THE DIRECTORS

KERRY ALLISON

Director of Homeowner Partnerships, City of Boulder


Kerry Bertrand is a property management and hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience building systems that balance operational excellence with exceptional guest experience. Her career spans short-term rental management, business ownership, design, and service-driven environments where clarity, consistency, and care define success. Known for creating clear systems, leading teams with integrity, and anticipating both guest and owner needs, Kerry approaches property management as both a business and a craft. Her background in operations and design helps protect property value while creating spaces that feel intentional, well-run, and genuinely welcoming. For The Boulder Home Collection, Kerry brings that same philosophy: treat every property as both an asset and a lived-in space that deserves respect, professionalism, and attention to detail. Kerry draws inspiration from Under the Tuscan Sun: a story about reinvention, hospitality, and creating home with heart. "It's a reminder that reinvention is not a break from life, but a return to beauty, intention, and what feels true. I move through the world with an eye for place, a respect for process, and a belief that care and attention can transform ordinary moments into meaningful ones." She approaches each Sundance property not just as a space to manage, but as a place where stories unfold.

ALI ANN FINNESY

Customer Service Manager


Ali Ann Finnesy was born and raised in Boulder and is deeply connected to her community. With over 25 years of experience in embodied leadership and mind-body awareness, she brings calm intuition, adaptability, and steady problem-solving to guest relations and customer service. Her warm, positive presence creates clarity and trust during high-pressure moments when guests need responsive support. For festival week, when industry professionals are operating on tight schedules and properties must function seamlessly, Ali Ann's grounded approach ensures every guest interaction feels attentive, genuine, and effortless. She understands that exceptional customer service isn't about scripts, it's about presence. Being attuned to what's needed, anticipating concerns before they escalate, and responding with grace and professionalism. As someone committed to being of service wherever needed, Ali Ann ensures that every guest feels genuinely cared for. Ali Ann's favorite film is The Matrix because it sparked her journey of self-inquiry during her formative years. "It stopped me in my tracks and invited me to question not just the world around me, but my place within it. I was struck by how a film could do more than entertain, it could act as medicine for the psyche, opening awareness and catalyzing inner change." That same philosophy guides her customer service approach: create experiences that shift perspective, even in small ways.

AURA MENDEZ

Marketing Manager


Aura Méndez brings over a decade of creative strategy and project management experience spanning multinational advertising agencies and boutique ventures across three continents. Her career began working for global agencies including McCann Erickson, Wunderman, and BBDO, developing creative campaigns and brand concepts for worldwide clients where precision, creativity, and strategic thinking defined success. Her professional path combines the structural rigor of major agencies with the agility of smaller teams. She's led both project management and creative development, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and optimizing resources in fast-paced environments. Her international experience spans diverse roles: from customer service excellence to building comprehensive marketing systems, creating compelling content, and designing service protocols that elevate operations. For The Boulder Home Collection, Aura brings that rare blend: big-agency strategic thinking meets startup adaptability. She understands how to build brands that resonate, create content that converts, and communicate across cultures with empathy and clarity. Whether developing marketing campaigns, coordinating cross-functional teams, or optimizing customer touchpoints, she operates with organization, leadership, and a results-driven mindset. Fluent in Spanish and English (and currently learning Italian), Aura knows how to connect with diverse audiences, essential when marketing festival accommodations to international guests and local property owners simultaneously. Choosing a favorite film isn't easy for Aura: cinema has been essential to her life since childhood. She's drawn to classics like The Godfather, Latin American cinema like El secreto de sus ojos and Amores perros, and contemplative films like Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring. She enjoys large-scale productions like The Matrix and Titanic without prejudice, but independent cinema has always been her favorite. One director she particularly admires is Quentin Tarantino, especially for Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs. "More than choosing a single favorite film, what truly defines me is my love for a good story: no matter how or where it's told. That's exactly how I approach marketing: find the story that resonates, then tell it in a way that connects."

LESLIE JONES

Director of Homeowner Partnerships, Boulder County


Leslie Jones brings over 30 years of experience as an executive coach and entrepreneur, with a unique gift for creating breakthrough moments and unlocking potential in leaders. Her work centers on a powerful truth: who you are in one area affects every other area, and real transformation requires integrating all the pieces. As a multiple business founder herself, Leslie understands both the operational challenges and the personal dynamics required to build something meaningful. She's lived the entrepreneurial journey and knows what it takes to lead with clarity, navigate uncertainty, and build partnerships grounded in trust. For The Boulder Home Collection, Leslie applies that coaching expertise to homeowner relationships and team dynamics. She understands what drives people, how to resolve unseen barriers, and how to create environments where collaboration thrives. This isn't transactional property management: it's partnership built on empathy, strategic thinking, and commitment to mutual success. Leslie's favorite film is Mystic River because it explores trauma, community, loyalty, and the paradigms we live from, and their impact. "It's about partnership, what matters around leadership and support, and how our past shapes the choices we make. Those themes run through everything I do: understanding people deeply, meeting them where they are, and helping them move forward with power and purpose." She brings that same approach to every homeowner partnership and team interaction.

RACHAEL KLINSKY

Customer Services Executive


Rachael Klinsky brings a psychology background and genuine customer service expertise to The Boulder Home Collection. Currently completing her bachelor's degree in psychology at Colorado State University, she understands what drives exceptional service: empathy, active listening, and the ability to anticipate needs before they're voiced. Originally from Chicago and now calling Colorado home, Rachael has worked in customer service roles throughout the state, developing the skill of making people feel heard, valued, and genuinely cared for, even during high, pressure moments. Her psychology training informs how she approaches every guest interaction: understanding that behind every inquiry is a person with specific needs, concerns, and expectations. For festival week, when industry professionals arrive exhausted from travel, juggling tight schedules, and navigating an unfamiliar city, Rachael's calm presence and problem-solving instincts ensure every interaction feels personal and professional. She knows that great customer service isn't about reading scripts: it's about reading people. When she's not working, Rachael loves music, playing badminton, and spending time with loved ones, the kind of person who values connection, which shows in how she works. Rachael's favorite film is Twilight because of its stunning Pacific Northwest scenery and compelling love story. "There's something about films that transport you to beautiful places and make you feel deeply connected to the characters. That's what I want guests to experience in Boulder: a place that's visually stunning and where they feel genuinely welcomed and cared for."

MARY SARMIENTOS

Customer Services Executive


Mary Sarmiento brings nearly a decade of bilingual customer service excellence to The Boulder Home Collection. With experience spanning international airlines, financial services, and team management at Teleperformance and Scotiabank, she's mastered the art of clear communication across cultures and high-pressure environments. Her background includes managing customer service teams, analyzing metrics to improve performance, and providing empathetic support to clients worldwide—from Copa Airlines passengers to Canadian banking customers. Maria's multilingual skills (Spanish, English, and Portuguese) and her ability to adapt quickly make her invaluable during festival week when guests arrive from around the globe with varying needs and expectations. For Sundance, when industry professionals need responsive, professional support at any hour, Maria ensures every interaction feels personal, solved, and genuinely cared for. She understands that great customer service isn't about scripts—it's about listening, anticipating needs, and making people feel valued. Maria's favorite film is Back to the Future because she watched it constantly as a kid and was fascinated by all the amazing things it showed—things that didn't exist yet. "It made me wonder what the future would really be like. I also love it because I used to watch it with my family, and those are really special memories for me. It reminds me that the best experiences are the ones we share with people who matter." That philosophy guides her customer service approach: create moments people remember, and make every guest feel like they matter.

THE PRODUCTION CREW