GYPSUM, COLO. – Today, Roundup River Ranch, a nonprofit dedicated to offering children with life-altering diagnoses, and their families, opportunities to embrace joy, create connection, foster independence, and build hope through free, medically-supported camp programs, is excited to officially introduce five new leaders focused on advancement, mission, medical, and camp operations to position Roundup River Ranch for success in 2024 and beyond.

These critical leadership roles reflect the organization’s commitment to driving long-term sustainable growth while building upon its strong foundation. Kathryn Weller joins as VP of advancement, Adam Perez Sr. as chief mission officer, Dr. Benjamin Ross as medical director, Kelly Campbell as camp director, and Khalil Kelly as outreach director. “I’m thrilled to welcome Kathryn, Adam, Ben, Kelly, and Kahlil at such a pivotal moment for growth for Roundup River Ranch,” said Sarah Johnson, president and CEO of Roundup River Ranch. “With these exciting new additions to our team, we will be able to build upon our strong foundation and expand our mission to reach a larger network of camper families, volunteers, supporters, and strategic partners. I am confident their contributions will not only enhance our organization's strategic capabilities, but will help us continue to deliver impactful programs for many years to come.” 

Kathryn Weller, Vice President of Advancement:

As Vice President of Advancement, Weller brings over 20 years of experience leading, developing, fundraising, and executing successful business relationships. Weller will further advance Roundup River Ranch’s mission through building strong relationships with partners, donors, camper families, volunteers, and many other key stakeholders. She will spearhead Roundup River Ranch's advancement team to new heights, helping to secure the resources necessary to enhance and expand programs.

Weller most recently served as the senior director of annual support at the Vail Valley Foundation, where she combined all her previous work experience to develop comprehensive fundraising strategies and implement effective communication plans to engage donors and partners. Weller moved to the Vail Valley in 2013 and was a teacher at Vail Mountain School before making her way to nonprofit mission work. Prior to living in Colorado, she worked in high-tech in Silicon Valley as a VP of Sales and Marketing for several of CA’s top internet and software companies. She currently resides in Edwards, Colorado with her husband, Mike, and enjoys the mountain lifestyle, which includes hiking and skiing. She is excited to combine all her previous roles, including her work with youth development, to support the mission of Roundup River Ranch.

Adam Perez Sr., Chief Mission Officer:

As Chief Mission Officer, Perez’s experience in building strategic partnerships and leading organizations through transformation through community engagement and program development will help advance the Roundup River Ranch mission of ensuring campers and their families reach their full potential through the organization’s lifechanging camp programs. Perez will focus on strategic oversight and management of key operational areas, lead strategic initiatives and partnerships, and develop and oversee education and leadership training opportunities for full-time staff, seasonal staff, and volunteers.

Perez has over 30 years’ experience in the camping industry leading from his days as camper to directing camps throughout the Midwest. Perez most recently served as the talent acquisition specialist at Denver Public Schools where he oversaw all recruitment efforts for teachers and executive staff. He also served as the VP of Programs for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado where he strengthened partnerships with key stakeholders and communities across the regions to serve more youth and volunteers. Perez moved to Denver, Colorado in 2021 after serving many leadership roles in the camp industry. He lives in Aurora, Colorado with his wife, Millie, three children, and enjoys hiking with his family.

Dr. Benjamin Ross, Medical Director:

As the Medical Director, Dr. Ross will serve in an advisory capacity working closely with our nursing staff. In this role, Dr. Ross will focus on developing and implementing medical management protocols to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of all participants. Dr. Ross brings a wealth of medical knowledge and experience and will lead the medical program and serve as the staff liaison to the organization’s Medical Advisory Committee. Dr. Ross graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in electrical engineering before pursuing his medical education. He completed a pediatric residency at the University of Oklahoma and a child neurology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. Dr. Ross then established a neurology practice with HCA/Healthone at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Ross has been actively involved with Roundup River Ranch over the years, having volunteered and served on the Medical Advisory Committee since 2012. In 2021, he moved to Eagle, Colorado with his wife, Meegan, and three daughters. Dr. Ross continues to have an active child neurology practice which transitioned to a hybrid telehealth/outreach model with clinic locations in Eagle, Glenwood Springs, and Grand Junction.

Kelly “Red” Campbell, Camp Director:

Campbell joins the Roundup River Ranch team as a seasoned summer camp leader and nonprofit professional with community building, staff management and motivation, and financial management. With more than a decade of outdoor camp experience, Campbell has gained the deep knowledge and diversified skills that are essential to developing safe and fun youth development programs. Campbell most recently served as the camp and operations director at Over The Wall Camp, a sister camp of the SeriousFun Children’s Network located in the United Kingdom, where she oversaw the camp operations and programming, managed full-time and seasonal staff and volunteers. As Camp Director for Roundup River Ranch, she will ensure the development and management of intentional in-person camp programming and residential life needs. Campbell officially moved to Gypsum, Colorado in January with her wife, Megan, and two dogs to be near the campsite and is excited to explore the Colorado Rockies.

Khalil Kelley, Outreach Director:

Kelley, a seasoned camp professional, joins the Roundup River Ranch team as the newly appointed Outreach Director. In this pivotal role, Kelley will spearhead various initiatives, including collaborations with Denver area hospitals, box-building programs, and other outreach activities. Bringing a wealth of experience as both a program leader and camp director, Kelley possesses a unique skill set, particularly in program development, as well as tracking and reporting program outcomes. Kelley's arrival marks a significant step in achieving our strategic objective of enhancing our programs and expanding our presence in Denver and the Front Range communities. This initiative is designed to broaden our impact, serving more campers and their families through innovative and meaningful programs. Kelley resides in Denver with his partner and is looking forward to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families facing a serious illness.

For more information about Roundup River Ranch, visit RoundupRiverRanch.org.