Meet the Board
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Laurel Waller, Co-President and acting Secretary
As a 5th generation Durango native, Laurel has spent her life as an entrepreneur, which runs deep in her family. She is a graduate of University of Colorado, manages 3 family businesses with one of her brothers, takes care of her elderly parents and has been a Real Estate broker for 23 years. The past 21 years have been spent rearing two daughters and playing a heavy role in the schools in parent organizations, school based health, testing and an After Prom event aimed to keep prom goers safe on the most dangerous night of the year. Laurel has also served as a board member for the Volunteers of America and participates in Habitat for Humanity builds whenever possible. Laurel's passion for Know Your Dough stems from watching young adults struggle with money management, student loans and basic financial principles. |
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John Ogier, Co-President
John contributes his energy and knowledge from a long career in finance, accounting and management to assist in spreading the mission of Know Your Dough in the Durango community. John has lived in the area for over 45 years, been involved in teaching at Fort Lewis and retired from Morgan Stanley. John is currently Board President of the Purgatory Metropolitan District and past president of Purgatory Resort and the Durango Chamber of Commerce, in addition to having served various other non-profit organizations in his 45 years in our community. Being involved with our youth by helping them gain valuable life skills is one of the many joys John enjoys as part of Know Your Dough. |
John Beekman, Treasurer
With a long career in tax, accounting and finance, John Beekmann, C.P.A is presently the owner of GoBlue, Inc. DBA Beekmann Financial Group in Durango. He looks forward to sharing with our youth as he brings his 27 years of experience to the educational arena with Know Your Dough. John has recently moved, but is continuing his role until we are able to find a Board / Treasurer replacement.
With a long career in tax, accounting and finance, John Beekmann, C.P.A is presently the owner of GoBlue, Inc. DBA Beekmann Financial Group in Durango. He looks forward to sharing with our youth as he brings his 27 years of experience to the educational arena with Know Your Dough. John has recently moved, but is continuing his role until we are able to find a Board / Treasurer replacement.
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Joe Kusar, Member At-Large
Joe is a Certified Financial Planner with Raymond James. He is a graduate of Western State College of Colorado and earned his Masters of Business Administration at Georgia State University. Joe is very involved in the community. He was a founding member, past president and treasurer of The Arc of Southwest Colorado Board of Trustees; a board member and past president of United Way of Southwest Colorado; a board member of the Durango Arts Center; and Durango School District 9-R board member. In 2023, he was honored for his community service by the Durango Chamber of Commerce, which named him the Bill Mashaw Volunteer of the Year. Joe and his wife, Mika, have lived in Durango since 2009 and are raising two sons, Cole and Tatum. In their free time, the family enjoys alpine skiing, hiking and biking in the surrounding San Juan mountains. Joe is a Certified Alpine Level 3 Ski Instructor and has been teaching skiing for 27 years in Colorado and Australia. |
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Rachel Kuss, Member At-Large
Rachel Kuss CFP® AIF® CRPS® is a financial advisor who has lived and worked in Durango since 2006. Rachel got her start at a private trust company in 1998, and joined Dean Witter in 2000 as a licensed member of a large wealth management team in Austin Texas. Rachel joined a wealth management team at UBS Financial Services of Durango in 2006, where she worked until leaving for the world of independent wealth management in 2015. Rachel has a particular passion for financial education, and has volunteered to teach “Know Your Dough” classes. She enjoys setting up and advising retirement plans for local businesses in order to give members of the community the resources, education, and planning they need to retire on their own terms. Her main focus is retirement planning and investment management- helping her clients live a life of financial independence and dignity. Rachel is married to Tim Kuss, who coaches ski racing and takes care of snow making and grooming at Chapman Hill. Her daughter Victoria plays lacrosse for Fort Lewis, and their son Bodhi is an all-round athlete who just started Miller Middle school. |
