Ranch Operations

Ben Martin

Ben Martin and his wife Holly have four kids ranging from seven to 19 years old: Amanda, Chelsea, Annie and Jack. Originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Ben’s career path has taken him from playing professional soccer, to being the head wrangler, and then foreman at another Colorado ranch, to working with high school kids in Denver. With that diverse background, Ben is just the guy to chase down, wrangle and guide the management team.

Email Ben at ben@vistaverde.com

Dace Starkweather

Dace Starkweather is our singing cowboy. A brief look at his timeline takes him from a family farm in Illinois to the University of Colorado at Boulder, on to another ranch as head wrangler and staff manager for seven years, then to Biola University for a quick master’s degree and now to VVR. Dace shares the general manager job with Ben, and his focus is recruiting, hiring and managing our wonderful staff.

Email Dace at jobs@vistaverde.com

Bill Backer

Bill Backer (pronounced ‘Baker’) is our properties manager and is responsible for the facilities and equipment of the ranch. (In other words, for everything that squeaks, leaks or breaks.) He is a graduate of Southwest State University and holds a degree in biology. Bill gained his practical hands-on experience at Schwan’s Foods in Minnesota and YMCA Camp Eberhart in Michigan. As our resident artisan, he builds a lot of our furniture, and with his well-equipped woodshop at the ranch, he’s into authentic reproductions (or is that an oxymoron)?

Stephanie Wilson

Stephanie Wilson is another year-round member of our staff and is responsible for reservations (among other things). She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and early on developed a passion for the outdoors, which led to a degree in agricultural and managerial economics from the University of California at Davis. Like so many of our staff, Steph has had a variety of work experiences ranging from training horses for Ventura Farms to running our dining room and our teen program, not to mention raising her daughters Maggie and Ella.

Email Steph at reservations@vistaverde.com

Charlie Cammer

Charlie Cammer is our agriculture manager. That means he’s responsible for preserving and enhancing this beautiful place–meadows, pastures, forest and such. Charlie is originally from the Catskill Mountains in New York and grew up in the resort business. After obtaining a degree in hotel management and working for several large motel chains, he fled to Colorado and fell in love. After twelve years of managing a ranch down the road, Charlie joined us eleven years ago to apply his talents up our way, and we are still delighted.

Emily Hackbarth

Emily Hackbarth is a native Minnesotan who has come to call North Carolina home after living there for several years. Some of Emily’s interests are writing, photography, rollerblading, horseback riding, water sports, trying new things, watching storms and taking long walks. She has a passion for people and teaching them about nutrition and health. We welcome her to her first season as the front desk activities coordinator!

Email Emily at info@vistaverde.com

Krista Coy

Krista Coy is back for her second season with the Front Office team this winter from Kennard, Indiana. She attended Franklin College where she majored in Journalism. While going to school Krista was the Art Director for the campus newspaper. She loves to be active and is excited to spend the summer exploring the Steamboat area. We are excited to welcome Krista to the Vista Verde team!

Tom Mix

Tom Mix calls Westfield, Indiana home. He has his degree in Travel and Tourism from Ball State University. He loves working and playing outside, from his talents in landscaping to his interest in hiking. Tom has experience working as a youth counselor for two summers. This winter you may see him guiding guests as a snowmobile guide. We are excited to have Tom join our ranch hand crew this winter!

Jason Sample

Jason left the Midwest where he calls Terre Haute, Ind. home to join us here at Vista Verde. Growing up with his parent’s horse drawn carriage business, Jason will be a great addition to helping train our teams. When he’s not helping drive teams, you will find him driving snowmobiles as a guide around the ranch. Jason’s handyman qualities will be put to good use as a ranch hand.