get to know josh
Thank You for Visiting!
A longtime Summit County local, I moved to Silverthorne with my partner Chris Alleman in 2002. The combination of Summit County's majestic outdoors, its vibrant arts scene, and the strong sense of community has led Summit County to become my home.
With our son now 7 years old, I understand first-hand the challenges working families face when it comes to accessing affordable housing, healthcare, and early childhood education. I am running for Summit County Commissioner to work towards better affordability and quality of living for Summit County families. I’d like to ensure that our Summit County sense of community and quality of life for all our citizens can continue into the new decade and beyond.
I’ve worked in different industries in Summit County for nearly two decades. My experience in non-profit management, the arts, higher education, resort management, as well as destination tourism and event production has given me the unique opportunity to discuss important issues with a wide array of people in our community. I’ve listened to stories and heard different voices of what makes Summit County special, rewarding, challenging, and sometimes impossible.
I value equity and inclusion for Summit County's diverse population. Honoring and celebrating diverse experiences means welcoming different voices to envisioning and decision-making processes. Different experiences and perspectives can lead to a shared vision resulting in an economically sustainable and culturally enriching way of living.
My professional experience has focused on arts management, community-building and higher education. My work and leadership in the development in the Silverthorne Town Core has impacted our community economically and culturally. Now I look forward to expanding my strategic experience in community and economic development by applying them to the broader county level.
I love being outside. I've completed dozens of local and national road and trail races. In 2018, I qualified (3:06:25) for the eventually cancelled 2020 Boston Marathon. I look forward to trying again and representing Summit County in April 2022.
Community-Minded Worker
Beyond his professional service, Josh is committed to serving the greater Summit County community through an array of civic engagement.
Currently, Josh serves as a Commissioner on the Lower Blue Planning Commission and sits on the Summit County Arts Forum. He is a proud board member of Growing Together, a diverse non-profit organization dedicated to empowering, integrating, and valuing immigrants and their families so everyone has a voice at the table where decisions are made.
Josh serves as the Community Resident Representative for Summit County’s Zero Waste Advistory Group, a subset of the larger Zero Waste Task Force. He has volunteered with the Summit Conflict Resolution Coalition, the Senior Center and Summit School District Free Book Program. Josh emceed the annual FIRC Fashion Show (2014-2016, 2018), supporting the annual fundraising efforts for one of Summit County’s most important non-profits.
He previously served on the Lake Dillon Preschool Board of Directors (2013-2015) and Colorado Mountain College Speaker Series Board (2012-2014). He is the former Chair of Arts for the Summit (2007-2008).
Since 2004, Josh has been involved as a guest teacher, volunteer, mentor and coach in the Summit County school system. From 2004 to 2010, Josh was a coach for the Summit High Speech and Debate team, coaching dozens of students to state titles and national qualifying tournaments in a variety of events. Since 2004, Josh has directed and/or designed more than 20 productions at Summit High School, working with hundreds of local student actors, stage managers, designers, and technicians in the SHS performing arts department.
An active member of the Summit County Democratic Party, he serves as First Vice Chair and as sits on several regional committees for the state party.
Administrator, Teacher, Leader
Josh served as Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Educational Director from 2002 to 2004 and has served as Executive Director since 2010. During his tenure at the LDTC, he has spearheaded the implementation of a six-part strategic plan, increasing contributed and earned revenues by 120%. Josh oversaw the $3.8M fundraising campaign for the new Silverthorne Performing Arts Center and played a strategic leadership role in the collaborative process that led to its creation and opening in 2017. Maintaining values of public trust, collaboration, and accountability, Josh has a track record of working with diverse stakeholders across Summit County, helping to establish the Lake Dillon Theatre as a leading arts institution known throughout Colorado for its cultural, community, and economic impacts.
Josh holds membership in Americans for the Arts and Actors Equity Association and served on the 2015 National Alliance for Musical Theatre Fall Conference Committee and co-chaired the National Fall Conference in New York City in 2017, which focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He was honored with the 2012 Outstanding Nonprofit Professional Philanthropy Award from The Summit Foundation in recognition of his service to Summit County through non-profit leadership. As an administrator and artist, Josh has been recognized with True West Culture West and Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards.
During his tenure at the Keystone Neighbourhood Company from 2004 to 2010, Josh worked strategically within the complex framework and systems that drive the economic and cultural ecosystems of East Keystone and throughout the resort. During his first three years, he reduced marketing and events expenses 30% while increasing quality programs and services and building KNC reserves. He drafted and implemented the first inter-departmental usage plan for River Run, played a key role in asset management and resource prioritization during the economic recessions of 2008 and 2009, and helped with the design and implementation of the Warren Station, among many other initiatives.
Josh has been an adjunct faculty member of Colorado Mountain College since 2006 and was awarded “Outstanding Adjunct Instructor of the Year" in 2018. Josh holds degrees from University of Texas at Dallas and University of Colorado at Denver.