President
Jim Jackson
Jim and his wife, Arlene, moved back to Colorado in 2015 after Jim retired from a 23 year career in federal law enforcement in St Louis, MO. He loves the dry climate of Colorado, but misses his Cardinals, both the birds and the baseball team. He currently teaches motorcycle safety to new riders for Harley Davidson. Jim still uses his work experience as a physical security consultant for the government. In his spare time, he and his wife enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking and riding their motorcycles. You will often see Jim and Arlene walking their chocolate lab, Bridger, in the neighborhood.
Jim enjoys meeting his neighbors through his work with the HOA. He believes the best solutions come about when more people contribute to the conversation. Jim also leads up Comstock Estates’ Neighborhood Watch Program and communicates regularly with the Fruita Police Department.
Treasurer
Sam Russo
Sam is a retired combat veteran of the U.S.M.C. After his military career, he became a backcountry Ranger with the Bureau of Land Management followed by the National Park Service. Sam’s plethora of duties included Federal law enforcement, emergency medical services, technical search and rescue, structural and wild-land firefighting, swift-water rescue, and off-road driving instructor.
Too much time away from home and a burning desire to pursue a career in medicine brought Sam to Fruita. He is currently in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Colorado Mesa University and actively volunteers in the local community.
Secretary
Andrea Withrow
Andrea is a recent transplant to Fruita and Comstock Estates, moving here in November 2019 after marrying one of her best friends of over 24 years, Nicholas. She grew up in Aurora, Colorado and worked for OppenheimerFunds Inc. for nearly 24 years. Her experience there was diverse, including multiple leadership and front-line roles in a variety of areas. She is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Investments and Derivatives Auditor.
Andrea is a strong community advocate, focusing on her local community as well as active duty and Veteran Soldiers and their families. She has served on the Board of the Denver Centennial Chapter of AUSA (Association of the United States Army) since 2013, is the current chapter President and is working on establishing a Grand Junction chapter. She brings 19 plus years of HOA experience as President and VP of the board of the Sunburst HOA, a community of 366 townhomes.
Andrea is excited to live on the Western Slope and to explore and discover her new hometown. When she’s not saying yes to volunteering, Andrea likes to travel and stay active by taking long walks, leisurely bicycle and long motorcycle rides with Nic.
Member-at-Large
Joan Robinson
Joan is best known today as the Welcome Home lady in Fruita. New residents to the area are kindly greeted by her smile and introduced to the wonderful benefits of living in Fruita. Prior to moving to Fruita in 2014, she was responsible for school building operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ensuring all ran well and cleaned appropriately. Her management skills were also used to run a family-owned printing business.
Joan raised 4 boys who are all married and has 9 grandchildren who are the love of her life. As she says, “What more do I need? I have 4 boys and that’s all I require.” Joan loves to learn and to problem-solve, be it how to fix her irrigation system, how to remove a tree stump, how to make decorative elements for her house, or how to maintain her motorcycle.
Although she misses Milwaukee and her friends, she loves the climate and all that this area affords her for recreation. As an avid hiker, she is also an avid photographer and captures the glorious red rock beauty of this valley. You might see a motorcyclist ride past who has some resemblance to a Power Ranger – however, it’s Joan on her Yamaha motorcycle decked out in her lime green riding suit.
Joan is the chairperson for the Architectural Control Committee – the go-to-gal to access permission for changing a house’s exterior, be it structural, paint, or landscaping.
Member-at-Large
Kali Sacharski
Kali Sacharski, originally from Wisconsin, has an associate’s degree in Business Management and was a realtor in Wisconsin before working her way up the corporate ladder in retail to Club Manager with Sam’s Club. She left Sam’s Club in March 2021 to move to Fruita, purchasing a house in Comstock Estates with Jenny, her partner in life. She recently earned her Independent Insurance Adjuster license and is licensed in Texas, Utah, and Louisiana. (Colorado doesn’t require a license). During September 2021, she had the exciting experience of being in hot, muggy Louisiana post Hurricane Ida, climbing on roofs and assessing damage to homes as well as working with insureds and insurance companies.
Kali loves riding motorcycles and dirt bikes in the desert, camping, photography, hiking, flying her drone in beautiful places, and just listening to the sounds of nature. She also loves to travel and explore, having visited many countries including Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Colombia, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Andorra, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic
Kali and Jenny have 3 pups, Duke, Daisy, and Gouda. They are excited to ski again and just experience all that Fruita and the Valley have to offer.
Kali is the Member-at-Large for The Comstock Estates Homeowner Association Board.
HOA Management for Comstock Estates
Lori Wood
Lori Wood & her company is responsible for bookkeeping that includes invoicing, receivables/payables and aiding title companies with required closing information; communications with home owners, maintaining covenant violation notifications, fines and history; compliance with state and local requirements; and aids the boards in various capacities.
She is the Owner/Broker for the local and independent Graystone Group Real Estate. As a REALTOR she is a member of Grand Junction, Colorado State and National Realtors Associations. Lori has spent almost 3 decades in the industry and holds several relevant certifications (Graduate of the Realtor Institute, Certified Residential Specialist, and Master in Certified Negotiation Expert) along with a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado Mesa University. She has prior work experience in real estate appraisal research, advertising, and sales management.
Lori’s favorite pastimes are gardening, her family and volunteering at local organizations. She has served the Grand Junction Area Realtors Association as Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Board Member, Public Relations Chair and Chairman of Independent Brokers of Western Colorado. She currently serves our community as President of the Grand Junction Youth Club and volunteers for the Wildfire Coalition of Western Colorado and previously as Branch President of The American Association of University Women, member of the Board of Directors for CMU Alumni Association, and as Founder of Women in Commission Sales.