• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Summit54 has PLATINUM rating on GuideStar!
Summit-logo-hor-500
  • After-School Tutoring
  • Summer Advantage
  • Español
  • Pandemic Initiatives
  • Other Programs
  • More
    • Who We Are
    • Donors
    • News & Press
    • Contact
  • Donate

The mission of Summit 54 is to improve Colorado's economy and society through effective, efficient and accountable investments in education.

Summit 54 works in close partnership with nationally recognized educational organizations, not for profits, government entities, local school districts, teachers and community organizations to bring successful academic, physical fitness, and life enrichment programs to Colorado’s students. Summit 54’s emphasis is on K-12 education and we assist primarily need-based students. Our end goal is to reduce the achievement gap in Colorado and improve the life prospects of students who benefit from the programs we support. Ultimately, we envision that our investments will lead to a more highly skilled workforce, less poverty, and stronger, healthier, more dynamic communities.

"We approach philanthropy as business people. First, we recognize unfulfilled needs in our communities. Then we do our due diligence to find proven programs with strong metrics of success to fill those needs." - Terri Caine, Co-Founder Summit 54

Our end goal is that all Colorado students graduate from high school ready for career or college. We recognize that in today’s increasingly technological world, “career ready” and “college ready” are closely aligned, requiring many of the same skills and knowledge. For Colorado to achieve this objective, we must work together effectively to create efficient, sustainable support for our children from pre-school through college or career. It is an “all hands on deck” task and we welcome your involvement.

Our Board

Terri Caine Founder of Summit 54

TERRI CAINE

Read More

Terri Caine

Terri is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Summit 54. She seeks to improve educational outcomes by focusing on bridging the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. Terri has a background in Journalism, public relations, marketing, sales and management. A graduate of University of California, San Diego, her first job was as a television reporter. She subsequently became PR Director for the Snowmass Resort Association and then Communications Director for the Aspen Skiing Company. She served as Senior VP for the Aspen Glen development company and was in charge of Marketing, Sales, and the PUD approval process. She then ran the Four Peaks Development sales office as managing broker before “retiring” to work in philanthropic activities. She serves on the Theatre Aspen Board of Trustees. She previously served on the board of Aspen Country Day School, Christmas Wish, Snowmass Repertory Theatre and Rotary Club of Aspen.

Ron Olson

RON OLSEN

Read More

RON OLSEN

Ron is a seasoned entrepreneur with a variety of professional endeavors centered on building and growing companies. Ron’s passion for education is evidenced by his work as CEO with Remote-Learner, an e-learning platform company, his involvement with Metro State University of Denver’s Center for Innovation, and his commitment to Summit54 as an active member of its Board of Directors. Previous roles have included C-level responsibilities at angel and venture capital-backed start-ups, as well as investment management roles in both venture capital and family office firms. While a native of Southern California, Ron is pleased to have called Denver his home since 2007.

Fred Lodge

Fred Lodge

Read More

Fred Lodge

Fred is a retired acquisitions attorney. He spent most of his career as a partner with Morrison & Foerster, working in New York City, Tokyo and Denver. He and his wife, Susan, moved to Colorado permanently in 2006. He was born in New York and received a B.A. degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D., degree cum laude, from Fordham University. Fred is active in several community efforts including land conservancy. He recently led the Aspen Valley Land Trust as President of the Board. He is an avid gardener and painter, and skis at every possible opportunity.

Soledad Hurst

SOLEDAD DELEON HURST

Read More

Soledad Deleon Hurst

Soledad is a graduate of Yale Law School who has been an attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and an investment banker at Allen & Company. She currently serves as a community volunteer while raising her two children. Hurst is the chair of Board of Trustees for Theater Aspen and she serves on the Aspen Community Foundation Board of Directors. She is an Honorary Trustee and the former chair of the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Country Day School. She previously served as the board Chair of FINCA, and is a past board member of Children’s Hospital in Denver, Vanguard Advisory Board, Aspen Institute, the Roundabout Theater and The Buddy Program in Aspen.

Mike

Michael Solondz

Read More

Michael Solondz

A Roaring Fork Valley resident for nearly 14 years, Mike got his start and spent most of his professional career in real estate back in the NY/NJ metropolitan area where he spend nearly 25 years actively developing/building residential and commercial communities. After moving to Pitkin County in 2009, Mike turned his passion for flying into a full-time second career, joining SkyWest Airlines as a line pilot, and later advancing his skills to become a line captain and attaining a coveted position of ground school instructor for many of SkyWest’s 5,000 line pilots. At all times in Mike’s career he has contributed in many ways back to the communities in which he’s served, joining various civic organization’s boards and committees. More recently, Mike was appointed as an alternate member to the Pitkin County Aspen Airport Advisory Board, a position that appropriately fits his unique skill set. He’s also currently working with the Aspen Airport Flight Operations Safety Task Force, a sub-group of the Advisor Board charged with examining and preparing recommendations to improve safe operations at the airfield (ASE). Mike’s says his devotion to countless hours of volunteer work and passion for giving back has yielded returns (not in dollars) many times over, which is why he has and continues to stay involved in the communities in which he lives and works.

