CWMA Awards

CWMA Awards

Each year we honor some of our most amazing members and partners. We welcome your nominations for the following awards. The winners are announced at the Winter Training.

CWMA will soon seek nominations for board of directors, awardees and volunteers for various board and committee positions. If you have a passion for environmental conservation, sustainable land management, and combating invasive weed species, this could be a great opportunity for you to get involved and make a positive impact on Colorado’s ecosystems.

  • This award recognizes a ‘newcomer’ who has advanced the objectives of weed management through the creation of a new program or support of an existing weed program. This individual has demonstrated leadership and initiative in furthering management programs and objectives and will have done so without regard to budget, support or other obstacles. This individual may work for a city, county, park, state or federal agency, private organization or commercial company and has been in the industry for less than 2 years.

  • This award goes to an individual working in any facet of weed management, who has done an outstanding job to further weed management in Colorado. This individual may work for any city, country, state or federal agency, or commercial company. This award goes to the individual who has best achieved success without regard to budget, agency and citizen support, or other obstacles. This award may be presented to a member or someone outside of CWMA.

  • This award recognizes local groups or organizations that have advanced the objectives of weed management through technique, team efforts, and communication or education efforts. This award recognizes an effort that serves as an example to assist weed managers in meeting their integrated weed management goals. This award may be presented to members or someone outside CWMA.

  • This award recognizes individuals who have, over time, demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to CWMA. This includes active participation in Association committees, the Board of Directors or Leadership Team. The award winner must be a member or have been a past member.

Honoring Leadership and Legacy:
Meet the 2025 CWMA Award Winners!

Newcomer Award

Nate Thompson
City of Fort Collins Natural
Areas Resource Management

Weed Manager of the Year

Joe Swanson
Boulder County Parks and Open Space

Partnership Award

Tanya Fell
Yuma County Conservation District

Lifetime Service Award

Lewis Entz
Former Colorado State Senator 
and House Representative

Previous Award Winners

  • 2024 Mark Giampietro
    2023 Nick Daniel
    2022 Nick Race
    2021 Jennifer Cook
    2020 Brittany Pierce
    2019 Marisa Neuzil
    2018 Ethan Proud
    2017 Andrew Marino & Sarah McClernab
    2016 Kayla Malone
    2015 Lucas Casias
    2014 Matt Scott
    2013 Marc Pedrucci
    2012 Melissa Werkmeister
    2011 Not Awarded
    2010 Not Awarded
    2009 Not Awarded
    2008 Crystal Yates-White

  • 2024 Kayla Malone
    2023 Derek Sebastian
    2022 Bonnie Loving Daly
    2021 Sonya Daly
    2020 Drew Marino
    2019 Liz Mauro
    2018 Teresa Nees
    2017 Robin Young
    2016 Jana Rapetti
    2015 Larry Walker
    2014 Justin Musser
    2013 Myron Cunningham
    2012 Alan Swartz
    2011 JR Phillips
    2010 Not Awarded
    2009 Kim Oble
    2008 JR Phillps
    2007 Rick Alexander
    2006 Stephen Elzinga
    2005 Frank Ratliff
    2004 Not Awarded
    2003 Sparky Tabor
    2002 Duane Lindmier & Hal Pierce
    2001 Paul Schreiner
    2000 Billy Sumerlin
    1999 Jerry Brinker
    1998 Larry Walker
    1997 Wayne Nelson & Sheila Grother
    1996 Jim Lile
    1995 Gary Brannan
    1994 Adena Green

  • 2024 Tiffany Carlson and Routt County
    2023 Alan Rockwood and Friends of Mount Evans & Lost Creek Wildernesses
    2022 Northern Colorado Big Game Critical Winter Range Restoration Team
    2021 Steve Ryder
    2020 CDA/Palisade Insectary Team
    2018 Mark Slayton
    2017 Phyllis Head & Aaron Richter and Group
    2016 Charlie Blake & Steve Ortega
    2015 Not Awarded
    2014 Tina Travis
    2013 Charles Bennet
    2012 Dana Shaw
    2011 Uncompahgre Partnership
    2010 Not Awarded
    2009 Julie Guzzetta, Tom McClure Alicia Doran, Denny Bohon, Elizabeth Brown and Cathy Shelton
    2008 Dolores Tamarisk Action Group
    2007 Jennifer Murray
    2006 Laurie Deiter & Kathy Damas
    2005 Upper Arkansas Regional Weed Management Cooperative
    2004 Not Awarded
    2003 USFS Sulphur Ranger District
    2002 Colorado State Division of Wildlife Habitat Partnership Program
    2001 Kacey Conway
    2000 Malloy Demmitt
    1999 Dan Lincoln
    1998 Phyllis Lake
    1997 Carol Spurrier
    1996 Heather Hopton

  • 2024 Rita Anthes
    2023 Jim Sebastian
    2021 Steve Sauer & Scott Nissen
    2020 Ron Mabry
    2019 Alicia Doran
    2018 Chris Ness
    2017 Kacey Conway
    2016 Kevin Gallagher, Myron Cunningham & Larry Walker
    2015 Tracey Perry
    2014 Gary Branna
    2013 Not Awarded
    2012 Ray Kessler
    2011 Sheila Grother
    2010 Not Awarded
    2009 Not Awarded
    2008 Sheila Grother
    2007 Bob Finch
    2006 Cindy Lair
    2005 Jonathan Rife
    2004 Not Awarded
    2003 Steve Anthony
    2002 Dave Weber
    2001 Adena Green
    2000 Dr. K. George Beck
    1999 Loyd Berry
    1998 Not Awarded
    1997 Not Awarded
    1996 Ron Jepson

  • 2024 Rep. Karen McCormick, District 11

  • 2018 Myron Cunningham & Alan Swartz
    2017 Not Awarded
    2016 CWMA Membership
    2015 Not Awarded
    2014 Jani Brand
    2013 Not Awarded
    2012 Tina Booton
    2011 Tom Grette
    2010 Ron Mabry
    2009 Not Awarded
    2008 Fred Raish
    2007 Fred Raish
    2006 Clay Kennedy
    2005 Laurie Felix
    2004 Lisa Taylor
    2003 Kelly Uhing
    2002 Rod Cook
    2001 Matt Custer
    2000 Ron Lanier
    1999 Les Schroyer
    1998 Adena Green
    1997 Not Awarded
    1996 Not Awarded
    1995 Jim Lile
    1994 Jin Lile
    1993 Not Awarded
    1992 Jonathan Rife

Giant Weed Photo Contest

Dalmatian Toadflax
by Mike Auciello

Why Join CWMA

CWMA provides unique access to a network of peers focused on invasive species management in Colorado, along with science-based resources unavailable elsewhere. Members benefit from advocacy that shapes favorable state regulations and raises environmental awareness among policymakers.

Logo of Colorado Weed Management Association featuring a stylized weed with yellow flower and mountain background, with the text 'Creating Healthy Landscapes'.