Keynote Speakers

The Equity Project is a leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting firm that supports organizations in their work to advance equity in their company culture, business practices, and everyday lives. There is great complexity in how we operationalize diversity, inclusion, equality, fairness, and justice strategies in our systems. Oftentimes, the integral piece of equity is left out of the equation, which has led to systemic failure in creating equitable systems. At The Equity Project, we’ve created our own lane in advancing equity to help meet your organization where it’s at, and be your guides as you advance on the ever-evolving journey of DEI. The Equity Project is comprised of an expert team with 30+ years of experience in the DEI space, led by Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler, award-winning keynote speaker and first African American woman to hold the positions of Chief Inclusion Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Executive Director of the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver.

At various times past or in the present Russ has served organizations including Crow Tribe of Indians of Montana, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Colorado Water Conservation Board, lnterbasin Compact Committee, Colorado Ground Water Commission, Silt Water Conservancy District, West Divide Water Conservancy District, Great Outdoors Colorado, Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, Western Colorado Community Foundation, Boettcher Foundation, Roaring Fork Habitat for Humanity, Colorado Bar Association, and Uniform Law Commission.

Russ was president of Colorado Northwestern Community College which provides education opportunities to the main campuses in Rangely and Craig and to Meeker and South Routt County. He also served as the director of Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado Division of Wildlife. Russ was elected four times to the Colorado House of Representatives. The district included Moffat, Garfield, Rio Blanco and Pitkin Counties in Western Colorado. In his fourth term he was elected Speaker of the House. Russ also practiced natural resources law in Rifle with the law firm of Stuver and George. He was admitted to the Colorado bar and the Montana bar. Russ graduated from Rifle High School, Colorado State University and Harvard Law School. He resides in Rifle and Denver. 

James Edward Mills is a 2014 Fellow of the Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and the 2016 recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education. As a freelance journalist and an independent media producer in a career that spans more than 20 years, he specializes in sharing stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living.

James has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989, when he worked as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. He is the author of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors, which was named by Outside Magazine as one of the 10 “Outdoor Books that Shaped the Last Decade.” James is also the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent.”

His next project is titled The Black American Traveler’s Guide to Our National Parks, an illustrated tour through America’s historic sites and monuments, highlighting the role that people of color have always played in the formation of the United States. With skills in audio storytelling, James’ radio production credits include Wisconsin Public Radio, the Public Radio Exchange, American Public Media’s Marketplace, and the Public Radio International programs To The Best of Our Knowledge and The Tavis Smiley Show. In recognition for his work in sharing the important history and legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and their efforts at the dawn of the National Park Service James was named a Yosemite National Park Centennial Ambassador in 2016.

As a faculty assistant at the University of Wisconsin Nelson Institute For Environmental Studies, James teaches a summer course for undergraduate students on diversity, equity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and public land management called Outdoors For All. James lives in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife and two lovable dogs, Sasha and Mikalea.