Kristin Lhatso (Executive Director), the founder of Eastern Sun Academy, has been an educator for 17 years. In 1995, she founded Snow Lion, a contemplative nonprofit preschool in Boulder, where she is currently the Director. She holds a degree in Education and Religious Studies from Naropa University, where she is an adjunct faculty member in Contemplative Education and serves as a supervising teacher for students enrolled in Naropa’s Early Childhood Education Program.

Hank Nicholson, CFP (Board Chair) graduated from the University of Colorado in 1991 with degrees in English and Economics. He has worked in the financial field since 1993 as a portfolio manager, hedge fund trader and investment strategist. A Certified Financial Planner, he joined Colorado Capital Management, Inc., an independent wealth management firm, in 2000 as Chief Economist and Portfolio Manager.

Jennifer Howell (Research and Assessment) holds an M.A. in Contemplative Psychotherapy and has worked as a school-based Psychotherapist in both elementary and middle schools. She spent three years working with developmentally disabled adults and children, often assisting special needs children with their transition into mainstream education, and was a board member for four years of the Shambhala Prison Community, a non-profit education program responding to requests from federal and state penitentiaries for Contemplative Education and practices.

Marti Holley (Educational Program Director), a co-founder of Eastern Sun Academy, has trained in the Waldorf method for kindergarten and elementary grades. She has 27 years of experience as a teacher and was founder of Blue Sky Kindergarten. An experienced educational administrator, she was also the children's program coordinator at Karmê Choling Buddhist Meditation Center and at Shambala Mountain Center.

Steven Sachs (Educational Program Director), a co-founder of Eastern Sun Academy, has been an educator for 26 years. A certified Montessori teacher, he has led numerous classes and written many articles in the field of Contemplative Education. He recently completed three years as the chairperson for the Boulder Shambhala Center Family Council, which oversees contemplative programs and activities for over 150 families in the Boulder area. He is also an adjunct faculty member of Naropa University, and a mentor teacher through CU Denver’s teaching licensure program.

Eric Savage (Business Development) has held management postions in the computer software industry for 22 years, focusing on the areas of research and development, marketing, and education. In 1988, he joined Dynamic Information Systems Corporation, and has served as their Vice President of Research and Development for the past 12 years. He has also served as a fundraising coordinator for Nalandabodhi Boulder for the last 5 years.

John Carron, Ph.D (Strategic Planning) has degrees in Mathematics, Geography, and Civil Engineering. He is a water resources planning and management consultant working in the area of water sustainability. John previously served on the board of Hydrosphere Resource Consultants where he was involved with various strategic planning initiatives, and on the Louisville Open Space Advisory Board.

Kurt Achtenhagen, CPA (Treasurer) has 15+ years of corporate and nonprofit finance and accounting experience. He currently serves as the Director of Finance and Operations for the Leave No Trace Center For Outdoor Ethics, a national environmental education nonprofit. Additionally Kurt has served on the Board as Treasurer for the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District.