Welcome to the Vail Symposium

The Vail Symposium is has thrived since 1971 in the Vail Valley.
Learn about our history here.
Learn more about our amazing Team, Donors and Sponsors below:

OUR STAFF

Our incredible staff makes the Vail Symposium what it is.

James Kenly-Executive Director

James Kenly joined the Vail Symposium at the beginning of 2023. He is proud to have served other nonprofit missions in our community, including as the Director of Individual Giving at Walking Mountains Science Center and as Executive Director of the Vail Jazz Foundation during its 25th anniversary. He is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and is a happy Colorado transplant and Eagle-Vail resident with his wife, a teacher at Vail Mountain School, and two children. Prior to settling in the Vail Valley, James worked as an artist manager and event producer in the music industry, a software development consultant, and a nonprofit cofounder.

He attended Phillips Andover Academy and earned a BA in Rhetoric from Bates College and an MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver where he serves as a guest lecturer in management ethics. He is an avid skier and hiker and loves spending time on the river and at campsites with his family. His academic interests include organizational psychology, early American history, technology, music, and climate change.

Email James at jkenly@vailsymposium.org

Kevin Ives-Operations Manager

Kevin Ives joined the Vail Symposium team as Operations Manager in June of 2023.

While his primary career path has been wellness and healthcare, he has extensive experience in community organization and non-profit support. He is the founder of Nomadic Roots, a non-profit which offered yoga and wellness education to underprivileged communities in Stafford, Virginia, as well as environmental stewardship opportunities for local collegiate student-athletes. Kevin also spent time working as the Health and Wellness Coordinator for Wounded Warrior Project in Colorado Springs, where he built meaningful connections and learning experiences with veterans of the US Armed Forces. He is coming from the Performance Coordinator position at Howard Head Sports Performance where he organized the SafeHealth employee wellness program, as well as the Tactical Optimization Program which provided psychological and physical therapies for active duty Special Forces.

Kevin has a proud career in athletics, being a former collegiate athlete and Team USA bobsled athlete. He has always enjoyed being involved in his local community through sports, wellness and coaching. He is a State Champion varsity boys soccer coach at Vail Mountain School where he regularly returns as a guest teacher, presenting on nutrition, wellness and athletics for students in middle and high school.

Kevin has a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Grand Canyon University, and a Master’s in Exercise Science from Old Dominion University. He currently resides in Red Cliff with his wife and spends his free time snowboarding, gravel cycling, hiking and camping.

Email Kevin at kives@vailsymposium.org

Megan McGee Bonta-Program Manager

Megan McGee Bonta joined the Vail Symposium in May 2023.  Megan was born and raised in the Vail Valley. After spending time travelling and learning around the world, she and her husband came back to the Valley to serve their home community, where she has worked most recently as the Regional Health Equity Coordinator for Northwest Colorado for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Healthy Families Manager for Early Childhood Partners, and the Community Integration Services Coordinator at Catholic Charities.

She was awarded the L. Anthony Sutin Civic Imagination Award by the U.S. Department of Justice for developing and facilitating the nationally recognized Law Enforcement Immigrant Alliance. Megan is trilingual in French and Spanish and holds a B.A. in French from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame and a M.A. in International and Intercultural Communications from the University of Denver.  Megan enjoys playing the piano, spending time with her two very active kids and husband (who is a Detective in Eagle), reading, hiking and training her service bloodhound Buttercup.

Email Megan at mbonta@vailsymposium.org

Katie Coakley-Marketing Manager

Katie Coakley joined the Vail Symposium as the marketing manager in June 2017.

Katie has worked in the Vail area since 2006. She began as an Account Supervisor with Peeples Ink PR, working with businesses and organizations like Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Vail International Dance Festival and Vail Summer. In 2011, she started Katydid PR, providing communications services for events and organizations in addition to providing contracting and consulting work for other public relations firms.

She is also a freelance journalist, contributing to local publications like the Vail Daily and Vail Valley Magazine as well as state-wide and national editorial outlets.

Katie received a BA in English with a secondary education certificate from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and taught high school English for several years before moving to Colorado. She lives in Gypsum with her terrier mix of dubious origins, Flossie.

Contact Katie at kcoakley@vailsymposium.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dale Mosier-Chairman

Dale Mosier became the Chairman of the Vail Symposium Board of Directors on July 1, 2016. He assumed the role from Rohn Robbins. Mosier himself has been an integral part of the Symposium. First as a program volunteer, then board member, then as chairman of the Program Committee, he is credited with bringing some of the most high-caliber speakers and programs to the Symposium.

Originally from Dallas, Pennsylvania, Dale retired from the field of engineering before entering the Peace Corps as a volunteer alongside his wife, Jeanne, for two years in rural South Africa and three years in Lolongwe, Malawi, where Dale served as the Malawi Country Director. He then spent a year in Washington DC training new country directors.

Dale has always been interested in current events and hot button issues and he views it as the Vail Symposium’s role in this community to bring such issues to the forefront of discussion. He also believes in a diverse program schedule including stimulating discussion on art, adventure and more.

BOARD MEMBERS

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Gary Gilman

Board Member

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Andy Kaufman

Board Member

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Kathy Kimmel

Board Member

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Rob LeVine

Treasurer

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William Mimeles

BOARD MEMBER

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Pat Montgomery

SECRETARY

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Kristine Moore

BOARD MEMBER

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Karen Nold

BOARD MEMBER

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Lorry Prentis

VICE CHAIR

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Mary Pat Rapp

BOARD MEMBER

ADVISORY COUNCIL

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Dr. Eben Alexander

COUNCILLOR

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Pam Bard

COUNCILLOR

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Richard Bard

COUNCILLOR

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Jack Eck

COUNCILLOR

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Judson Haims

COUNCILLOR

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Jamie Metzl

COUNCILLOR

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Ralph White

COUNCILLOR

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Thomas Wright

COUNCILLOR

PROGRAM COMMITTEE

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Dale Mosier

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Cathie Bennett

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Greg Dobbs

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Gary Gilman

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Kat Haber

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Michael Hazard

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Kathy Kimmel

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Dr. Robert Lipnick

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Richard Mah

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Rebecca Matlon

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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George Nimmo

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Mary Pat Rapp

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Wendy Rudolph

COMMITTEE MEMBER

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

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Kathy Kimmel

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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William Mimeles

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Pat Montgomery

COMMITTEE MEMBER

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Kristine Moore

COMMITTEE MEMBER

HONORARY BOARD

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Terry Minger

Founder

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Karen Morter

CHAIR EMERITUS

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Priscilla O’Neil

Chair Emeritus

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Ebby Pinson

Executive Director Emeritus

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Kris Sabel

Executive Director Emeritus

Give to the Vail Symposium

Your support means EVERYTHING to us

As Vail Symposium continues to grow and change, we need your help more than ever. We’ll continue providing thought-provoking, educational programming to the Vail Valley but we’re also expanding our digital presence by filming all of our programs. Every donation is important: Please consider donating today.