Class Notes
Alumni

Justin and Mikquel Matherson (English '06 and Psychology '09) met at Fort Lewis College in 2005. Ten years later, the alumni couple began Rez Meetz Urban Salsa, selling in local stores. The salsa is also used by Fresh Ideas, FLC's campus dining partner. 

Justin was born and raised in inner city Denver, while Mikquel is from New Mexico and Arizona and is of Navajo and Hopi descent. Hence the Rez who met Urban! Mikquel’s roots in the Southwest played a huge role in her love for delicious salsa and chili. When she was a freshman in college, she missed the NM green and red chili and salsas so much that she decided to learn how to make it herself. When she and Justin got married in 2009, he fell in love with her salsa and in 2015, he convinced her that the salsa was good enough to sell.

They ventured out to turn their family recipe into an enterprise. They got into their first store in November 2015, and today they are in 15 different locations in Southwest Colorado and Northern New Mexico. They also have a handful of stores in the Colodrado Springs area. “Our aim is to always serve fresh, authentic salsa, using quality ingredients which produce rich & savory flavors. And as alumni, we’re honored to be able to serve the entire FLC community," the Mathersons said. 

Tristan MacLean (Management, '18) continues to reach new heights after winning the 2018 Hawk Tank business plan competition. His company, Always Time to Fly, has grown steadily since he launched it after his Hawk Tank success. Tristan now holds the corporate sponsorship and pilot contract for ExxonMobil at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the most prestigious opportunities in the ballooning industry. He has piloted for ExxonMobil since 2019 and was recently awarded a new five-year contract beginning in 2025. In addition to his full-time career, Tristan continues to expand his business, operating three balloons and pursuing new corporate partnerships. He recently returned to Durango to fly in the Animas Valley Balloon Rally. You can follow Tristan’s ballooning adventures on Instagram at @alwaystime.2.fly. 

Hayley Kirkman (Graphic Design, '17) is working to compile and publish the first anthology of Colorado’s poets laureate. Kirkman is working with Durango's Turner Wyatt, and the project will be the first-ever dedicated poets laureate anthology to be published in the United States. Kirkman designed the book jacket and website, and she is managing the project's social media, marketing, and events. 

Learn more about the book at ColoradoPoets.org. 

Laura McClenny (Humanities '84) has been selected by U.S. Department of State for a prestigious English Language Teaching Fellowship in Chaitén, Chile. The 10-month fellowship project focuses on training teachers and teaching English in collaboration with Asociacion Gremial de Emprendedores Turisticos de Chaitén. McClenny was also an Instructor of Sociology at Fort Lewis College and most recently participated in the U.S Department of State Virtual Educator Program in collaboration with a university in Russia. 

Learn more about the English Language Fellow Program here. 

Jennifer M. Rand (Master of Arts in Education, '24) has been recognized in Marquis Who's Who for her outstanding contributions to safety and risk management in the education field. With nearly two decades of experience, she currently serves as a risk management specialist for Academy District 20 in Colorado Springs, and is building a lasting legacy of impactful contributions to education and public service. Congratulations to Jennifer for this well-deserved recognition!

Click here to read more about Jennifer's accomplishments! 

Ingrid Foutz (Exercise Science, '05) has landed a new job as a certified Pilates instructor at Tomsic Physical Therapy. With over 25 years of experience in fitness training, adventure programs and women's outdoor fitness,  Ingrid brings a wealth of knowledge as a Pilates instructor. 

Read more about Ingrid and her new role here...

Dustin Held (Environmental Geology, '08), has been appointed as Environmental Division Manager at HRL. With over 15 years of experience in environmental compliance, he brings extensive expertise and strong industry connections to drive the expansion of the company's network and workforce. 

Learn more here...

Alumna Annette "Nettie" Turner was recently featured in Durango Herald "And the West is History" for her achievements as a pilot in the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race. Photo courtesy of La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections. 

Read more here...