Board of Directors & Volunteers

Board of Directors

Michael Maio: President

Mr. Maio is no stranger to the non-profit world, having served as a co-founding board member for both the Price Hill Historical Society and Children Are Renters Too, a children’s housing advocacy group in Cincinnati. He has served as board chair for both the Community Land Cooperative of Cincinnati, which rehabilitates inner city properties to be sold to qualified low-income families, and Services to Area Youth, and organization that assists parenting and pregnant teenagers.

Since relocating to Manitou Springs, Michael hasn’t skipped a beat with community volunteer work.  From 2008-2013, he served as Den Leader and member of the Leadership Committee for the local Boy Scout Troop 18.  He is an active member of the Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival and the Manitou Springs Great Fruitcake Toss organizational committees.  He had served on the Manitou Springs Open Space Advisory Committee from 2006-2007 and from 2015-2021 and had served as it Chair from 2018 until 2021. Michael was appointed as a board member of the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum and has served as its President.

Michelle Anthony, AICP: Vice President

Michelle is Senior Planner with the City of Manitou Springs, serving the community in various positions (including as the City’s Historic Preservation Officer) in the Planning Department since June 1987. Michelle was given the “Preservation Pioneer Award” in 1999 by the Manitou Springs Historic Preservation Commission and received the first “Manni Award” for Civic Achievement (2014). She is a former board member of Colorado Preservation, Inc. and served on CPI’s Endangered Places Committee since the program’s inception. Michelle was selected as a member of a state advisory task force on preservation education and spoke at annual conferences for both CPI and Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association. Her membership affiliations include CPI (current member and past board member from 1991–1997), the Colorado Historical Society, Friends of the Pioneers Museum, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and, of course, Historic Manitou. Michelle has been an active board member of Historic Manitou Springs, Inc. since its founding.

Kevin Abney: Board Treasurer

Kevin was elected to the Board of Historic Manitou Springs, Inc. in 2010 and appointed to the position of Treasurer. He previously served on the board of the Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of Colorado on the state level and the Bed and Breakfasts of the Pikes Peak Region on the local level. For a number of years, Kevin operated The Avenue Hotel—a bed and breakfast in Manitou Springs—before selling the lodging at the end of 2009. Kevin is a former member of the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and now owns a small home in Manitou Springs.

Neale Minch: Board Member

Neale Minch joined the Board in 2016 and is most active in fundraising and events. After spending 20+ years at Hewlett Packard serving in a variety of Business Management and Operations roles, Neale retired in 2015. Neale has lived in Manitou since 2012 and has served on the City’s Historic Preservation Commission for several years.

Shirley Wade: Board Member

Shirley Wade is a self-employed antiques dealer 31 years. She is a 31-year retired federal civilian manager serving 15 years managing an Air Force wide program. At the same time, she was an active volunteer and full member of the San Antonio, TX Conservation Society and served on a large Federal Credit Union’s board. Upon her return to Manitou in 1995, she became a founding member as a MHS alumnus of the school’s Heritage Hall exhibit recently transferred to MSHC. She served in the planning stages of the Manitou Springs Heritage Center. Shirley is sure the love of Manitou history and antiques took hold during her years at the Cliff House Hotel during the 1940s and 1950s. Shirley Wade is also a Manitou High School Graduate. Shirley also serves as the Archives coordinator.

Lynn Beckner: Board Member

Lynn joined the Board in 2024 and serves as our Exhibit Project Manager. Lynn spent 35 years working in the computer tech industry at Digital Equipment Corporation, Compaq Computers and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. She has a background in technical support, technical writing and program management.  Her organizational skills and attention to detail have helped the exhibit team stay on track and produce some high quality and engaging exhibits.  Prior to joining the board, Lynn led the creation and implementation of the Manitou Springs 150^th Anniversary Exhibit.  Lynn is comfortable with construction tasks and led the team through a very challenging 2024, where all exhibits had to be removed, then later reconstructed following the building renovation.  Lynn lived in Manitou from 2003-2014 but currently resides on the west side of Colorado Springs.  When she retired in 2017, her love of Manitou and its history drew her back to the Manitou Springs Heritage Center and Museum.

Rhonda Van Pelt: Board Member

Our Valued Volunteers

Exhibits & Educational Events

• Lynn Beckner
• Michael Maio
• Michelle Anthony
• Rhonda Van Pelt

Business and Fundraising Events

• Neale Minch
• Michael Maio
• Kevin Abney

Archive Team

• Shirley Wade
• Debbie Jackson
• Lance Huffman
• Sydne Dean

Heritage Brew Festival

• Neale Minch
• Ceilidh Mar
• Jenna Gallas
• Andrew Hershberger

Brand, Website & Graphics

• Gretchen Wieshuber