Staff
Mark Kozak
Executive Director/CEO
Mark Kozak grew up on Mount Desert Island, Maine as part of the Jackson Laboratory community. As the son of a molecular geneticist living across the street from Acadia National Park, he became interested in science and environmental conservation at an early age. He attended the University of Notre Dame and founded the environmental science major. After college he worked for the Maine Coast Heritage Trust (land trust) and created the state’s first comprehensive database of islands along the coast. Mark eventually pursued an MS in Watershed Science from Colorado State University with a focus on snow and atmospheric energy balance. During graduate school, Mark carried out original research in snow physics and published his findings in a peer-reviewed journal. Mark ultimately took his research and analysis skills to the business world and has worked building and consulting for companies and organizations for the past 20 years. Mark possesses subject matter expertise in sustainability, energy consulting, and the application of AI to value chain challenges. He lives in Telluride with his wife and three children.
Cindy Fusting
Managing Director/CFO
Cindy Fusting spent her childhood adapting to a new hometown every few years as the daughter of a US Army Colonel. Early years spent in the beauty of Southern Bavaria likely inspired Cindy’s connection to the mountainous landscape of Telluride, her home since 1998 and where she and her husband are raising two energetic and inquisitive boys. Cindy earned a BBA with honors from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, and her professional experience includes work at the corporate headquarters of Walt Disney, in the offices of successful venture capitalists, and on behalf of many local non-profit organizations. Her published writing has appeared in local and regional print magazines, and she has served as the editor for TellurideStyle. She joined the team at Telluride Science in 2018.
Sara Friedberg
Lodging & Operations Manager
Sara Friedberg grew up in Telluride with a botanist mother who had a love for science. After graduation from the Telluride Mountain School in 2013 she left Colorado to go to Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA where she graduated with a BA in Geology. During college Sara became devoted to rafting and spent most of her falls rafting the Salmon River in Idaho. After being a ski instructor for a winter in Steamboat Springs, Sara moved back to Telluride full time. Sara has worked with Telluride Science since 2014 as program staff for summers and as operations manager during the summer of 2018. Sara became a part of the full-time, year-round staff of Telluride Science in 2019.
Annie Carlson
Director of Donor Relations
Annie Carlson moved to Telluride in 1994, days after graduating from CU Boulder. After deciding a career in broadcast journalism was not in the cards, she chose to pursue her passion for skiing and convinced a friend to drive her to Telluride. Her one-year plan to be a ski bum did not exactly work out as 27 years later, she still calls Telluride home, which she shares with her husband Lars and two daughters, Taylor and Skylar. She has always worked in the realm of marketing and public relations-first as an intern at the Telluride Ski Resort, then at Telluride Resort Accommodations and later secured her dream job at Telluride Visitor Services (the precursor to Telluride Tourism Board) as the Public Relations Manager. A couple years later, she jumped at the chance to become the Communications Director for the Telluride Ski Resort. In 2005, she shifted gears to take a position at the Telluride Foundation. From 2013 to 2021, she served as the Director of Social & Interactive Media for Telluride Tourism Board. She joined Telluride Science in October of 2021 as the Director of Donor Relations. When she is not at the office, she enjoys running, hiking, yoga and skiing (preferably powder) in our beautiful backyard.
Grizz KoZak
Director of Well Being
Although Grizz, aka Grizzie, looks like a bear, he is a gentle giant with a kind disposition. Grizz holds the very important position of Director of Well Being. He can usually be found at the feet of his dad, Executive Director Mark Kozak, or on the hunt for apples in the break room. He is the most popular employee at Telluride Science.
Lily McDonald
Social Media Intern
Lily McDonald is a junior at Telluride High School. She is an avid videographer/photographer, and aspiring filmmaker. Having grown up in Telluride, she loves skiing and skateboarding, as well as generally all things outdoors. She is so excited to learn and broaden her skill set working for Telluride Science and is so happy to be part of the team.