Director of Housing Strategy

Sarah Tober has built a career in entrepreneurship, communications, and advocacy in a wide array of industries, including small business, sustainable building, community development, and environmental stewardship. Achieving an MBA at the University of Texas accelerated Tober’s growth as a leader and solidified her prowess to make systemic changes in equity, equality, and resource access.

Tober’s work has centered around building community resilience, and she is currently addressing the housing crisis in La Plata County and SW Colorado. Additionally, Tober is helping the Durango Dark Sky effort as a mentor through the International DarkSky Association (IDA) Colorado and Colorado Tourism Office, working with Visit Durango and the City of Durango to achieve IDA certification.

RHA Secretary

J.J. Desrosiers is a passionate advocate for the intersection of economics and people, currently serving as the Program Manager for the La Plata Economic Development Alliance. In addition to this role, he is an active Board Member of Durango Community Dance and recently completed a term on the Board of First Southwest Community Fund.

Education has been a cornerstone of J.J.'s journey. He graduated with honors from Fort Lewis College, where dual majors in Economics and Business Analytics in 2023.

J.J. possesses a diverse skill set, including expertise in data analysis, economic theory, business optimization, and operations, all of which promise to be invaluable assets in his future endeavors. Outside of his professional pursuits, J.J. finds joy in dance, catching major boofs as an avid raft guide, and navigating the thrilling currents of life. A lesser-known passion is his interest in vexillology, exploring the world of flags and their symbolism.

Housing Program Manager

Sarah Schwartz is a creative and passionate Colorado native who believes developing strong relationships is the foundation of everything she does, both professionally and personally. She recently relocated to Durango from Summit County, CO bringing with her a background in social work, community development, and creative solutions to workforce housing initiatives. She strives to create lasting community bonds and connections and has worked within local government as a Planning Technician and Housing Specialist for the past 3 years. Prior to her time in the public sector, Sarah worked with a non-profit winter sports team as a snowboard coach and youth mentor for 10 years. Through her travels and various volunteer opportunities, Sarah has traveled to over 13 countries and loves immersing herself in new cultures and languages.