Our welcoming and experienced team are happy to help you find the resources, expertise, and connections you need to thrive in any Upstate Colorado community.
Richard Werner | President & CEO
rwerner@upstatecolorado.org
Rich has 16 years of experience in all facets of economic development having most recently joined Upstate in 2015 as President & CEO. Prior to Upstate Rich worked as VP at the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation where he was responsible for all attraction, retention and expansion activities. Rich has previously served as the Associate Director for the State of Colorado Small Business Development Centers for Former Governor Bill Owens and Bill Ritter. Prior to his appointment by the State, he acted as the Director of Marketing for the Boulder Technology Incubator (CTEK).
A New York native, he has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Communications from The American University in Washington DC. Rich enjoys trying to ski and golf but his favorite activities center around spending time with his bride of 15 years and three young children.
Audrey Herbison | Director of Economic Development
aherbison@upstatecolorado.org
Audrey is the Director of Economic Development for Upstate Colorado. Her daily activities include leveraging data and industry resources for prospect attraction and business expansion activities. Prior to joining Upstate, Audrey worked as the Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Greeley, with a primary focus on site selection, assisting businesses to traverse the expansion process, and preparing City development incentives.
Audrey attended the University of Northern Colorado, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. As a long-time Northern Colorado resident, Audrey enjoys the sunshine and being active with her dog Wiley.
Alison Pegg | Regional Grants Navigator
apegg@upstatecolorado.org
Alison serves Region 2 as the Regional Grants Navigator. Her role is to assist local governments within Larimer and Weld Counties connect to and secure funding from federal grants to help support local infrastructure. Prior to joining Upstate, Alison worked for the Weld County Department of Human Services.
Alison moved to Colorado eight years ago and has lived in Northern Colorado for three years. She attended Loyola Marymount University for her undergraduate degree in Political Science and the University of Colorado for her Master’s in Business Administration. Outside of work, Alison and her husband are loving watching their infant daughter grow and introducing her to the great Colorado outdoors through gardening, long walks, and bike rides.
Cassidy Stubblefield | Community Support Director/Enterprise Zone Administrator
cstubblefield@upstatecolorado.org
Cassidy is responsible for community support and Enterprise Zone administration. Prior to joining the Upstate team, she worked in the construction management and engineering industry gaining invaluable experience including office management, marketing, client relations, and team building. Cassidy values the opportunity to play a role in developing the community around her.
Cassidy graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. When she isn’t at work, you can find Cassidy spending time with her husband, friends, and cats, skiing, enjoying a podcast, and exploring all Northern Colorado has to offer.
Taylor Kramer | Marketing & Operations Manager
tkramer@upstatecolorado.org
As the Marketing and Operations Manager, Taylor is responsible for developing and executing Upstate’s overall marketing strategy, providing administrative support on various projects, and assisting with community support coordination. Prior to joining Upstate, Taylor worked as an intern for the Town of Windsor Communications Department.
In 2022, Taylor graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. As a Northern Colorado native, Taylor is happy to call the area home. Outside of work, she enjoys being active, spending time family and friends, finding new recipes to cook, and watching/attending Colorado sporting events.
