RMBL’s Development Manager shares what brought her to the Gunnison Valley, why connection matters, and what excites her about RMBL’s future.

Suzanne: Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, and what brought you to the Gunnison Valley?

Gigi: I grew up in Upstate New York, in the Finger Lakes region, spending most of my time outside, climbing trees, camping, and building snow forts.

My husband and I started coming to Crested Butte about 6 years ago and fell in love with it.  I grew up in a small town, so the sense of community here really struck a chord with me.  And then almost 4 years ago, we got involved with the Adaptive Sports Center in Mount Crested Butte, working and volunteering with the Winter Sports program and helping to make outdoor adventures accessible to individuals with various disabilities or specific needs through adaptive programs and therapeutic recreation.  Our relationship with Adaptive has continued to grow over time, and we also bought a small home here a few years ago to deepen our connection to this place.

Suzanne: What drew you to RMBL, and what does your role as Development Manager involve?

Gigi: I discovered the RMBL townsite and field station in Gothic on my way to a mountain bike ride on one of our early visits here. Having undergraduate degrees in environmental science and biology and a master’s degree in communication, I actually dreamed of being a park ranger or wildlife biologist.

Suzanne: You get to meet many of RMBL’s supporters. What do you think inspires people to invest in RMBL’s work?

Gigi: I believe that what inspires people often stems from a sense of seeing themselves in the mission. In the work I do, two themes are always central to how I approach it: connection and community. When people feel connected to a mission, they also feel compelled to support it, whether it’s through financial support, volunteerism, or advocacy. The investment is personal, not just practical, and the mission must be genuine and authentic or, quite simply, it will fail. Furthermore, most people want to be part of something bigger than themselves that makes a difference. RMBL is not just a field station in a beautiful valley—it is an integral part of Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley’s history.

Suzanne: Can you share a favorite memory or story that captures the spirit of RMBL?

Gigi: I have two that I love, but I find more of them every day!

The first is the story of a lovely woman who reached out to say that she had a copy of a book her late husband wrote during his tenure at RMBL and was curious whether we would want it for our library. She shared with me how her husband had worked at RMBL many years ago, and she spoke of his time with students, as well as his colleagues and peers, as being among his most meaningful moments. As I read her letter and thought about how personal her remembrance of him was, I was also struck by the fact that the building in which my office is housed was actually named for her husband’s friends. The mental images of them sharing those times together turned abstract historical concepts into the real-life stories of scientists devoted to conservation and activism. I walk into that building with a new reverence every day, with a better sense of the 100 years of history that make up this place. And I have a new book to read before I give it its rightful place in our library.

The second story found its way to me just yesterday. Another letter, this time from a man whose family owned Skyland Camps for more than 30 years before ski resort development began. He recalled fond memories of the time he spent with RMBL researchers and shared his reflections on the collaboration and friendship that continue with several of our scientists to this day. The letter also included a significant donation to support students and young researchers, as well as programs for public outreach and education. What touched me most is that this donation stems from a distribution of funds from his parents’ estate and is also this donor’s first gift to us. That he chose RMBL as its recipient is indeed an honor.

For me, both of these speak to what’s special about this place. We talk about the Power of Place, and we have our own definition of what this means. But for me, the true spirit of RMBL exists in the fact that the Power of Place has a unique meaning for each and every person it has touched.

Suzanne: Why do you think it’s important for RMBL to host public events, in addition to supporting world-class scientific research?

Gigi: I believe that people’s faith in science is inextricably linked to their ability to understand how it impacts their lives. Returning to my points above about connection and community, these events help connect how the science of RMBL relates to “real life”—for example, how rising stream temperatures impact stream health and how stream health, in turn, impacts whether fishing will be good this year. These events also demonstrate that RMBL is not an isolated community of elite scientists, but rather a collection of people who value this place and want to be a vital part of it.

Suzanne: Is there a public event you’re especially looking forward to this summer? What makes it one you wouldn’t want people to miss?

Gigi: Ha! Can I say all of them?! I say that somewhat facetiously, but it’s also true. Our summer calendar touches on so many topics, supported by brilliant scientists who generously share their knowledge and their work, and donors and board members who open their homes to host gatherings where guests can interact with experts in specific areas of study. We’re hosting guided hikes to experience this high-alpine environment in deeply personal ways, movie screenings from collaborators in the fields of art and science, family-friendly afternoons that enable parents and children to experience science together in creative ways, breeding bird surveys, and monthly book club discussions. Oh, and we’re launching our own RMBL Marmot Tears IPA in collaboration with Irwin Brewing Co.! How could I ever pick just one? I would say you wouldn’t want to miss any of these!

The energy of this place, as we look ahead to the next 100 years, is palpable. The opportunities to leverage evolving technologies to not only advance new studies, but also augment the rich data accumulated over a century of field science, are staggering. But the drive to attract people to science and make it accessible to everyone gives me hope for a better tomorrow. The sense of mission and the commitment to achieving it has never felt more real, and THAT is incredibly exciting.

— Interview by Suzanne Ennis
RMBL Communications Manager

Top: Gigi Lorence at Blue Mesa reservoir