Board of
Directors
Eric Warner
Board Chair
Chaffee County
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As a Native who has spent most of my life on the Front Range, I've had a front row seat to the trebling of Colorado's population in my lifetime and the host of challenges that has growth has brought to our state. My wife and I decided to establish residency in Salida in 2018, and in just that short time the housing unaffordability problem has become dire in Chaffee County. I'm excited to work with the executive director and board of the CHA to apply both tried and true as well as innovative solutions to solve the greatest problem our county currently faces.
As a successful entrepreneur and executive in the beverage manufacturing and retail space (primarily craft beer) I believe my contributions to the CHA board will be unique and complementary. I have a strong track record working with teams to develop strategic plans and implement the key initiatives that support them, scale newly formed companies and maximize outcomes with limited resources. I have deep experience writing, reviewing and being a party to hundreds of leases, contracts and other legal documents, leading commercial construction projects and managing budgets under constantly changing conditions. I believe my extensive experience in the aforementioned areas will be helpful as the CHA navigates its next phase of growth.
I'm extremely lucky to live on the Arkansas River so my house is right up there among my favorite places in the county. I love F Street and Monarch Mountain too!
Brett Landin
Vice Chair
Chaffee County
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I first fell in love with this place about 30 years ago when I visited to ride Monarch Crest. And for the last ten years we've been lucky enough to be a part of the community, watching our kids surf the river, build jumps at Axeman, skin their knees at the skatepark, and make life-long friends. We've also watched the soul of the valley become threatened by the increasing cost of workforce housing and the unsustainable choices that our friends and neighbors are being forced to make to continue living and working here. After a career as an aerospace engineer, I now have the opportunity to work with the fantastic staff at the Chaffee Housing Authority to address these issues head-on. And when I'm not sitting in a committee meeting or attending a community event, you can find me working on old cars in my shop, leading adventure moto tours, teaching a class at the University, or exploring the incredible ridgelines and high peaks that make this place so spectacular.
Alisa Pappenfort
Treasurer
City of Salida
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Representing the City of Salida, I am looking forward to focusing on the financial well-being of the organization. My accounting work spans decades and many types of businesses including serving as treasurer for the City, land recorder for Chaffee County, and procurement officer at Warner Robins Air Force Base. I have also held federal, county, and city jobs, along with various positions in domestic violence, publishing, and sales. Since my political life began in 2018, I regularly remind myself that our government is all of us working together, seeking shared values and pooling our resources.
I have watched downtown transform from boarded-up slums (where I slept on floors for years, working multiple jobs to make ends meet) to the beautiful, safe spaces of today. Salida attracts incredible talent with its views, rafting, biking, and climbing. As a city, we are growing up, and have the growing pains to prove it.
I am blessed with two daughters and three step-children, all thriving adults. I want to build a better world for them. Dance is my joy, the pool is my health center, and lifting others is my heart. I MUST see mountains daily. Safe housing for all is my dream.
Laura Ostrom
Treasurer
At Large
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Originally from Georgia, Laura has called Colorado home since 2011. She began her real estate journey in South Fork, working closely with a developer and assisting second-home buyers. After relocating to Salida with her son, Laura took on a key support and management role at a top-producing real estate firm, where she served as assistant to the Employing Broker. This position allowed her to deepen her expertise and manage a wide range of real estate transactions. Known for her problem-solving skills and commitment to excellence, Laura has successfully guided clients through complex challenges including deed issues, special use permits, and survey discrepancies.
Her passion extends beyond client service—she is also dedicated to mentoring fellow brokers and engaging with the next generation through the CMC internship program, helping local high school students explore careers in real estate. In 2025, Laura was selected as one of only 16 REALTORS®—from a pool of over 45,000 statewide—to attend the prestigious CAR Leadership Academy. She also serves as an At-Large Board Member for the Chaffee Housing Authority, where she’s excited to help shape local affordable housing initiatives.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys quality time with her family, whether it’s a game of Cribbage with her husband or fly fishing adventures with her teenage son.
