Speakers

Bio: Steve Acquafresca represents Mesa County and was reappointed to the Colorado River District Board in January 2017 having previously served from 2011-2014.

Mr. Acquafresca has been an advocate for the agricultural community while being actively engaged in farming, conservation, business, community affairs, and public policy-making.

As a former Colorado state legislator, Mr. Acquafresca represented six west slope counties in Colorado’s General Assembly and focused on farming and ranching issues, business and economic development, water law, conservation, local government, transportation and public education funding and policies. 

More recently, Mr. Acquafresca served as Mesa County Commissioner from 2007-2015.

Victor Yahn is a Western Slope native who grew up and worked in Olathe, Colorado.

After serving in the Olathe Volunteer Fire Department, Montrose Fire Department and Community Hospital as an Emergency Department Technician, he started at the Coroner’s Office in May 2011 as a Deputy Coroner.  After gaining medical knowledge and skills as a death investigator, he was promoted to Chief Deputy Coroner in 2013.  In January 2019, he took office as Coroner of Mesa County.

Victor is certified with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation and the Colorado Coroner’s Association.  He is a current member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners and serves as Treasurer and Board Member of the Colorado Coroner’s Association.

Bio: Kelly Johnston is the President and Owner of JFS, LLC, an accounting and consulting firm. She has a large amount of experience in both the public accounting and private industry accounting fields. Her background includes a Bachelor in Finance and a Master of Science in Accounting, with experience in the healthcare industry with critical access hospitals and physician offices, audit and tax preparation. She loves to share her passion for finance, economics and accounting with our youth to create a stronger and better tomorrow.

Topic: The FREE Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization whose goal is to further economic education for students and teachers.