Ann-Marie Sandquist, Mayor of Silverthorne

There is no municipal government in the Colorado Rockies more committed to its citizens than Silverthorne’s. As mayor, Ann-Marie Sandquist, leads this charge with a focus on fostering smart economic growth and responsible development; enhancing local recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike; providing impeccable services and maintaining the town’s existing assets; and striving for absolute fiscal transparency, accountability and responsibility.

Sworn in as mayor in April 2018, Ann-Marie has served on Silverthorne’s Town Council since 2008 and as the mayor pro tem from 2014-2016. Prior to that, she served on the Town’s planning committee.

Ann-Marie is a decorated financial professional – with numerous national accolades – and 24 years of experience working with high-net-worth families. She firmly believes that investment management, financial, estate and tax planning must be employed together in order to maximize wealth for current and future generations.

When asked why she joined Town Council, Ann-Marie said "My dad has always said that if you don’t participate then you really need to shut the heck up! One of the reasons that I love Silverthorne is because in every sense of the word, we are a community, and our growth and vibe come from the ideas, the volunteerism, the participation and the hard work of our community members. I’m proud to live here and serving on Town Council is my way of participating in our community and hopefully making it a more enjoyable place."

Ann-Marie has lived in Silverthorne for 15 years and loves being outdoors. She enjoys skiing resorts and backcountry terrain, along with hiking, biking, paddle boarding and golfing. While she says that she is a lousy fly fisherwoman, she sure loves being on the river. Ann-Marie's favorite thing about living in Silverthorne is seeing a friend or neighbor out on a trail and knowing that we all live in a pretty special place.

Mark Leidal, Interim Town Manager

There’s a lot brewing in town thanks to leaders like Interim Town Manager Mark Leidal making important decisions about development and growth alongside the passionate citizens of Silverthorne. With a sharp focus on economic and community development, along with a passion for urban renewal, Mark oversees the execution of Silverthorne’s Comprehensive and Urban Renewal Plans, as well as the Public Works Department, including the utility and engineering functions. He is also responsible for business development.

In 2025 Mark began his role as  Interim Town Manager, after serving as assistant town manager since 2014. Before that, he joined the Town of Silverthorne in 2000 as as the community development director. Prior to coming to Silverthorne, Mark was the planning director for the Town of Parker and the assistant community development director for the Town of Breckenridge. He has more than 30 years of experience in municipal planning and development and holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree with an emphasis in real estate development from the University of Colorado. Mark loves playing in Silverthorne’s outdoors and can be found hitting the links at area golf courses or skiing at many nearby resorts.

Joanne Cook, Assistant Town Manager 

As Assistant Town Manager, Joanne Cook is dedicated to helping create, manage, and elevate Town operations and programs.  She collaborates with employees, residents, and organizations on varied projects and issues to strengthen the workplace, enhance community sense of place and vibrancy, and support delivery of high-quality Town services. 

Joanne began working for the Town of Silverthorne as Facility Coordinator at the Silverthorne Recreation Center in 1999 and has since held various positions in the Town with an emphasis on Recreation, Culture, and Communications.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

 Alice Cary, Chief of Police 

As Police Chief, Cary leads Silverthorne’s Police Department which includes 21 sworn members, three administrative positions and a 12-person community police advisory board.  Prior to joining the Town of Silverthorne in 2023, Cary served as the Chief of Police & Executive Director at the University of Illinois Department of Public Safety. She has a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Management, a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the Northwestern Public Safety Staff and Command School. Cary has a broad range of experience having worked in municipal, county and state safety positions over a 36-year period.  Prior to working for the University of Illinois, Cary held the positions of Police Chief, Patrol Operations Captain, Patrol Operations Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, Criminal Investigator, State Trooper, Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer.

Tom Daugherty, Director of Public Works

The Town of Silverthorne is known for well-maintained streets, beautifully landscaped medians, highly efficient water systems, and clean, safe parks, thanks to many services provided by the Public Works Department. Director of Public Works Tom Daugherty has led these efforts for the Town of Silverthorne since January 2017. A registered professional engineer in both Colorado and New Mexico, Tom graduated with a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver in 2017. Tom began his career in New Mexico managing construction projects for the New Mexico Department of Transportation before moving to Summit County in 1996 where he spent 20 years working in various roles with the Town of Breckenridge, including five years as the Director of Public Works. Tom is married with two children and enjoys hiking and fishing in his spare time.

Laura Kennedy, Director of Finance & Administration 

As Director of Finance and Administrative Services, Laura Kennedy works with the Town Council and staff to create and manage the Town’s budget. Other services provided by the Finance Department include utility billing, business licensing, sales tax collection, financial reporting, payroll, and accounts payable/receivable. Overseeing Administrative Services means working with the Town Clerk to manage Town Council meetings, elections, open record requests, liquor licensing and Municipal Court.

