When she started Brendle Group in 1996, Judy Dorsey, the firm's president and principal engineer, had a vision of an environmentally focused engineering consulting firm. Over the last 16-plus years, Dorsey's vision became one of Northern Colorado's better-recognized companies. Dorsey – who also co-founded the Colorado Clean Energy Cluster – was recognized in September with one of the Department of Energy's C3E awards (part of the Clean Energy and Empowerment Initiative) honoring women leading the way in her field.


Question: We heard you've partnered with Mountain Riders Alliance to develop a test model of the first sustainable ski resort. What can skiers expect coming from this project?

Answer: The idea is to help small- and medium-sized ski areas that are especially vulnerable in the industry to look at a comprehensive approach to sustainability as a new business model, and to help them become more financially resilient while having a lighter environmental impact and stronger ties to the community in which they work, so ski towns.

Mountain Riders Alliance is a pretty passionate, nonprofit, grassroots organization that has been able to put the vision out