Connie Lewis

Connie Lewis is one of Meridian’s co-founders; she currently serves as a Senior Fellow based in the Dillon, CO office. Over the past 30 years, she has built her reputation as a trusted leader in collaboration strategy, facilitation and consensus-building. One highlight of her time at Meridian was her lead role in designing and coordinating the public engagement process for development of a new U.S. Forest Service National Planning Rule—a project that resulted in innovative approaches to the management of the nation’s forests with broad buy-in and support from across the political spectrum.

Connie’s diverse portfolio includes leading polarized groups to agreement on implementable solutions to contentious problems in an array of issue areas, including: wildlife and fisheries, public lands and protected areas, air and water quality, hazardous waste management, agriculture, and public health and nutrition. These areas build on her prior experience in forestry research, outdoor education, and advocacy for people with disabilities.

The high Rockies of Colorado have been home for Connie for many years, where she raised her four children. Aside from her work and home responsibilities, Connie is an avid outdoors-woman: whitewater rafting and cross-country skiing are two of her many passions.