The Silverthorne Finance and Administrative Services Department is guided by the Town’s Mission and Values and demonstrates them in the following ways:

• Integrity: manage public finances honestly and transparently; produce reliable and timely financial information.
• Pioneering Spirit: hone our expertise and develop strong policies and procedures.
• Balance: treat people fairly and support equity in service provision.
• Teamwork: provide people with opportunities to be part of decisions that impact them.
• Zeal: produce results for our community by doing high-quality work.
• Fun: be open to new ideas.

Laura has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and joined the Town of Silverthorne in 2016. She has resided in Summit County since 1999 and has over 20 years of experience in management level accounting positions including serving as the Accounting Manager for the Town of Breckenridge and the Revenue Accounting Manager for Vail Resorts. She enjoys trail running with her dogs, stand up paddle boarding, golf, reading and skiing.

Steven Herrman, Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Director 

Steven Herrman has dedicated his professional career to Parks and Recreation. He joined the Town of Silverthorne in 2007 as an intern at the Recreation Center and went on to serve as a Front Desk Clerk, Front Desk Specialist, Facility Coordinator, and Recreation Center Manager. Throughout his career with Silverthorne, Steven has overseen significant projects that have enhanced the community's Recreation Center. In 2014, he managed the racquetball renovation project, which doubled the available fitness options and in 2024, he directed a major locker room renovation that upgraded the plumbing infrastructure and expanded the communal locker room.

Steven holds and maintains a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification through National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation from the University of Northern Colorado. He is passionate about the role that Parks and Recreation plays in promoting community health and well-being and enjoys being a part of these essential services, ensuring that the community has access to recreational opportunities that enhance their quality of life

Outside of his professional life, Steven enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and most importantly, spending time with his family.

Danelle Cook, Community Development Director  

Danelle is a dedicated community development professional with a deep-rooted passion for the Silverthorne community, where she grew up. Serving as the Community Development Director, she is committed to executing Silverthorne's Comprehensive Plan and is responsible for overseeing the workforce housing, land use planning, building permitting, sustainability, and code enforcement divisions.

Since joining the Town in December 2019, Danelle has held various roles including planner, planning manager, and assistant community development director. Her broad experience in municipal planning is complemented by previous positions as the Housing Program Manager for the Town of Frisco, a Planning Technician with Summit County Government, and a Planner at Xcel Energy.

Danelle holds a Master’s Degree in Translation Studies and International Relations from the University of Denver. Before her transition into municipal land use planning, she gained valuable experience working in the international business industry. Her unique background enable her to effectively contribute to the growth and development of the Silverthorne area.

Sydney Schwab, Arts, Events & Venues Director

As the Arts, Events and Venues Director, Sydney is dedicated to building a sense of community in Silverthorne by creating inviting spaces and events that facilitate connection and a healthy and vibrant town. She works with her team to give businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, and cultural organizations an opportunity to find their audiences and support the downtown’s transformation into a vibrant, walkable, welcoming, active place. Sydney is dedicated to providing opportunities for the extended community to come together to collaborate, create, share traditions, celebrate and enjoy expressions of art and culture together.

Sydney has worked with the Silverthorne Art Board to successfully design and launch a signature event series for the town and to open the Art Spot Silverthorne Makerspace. She joined the Town of Silverthorne in 2017, first serving as the Pavilion and Events Coordinator and then as the Arts and Culture Manager. Before joining Silverthorne, she organized public events for the Town of Breckenridge. Sydney has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing as well as a Bachelor of Science in International Spanish for the Professions, both from the University of Colorado.

Sarah Thompson, Human Resources Director 

As the Human Resources Director, Sarah leads the Human Resources function for the Town of Silverthorne supporting all Town departments. Sarah has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Biology from the University of Hull, UK, a master’s level professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, and holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the HR Certification Institute. She has 27 years of Human Resources experience in both the private and public sector and has been working for the Town since 2016, first working as the Human Resources Manager. 

Kristina Nayden, Communications Director 

In her role as Communications Director, Kristina is dedicated to bringing transparent and authentic messaging to all Silverthorne community members, ensuring that everyone has access to the important information they need and want. Kristina is responsible for developing, planning and implementing strategic communications plans for the Town of Silverthorne and serves as the Town’s Public Information Officer.

Kristina joined the Town of Silverthorne in 2019, first serving as the Marketing Coordinator and then as the Marketing and Communications Manager. Before working in the public sector, Kristina worked in marketing at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. She has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and Geography from the University of Colorado, and a Master of Science in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University.