M E E T T H E
Selection
Regina
Jessika
Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk is a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and an advocate for animals and the environment. Born and raised in Towaoc, she attended school in Cortez and traveled to Montana and Illinois to continue her education. She is currently working on obtaining her masters degree in Environmental Management. Lopez-Whiteskunk is a former co-chairperson of the Bears Ears Intertribal Coalition and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Councilmember. She also served on the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs. More recently, she was elected to the Montezuma-Cortez School District Board. “I love seeing how individuals reach outside their boundaries and comfort zone,” she said.
Jessika Buell is a local entrepreneur and business owner. In 2015, she started the app-based errand running company Lucky Services, where she manages 50 employees. Last summer, Buell expanded Lucky Services to cover Santa Fe. Buell’s seven years of experience in sales and marketing led her to open a second business, Marketing Concepts Squared, in 2016. She co-owns a local gym called The Vault as well. Buell received the Ed Morlan Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2019 Durango Rocks event hosted by the Durango Chamber of Commerce. “I think all the support and encouragement I have received from Durango has made me want to give back even more,” she said.
LOPEZWHITESKUNK
Lynn URBAN
Lynn Urban is president and CEO of the local nonprofit United Way of Southwest Colorado. In her day to day, she works with other nonprofits and individuals to help residents build more stable lives by focusing on education, health and personal financial stability. “There are so many caring people in our community,” she said. “We are working together to continually make systems and programs better to help more people. So much of our work is focused on how we can do things collaboratively to go further than we can on our own.” Urban is a former instructor and college dean, and has a background in psychology. She and her husband, Jeff, have owned and operated College Plaza Laundry together for 15 years.
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• WOMEN IN BUSINESS
BUELL
Sharon CRAIG
Sharon Craig is the vice president for Ignacio Chamber of Commerce and represents the town on the La Plata Economic Development Alliance Board. She is also on the steering committee for the Ignacio Creative Arts District and a member of the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board. “I am so proud to represent Ignacio in so many ways,” she said. “I think it makes it easier for collaboration between all the organizations.” Craig also works to provide affordable housing for residents in her community. She and her husband, Clark, co-own and operate Meadow Brook Mobile Home Park. Craig said her husband is her biggest supporter and her three daughters are her greatest success story.
