill Sutton – Secretary

Jill grew up the youngest of 5 kids in Lincoln, Nebraska. She earned a degree in Medical Technology from Missouri Southwestern State University in Joplin, Missouri, where she met her husband, Eric. She worked at various laboratories during her career, moving where her husband’s job dictated.  They eventually ended up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they lived for 22 years.

Around 2006, Jill and Eric decided to make a change and started to look for a place to retire. They had vacationed in Pagosa for years and started working toward their dream of living here full time when the recession of 2008 hit. They finally realized their dream and moved to Pagosa in 2016. Jill loves to hike, bike, kayak, ski, snowshoe and anything else there is to do outside.

Rhonda Julian – Treasurer

My name is Rhonda Julian. This is my second year volunteering at Chimney Rock National Monument. I grew up on a farm in southwest Kansas with three sisters and a brother. We were twenty miles from town and had to work on the farm.  I went to Bethany Nazarene College and graduated with an Associate Degree in Business. I had two sons and went back to get my Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Dallas Baptist University while working a full–time job as Controller at a Nissan store there.  My latest work experience is working for Asbury Automotive since 2002 as a Market Controller. I was responsible for eight dealerships where the store Controllers reported to me.  I retired in January 2020 and moved to Pagosa Springs. I occasionally go back to the DFW area to see family. I have five grandchildren who are special in my heart.

David Bouquet – Trustee at Large

Dave is originally from White Castle, LA, a small town near Baton Rouge.  He attended LSU and the University of Kansas, obtaining BS and MS degrees in geology.

Dave enjoyed a long career as a petroleum geologist, mostly working on international projects all over the world and living overseas for a few years in Indonesia, Colombia, and Guyana.   His career helped feed an already established love for international travel and hiking.   Dave says that his spirit of volunteerism was fueled by his company’s affiliation with the United Way and the tremendous good that organization did in communities where he was posted.

Dave is divorced and has 3 children, 2 grandchildren, and one more on the way.   When not volunteering at Chimney Rock, he fills his time hiking, mountain biking, working on house projects, and visiting with family and friends.

Michael Bezney – Trustee at Large

Michael Bezney serves as Chief Legal Officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, a 58-hospital healthcare system employing 60,000 associates, generating $11 Billion in revenues annually, and providing healthcare services in 11 states and Ireland.  He is a member of the 5-person senior management team and oversees 7 departments including legal, compliance, internal audit, risk, advocacy, governance, and foundations.

Michael and his wife Michele currently live in Cincinnati, OH and Pagosa Springs, CO, and have spent the last 30 years touring the southwest, searching for and hiking to remote ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. They have two sons, both of whom are engaged and are planning weddings in 2021 and 2022.

Michael has studied extensively the history of the southwest native Americans and has visited numerous pueblos including Taos, Acoma, Hopi, Zuni, Laguna, and Santa Clara. He brings legal expertise, extensive negotiating experience, and fundraising skills to the CRIA Board and is honored to work on behalf of the organization at this time of significant transition.

Joyce Hanchett – Trustee at Large

Joyce has officially been a volunteer for about 14 years, as she started while summering in Pagosa Springs. She has been privileged to be a Board member for the past two years and is on the Fundraising and Governance committees and served on the Search committee for our new Director. She is also a Gift Shop Host at the monument.

In her pre-retirement life Joyce had jobs in the business office of a school district, our church office, making presentations for a major textbook publisher, and being a multi-level educator. She has held local, regional, and state positions in educational and church organizations.

She has been married to Tom for 30 years, and has 3 daughters, 2 “bonus” children, 7 grandchildren and 2 great grands.

Lace Stevens – Trustee at Large

My first career was that of an educator in Lafayette, LA, teaching every grade from K to 8. My second career is much more germane to CRIA. It began as a volunteer at Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction. That soon evolved to become an employee of Colorado National Monument Association (CNMA) — working in the bookstore. Eventually, the position of Executive Director was established, and I became the first ED. My duties were numerous — challenging — demanding. And I loved it!  Currently, I am one of the two Gift Shop Managers at Chimney Rock. I assist Joanne Lucariello with inventory and supervision of Gift Shop volunteers. I am on the Fundraising Committee.  I look forward to continuing my work with CRIA at Chimney Rock National Monument as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Joanne Lucariello – Trustee at Large

Originally from New Jersey and now a permanent Pagosa resident, Joanne earned certification as a Medical Assistant and Laboratory Technician and an Associate Degree in Studio Art, focusing on photography and printmaking. After several years she returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.

She worked for the Clinton Township, NJ, School District for 18 years, first as a teaching assistant for special education and later teaching middle school language arts.

Joanne is serving her third term as a Trustee; she also manages CRIA’s Gift Shop inventory. 2024 will be her eleventh year as a CRIA volunteer.