Guest post by Mishelle Baun, Mantooth Company
Colorado Youth Outdoors‘ CEO Bob Hewson announced we promoted Luke Brough as our first Northeastern Colorado Regional Executive Director.
Luke joined us in April 2023 as Facilities Director for our 220-acre Fort Collins campus. His appointment rounds out the management structure for our growing organization. Earlier this year, we selected our first Southern Colorado Regional Executive Director to help guide CYO’s Colorado Springs area growth.
“A Regional Executive Director role begins and ends with Leadership. Finding someone to fit this role often takes significant time and effort,” explained CEO Hewson. “We were very fortunate to promote Luke Brough from Facilities Director to Executive Director. Leadership is one of Luke’s natural talents, and soon after he was hired, we experienced his approach to solving challenges, taking complex projects, and breaking them down into tasks for him and his teammates.”
As Facilities Director, he spent a lot of his time outside. He managed maintenance projects, equipment, event setup, and volunteer work groups. “Executive Director means a lot more meetings,” proclaimed Luke with a chuckle. “I’m also learning a ton about programming and development. My priorities are to broaden our reach in Northern Colorado, strengthen our connection with community partners, and continue building parent-teen relationships through traditional outdoor recreation,” Luke explained.
Luke’s relationship with CYO started when he was a teenager
In high school, Luke started volunteering at CYO with his parents. An avid trap shooter, Luke’s family traveled to many trap shooting events when he was a kid — those were the family vacations! Luke’s parents, Tim and Lisa Brough, who own Rocky Mountain Shooters Supply, have supported us since almost the beginning. In 2002, they helped at the inaugural forerunner of Maverick, CYO’s longest-running fundraiser, and still donate, offer product discounts, and volunteer at events.
“Projects that have been on our books for years have either been completed or have detailed plans for completion with Luke’s lead,” continued Hewson. “His passion for the mission of CYO – and his determination to find ways to grow this organization’s presence – makes Luke the perfect fit. I am excited to watch Luke and his team continue to expand the gift of relationship building in Northern Colorado.”
Luke shares that his life has been all about building relationships in the outdoors. “My bond with my family and closest friends was built through hunting, fishing, and camping. On the third date, my (future) wife taught me how to fly fish.”
“Traditional outdoor recreation has been a blessing for the relationships in my life,” Luke adds, “and I’m thrilled to be part of an organization that lives by the same philosophy.”