Tabor Opera House Staff
Sara Edwards // Executive Director
Sara Edwards joined the Foundation as Executive Director in May 2024. She is a familiar face, however, having volunteered over 1000 hours, most recently as a board member. Sara brings diverse experience in nonprofit management, communications, fundraising, and programming. Prior to moving to Leadville in 2018, she worked for more than fifteen years in Seattle, helping open diverse arts spaces, program city-wide festivals, and promote arts and heritage as essential parts of the city’s character and economic development. Sara is excited to share her passion for the arts and her love for Leadville with the community through her new role.
Suzanne Munson // Capital Campaign Director
Suzanne began her role as Capital Campaign Director in April 2026, but joined the Tabor a year prior – first as a docent and later as a development associate. Before moving to Leadville full-time in 2024, she led fundraising efforts for a German NGO supporting coffee farmers in Honduras, Brazil, Uganda, Kenya, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Suzanne also spent 13 years as Director of Global Partnerships & Alliances at Heifer International, securing millions in funding for complex, multi-country initiatives focused on humanitarian interventions, disaster relief, women’s empowerment, and economic resilience. From building multi-stakeholder partnerships with the UN, USAID, and Fortune 500 companies, Suzanne is now channeling her fundraising expertise to another long-held passion: the performing arts, to benefit Tabor’s multimillion-dollar restoration campaign.
Tammy Taber // Tour and Building Manager
Tammy began giving tours for the former Tabor Opera House owner, Mrs. Evelyn Furman, in 2003. If you have ever been on one of Tammy’s energetic and effervescent tours, you know why she has been referred to as the opera house’s biggest fan. It was easy for her to fall in love with the drama and saga of the Tabor Triangle and she has been telling Tabor tales ever since. Tammy has witnessed many times over how the enchanting beauty and magic of the Tabor Opera House transports people into a different world of years gone by. She is a passionate steward with an eye to the future who believes everyone should visit the Tabor Opera House—and she will see to it that you do!
Helen Adami //Programming Manager
Helen Adami was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, moving to Leadville in March of 2022 with her family. She is an avid history buff, spending many of her days exploring Tombstone and other Old West locations. The Tabor Opera House had an immediate pull for Helen, who fell in love with the Tabor’s story and proceeded to devour any and all information she could get on her new home. When she’s not at the Opera House, you can find her reading trashy romance novels, hanging out with her two boys, her husband of 16 years, and their cat, and/or trying not to spend money on yet another Victorian outfit…
Sarah Dae // Inaugural Executive Director
Sarah Dae is an accidental preservationist who found her rhythm in a career with local government while cultivating a passion for the power of place. A native rural Coloradoan, Sarah worked for the City of Leadville for seven years. She received a B.S. in Business Administration and Management while raising her four children. She loves authentic communities that inspire creativity and a reverence for local history. Sarah is proud of her work that resulted in Leadville becoming a state Main Street community, the City of Leadville and Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation, Inc. partnership to purchase and renovate the Tabor Opera House, the installation of the We Love Leadville tribute monument, the co-creation of an Leadville Urban Renewal Authority, and the completion of a highly visible wayfinding system. In her early years, she spent her days performing in local productions as the captain of her high school drama club and producing shows as a volunteer DJ at KVNK—Paonia’s homegrown radio station. These days in her spare time, you might find her stacking wood at her cabin, sipping a delicious cocktail under the stars, and always dreaming up ways to make an impact for Leadville and the Tabor Opera House.
Board Of Directors
Meet the volunteers and staff who keep the Tabor Opera House humming! Want to volunteer or work for the Tabor? Fill out our volunteer form or check our news for job openings.
Greg Decent // President
Greg grew up in Watertown, NY, and learned to appreciate Italianate architecture at a young age from his grandfather who was the town’s building inspector. In 1998, he moved to Leadville, CO and continued his education at Colorado Mountain College, where he obtained an Associate degree in Ski Area Operations. Upon arriving in Leadville, he was fascinated by the building facades which reminded him of his hometown architecture. He was especially intrigued with the Tabor Opera House and wanted to learn more about the building, its history and need for support. Despite moving to the Vail Valley after completing his degree to pursue a career in the ski industry as a ski instructor with Vail Resorts, he kept in constant contact with the Tabor Opera House and volunteered his time when available. He currently works as an Association Accountant, Accounts Payable Specialist for East West Resorts. When not working, he enjoys running marathons and spending time with his wife Allison and daughter Willow.
Alicia Fontana // Treasurer
Alicia grew up in Rochester, New York, and moved to Colorado in 2005, drawn by her love of skiing. After several years in Summit County, she settled in Leadville in 2017. She enjoys exploring historic buildings and the stories they tell and values the Tabor as one of Leadville’s treasured landmarks. Alicia has been involved with the Tabor since 2022 and recently began serving as Treasurer on the board. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, biking, and hiking with her dogs.
Nell Lindquist // Secretary
Nell is the founder of Hello Hotel, a voice and messaging platform for boutique hotels. With 15+ years of experience managing digital development, digital marketing, and eCommerce, she has worked with large, multi-language development teams and small companies and startups. Nell and her family moved to Leadville in the fall of 2021 and are neighbors with the Tabor. She and her husband own The Timberline Leadville, a boutique motel neighboring the opera house. Nell loves live music and performance and cannot wait to see the Opera House back in its glory—the cornerstone of Historic Leadville.
Amy Tait // Past President
Amy grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and moved to Leadville in 2001 where she immediately felt at home. Small town mountain-living and the rich history of Leadville made it seem like a dream come true. The Tabor Opera House was, and always will be, the center of what is a fascinating, gritty, boom and bust mining town full of history, recreation, authentic people and amazing winter and summer weather. Amy is proud to be a part of its latest renaissance and to do what she can to help move its renovation and programming forward.
