Board of Directors
Board members contribute their time and energy voluntarily and without compensation​ ​
Terms run from one annual membership meeting to the next​
​President: Nancy Frase
​ In March of 2022, Nancy became invested in the Ranches community when she purchased her property on Burnham Road. She currently lives in Northern Colorado with her 93-year-old mother. Her intention is to move to the Ranches once her mother no longer needs her support.
As the first SCRO president who is not a current resident of the Ranches, she is breaking a long-held tradition. However, that allows her to represent the multitude of non-local landowners who have been historically under-represented in SCRO. Nancy believes it is important that SCRO is accessible to everyone it purports to benefit. As president, her focus is primarily on transparency and efficacy.
Nancy is a Colorado native, born in the Denver area. When she was nine years old, her family moved to the panhandle of Nebraska and became farmers. They grew dryland wheat and raised pigs and chickens.
When she was 17, Nancy's family moved back to northern Colorado. A few months later, she “flew the coop”. She lived in Oklahoma for a couple of years, then in the Washington, DC area for almost a decade. In 1997, she moved back to Colorado and has been here ever since.
Her professional background includes farming, construction, heavy equipment operations, school bus driving, software development, project management (specializing rehabilitating high-profile/high-risk technical projects), land use consulting, piano instruction (specializing in working with students with special needs), mental health counseling (specializing in supporting special victims), and research on spiritual development across the lifespan.
In her younger years, Nancy volunteered for more than a decade as a EMT and fire fighter, and she rode her various motorcycles all over the country. Across her adulthood, she has led many non-profit entities. In the town of which she is currently a resident, she is on the planning commission and on the ad hoc charter review committee. Last, but not least, many years ago, she wrote the first book ever published on bungee jumping!​​
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​Vice-President: Josabeth (Jo) Way
​ Jo is rooted in servant leadership and brings to the Ranches her experiences from a lifetime spent serving under-represented communities. Over the past 20 years, she has made a meaningful impact in non-profit organizations, leading program development and management efforts for diverse populations, including individuals with mental illness, aging adults, Transitional Age Youth (TAY), domestic violence survivors, children in Early Intervention (EI), and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). She also has professional experience as a Human Resources Consultant (SHRM-CP), during which she supported growing businesses in compliance, risk management, documentation, ethics, and creating win-win solutions. She is currently licensed in real estate as an Associate Broker. Outside of work, Jo enjoys exploring the beauty of Colorado. She is a proud grandma, wife to a hilarious Navy vet, Christian, and bilingual. She is a lover of glamping, mountain views, and all things food. She was born in El Salvador and raised in the gritty streets of Los Angeles. Her love for family and
authentic Salvadoran food manifests in frequent trips to California and Texas.
Jo and her husband moved to Colorado Springs in 2018 and settled in the San Luis Valley in 2022. Having owned property in the Ranches for several years, they are deeply rooted here. This is home. Jo is passionate about supporting the Ranches and surrounding communities. She understands the challenges her neighbors face and is actively involved in the design and implementation of solutions.
​Secretary: Mike Powell
​ Mike relocated to the Ranches from the Dallas metro area in the summer of 2022. He is retired from the U.S. Small Business Administration. He enjoys the local beauty and climate, and making friends with his great neighbors.
​Treasurer: Dagmara (Mara) Rodriguez-Walters
Mara came to the United States from Cuba when she was six years old. Growing up in Miami, Florida, she was immersed in a vibrant mix of cultures that fueled her passion for creativity and service. Five years ago, she embraced a new chapter by moving to Colorado to live off-grid, where she deepened her connection with nature and honed her sense of resourcefulness.
With over 30 years of experience in health services administration, Mara has dedicated her career to optimizing patient care, streamlining operations, and leading multidisciplinary teams. Her journey in administration has taught her the importance of empathy, strategic planning, and continuous improvement—qualities that she brings to every project she undertakes.
Eight years ago, Mara channeled her lifelong love of art and design into a second profession as an interior designer. Today, she combines her administrative expertise and artistic instincts to create spaces that are both
​At Large Member: Steve Navratil
​ Steve has been a member of the Ranches community since 1996. He owns an engineering company, Colorado Digital Labs, that designs and implements electronic, mechanical, and software systems across the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Part of his motivation for being involved with SCRO is to facilitate economic development in the San Luis Valley region to generate greater employment opportunities and a more technically astute local workforce. This would benefit not only his business, but the economic status of the entire valley.
As a board member, Steve's priority is to improve the day-to-day experience of residents. He believes open two-way communication is the key to building community buy-in. His focus is on timely and comprehensive communication between the board and the community (especially through the website), the adjustment of SCRO's legal structure to allow for receipt of grants, the procurement of grant money, and the implementation of permanent strategic solutions with that grant money.
Steve has a long history of participating and leading efforts to enhance the quality of life in the valley. He is willing to do anything he can to support the
functional and inspiring. Whether she's collaborating with homeowners, developers, or corporate clients, she strives to deliver thoughtful solutions that reflect each client’s personality and needs.
Beyond her professional pursuits, she is a proud mother of two beautiful girls, and a grandmother to a wonderful, amazing boy. Family is at the heart of everything she does, and their support fuels her drive to excel. She is also an avid traveler, exploring new destinations during the year to gain fresh perspectives, draw creative inspiration, and rejuvenate her spirit.
Mara's multifaceted background—rooted in health services, enriched by design, and balanced by family life—allows her to approach challenges with empathy, innovation, and dedication. She looks forward to continuing to grow both personally and professionally, crafting meaningful experiences for the people and communities she serves.
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residents of the Ranches by offering his services and capabilities to the community to bring about effective results.
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​At Large Member: Scott Cessac
Scott resides in Dallas, TX where he works as a Regional Property Manager. He oversees a team of property managers across Texas and supports the operations, training, capital projects and tenant relations of over 20 million square feet of Industrial Real Estate assets. With over a decade of experience in property management and leadership, Scott brings valuable skills in project coordination, conflict resolution, and team support.
Scott and his husband purchased a 10-acre plot in the Sangre de Cristo Ranches two years ago as a peaceful getaway from city life. They visit the land regularly — often 8 to 10 times a year — staying in their RV with their two dogs, and enjoying camping, stargazing, and the natural beauty of the area.
His intention in serving on the board is to help foster stronger connections between neighbors and to contribute wherever needed. Scott values community, transparent communication, and responsible land use. In
his personal life, he enjoys travelling, staying active, and has even completed an Ironman triathlon — a reflection of his commitment and drive.
Scott is excited about supporting the Ranches and its members as an engaged and reliable board member.
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​At Large Member: Margie Palmer
Margie, along with her husband Tim, are seasonal residents of the Sangre de Cristo Ranches, having purchased property in 2017 and built their cabin over the next 5 years. After 24 years raising their family and serving their church in Lewiston Idaho, the Palmers moved back to Florida. Not long after, they began searching for another property ‘out west’ when they found the Ranches. During the colder months, they now make their home in Central Florida.
Margie's experience includes a number of years as Banquet Manager for a regional hotel & convention center and later as bookkeeper for a local Lewiston business. Margie is currently a Real Estate Broker Associate with 12 years of experience. She represents both buyers and sellers and particularly enjoys assisting veterans and first-time buyers achieve the American Dream of home ownership.
She is a proud ‘Navy Mom’ of son Tim Jr., a Navy helicopter pilot, and daughter Merrillee, a Navy Surface Warfare Officer. Merrillee is also a landowner in the ranches, having purchased her property in 2023. Each of Margie’s three granddaughters have enjoyed a summer vacation ‘on the mountain’ at the Palmer cabin.
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