About
“Mountain Roots Consulting is passionate about supporting organizations and communities committed to conservation and sustainability. ”
Why Mountain Roots? Founder and Owner, Hilary Lewkowitz, finds her passion and drive for conservation and sustainability rooted in the mountains. Whether it's the sound of Aspen leaves crackling in the wind, alpenglow sunsets, or the smell of rain as it hits the trail. Where do you find the roots that drive your passion for conservation?
Hilary Lewkowitz, Founder & Owner, Mountain roots consulting
Hilary Lewkowitz is the Owner of Mountain Roots Consulting, located in Ridgway, Colorado. Mountain Roots is a culmination of 20 years of work in adventure travel, sustainable tourism and conservation. In 2017, Mountain Roots partnered with Arizona State University’s Center for Sustainable Tourism to launch the Colorado Tourism Office rural tourism development education program. Hilary has been involved with this program now for over three years, and plays a lead role in program development, consulting rural destinations across Colorado and facilitating workshops. She is a Country Representative for Green Destinations, with the ability to offer sustainable tourism assessment and certification. Hilary is contracted as the Marketing Director for the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce, the DMO for Ridgway, Colorado. Past clients include GLP Films, a film production and marketing agency that serves emerging travel destinations around the world. She completed the Sustainable Tourism Training Program through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Green Destinations trainings. Hilary currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Access Fund affiliated non-profit, Ouray Climbers Alliance.
Before Mountain Roots Consulting, Hilary worked for the Adventure Travel Trade Association as the Adventure EDU Program Manager. During her time with the ATTA, Hilary was the project manager for adventure tourism workshops in emerging destinations across the world. She played an instrumental role in launching the adventure travel guide training program, which included an 8-day pilot program in Nepal.
For several years, she directed membership and communications for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and The International Ecotourism Society. She guided for the National Outdoor Leadership School, Mountain Education & Development, and Wilderness Ventures. Before that, she led conservation and research projects for the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, National Park Service and the California Department of Fish and Game.
Hilary completed her M.S. at the University of Utah in Sustainable Tourism Management in 2013. During her time at the University of Utah, she conducted research for the National Park Service and State of Utah. Hilary completed a yearlong research project with Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, Africa. Her research addressed new management strategies to guide the conservancy’s travelers’ philanthropy program. Hilary received several awards for her work in Kenya, and research results were published in the Journal of Ecotourism. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science for Humboldt State University, California.
Hilary is an avid climber, hiker and skier. Climbing has fueled her travels over the past decade, with adventures across the US, Alaska, India, Thailand, Kenya and Cuba. Beyond climbing, she has lived in several places across the West and traveled abroad extensively. Hilary and her husband’s love for adventure and the mountains brought them to the beautiful Southwest Colorado mountain town of Ridgway.