Colorado Weed Management Association

Description

Thank you for joining us at our 2022 CWMA Virtual Spring Training on May 4th.  

Program Agenda & CE Credits 
CLICK HERE to view the program agenda.
Workshop #22140

The following credits are approved by CDA, subject to change:
AS Applicator Safety                           
EP Environmental Protection
2 x LR Laws and Regs 
PF Pesticides and Their Families
PS Public Safety                                    
UP Use of Pesticides                            

Sponsors
CLICK HERE to read the Sponsor Prospectus.  Gold Sponsor spots are SOLD OUT but we have many Silver Sponsor slots available.   

About Our Speakers
Sandra McDonald
Sandra McDonald founded Mountain West PEST (Pesticide Education & Safety Training) in 2009. Prior to establishing Mountain West PEST, Sandra was the Environmental and Pesticide Education Specialist at Colorado State University.  She worked for thirteen (13) years at Colorado State University where she was involved in specialty crop pesticide research in addition to her role as a pesticide safety educator.  Sandra also has extensive teaching experiences in pesticide safety, pesticide applicator exposure, pest management and pesticides in the environment.  She is an active member of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, the Western Society of Weed Science and the Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association.
 
Elizabeth Brown
Elizabeth Brown has over twenty years of invasive species, natural resource conservation, and outdoor recreation management experience. Elizabeth is the Owner and Manager of Elizabeth Brown Environmental Consulting, a small business with the mission is to serve Coloradans by finding creative solutions to managing natural resources and outdoor recreation, including invasive species planning, prevention, and control.
Elizabeth serves as the Director of Government Relations and Professional Development for the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). Elizabeth leads NAISMA?s science policy and advocacy efforts, as well as overseeing certification and professional development programs. She serves as the key liaison between NAISMA and many allied groups and is the lead coordinator for National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW).
 
Previously, Elizabeth served as the State Invasive Species Program Manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife from 2008-2020. In this role, Elizabeth was responsible for the creation and ongoing oversight of the statewide ANS watercraft inspection and decontamination (WID) network, sampling and monitoring, education and outreach, rapid response, and related aquatic invasive species duties. Elizabeth was responsible for coordinating collaborative, multi-jurisdictional site management teams focused on invasive species prevention, management, recreational uses, and water quality and quantity for more than a dozen reservoirs in Colorado. As team leader, she coordinated and led early detection efforts along with rapid response activities following detection of invasive species including quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnails, rusty crayfish, Brazilian egeria, Eurasian watermilfoil, and others.
 
Elizabeth's duties for CPW included coordinating terrestrial noxious weeds, invasive animals, forest pests and insects, and pathogen management within Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Focused on Colorado?s 27 State Fish Units, 44 State Parks, and 350 State Wildlife Areas, Elizabeth provided technical expertise to property technicians, wildlife managers, and park manager related to invasive species policy, stewardship planning, vegetation mapping, creating strategic weed plans, and implementing prevention and control measures.
 
Prior to serving in the Invasive Species Program, Elizabeth was the Stewardship Coordinator for Colorado State Parks. In this role, she was responsible for conducting biological inventories of Parks and Natural Areas. Elizabeth created State Park Stewardship Plans that identified significant features to be protected within the Park (e.g. rare plants or critical habitat) along with opportunities for increased or improved outdoor recreational practices. Elizabeth also managed the statewide raptor monitoring program and facilitated agency compliance with NEPA and other laws and regulations. Elizabeth enjoys working with a variety of partners to gather information and synthesize it into meaningful guidance for decision makers. Elizabeth is an experienced botanist and wildlife biologist with a landscape approach to land and water management.
 
Elizabeth served in the Colorado Department of Agriculture as the first Early Detection Rapid Response Specialist for the State Noxious Weed Program. This position was focused on assisting local governments with the implementation of the State Weed Law. Elizabeth served as a liaison between the state and local governments during regulation development.
 
Elizabeth enjoys co-creating multi-jurisdictional management strategies built on trust and mutually beneficial goals that empower public-private partnerships and creative problem solving among governments. Elizabeth has had the honor of being the Chair of the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species from 2011-2022 and was the Chair of the Western Invasive Species Coordinating Effort for five years during that timeframe. These leadership experiences have been beyond beneficial and have helped to develop her as a true leader in this field of invasive species and natural resource management.
 
Elizabeth is a Past-President of CWMA and has worked on every committee over the years. She is currently serving as an Advisor to the Board of Directors and as a member of the Legislative Committee. She also volunteers for the Colorado Lakes and Reservoir Management Association and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Elizabeth enjoys developing and delivering trainings and creating professional development opportunities for the invasive species community.