Movers & Shakers

Aspen Daily News Staff Report
RITTER RECEIVES STATE AWARD

In recognition of her dedication to children in Colorado, Kids First Director Shirley Ritter has been given the Oliver/Nancy Swank Award for outstanding service on behalf of youth. She started 25 years ago as the director for the Little Red School House in Snowmass, before moving on to form critical alliances in the valley — one of which was an initiative that created a sales tax in Aspen for early childhood education.

In addition to running Kids First, a valleywide nonprofit, Ritter has served on numerous boards and committees, presently as the facilitator for the Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Council and on the board for Qualistar.

The Swank award originated in 1973 in recognition of the pair who founded Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children. It’s presented annually during a spring conference.

ACRA APPOINTS NONPROFIT SEAT

Cristal Logan, the community outreach director for the Aspen Institute, has been named to the Aspen Chamber Resort Association board of directors. She is filling the nonprofit seat in her one-year term.

Logan has been with the Institute for nine years, organizing events and engaging both adults and youth in some of their programs. Prior, she worked at the Aspen Valley Hospital and in Aspen Skiing Co.’s finance department. In addition to her job at the Institute, she sits on the Aspen Valley Hospital Community Advisory Committee and the Colorado Mountain College Community Advisory Committee.

She replaces Lisa Consiglio of the Aspen Writers’ Foundation.