Debbie Contini Braun
President and CEO
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: The chicken sandwich from White House Tavern - dare I say twice a week.
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Taking advantage of the 10th Mountain Division Hut system. What could be better than a long hike, a roaring fire in an amazing log cabin with views for miles.
Q: What is your favorite Arts and Culture event?
A: Sitting on the lawn at the Aspen Music Festival listening to amazing music, it's the best time to decompress and enjoy date night with my husband.
Q: What is your favorite park?
A: Wagner Park in downtown Aspen- it's always filled with children and puppies- how can that not put a smile on your face?
Jennifer Albright Carney
Chief Operating Officer
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Hiking. And now that I'm fortunate enough to have a small yard, a new love of perennial gardening has emerged.
Q: What is your favorite hike?
A: Smuggler is great for lunch-break exercise and amazing views of Aspen Mountain and town. If you have a little more time, head back to the Hunter Creek Loop. I love the way you feel like you're so far away from everything when really, you're still so close to town.
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Everywhere surrounding Aspen!
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: Well all of the events ACRA produces, of course! But if I have to choose- the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen.
John Clay Davies
Executive Assistant
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: A bottle of Veuve Clicquot from Cloud 9 at Aspen Highlands (I don’t speak “by the glass”)
Q: What is your favorite winter activity?
A: Skiing at Buttermilk or Snowmass
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Maroon Bells from Cloud 9
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: The FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen
Eliza Voss
Vice President Destination Marketing
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Red Butte - has a panorama of the upper valley.
Q: What is your favorite winter activity?
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: A glass of rose on the Ajax Tavern Patio.
Q: What is your favorite park?
A: Check out the Grotto's Ice Caves on Independence Pass.
Sarah Reynolds Lasser
Vice President of Business Development
Q: Where is the most relaxing spot in Aspen?
A: Reading a book while listening to the Aspen Music Festival at the Benedict Music Tent.
Q: What is your favorite Arts and Culture event?
A: The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.
Q: What is your favorite summer activity?
A: SUPing Northstar.
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: St. Germain Cocktail at Steakhouse No. 316.
Julie Hardman
Senior Director of Events
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Mountain biking Hunter Creek Loop / Valley
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: Aspen Gay Ski Week's Drag Downhill and of course the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen!
Q: What is your favorite park in Aspen?
A: Herron Park - it's kid and dog friendly and it is a cool spot by the river on a hot day!
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: Game Changer at Home Team BBQ (short with a floater)!
Liz Watson
Director of Sales
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Don't miss the seamless ravioli at Casa D'Angelo. I highly recommend getting it for the table as an appetizer!
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: A Gin Gardener at Matsuhisa.
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Take a jeep tour to the historic area of Lenado, the view can't be beat!
Q: Where is the most relaxing spot in Aspen?
A: Remede Spa at the St. Regis.
Jessica Hite
Director of Marketing
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Campo De Fiori's Penne Vodka.
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: A window seat on the flight into the Aspen Airport.
Q: What is your favorite Arts & Culture event?
A: Summer Sunday afternoons on the lawn listening to Aspen Music Festival and School's Aspen Festival Orchestra and JAS Cafe shows.
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: Skyrockets in Flight at Ellina.
Susan Bantis
Director of Guest Services
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Riding my horse in the beautiful mountains around Aspen!
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: "The Salad" from Big Wrap
Q: What is your favorite Arts and Culture event?
A: Aspen Music Festival, in the tent or out on the lawn. Just love attending the 4th of July celebration with family and friends!
Q: What is your favorite winter activity?
A: Skiing, hiking, watching the moon and stars! Just being outside in our amazing surroundings.
Diana Morrissey
Director of Visitor Services
Q: Where is the most relaxing spot in Aspen?
A: Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Everywhere surrounding Aspen!
Q. What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Cache Cache
Bridget Crosby
Senior Manager of Content Strategy
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Paragliding off of Aspen Mountain
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Any ramen takeover night from King and Cook is always my favorite. On the non-takeover nights, the Jalapeno Linguine & Clams from Clark's Oyster Bar is life changing.
Q: What is your favorite summer activity?
A: Sunset watching on the top of Red Mountain or at Smuggler Park.
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: Can't go wrong with a dirty or espresso martini from Campo de Fiori.
Alycin Bektesh
Public Affairs Manager
Q: What is your favorite park?
A: Glory Hole Park. I love the rich history including the namesake sinkhole, and my dog loves hazing the growing duck population.
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: Aspen History 101 and the screening of Aspen Extreme during Winterskol. I love watching the skits going through Aspen’s colorful past, and dressing up in vintage ski clothing and cheering for the good guys with the rest of the theater during the Powder 8s scene.
Q: What is your favorite winter activity?
A: Snowboarding Ajax. I’m going for my 1,000-day pin, so I’ve got a lot of work to do up there.
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: An Aperol Spritz at the Sundeck winter or summer.
Nichole Hellinger
Sales & Marketing Manager
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Hiking anywhere and everywhere with my dog.
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: The top of Aspen Mountain. You will have 360-degree views, it is stunning.
Q: What is your favorite summer activity?
A: Standup paddle boarding at North Star. You might even get to see a moose!
Q: What is your favorite winter activity?
A: Skinning up Buttermilk to the full moon dinners.
Savannah Grant
Member Services Manager
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: Van Horn Park
Q: What is your favorite outdoor activity?
A: Well, that depends on the season. My favorite winter activities would be backcountry skiing near Ashcroft and skiing in resort at Aspen Mountain. My summertime favorites would be rafting the Roaring Fork River and mountain biking anywhere in Snowmass.
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: A mezcal margarita at the Limelight Lounge or the Sundeck.
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Hands down the Truffle Gnocchi-flette at French Alpine Bistro.
Jennifer Wood
Special Events Coordinator
Q: What is your local beverage of choice?
A: Espresso Martini from Element 47
Q: What is your favorite meal/restaurant in Aspen?
A: Miso Black Cod and Dynamite Shrimp from Kenichi served by my favorite server, Christopher.
Q: Where is the best view in Aspen?
A: The view from anywhere on a raft in the summer and the view from any ski lift in the winter.
Q: What is your favorite Aspen event?
A: Drag Queen Bingo during Aspen Gay Ski Week. This energy is unmatched!