Michele Frishman joined GOCO this fall as our Open Space Program Manager. We threw her right into things, sending her out on site visits her first week in the office and diving right into our fall open space grant cycle. Michele has lived to tell the tale and is our latest blogger for Faces of GOCO.

What did you do before you came to GOCO?

I was an in-house attorney for the Denver Water Board for almost 10 years. I focused on transactional work, drafting and negotiating all kinds of contracts for every division of the organization, particularly the property management section. I also hired and supervised Denver Water’s law clerks and loved mentoring eager law students.  

What brought you to GOCO?

Although I never worked with GOCO in the past, I had been aware of it for several years and I love the mission. I think it was a brilliant decision by the voters to create this non-partisan, lottery-funded organization whose purpose is to protect and enhance what we all love about the outdoors. I was thrilled to join the staff and contribute to funding the variety of important projects we see throughout the state. I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given this opportunity!

What has been your favorite part of working here so far?

Without a doubt, the best part has been learning. I have spent a lot of time with our fantastic staff and partners at other organizations learning about land conservation in Colorado and how much GOCO has contributed to it. I’m also learning about GOCO’s other programs and initiatives and what it’s like to work for a small but influential organization. I’m enjoying soaking up as much information as I can!

What is your typical day like?

I don’t think I’ve had a typical day yet. I’ve done some traveling around Colorado already for site visits and our board’s fall retreat, which has been great for familiarizing myself with parts of Colorado I haven’t visited before. I have been reading a lot about GOCO and getting to know the staff. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending meetings with partner organizations to meet others in the tight-knit land conservation community. Everyone has been so welcoming! I’ve been focused on reviewing open space grant applications and working with the rest of our team to put together our funding recommendations for this year, which were just approved by the GOCO board earlier this month.

What are some of your favorite things to do outdoors?

In 2014, I tried stand-up paddleboarding for the first time and immediately fell in love with it. I’ve gone a couple of times in the Pacific Ocean, and I take my board out to Aurora Reservoir as often as possible in the summer. I’m very proud that I have never fallen off the board, even in big waves!

I also love spending time outside with my family. We like to hike, camp, and ski as much as possible. Our kids are so lucky to be growing up in Colorado with so many outdoor opportunities available nearby, and I love to see them enjoy and appreciate it. I think it’s wonderful that GOCO is working to make the outdoors more accessible to families throughout the state.

Where is your favorite place to get outdoors in Colorado?

Aurora Reservoir is great for paddleboarding and boating; it’s kind of a well-kept secret for those of us who live in the southeast metro area. I love to ski at Copper Mountain and Keystone. For family day hikes, we really enjoy anything around Boulder, Elk Meadow Park in Evergreen, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Staunton State Park, and Mount Falcon Park in Jefferson County. I think my favorite of all the places we’ve been camping was Turquoise Lake near Leadville. I also climbed my first 13er – Mount Parnassus near Loveland Pass – with my husband the week before I started working at GOCO (pictured at the beginning of this blog). It was an incredible feeling to reach the summit, and I’m excited to try a 14er next year!