Board of Directors

Quality in health care has become a primary focus for Amber Hickert. She has spent the past 15 years working in the medical field doing a little bit of everything from Medical records to billing. Amber has been with Pediatric Associates since 2002. In 2009 she became the Practice Manager. The team at Pediatrics has dedicated themselves to quality initiatives, leading the way in innovation in Primary care with integrated behavioral health services. Amber’s work with Practice transformation has allowed her to become a resource in the community and surrounding areas. She is currently serving on the board of a newly founded organization, Western Slope Medical Manager Association. She also works closely with School based health centers in Montrose and Delta Colorado.

Antonio is a first-generation immigrant and Western Slope resident since 1999. Actively engaged in civic matters, he has volunteered for non-profits like the Hispanic Affairs Project and participated in advocacy and leadership trainings. A regular attendee of "Latino Advocacy Day" in Denver, Antonio has met with lawmakers to discuss issues affecting sheepherders, farmworkers, and the immigrant community in Colorado. In 2022, Antonio successfully spearheaded the "Como construir un Negocio" business program as the Entrepreneur in-residence for Telluride Venture Network, forming strong bonds with participants, understanding their unique needs, and achieving a high rate of successful business launches among graduates. As a volunteer DJ at KVNF radio station, Antonio informs the Spanish-speaking audience and disseminates relevant news to the Hispanic community. Additionally, he is a certified Community and Medical Interpreter, promoting language inclusion and advocating for Spanish-speaking individuals. Recently, Antonio joined CAFI (Community Action for Immigrants) and Raíces sin Fronteras, intending to actively contribute his experience and expertise to both groups. Outside of work, Antonio enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling internationally to broaden his perspective. He also has a passion for landscaping and propagating flora.

Charles (Chuck) Porth is the CEO of Uncompahgre Medical Center in Norwood Colorado. Mr. Porth has held senior leadership positions in in some of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the U.S. including Scott & White (Texas), the Carle Clinic (Illinois), and Phoebe Putney (Georgia) as well as a large independent clinical practice, free-standing hospital, and for-profit healthcare organization. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Administrators and has made national and international professional presentations e.g. HIMSS, IIE, MGMA, the Quest for Quality and Productivity in Health Services, and the Thomson Healthcare Insight Conference. He also taught Texas A&M University medical students and fellows, worked for Paramount Pictures on Terms of Endearment, obtained dual master’s degrees from the University of Missouri, and is an Eagle Scout. Married to his high school sweetheart, he enjoys experiencing all aspects of life.

Christina is the Executive Director for Basin Clinic and brings more than 18 years of experience serving nonprofits in various capacities. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, she was the Executive Assistant to VP of Sales for Corporate Express, before leaving the corporate world to raise her children. She continued to serve on several boards, as a Trustee for the Town of Nucla, being involved with her church and community and serving as Secretary/Treasurer on the Basin Clinic Board of Directors from 2011 until May 2021. Her passions are serving her church, spending time with her family, and helping the community.

Jason brings over 25 years of experience leading high-impact organizations, including the National Park Foundation and The Trust for Public Land. Just prior to joining the Telluride Foundation in 2022, Jason served as Vice President of The National Park Foundation where he helped manage and guide strategies around protecting and preserving resources at America’s more than 400 national parks. He is passionate about protecting and sustaining close-to-home quality of life opportunities for rural communities as well as honoring and amplifying diverse constituents within those communities. Jason brings to his work extensive experience negotiating complex community-based projects and is an able communicator, a skill honed from years of working with a wide variety of philanthropic donors, community leaders, local, state, and federal officials. Jason holds a BS in Biology & Chemistry from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his MS in Environmental Science from the University of Texas. Jason was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and prior to relocating to Telluride, Jason and his wife, Jennifer, raised three kids in Denver. His other priorities in life involve sustaining healthy skiing and fishing habits while trying to keep his streak of visiting every Major League Ballpark alive.

Julissa Soto is the Founder and CEO of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, bringing over 30 years of experience advancing immigrant and Latino health equity across the United States and internationally. She has led nationally recognized initiatives improving access to care, implement culturally responsive programs, and address systemic disparities in healthcare. Through her work with governments, healthcare systems, and community organizations, Julissa has designed and executed programs that have directly impacted tens of thousands of individuals while training thousands of healthcare professionals to provide culturally competent care. Her approach combines strategic leadership with a deep understanding of the social and cultural factors that influence health outcomes, particularly for rural and marginalized communities. She has been instrumental in building partnerships that strengthen public health systems and expand access to vital resources, ensuring that equity is at the center of every initiative. Her leadership, advocacy, and deep expertise in public health make her a trusted voice in advancing equity. As a member of the TCHNetwork Board, Julissa strengthens our mission to serve diverse and rural communities and ensures that the voices of marginalized populations are represented in shaping health services.

Kaye Hotsenpiller joined the Tri-County Health Board in July of 2023. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management. Kaye designed and directly managed the Child and Family, Adult, and Youth Programs in Montrose, Delta, and Mesa counties for Hilltop for the first 24 years of her career. Kaye is the current CEO of River Valley Family Health Centers. The organization provides medical, dental, emotional health and pharmacy services to the Montrose and Delta communities. She and her husband have 4 children and one granddaughter. In her free time, she is an avid reader, cyclist, and loves doing anything outdoors.

Shelly brings more than 28 years of experience in working in both urban and rural not-for-profit community mental health centers. She received her Master of Education, in Counseling Psychology from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. As the Chief Executive Officer for the Center for Mental Health, Shelly directs financial, clinical, and administrative operations and ensures that the organization, its mission, programs, and services are in step with the needs of the communities served by the Center. A committed community volunteer, Shelly is a Rotarian and actively involved in her church.

A leader with 20+ years of progressive human resources experience, Tony has built and shaped high-performing healthcare companies, startups and major growth brands. He started his career as an Investment Consultant with Deutsche Asset management in Chicago. From there he relocated to Columbus, OH and worked as an HR Business Partner and Learning & Development Manager with Cardinal Health. Migrating west, Tony moved to Colorado to build an HR function for a tech startup. Then, after spending five years in the HR Consulting arena, Tony moved back in-house as Director of HR for a global renewable energy company. Currently Tony is the Director of Human Resources for Telluride Regional Medical Center since November 2022. Tony spent his formative years in Pittsburgh, PA and holds a B.A. in Political Science from John Carroll University in Cleveland, OH. An avid sports fan and outdoor enthusiast, he is excited to now call Telluride and the Western Slope home.