Carley Smith
Board Member
Town of Buena Vista
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I am Carley Smith and I am first and foremost, a mama to 3 beautiful children. I have spent most of my life in careers meant to serve others and will continue that trend. I am a Junior in a nursing program through Adam's State, currently. I have lived and worked in Chaffee County since 2022. I have worked in the classroom with some of the most underserved populations in Buena Vista, teaching. I have worked at an inpatient mental health and withdrawal management facility located in Salida. My understanding of the services and resources available for the people in my community, as well as the processes behind the services, is very broad because of this. I have been an advocate for almost all of my children's lives for various reasons and as I have gotten older, this has extended to my community. To me, the true hallmark of what makes a community great, is how we take care of the people and places found within. I am grateful to live in such a wonderful community and my favorite place in Buena Vista is Cottonwood lake.
Tom Carney
Board Member
City of Salida
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John is a seasoned construction management executive with over 40 years of experience leading multi-million dollar commercial and historic preservation projects across the United States. A graduate with a BS in Construction Management, he has managed major construction firms serving Fortune 500 corporations, healthcare systems, universities, and national transportation infrastructure.
As a member of the Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA), he leverages his background in large-scale project oversight to advance sustainable workforce housing solutions. His commitment to the region's heritage and environmental health is further reflected in his service on the Buena Vista Historic Preservation Commission and the Watershed Foundation.
John is passionate about ensuring the Arkansas Valley remains a vibrant, inclusive, and preserved landscape for future generations. When he isn’t volunteering, he fully embraces the Colorado lifestyle as an avid outdoorsman—whether he’s fishing, skiing, hiking, biking, or camping in the high country.
John O'Brien
Board Member
Town of Buena Vista
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Tom Carney is an experienced consultant, investor, and local leader with a strong commitment to community development and housing opportunities in Chaffee County. Prior to relocating to Salida, Tom founded Rist Canyon Advisors, a consulting and investment firm that works with public, private, and nonprofit organizations on strategic growth, financial governance, and business transformation. In addition to his consulting work, Tom is an active real estate investor and property manager in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tom’s professional background includes helping organizations navigate complex challenges such as capital raises, mergers and acquisitions, and operational restructuring. This experience informs his thoughtful approach to affordable housing, financial sustainability, and long-term planning in small and rural communities.
A resident of Salida, Tom was appointed by City Council as the Salida representative to the Chaffee Housing Authority Board, where he looks forward to advancing equitable, community-focused housing solutions that support both residents and the local workforce.
In addition to his consulting, investing, and board work, Tom is the Treasurer of Chaffee County Search and Rescue – South, a lead advisor in the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation’s Ascent Program, and an active member of the Salida Sunrise Rotary Club.
Sarah Brown McClain
Board Member
Chaffee County
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I am a Colorado native who has spent my career in affordable housing, working with towns and counties across the state and the Mountain West to understand their challenges and develop solutions. Every place is different, and what works for one may not work for the next—genuine understanding requires listening as much as contributing.
I believe a true community is held together by people who see one another—whether they wash dishes or own the restaurant, clean houses or own three—and recognize they are neighbors. They look out for one another and develop solutions together. This is Chaffee County to me: a true community. And safe, attainable housing is the foundation that makes it possible.
I hold a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning and run my own consulting firm.
When I'm not working, you'll find me skiing, camping, or rafting with my husband, our two kids, and our dogs—always following the path less taken.
Brynhilder Halsten
Board Member
Town of Buena Vista
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Brynhildr grew up in Colorado, frequently vacationing in Chaffee County for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and rafting. Her family started their journey in Colorado many generations ago as farmers and bankers in Ordway. Brynhildr is dedicated to engaging her fellow board members, officials, and community champions in addressing the housing needs of Chaffee County with a mindset of positivity, innovation and problem solving. A background in public planning across the federal, state, county, municipal and non-profit spectrum enables her to facilitate technically insightful and practical solutions that are politically, financially, and innovatively sound. She is honored for the opportunity to do her part as a Chaffee County resident in supporting the community that makes it so special. And working together towards tangible results that realize the Housing Authority’s vision of a thriving community with housing for all.