Amy has been a successful real estate agent since 2003 and purchased Leadville’s longest-running real estate office, Centennial Real Estate, in 2020. She stepped away from real estate for four years in 2012 to work at the re-started Climax Mine and experienced a state of the art, community oriented and environmentally conscious mining company. For her it formed an even deeper appreciation of mining. She has a passion for community organizing and has served on various boards and committees including the Lake County Housing Coalition, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, District Accountability, and many others. Her passions include spending time with her almost grown daughter, husband, their dogs, camping, fly fishing, fly tying, hiking, and learning and discussing Leadville history.
Celesta Falconi Cairns
Celesta is the current Lake County High School music teacher and has lived in Leadville for eight years. She has been a music educator for over 20 years, teaching in urban, rural and international schools. Her expertise is in vocal music but she has taught various bands for over 12 years, general music for more than 15 years, and has personal dance and theater experience. She serves as the musical director of the Lake County School’s annual musical and has directed several junior musicals and community shows in Denver. She has a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Regis University. Currently, she is working on her National Board Certification with an Early and Middle Childhood Music Emphasis. Philosophically, she believes that all people have a love of some kind of music and she is lucky to have a career that brings joy to youth and their families, while creating community pride and confidence.
J. Edward Nelson // Community Representative
J. Edward Nelson is an American actor and activist. He has been performing as an actor and singer all his life. He has performed in venues across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky as well as the state of Colorado He is a proud Colorado native who has resided in Leadville for the past 8 years. He has worked at Lake County Build a Generation and Full Circle of Lake County as well as his current job as Wraparound Supervisor for Lake County Wraparound. Additionally, he leads up the community efforts for Lake County PRIDE and reads tarot cards in multiple locations across the community.
Nan Anderson, FAIA, LEED AP
Under Nan’s leadership, Anderson Hallas Architects, PC garnered national, state and local awards on its way to becoming a leader in the field of preservation. In 2017, Nan formed FREIGHT910, LLC to focus her attention, expertise and skills on preserving Colorado’s historical legacy through projects that celebrate communities and their histories.
Gena Buhler
As the head Theatre Projects’ Strategy & Operations division, Gena finds that great solutions start with a holistic understanding of needs and a lot of listening. With over 20 years’ history as a venue executive and experience in event production, venue management, operational logistics, artistic program development, and relationship-building for critical partnerships, she knows what it takes to turn vision into reality. As an management and strategic planning consultant, Gena brings her expertise to a range of organizational needs, including project visioning, needs assessments, feasibility studies, and business planning. Her goal is to help create spaces that are vibrant and welcoming, fit for purpose, and sustainably operated. As a former venue manager and industry executive (including Wheeler Opera House, Vilar Performing Arts Center, The Road Company, IMG Artists), she understands the opportunities and challenges of operating successful organizations in thriving communities centered around arts, culture, and entertainment.
Whitney Gilbert-Clarkson
Whitney is an avid lover of the outdoors with a particular passion for climbing peaks, especially the renowned 14ers of Colorado. With Leadville’s central location in the state lending itself to being a perfect base to access the state’s numerous activities, Whitney and her family built a house that would allow them a place to stay when it is not being opened up to others as a short-term rental at The Silver Rose of Leadville. However, it wasn’t all about the activities that drew her to Leadville. By far, it was the historical charm and uniqueness that makes Leadville the town it is. She is passionate about helping elevate the Tabor Opera House into a renowned cultural institution, as it was when it first operated in the late 1800s.
When Whitney isn’t adventuring, she utilizes her over two decades of experience as a digital marketer specializing in web optimization and performance for effective demand generation, focusing on an exceptional user experience. She has a B.A. in Computer Graphics from Syracuse University and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Regis University.
Julia Kimball
Julia is a Colorado native who grew up in the Littleton area with a great appreciation for the outdoors. She attended undergrad at CU Boulder and grad school at UC Berkeley. She spent 33 years working as an optometrist in the Denver area in various settings including a nonprofit clinic and private practice and ultimately with the UCHealth system.
She and her husband Rocky have been homeowners in Leadville since 2008 and moved here full time in 2023. She is enjoying small town living and the sense of community it provides. She has a strong desire to preserve the incredible history here in Leadville, particularly the Crown Jewel that is the Tabor Opera House.
Julia has always enjoyed volunteering and has traveled around the world providing eye care and glasses to underserved communities. When not enjoying the beauty and outdoor activities offered up in Leadville, she and Rocky share a passion for travel and spending time on the road in their Airstream.
Rebecca Thomas
Rebecca Thomas serves on the Board of the Tabor Opera House and is a member of the
Leadville City Council. She brings a background in public service, environmental policy, and
community development to her work supporting the preservation and revitalization of one
of Colorado’s most significant historic landmarks.
Rebecca spent much of her career with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
where she worked on complex environmental and regulatory issues in collaboration with
federal, state, and local partners. She spent time in Leadville managing the California Gulch
Superfund site, gaining firsthand experience with the community and its environmental and
economic landscape.
As a member of the Leadville City Council, Rebecca focuses on historic preservation,
economic vitality, and responsible growth. Her service on the Tabor Opera House Board
reflects her commitment to preserving Leadville’s heritage while supporting projects that
strengthen the local economy and enrich community life.
Asher Donnen // Youth Liason
Hi, I’m Asher Donnon, a homeschool student in Leadville who’s been involved with the Tabor Opera House through volunteering and the Tabor Youth Collective. I’ve been involved with the Opera house since I moved to Leadville back in 2022. I’m really glad to have the opportunity to work with the Tabor and make it a better experience for everyone.