Lauran Garcia: The Intersection of Interests
Lauran Garcia had a successful and demanding career in the restaurant business. The birth of her son inspired her to return to college and pursue work more rooted in her values and community.
Lauran looked to CMC. “I wanted something accessible and local and affordable,” she reflects.
The sustainability program, she says, “was the intersection of all my interests. It had the elements of the outdoors, people, and reciprocity – the balance of what we take and what we give back to the environment.”
Her studies at CMC afforded her two internships: a research-focused one with the Aspen Global Change Institute and a governmental-focused one with the City of Aspen.
“Between the two internships I was able to get a spectrum of different work. I learned I wanted work that felt tangible and fast-paced but still grounded in long-term impact.” That realization led her to the nonprofit world.
After graduation, Lauran joined Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT), a private land conservation organization that helps landowners protect their land in perpetuity for wildlife, agriculture, and community benefit. Starting in an administrative role, she quickly grew into her current position as Conservation Program Manager, working directly with landowners to complete conservation easements and manage complex land transactions.
This year, Lauran connected with more than 30 landowners across the region about potential conservation projects, with several actively pursuing conservation easements for their properties. These opportunities span three counties and two major watersheds and include working ranches, stream and wetland restoration sites, and large tracts of natural habitat that support elk and deer migration.
“We’re seeing real momentum from landowners who want long-term solutions to keep their land intact,” she says. “Many of these properties lie in areas where agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, and rural character intersect, and conservation can make a lasting difference.”
Lauran additionally earned CMC’s GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certificate. “GIS is a valuable tool I use daily,” she says, “It bridges science and storytelling. It visualizes habitat and watershed data that helps us see the bigger conservation picture.”
In her restaurant days, it would have been hard for Lauran to have even imagined working in this field. “It’s a job that I never knew existed,” she says about her AVLT work. She’s grateful to CMC for leading her here.