Meet James Dilzell | Executive Director & Coffee Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Dilzell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I’ve worked in the world of conservation nonprofits since before I graduated college, and one thing folks on the outside don’t often see is the number of “hats” you have to wear throughout the year, or even the day. Especially when talking about a grassroots organization like the Watershed Council, there’s so much that needs to get done – from accounting and staff management to restoration work and educational programming – and everyone gets to do a little bit of everything. This is something I love about it – we learn so much and no day is the same.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My path is one of a random series of events, but from that, I think the lesson is to go ahead and try it. Whatever the “it” might be, it may open up some doors that you didn’t even think were possible and allow you to mold into your true self. I grew up in Cleveland and planned on being a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry. One of the things I decided to try was going to college in Alabama, where I realized through proximity to a gorgeous and somewhat unprotected landscape along with my time in a whitewater kayak club (another random “just try it” moment) that I have a deep love for rivers and freshwater, and that it was actually where I wanted to focus my career. It took a few more years after that to really settle into, but it’s the fact that I put myself so far out of my comfort zone in a new place that I was able to let those deep passions surface.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Alright, so we start in Cap Hill for an americano from Thump on 13th and meander through the gorgeous neighborhoods on our way to the Denver Botanic Garden – a must for anyone visiting Denver. But really we’re in Colorado for the mountains, so we’d jet back for another americano at Color Coffee in Eagle before headed up Coffee Pot Road to set up camp. This is my absolute favorite place for sunset, with three totally separate mountain ranges in view and nestled on top of one of the most gorgeous canyons carved by Deep Creek.

Perhaps there’s an evening decaf pour over at camp, because why not?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I feel that so many people deserve a shout-out for this, as it truly takes a village. That said, I’ve worked at my nonprofit for three years now but just recently have stepped into the role of executive director. Being a still very young professional, I felt that I had no chance whatsoever to become the leader of our small nonprofit. Our outgoing executive director, Holly Loff, had grown our organization tremendously over the years and is someone that I look up to in my professional world. I think she saw something in me that I wasn’t sure was there yet, and encouraged me to apply. I’ll always remember that phone call as one that put a very distinct fork in my road and I am so appreciative of it!

Website: erwc.org

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dilzell-b645a080

Image Credits
Eagle River Watershed Council