Meet Our Staff
Ruthie Boyd
Program Director
As the Program Director at Sheep Mountain Alliance, Ruthie is focused on centering SMA in conversations about community-based environmental initiatives in the Telluride Region. Originally from Breckenridge, Colorado, Ruthie brings with her a love for the outdoors and for protecting wild places. After attending Carleton College in Minnesota where she studied environmental anthropology through the lenses of sustainable development and ecotourism, Ruthie returned to Colorado where her work has focused on engaging communities in the Telluride region in environmental advocacy efforts. Outside of her work at SMA, Ruthie is the chair of the Town of Telluride Ecology Commission, a One to One Mentor, a cross-country ski coach, and a connoisseur of all things chocolate.
Emily Laidlaw
Director of Strategic Initiatives
As the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Sheep Mountain Alliance, Emily leads and directs community-based strategies, projects, partnerships, and fundraising to help manage, grow, and strengthen SMA's four decades of environmental policy, advocacy, and conservation efforts in southwestern Colorado. Emily draws on degrees in statistics, journalism, and environmental studies and two decades of experience in the areas of climate, weather, energy, and water to inform SMA’s strategic member engagement, community outreach, and data-driven decision making across a complex spectrum of issues that directly impact the diverse rural communities in our region. Outside of her work with SMA, Emily works as an environmental consultant and enjoys nordic skiing, gravel biking, hiking, and spending time with her family and five pets.