Todd Chamberlin, Executive Director
A native of Colorado, brings a robust entrepreneurial background underscored by remarkable achievements. His notable accomplishments include the creation and subsequent sale of a website to National Geographic, where he assumed the role of their inaugural Director of Ecommerce. During his tenure, Todd played a pivotal role in catalyzing online sales, witnessing an impressive surge from inception to a remarkable $15 million within an eight-year period. Following his tenure at National Geographic, Todd demonstrated his expertise by steering the online presence and spearheading business development for diverse nonprofit and for-profit entities.
An ardent outdoor lover, Todd cherishes his explorations and has a passion for traveling. His dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is rooted in his identity as a gay man, driving his passion for fostering inclusive communities and advocating for equality.
todd@soprissun.com / 970-510-0246
Raleigh Burleigh, Editor-in-chief
Raleigh Burleigh was raised in Satank and attended Carbondale Community School. The Carbondale Rotary Club later sponsored him as a youth ambassador to Chile the year before his graduation from Roaring Fork High School. He then studied International Affairs and Journalism at the University of Colorado and applied those studies traveling throughout South America the following year. Returning to Carbondale, Raleigh acquired an internship with KDNK News which led to serving as news director from 2017 to 2019. Raleigh joined The Sopris Sun as editor in the beginning of 2021.
raleigh@soprissun.com / 970-510-3003
James Steindler, Contributing Editor
James Steindler is The Sopris Sun’s contributing editor.
james@soprissun.com / 970-510-3003
Bianca Godina, Sol del Valle Editor
Bianca Godina was born in Glenwood Springs and grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley, mainly between Basalt and Silt. She also spent part of my life in Temósachic, Chihuahua, Mexico, where she lived part of the time. Being neither from here nor there has given her the joy of growing up with two magnificent cultures. Her parents always emphasized the importance of mastering Spanish 100%, both speaking it, writing it and reading it, and life gifted her the ability to be bilingual from the time she entered school in Basalt. She graduated from Coal Ridge High School and later obtained a diploma in communications from Colorado Mountain College. Then, she spent two years traveling from Silt to Grand Junction to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Colorado Mesa University.
Bianca has always been passionate about writing and reading and journalism has been one of her fascinations. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry and exploring her artistic side. She loves to go fishing with her husband and son and connecting with the beautiful nature in the surrounding mountains. She feels deeply proud to be a native of the Valley, and it is an honor to have formed her own family in the same mountains that watched her grow up.
bianca@soldelvalle.org / 970-510-0234
Terri Ritchie, Lead Editorial Designer
Terri has worked at several of the Roaring Fork Valley’s newspapers and publications since 1990, including the Aspen Daily News, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Valley Journal and Homes and Land of the Roaring Fork Valley.
She held the position of graphic designer for the first 10 years of The Sopris Sun and for the paper’s 10th anniversary, designed and created a line of newspaper garments seen in Carbondale Arts’ 2019 Green is the New Black Fashion Extravaganza. The theme was “Wizard of Oz” and with help from volunteers to cut, curl, weave, roll and sew, they created costumes for Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch of the North, Scarecrow, Lion and the Tin Man.
After a few years serving on The Sopris Sun board while pursuing other professional opportunities, Terri is honored to return as lead editorial designer. She’s excited to be back working with the incredible staff, contributors, board members and volunteers that make up this great nonprofit newspaper.
terrir@soprissun.com / 970-510-3003
Margarita Alvarez, Sol del Valle Sales Manager
I was born in Aspen, went through the school system in Basalt, live in Carbondale and do most of my shopping in Glenwood. I graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in International Affairs, BA in Spanish and a double minor in Business and Political Science.
My family has been in the valley for over 40 years and I feel fortunate for being raised in a multicultural home being that my mom’s family is from Guatemala and my father’s family is from Mexico. My upbringing has always encouraged me to travel, try new things, and be part of something bigger than myself.
They say that is takes a village to raise a child and that couldn’t be more true for me. Working with the El Sol Del Valle has given me the opportunity to give back to the community that has shaped me to the person I am today.
Diane Amsden, Sol del Valle Graphic Designer
Diane was born and raised in Minnesota and moved to Colorado in 2006. She went to St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and got her bachelor’s degree in graphic design. She is currently the production manager for the Aspen Daily News and the graphic designer for Sol del Valle.
