Michael McFaul is the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in Political Science, Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. He was also the Distinguished Mingde Faculty Fellow at the Stanford Center at Peking University from June to August of 2015. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1995. He is also an analyst for NBC News and a contributing columnist to The Washington Post. McFaul served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014). He has authored several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller,  “From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia.”  Earlier books include Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should, How We Can; Transitions To Democracy: A Comparative Perspective  (eds. with Kathryn Stoner); Power and Purpose: American Policy toward Russia after the Cold War (with James Goldgeier); and Russia’s Unfinished Revolution: Political Change from Gorbachev to Putin. His current research interests include American foreign policy, great power relations between China, Russia, and the United States, and the relationship between democracy and development. 

Prof. McFaul was born and raised in Montana. He received his B.A. in International Relations and Slavic Languages and his M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Stanford University in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar, he completed his D. Phil. in International Relations at Oxford University in 1991.

My Values: Family, Hard Work, Honesty, Community, and Fiscal Responsibility.

Growing Up: I was born and raised in Eads, CO. My parents, Henry “Burrel” and Ruby, were from farming families and longtime residents of the area. I have an older brother, Ken. My father was a barber by trade and operated Burrel’s Barber Shop after serving overseas in World War II. He semi-retired from his shop and worked for the local Draft Board until fully retiring in 1986. My mother worked in the office of the local Eads hospital for over 30 years until 1987. Following retirement, they moved to Fairplay to help my wife, Lillian, and I raise our children.

My father and two of his brothers (one older, one younger) each married one of the three Buck sisters!

My First Job: When I was 12, I began working at the local flower and gift shop owned by my aunt and uncle. Frequently, we worked into the night getting flowers ready for weddings or funerals. This is where I learned the work ethic that I still carry with me today. They later opened Wissel Dry Goods where I worked through high school until leaving for college in 1974.

College: I left for college in the fall of 1974 and attended Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo, and attended one year.  I was a music major with a minor in Business Administration. I loved band.

Love for Music: I am a drummer to the core; playing music is my passion. In fact, I played rock ‘n’ roll with my brother from age 12 through today! He plays bass guitar. Our dad used to drive us to and from gigs around southeastern Colorado when we were starting out. Music was always important in our family. My father loved music – he played trumpet and was a member of our church choir along with my mother. They always sang for Sunday services. I still enjoy singing hymns at church on Sundays.

As a child, I tried to learn piano, but my teacher couldn’t get me to play softly. I wanted to make noise – not just music! In fifth grade, I switched to drums.

Finding My Forever Home: I moved to Fairplay in the summer of 1979 to play rock ‘n’ roll with my brother Ken who was working for CDOT as a “drift buster.” I needed a day job so I applied for a position at the Park County Assessor’s Office doing administrative work. I was promoted to Deputy Assessor after six months and in October 1980, I was appointed as Assessor. I proudly served in that capacity for 38 years.

My grandfather, Aurelias Barr worked on the Sam Hartsel Ranch in the 1920’s – 30’s with his two brothers. That was the beginning of our family heritage in South Park.

Love of my Life: I met my wife, Lillian, in 1980 while we were both working for Park County – I was Deputy Assessor and she was Administrative Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners. We became fast friends and shortly after getting to know her, I knew she was the one. We were married in May 1982. We have three children together: Brandon, Jennifer and Dominic. Lillian has two sons from a previous marriage, Mark and Jeffery. We have a wonderful, large family that has given us grandchildren, great grandchildren and grand-dogs!

My Hobbies: Playing drums! I was a member of the band Revolver from 1979-2012 . We played classic rock ‘n’ roll all over Park County. I get an opportunity to play every now and then, and I still love it! I also enjoy spending time with my family – we are lucky that our children live in Colorado.  

I also serve on the Board of the Upper South Platte Water Conservancy District (USPWCD) and have been involved with that organization since 1985. I wanted to get involved and give back to the county that had given me so much.

My Philosophy: Lillian and I do not know a stranger. We are regular local folks. We have remained here through these years because we love this place, and the people. I am a good listener - I have to be - since I have hearing loss in my left ear. I was swimming and got an ear infection when I was five. It has taught me to be a very attentive listener.

My Favorites:

• Food - Pork Chops & Rice.

• Sport - All Colorado based teams, college and professional. Love the Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and Avalanche. Go CU Buffs!

• Dream Vacation Spot - Colorado - there’s no place like it. Anything with water and camping is always awesome.

• Band - Revolver of course ;) I also love Rush (Neal Perth is my idol as a drummer), Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Eric Clapton, Journey and anything that has that old classic rock feel.

READ MORE AT: https://www.wissel4parkco.com/blank-page

Karen received her Masters’ Degree in Social Work from Columbia University and has worked in the areas of family therapy, eldercare and PTSD.

Acclaimed talk show host of Spouting Off

As a performer, she has toured the country in musical comedies, entertained on cruise ships and appeared in television and film. Her broadcast experience includes turns as a classical music radio announcer, news-caster, voice-over artist and of course, talk radio host. She lends her operatic voice to a variety of fundraisers and community events and has sung the National Anthem and God Bless America in numerous venues from State Legislatures to the New Jersey Nets.

Karen has trained people of all ages in public speaking, voice and diction, assertiveness and interpersonal communication. She taught communications at a Manhattan corporate training firm, the New School for Social Research, Parsons School of Design in New York, New Jersey’s Montclair State College, and Fairleigh Dickenson University, among others.

In politics, Karen has written numerous editorials and run for public office. She is passionate about freedom, equal justice and personal responsibility. You might have trouble pigeonholing her.

She enjoys encouraging people to think for themselves and to question everything.

Karen is the author of the awarding winning memoir, FATLASH! Food Police & the Fear of Thin, a memoir about her "stage mother on steroids" and her participation in child beauty pageants.

Find Your Voice; Share Your Story!

Tina Bakehouse is protecting audiences from boring speakers and speeches!



Tina B. provides public speaking coaching and communication consulting to help individuals and organizations like Practical Farmers of Iowa, Union Pacific, First National Bank, and Children’s Hospital, to communicate more effectively.



With more than 20 years of teaching communication and theatre (10 years at Creighton University), a TEDx speaker and coach, Tina B. is passionate about educating others to become more self-aware and enhance their speaker style. She also holds two Bas (communication studies and psychology, and the second in theatre and English teaching), plus a master’s degree in communication studies, as well as studying two levels of improvisation training.

Her past positions have included Malvern Bank’s Chief Creative Officer, assisting with community development and coordinating financial literacy and educational opportunities for Mills County and Golden Hills RC & D as Outreach & Communication Coordinator, promoting the arts and local foods in southwest Iowa.

Tina has performed and coordinated multiple storytelling shows in southwest Iowa, including two teen shows. A Leadership Iowa alum, Tina B. continues to use her creativity, leadership, and passion for the arts to help people communicate effectively and solve problems through her 3-month signature group coaching program: The Magnetic Speaker Blueprint. Tina lives at Maple Edge Farm, a 152-year-old family farm in southwest Iowa, with her husband Jon and son Anderson.



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