Joel Benson

Joel has worked in numerous venues, primarily with community and regional planning, economic renewal, and natural resource management. He has worked in agricultural policy, holistic management, consulted with a number of businesses and non-profits, and advised on numerous governmental projects around the country. He ran a small coffee roastery and cafe for many years, served four years as a Trustee for the Town of Buena Vista, Colorado, and eight as Mayor, incorporating holistic policy design and analysis into town decision-making. He has particular interest studying public policy and the intersection of housing and water supply as they contribute to community resilience, recently earning his doctorate in Public Affairs through the University of Colorado, Denver. Currently, he works as Senior Policy Advisor and Project Advocate for Buena Vista.

Roundtable Facilitator

More Curiosity, Less Judgment: Exploring Civil Discourse