Board of Directors

Jeremy Garncarz, a resident of Durango for almost 15 years, is a director for conservation campaigns at The Wilderness Society, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a future where people and wild nature flourish together, meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing planet. Jeremy has a wealth of experience working with and for nonprofit organizations, including nonprofit management, strategic planning and fundraising.

A musician who enjoys playing guitar with friends, Jeremy has a strong love for music and credits his parents for introducing him to the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. He and his wife, Danielle, have a son, who attends Escalante Middle School and a student at Stillwater. Together they enjoy spending time in the great outdoors skiing, mountain biking, rafting, hunting, fishing and camping, as well as spending time with friends and family.

Daniel Gottlieb moved to Durango in 2016 and works as the Chief Investment Officer for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.  He previously worked in Chicago as the Chief Investment Officer of a private investment partnership and has also worked in the arts as a staff member of The Juilliard School and the Saint Louis Symphony, and as a project manager for AMS Planning & Research, a consulting firm dedicated to the arts and culture.  

He has performed on the cello in community orchestras and sang in the Saint Louis Symphony Chorus. Daniel is the only member of his family who does not perform in a Stillwater band – his wife sings in Groove Casters, his oldest sang in Vox Harmonix until leaving for college, his youngest played in Superbad and both kids played in the Stillwater Allstars.  (Their dogs seem to lack musical talent, but they make up for it in cuteness.)

Sherin Clarke grew up in New Hampshire and moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant and works at FredrickZink & Associates as a Senior Tax Accountant.

Sherin and her husband, Damian, have two sons (Taye and Sammy) who have enjoyed playing in bands at Stillwater. Sherin is also active in their sons’ school, serving as the PTO treasurer.  Her family enjoys being outside, specifically playing soccer, riding bikes and snowboarding. 

Nancy Shanks started Summit Public Relations in 2016, after retiring from the Colorado Department of Transportation as its public relations manager for the Western Slope. A graduate of Durango High School, she attended Fort Lewis College, ultimately earning degrees from CU-Boulder.

While not a practicing musician, Nancy grew up playing the piano and singing in school choirs, while her husband, Robert, can hold his own on a guitar. Fortunately, they managed to pass their music appreciation on to their daughters. Mallory, a Stillwater Music alum (vocals, violin, guitar) graduated college on a full-tuition scholarship for violin (music CAN pay for college!); and Raeden plays the guitar and ukulele.

Sara Olsen is the owner of Sara Olsen & Associates, a marketing firm in Durango focused on helping small local businesses and organizations with their brand development and marketing management for the past 15 years.  She moved to Durango in 1997 and for her first 10 years served as Regional Sales Manager for Roberts Radio, and then as General Manager for American General Media, a radio group with a 7-station cluster in the Four Corners region.

Music has always been a significant part of Sara’s life. Her mother was a classically trained pianist since childhood and her father a professional opera singer for the first decade of his musical career; they both also sang and played in professional, community and church choirs and quartets throughout their lives. Sara remembers the inspiration that her parents, various family members and music teachers provided throughout her childhood and school years, which informed her love of music as well as her interest in playing the piano from a young age. She has accompanied piano for and sang in school and church choirs, and currently plays the keyboards in a neighborhood garage band.

Sara has three grown children, Amanda, Layne and Garrett, and lives with her partner, Geoff. She has a deep love and appreciation for music across multiple genres, spending time with her family and friends, traveling and recreating in the outdoors, and being a part of the Durango community. 

Patrick Lyons moved to Cortez in 2015 after retiring from a long career that included 17 years as owner/operator of the successful Southwest Trailer Sales in southern California. His dealership earned “Rookie of the Year,” followed by multiple designations for national sales.

A member of garage and gigging bands over the years, Lyons joined one of Stillwater’s adult bands, Animas Jazz, five years ago, playing electric, nylon-string and bass guitars.