CONGRATulations TO the 2023 Medal Recipients
COLORADO MOUNTAIN LEADER MEDAL (Posthumous)
JOHN FIELDER I Photographer & Environmental Conservationist
This posthumous award is given at the discretion of the governor to community leaders who have made significant contributions to Colorado through their legacy.
John Fielder was and will always be “Colorado’s Photographer,” capturing the essence of our state’s greatness. Since 1973, he has traversed every one of Colorado's 104,984 square miles, bringing us closer to the awe-inspiring splendor of our surrounding landscape.
In his lifetime, Mr. Fielder was an unwavering champion of environmental conservation. He received the prestigious Ansel Adams Award from the Wilderness Society and Sierra Club. His name now graces the annals of the Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame, and his life’s work finds its home to make multigenerational impact at History Colorado.
Mr. Fielder leaves behind a legacy of profound consequence, having cultivated a deep-seated appreciation and guardianship of Colorado's natural wonders. His unique perspective and storytelling through the art of photography have not only allowed people to connect with the magnificent outdoors but have also kindled the flames of stewardship for our environment.
VANGUARD LEGACY MEDAL
DR. CARLOTTA WALLS LANIER I Civil Rights Leader and Changemaker
Honoring a community leader who has made transformational contributions to the community throughout his or her career.
Dr. Carlotta Walls LaNier, a civil-rights legend, is the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, who in 1957, were the first black students to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, our nation’s proving ground for Brown v. Board of Education. Dr. Walls LaNier received the Congressional Gold Medal, NAACP’s Spingarn Medal; she is an inductee in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She serves as president of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, created to promote equality of opportunity for all, particularly in the field of education. Dr. LaNier moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State College, known today as the University of Northern Colorado. In 2009, she completed her biography, A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School.
EMERGING COMMUNITY LEADER MEDAL
OSVALDO GARCIA-BARRON | Boulder High School
Recognizing a young community leader who has demonstrated excellence and made a positive impact on their school and community.
Osvaldo's extensive civic engagement and leadership roles at Boulder High School and within the Boulder community reflect a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity and advocating for the Latino community. As President of the Boulder High School Latino Student Organization (LSO), Osvaldo recruited and led a membership of more than 25 students. Osvaldo served as a board member on the Boulder Valley School District Youth Equity Council and mentored at Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). His role as an appointed youth board member with the Youth Opportunities Advisory Board helped to promote youth voices in the Boulder community & advise the municipal government on youth-related matters. Osvaldo grew up in Boulder with five sisters and his parents, and graduated from Boulder High School in 2023. He is currently a freshman at Pitzer College in Claremont, California.
GROWTH & INNOVATION MEDAL
JOHN STREET | CEO and Founder, PAX8
This award is given to an entrepreneur who has led with exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities among all in our state.
Mr. John Street is associated with a legacy of innovation for creating disruptive technology that empowers companies to flourish. He is a visionary who institutes a human-centric approach to building extraordinary employee cultures. Throughout his career, Mr. Street built four start-ups in Colorado – Telephone Express, USA.Net, MX Logic, and in 2012, Pax8 – all of which garnered Inc. 5000 status. In an intensely competitive landscape, he pioneered the concept of a cloud marketplace. In the last year, Mr. Street's vision of Pax8 becoming the world's premier cloud marketplace has transformed into reality.
Mr. Street's approach to leadership is firmly grounded in servant leadership, prioritizing people above all else and promoting equality and justice. His passion for giving back to the community and advancing corporate social responsibility is evident in the formation of Pax8's Social Impact Team. A cornerstone of his legacy is mentorship, with many of Colorado's top business leaders benefiting from his guidance over the years.
PUBLIC & COMMUNITY SERVICE MEDAL
LAUREN Y. CASTEEL | President and CEO, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
Honoring a government or community leader who serves the public through innovation, operational excellence and progressive vision.
A commitment to social justice of all forms has been Lauren Young Casteel’s life-long driving force. Ms. Casteel currently serves as president and CEO of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO), the only statewide community foundation focused on gender, racial, and economic equity. During her tenure she has grown The Foundation’s assets from $22 to $34 million while diversifying WFCO’s giving communities and investments.
She is also the first person in Colorado to lead three foundations collectively with more than 30 years of philanthropic leadership. Throughout her career, Ms. Casteel has earned numerous accolades. Most recently, she received the 2023 Athena Leadership Award from the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce; the Anti Defamation League Mountain States Region's 2018 Civil Rights Award; the 2016 Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award, presented annually by Denver’s Mayor to a member of the community; and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in 2015 by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, she was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2021, Ms. Casteel received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of Colorado.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP MEDAL
STEAMBOAT SKI AND RESORT CORPORATION (SSRC), ROB PERLMAN, President and CEO
Recognizing a Colorado-based company that has made a significant positive impact in the community through its culture, vision and execution.
Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation's (SSRC) vision is to be the friendliest, most welcoming mountain destination in the world and they fulfill that by, in their own words, "Celebrating, caring for, protecting, and encouraging a vibrant and resilient community. We believe in treating our people and our community well, and along the way, contributing to those who share our vision and our passion for Doing Good."
They have three key pillars under which they organize their work: Prioritizing People, Protecting the Planet, and Investing in Community and their efforts can be seen on a daily basis. Most recently Steamboat took the lead in developing an Employer-Based childcare facility with spaces for 35 local children, to find a collaborative solution for a crisis in their community and blaze a trail for employee support in rural and resort areas. Steamboat continues to lead the way in sustainability with audits and innovative approaches to climate issues that impact their community and industry. The leadership team, under the guidance of Rob Perlman, are active community participants serving as board members and participants at a variety of local nonprofit organizations including Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, The Steamboat Chamber, Boys & Girls Club, Community Ag Alliance and more.