About Us

Leadership Team

  • Brenda Lee

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

    As the founder of Boulder Bear Coalition, Brenda drove the critical efforts to reduce human bear conflict in Boulder, Colorado. She is using experiences gained while running Boulder Bear Coalition to protect bears across the state.

    With an educational and professional background in applied math and family systems therapy, Brenda brings analytical thinking and deep empathy to her efforts to reduce human-bear conflict. She is recognized for developing innovative, action oriented programs, while using a collaborative and systems based approach to reducing conflict.

    Vitae
    Boulder Bear Coalition
    Sierra Club Magazine article
    LinkedIn

  • Bryan Peterson

    ViCE PRESIDENT

    Bryan is the executive director of the nonprofit Bear Smart Durango, which offers effective solutions to address human-bear conflict Bryan brings a wealth of experience and boots-on-the-ground expertise to help keep both people and bears safe across Colorado.

    Bear Smart Durango

  • Melinda Marquis

    SECRETARY

    Melinda Marquis is a scientist who works to support renewable energy and is a lifelong advocate for all animals, with a particular respect for bears.

    LinkedIn

  • Stewart Breck

    WILDLIFE ADVISOR

    Dr. Stewart Breck is a wildlife researcher for the USDA National Wildlife Research Center. His research is focused on carnivore ecology and behavior and minimizing conflict between carnivores and people. Stewart bring a wealth of knowledge regarding nonlethal methods for preventing conflict and the influence of urban environments on carnivore ecology.

    LinkedIn

Memberships

Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable

The Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable (WHR) is a forum that fosters information sharing on important topics between CPW and the non-consumptive wildlife user community on issues related to the state’s wildlife and habitats. Topics discussed by the WHR include species and habitat conservation, scientific research, policy and legislation, and emerging topics pertaining to wildlife. The Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable consists of member organizations representing non-consumptive user groups such as birders, botanists, wildlife rehabilitators, nature photographers, and conservationists.

CPW Human-Bear Conflict Working Group

Focusing on human-bear interactions in urban-wildlife interfaces, the March 2024 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Bear Stakeholder Workshop brought together public partners, private partners, and CPW staff to increase understanding about bear management challenges and opportunities; build relationships; identify recommendations for ongoing collaboration; and identify recommendations to enhance bear management, minimizing conflicts to the greatest extent possible while continuing to have a robust black bear population.

The Human-Bear Conflict Working Group was established to continue discussions and build upon ideas arising at the March 2024 Workshop and has collectively identified reducing human-bear conflict by advancing successful, trust-based collaboration as the group’s purpose