Fred von Ahrens is the Genesis Alkali Vice President of Manufacturing in Green River, WY. During his more than 40-year tenure with FMC and now Genesis Energy, Fred has held Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Plant Management and General Management Roles around the country and at Corporate Headquarters in various businesses. His first role as Resident Manager was in Newark, California; then Manufacturing Manager at Pocatello, Idaho; and Resident Manager in Lawrence, Kansas. Fred then spent two years as the Resident Manager of FMC Corporation Agriculture Products Group’s Baltimore facility before moving to Philadelphia as General Manager of the Persulfate and Peracetic Acid Business. Throughout his career, Fred has focused his energy and manufacturing resources on safety, manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement.

Fred is actively involved within the community creating the Pulse of Southwest Wyoming with a mission to inform regional Legislators of Business, Health and Education initiatives and legislation that are important to the community. Forming the South West Wyoming Manufacturing Partnership, a business education partnership across the 5 counties. Member of the University of Wyoming Art Museum National Advisory Board. Past memberships include: Chair of the Wyoming Business Alliance, Board Member of the Sweetwater Memorial Hospital Foundation, Board member of the Wyoming Mining Association. Fred is a Leadership Wyoming Alumni, class of 2012.

Amy Murphy is the dean of Outreach and Workforce Education at Western Wyoming Community College. Her background consists of being in workforce development for over 30 years overseeing the entire non-credit programs including customized contract training, professional development workshops, continuing education, and Kids College. Ms. Murphy has developed strategic employer partnerships that has resulted in the development of career training programs to provide a highly skilled workforce.

Ms. Murphy has a Master’s in Science in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science in Management with a specialization from Eastern Illinois University. She has also received certification from Learning Resource Network (LERN) as a certified program planner and certified eMarketing professional.

Jedadiah Vigil is a 20+ year Technologist and the Director of IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity at Union Telephone. He is responsible for the corporate IT infrastructure and leads the company’s enterprise technology implementation of modern technologies, including communication, automation, and security, among others.

Jed is a transformational and visionary leader, with career experience leading large teams at HP, Apple, and more. In July of 2012 he moved his family, wife and 3 daughters, to southwest Wyoming with the goal of building successful teams in a rural community to help put the WhY not in WYoming opportunity.

Marty Carollo has been in the telecom/Internet/TV business for the past 20+ years and works for All West Communications. His role in Strategic Partnership/governmental relations assists SWMP in its advocacy and mission.

Marty is 3rd generation SW Wyoming and grew up in Green River. He has extensive knowledge of SW Wyoming's communities and their needs. He is an advocate for getting individuals the education necessary for them to meet their goals and help our communities thrive and prosper.

Elizabeth Acosta brings over 20 years of experience in Sales, Business Development, and Leadership, with a strong focus on rural communities across Wyoming and Idaho. She has garnered extensive accolades for her role in establishing creative strategies and optimizing financial returns, contributing significantly to business development in these regions. A proud working mother of three and a wife of 17 years, Liz is known for her dedication to the communities she serves.

Prior to joining Silver Star Communications, she served as Director of Marketing & Sales for Advertising Ventures and Marketing Dimensions in North Carolina and Indiana. She strategically balanced rural and Metropolitan market areas of 5+ million with an extensive portfolio of Fortune 500 clients. Her ability to navigate complex market dynamics while fostering growth has been instrumental in her career success in rural Wyoming.

Liz holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a Minor in English from San Jose State University. Since 2020, she has been an active member of the Wyoming Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities, advocating for Northwestern Wyoming students & families, and previously served as Chair of TAS Wyoming.

Craig Rood s a Wyoming Native that graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1988 with a BS in Secondary Education, Industrial Technology. After teaching school in Arizona for three years, Craig began his career with Sisecam in 1992. Craig has worked for Sisecam Wyoming for 30 years, starting in the labor pool and advancing through the organization in several roles before becoming the General Manager in 2012.

In 2019, Craig transitioned to the Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs. Craig is active in the community and has served on several boards and committees, including: GRHS Booster Club, Green River Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Sweetwater County Treatment Court, Wyoming Business Alliance, Wyoming Taxpayers, Wyoming Skills USA and the Flaming Gorge Days Committee. Craig is a graduate of the 2013 Class of Leadership Wyoming.

Kelly McGovern became the Superintendent of Schools for Sweetwater County School District Number One in 2014. Kelly has been with Sweetwater County School District Number One for 33 years. She started her career as a secondary mathematics teacher at Rock Springs High School. Kelly has served in numerous roles including teacher, District department chair, curriculum specialist, elementary principal, director of human resources, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

Kelly earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, Master’s Degrees in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction, Certifications in K – 12 Principal and K – 12 Director, Education Specialist in Administrative Leadership, and a Certification in K – 12 Superintendency.

Kelly is actively involved in the community she calls home. She has served on many committees and community service events. Her career goals continue to center around the students of Sweetwater Number One and providing career options for them to remain in Sweetwater County.

Craig Barringer is the Superintendent of Sweetwater County School District #2 (Green River, WY). Craig has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Montana (UM). In his 37-year educational career he has been a classroom teacher for 12 years, a building principal for 13 years, and 12 years as a school superintendent.

This is Craig’s third year at SWCSD#2. The school has over 2400 students K-12 and 500+ employees in 10 different schools from the rural schools to Green River High School.

Craig enjoys the outdoor adventures that southwest Wyoming provides from exploring the outstanding landscapes to fishing the Green River.

Matt McQueen became the Asset Manager of ExxonMobil’s interests in Wyoming in June 2021. He is responsible for maximizing the value of the ExxonMobil’s Wyoming operations, including growing its carbon capture and sequestration business in the state. McQueen began his career with Imperial Oil Ltd. in 2007 in Calgary, Alberta. From 2007 - 2013, Mr. McQueen held a number of technical, commercial and planning assignments supporting both Downstream Refining and Upstream Production assets in Alberta.

In 2013, he assumed the role of Reservoir Surveillance Engineering Supervisor at Imperial Oil’s Cold Lake thermal in-situ oil sands asset, followed by an assignment in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador as Reservoir Engineering Supervisor. In 2018, he was seconded to Exxon Mobil Corporation in Houston, Texas for a series of planning and finance roles supporting the Vice President – Americas for Exxon Mobil Production Company. In 2020 he assumed the role as Advisor to the ExxonMobil Upstream Oil & Gas President, supporting the business response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bridget Stewart is the Executive Director for Oyster Ridge Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), which is also known as the Western Wyoming Community College Kemmerer Outreach. The BOCES is dedicated to providing the community with services and opportunities for continuing education and enrichment.

In 2006, she graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Minor in Human Resource Management. In March 2015, she graduated from Walden University with a Masters in Higher Education. She has lived in southwest Wyoming for the majority of her life and now lives in Kemmerer with her husband and kids.

Jennifer Moore is the Executive Director for the Carbon County Higher Education Center. In that role, Jennifer helps to create innovative courses and programming for students of all ages. Jennifer is an avid believe in lifelong learning and an advocate for community engagement.

Jennifer earned a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Gender & omen’s Studies from the University of Wyoming, a M.S. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska, and her MBA from the University of Wyoming. Outside of work, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family,

especially her granddaughter, Emberly. She enjoys traveling, photography, exploring the beautiful sites in Wyoming, and cheering on the Pokes at Wyoming football games.