Luise Wollesen, Partnerships & Engagement Manager
Originally from Germany, Luise Wollesen brings international experience and a passion for community engagement to her role as advertising representative at The Sopris Sun. She worked for five years in cooperation marketing at Germany’s largest and fastest-growing university before returning to the Roaring Fork Valley — where she first came as an exchange student in Glenwood Springs in 2012. In 2019, she came back as a Fulbright scholar to study at Colorado Mountain College. Now, with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree under her belt, Luise is happy to be working with a nonprofit newspaper rooted in community values. She’s traded her return ticket to Germany for a life in the mountains, where she enjoys skiing, camping, and spending time outdoors.
luise@soprissun.com / 970 404 1061
Ingrid Celeste Zuniga, Sol del Valle Digital Editor
Ingrid was born in El Salvador and moved to Colorado during her teenage years. For the past 13 years, she has called the Roaring Fork Valley home. With a strong background in community development through nonprofit organizations, Ingrid has led adult education programs at Valley Settlement and now supports financial resilience efforts at The Savings Collaborative.
Currently studying graphic design at Colorado Mountain College, Ingrid is passionate about visual communication as a tool for impact. Her goal is to use design to tell meaningful stories, support small businesses and organizations, and help build a more inclusive and creative future. As a Digital Editor at Sol del Valle, she brings together her community-centered values and creative skills to ensure that digital design contributes to inclusion, creativity, and social good.
In her free time, you’ll likely find Ingrid out capturing landscape photos, vibing at live concerts, or just enjoying a good ice cream cone.
Amy Hadden Marsh, Ace Reporter
Amy Hadden Marsh’s reporting goes back to 1990 and includes magazine, radio, newspaper and online work. She was a reporter and news director for KDNK Community Radio for several years, earning Edward R. Murrow and Colorado Broadcasters Association awards for her work. She also writes for Aspen Journalism and received a Society of Professional Journalists’ Top of the Rockies award in 2023 for a story on the Uinta Basin Railway. Her photography has also won awards. She holds a Masters in Investigative Journalism from Regis University.
Jeanne Pinette Souldern, Star Contributor
Jeanne Pinette Souldern is a freelance reporter, originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. While there, she wrote for Minnesota Women’s Press, The Pulse, and Turtle River Press. She moved to Carbondale in 2018 and started with The Sopris Sun in Jan 2019. She also facilitates our youth education program.
Ken Pletcher, Ultimate Volunteer
Ken Pletcher moved to Carbondale in 2017 after a long career as a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica in Chicago. Much of his work there centered on the geography, history, and society of East, Southeast, and South Asia but also included numerous articles on U.S. national parks (e.g., Yellowstone) and notable physical features (e.g., Mount Everest). Late in his career he also was the staff vexillologist (flag maven). He joined the Sun staff as a correspondent in January 2019 and has also pitched in as a substitute copyeditor for the paper.
Sue Rollyson Persiko, Photographer
Sue Rollyson Persiko moved to the valley in 1978. She has been taking photos for 57 years. At the age of 13 she began to go on outdoor adventures throughout the country, which created a passion for capturing her experiences with the beauty of nature. She expanded into taking pictures of people and activities when she first started working at RFHS in 2009. She is still involved with RFHS taking photos and tutoring math, as well as being a freelance photographer for The Sopris Sun.
Will Grandbois, Taskmaster
Will Grandbois has worn many hats for The Sopris Sun, serving as a board member, editor, reporter, web master and interim graphic designer. He currently contributes on a freelance basis.
Will Sardinsky, Photographer
Will Sardinsky is a freelance photographer and writer. His website is: www.willsardinsky.com
Larry Day, Illustrator
Larry Day is an illustrator who provides The Sopris Sun with weekly cartoons.
Website: www.larrydayillustration.com
Brian Colley, Cartoonist
Brian Colley is an illustrator that provides The Sopris Sun with a weekly cartoon called The Unparalleled Universe.
Dolores Duarte, Translator
Dolores Duarte is a lead translator for el Sol del Valle and The Sopris Sun.
Jacquelinne Castro, Translator
Jacquelinne Castro translates Chisme del Pueblo for el Sol Del Valle and contributes artwork for the Spanish publication as well.
Frederic Stevie, Delivery Man
Frederic Stevie is responsible for making sure the paper arrives at our many newsstands and other locations from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, every week.