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Meet the Team

The Norwood Park and Recreation District is governed by a five member Board of Directors. The overall administration and management of the District is their responsibility. These Board Members are elected officials.

Board President

Liza Tanguay

I have a background in engineering, but came to the area with skiing in mind. Norwood is ideally located between mountains and desert, and a fine community to have raised my [now university student] daughter in. I've been called the Little Red Hen - putting time and energy into getting things going, knowing that the entire community benefits when the ball gets rolling. I'm a persistent advocate for community theater and art, and love putting my shoulder to the wheel for things like the skating rink and the events that bring people together at the Livery. It's a very non-traditional "Parks & Rec" district worthy of celebrating and growing.
In the past, I have served on the Wright Stuff Foundation (Prime Time Early Learning) board, the NPS DAAC, and co-led Girl Scouts. I was a board member for Arts, Community, and Education (A.C.E.) of Norwood, now known as Wide Sky Arts Collective, for 4 years prior to it becoming a part of NPRD. And I'm a member of the Norwood Community Garden since 2018.

Liza has been a resident of Norwood since 2002 and has served previously on the Wright Stuff Foundation and Wide Sky Arts Collective (formerly A.C.E.) of Norwood boards. Though an engineer by education, she worked primarily in vacation rental management until June 2020. She has a fabulous daughter, fluffy dog, and loves gardening.
Director

Matt Stanger

Director

OPEN SEAT

Board Secretary/Treasurer

Kelvin Verity

A long-time resident of Wrights Mesa, Kelvin has returned to the Board after a required hiatus, as he had reached term limit previously. With an emphasis on long-range trails planning and development, his experience and commitment is an asset to the District. His is a local small business owner, avid nordic skate-skier, and ardent supporter of the arts, with an understanding of the challenges rural communities like Norwood face in making the most of our resources for the betterment of living here.

Vice President

Krys Smith

Krys has been a resident of Norwood since the fall of 2019. She moved from northeast California to work as a Recreation Manager for the U.S. Forest Service for the Grand Mesa, Uncompaghre, and Gunnison National Forest. She grew up in Japan and Iowa and moved out west after college to pursue her career in Forestry & Recreation Management. Krys has a lot of years of experience working with natural resources but also has a wealth of experience with facilities management, partnerships, and grants and agreements. Some of her favorite hobbies include hanging out with her spunky 6-year old daughter, going on hikes, foraging for edible mushrooms, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and cooking from scratch.

This seat is currently vacant. Email or contact a member of the board if you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors.
Staff: Events & Program Manager

Daiva Chesonis

Daiva Chesonis is a fiercely proud Baltimore-born daughter of Lithuanian immigrants. After receiving a degree in Russian Studies in 1988, she started building chairlifts, moving to Colorado in 1992 to build Telluride’s gondola transportation system. Since then, she's been a snowboard instructor, Art Director at Telluride Magazine, founder and director of the Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Show, co-founder of the Telluride Literary Arts Festival, and a traveling minstrel for Mountainfilm on Tour. In 2005, she earned an M.A. in Diplomacy and International Conflict Resolution—for fun—which serves her well as the co-owner of Between the Covers Bookstore in Telluride. Mom to one amazing adult, Daiva can be found writing and performing poetry (as the current San Miguel County Poet Laureate), and serving on the Boards of Norwood Park & Recreation District (NPRD) and Telluride AIDS Benefit (TAB). Spare time is spent paddleboarding, wandering local forests on the hunt for mushrooms, and also the seemingly endless canyon country just west of her home in Norwood CO where she lives with her writer husband, Craig Childs.
(Elected 2018, Elected by acclamation 2022, term expires May 2025)
Executive Administrator

Michelle Liljgren

Michelle Liljgren is a proud Colorado native and has a great love of the outdoors. Michelle has been working with NPRD since 2012. In addition to paying the bills and keeping the financial reports up-to-date, she is the chief 'T-crosser and I-dotter' for the District, ensuring that deadlines and other governmental compliance requirements are met.

Looking for more information about our board?

Find information about upcoming meetings, past meeting minutes, budgets, public docs, and more!