Gretchen Cole

GRETCHEN COLE

Read More

Gretchen COle

Gretchen is a placement counselor for students seeking an independent high school. Most recently she was the Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Aspen Country Day School where she also assisted students and parents in their boarding school selections. Previously, she was an Associate Director of Philanthropy for the Colorado chapter of The Nature Conservancy and Director of Mountaineering Operations for Mountain Travel* Sobek, a California-based global adventure travel company. Gretchen graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in Psychology. An Aspen native, she and her husband Craig Corona have three children who have been raised in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Rich Vossler - Summit 54 Board Member

RICHARD VOSSLER

Read More

RICHARD VOSSLER

Rich graduated from the University of Michigan (1982) and the Washington University (St.Louis) School of Law (1985). Post-graduation, Rich worked as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate before beginning a career in leveraged finance in 1988. Rich was a Managing Director and Co-Head of Distressed Credit Research at CS First Boston and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Following his tenure at CSFB/DLJ, Rich was the Portfolio Manager responsible for U.S. High Yield & Distressed Debt at the Moore Capital Credit Fund and its successor, the JCAM Global Fund from 2004-2011. From 2012-17, Rich was the Portfolio Manager for Distressed & Special Situations at Gracie Capital. In the course of his employment, Rich also served as a Director on several corporate boards in the U.S. and the U.K. subsequent to their financial restructurings. In 2017, Rich joined the Board of Students Shoulder to Shoulder, a non-profit dedicated to developing ethical leadership. SStS provides high school students with the opportunity to live and serve “shoulder to shoulder” with non-profit leaders and their communities, working directly on projects that make a long-lasting impact on those communities.

Estela Lopez board member of Summit 54

ESTELA LOPEZ GUDINO

Read More

ESTELA LOPEZ GUDINO

Estela is an immigrant from Mexico who came to the United States with her family in search of a better life. She learned English with the help of a volunteer program. Through this experience and many others with Roaring Fork Valley non-profit organizations, she found a nurturing community that supported her and her family. She has become a leader in the Roaring Fork Valley Latino community and embodies the long history of immigrant contributions to our society. She works as a physical trainer.

Ricardo

Ricardo Zavala Gomez

Read More

Lynda Weiser

Ricardo Zavala moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Mexico 10 years ago.  He holds an Architectural degree from Universidad Michoacana in Morelia, México. Since arriving in the RFV, he has worked in a number of teaching roles.  He became a Teacher Assistant at Colorado Mountain College GED Hybrid Program in 2016.  Since 2018 he has served our Valley’s youth as a Paraprofessional at Carbondale Community School.  He has also been a TA for Summer Advantage in 2016, 2017 and 2019.

Honorary Board Members

photo coming soon

Bren Simon

Read More

Bren Simon

Bren Simon is the president of MBS Associates Inc., LLC, a property management company headquartered in Carmel, Ind. From 1995 to 1998, Mrs. Simon was president of Gambit Capital Management, an investment company. From 1975 to 1995, she was the owner of Corporate Design Associates Inc. Her work has been published in a variety of magazines, including Architectural Digest.

Mrs. Simon, like her late husband Mel, supports numerous charitable, political and civic organizations. In addition to directing both the Mel and Bren Simon Charitable Trust and the Max Simon Charitable Trust, Mrs. Simon is co-founder of The Family Support Center, a 24-hour child abuse care center. She is also a member of the board of directors of CHIP (the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention) and the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. She serves on the board of advisors for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, the Heartland Film Festival and Dance Kaleidoscope. She is a trustee of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Indiana Museum of African American History and the Indianapolis Zoo Executive Prize Committee.

Robert Pew Head Shot

Rob Pew

Read More

Rob Pew

Rob is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Steelcase Inc., the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world. The Steelcase mission is to unlock human potential. Steelcase produces office furniture, architectural and technology products for industries such as education, health care, and retail.

These days Rob’s focus is on investing in businesses and non-profits that are working to solve societal problems through design from the bottom up. Rob served for 25 years on the board of The Institute of Design in Chicago (board chair) and today serves on the boards of the Aspen Community Foundation (executive committee), the Steelcase Foundation, and Manaus (president). Manaus, located in Carbondale, CO, is a non-profit that focuses on developing and launching projects that create and facilitate fairness and power for people in our communities.
A long-time resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, Rob embraces the Aspen Idea of healthy mind, body and spirit. When in Colorado, Rob spends as much time as possible skiing, golfing and biking. He also spends time at his home in Asheville, NC where he also enjoys the beautiful outdoor activities. Finally, and most importantly, Rob finds inspiration from traveling the world with his wife, Susan (for the record, he finds both the travel and Susan inspirational).

Thank you to all our partner organizations and donors who contribute to making Summit54 programming possible

Platinum Level Donors


Melvyn & Bren Simon Charitable Foundation

Melvyn & Bren Simon Charitable Foundation

Roaring Fork School District RE-1

Roaring Fork School District RE-1

The PEW Charitable Trusts

The PEW Charitable Trusts

Wend II, Inc.

Wend II, Inc.

The Foundation for a Stable Childhood

The Foundation for a Stable Childhood

2.5 month

gains in reading and math through
Summer Advantage

26 days

or 156 total hours of dynamic summer learning

89%

average attendance at Summer Advantage, Crystal River Elementary

Contact

625 Main Street, Suite 102B-115
Aspen, CO 81611

info@summit54.org

Get our Latest News

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Sign Up
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
Current Newsletter
Asset 1

Additional Resources

Privacy policy

Summit 54 is a 501(c)3 organization
ID# 27-2978700

© 2023 Summit 54. All Rights Reserved. | Website by Maleka Designs