A Fond Farewell to Retiring Trustees and a Warm Welcome to Our Newest Member

Matt served as a trustee from 2014 to 2024. During his time with Palmer, he served on nearly every committee and in every officer role, including Chair from 2020-2021. Matt dedicated extensive time and expertise to the Bessemer Farmland Initiative, to which he contributed from its early stages to the implementation of the pilot phase. Most recently, he served as a member of the Executive Committee, where he provided valuable perspectives from his tenure with Palmer. We deeply appreciate his many years of service.

Alex served as a trustee from 2019 to 2024. As an experienced rancher, Alex provided a unique perspective and crucial expertise to technical land transaction discussions. Alex is the manager of the Dale Lasater Ranch in Elbert County, where his family has implemented holistic grazing practices and closed-herd cattle breeding since 1937. Alex continues his family’s legacy of excellence in breeding genetics and meeting the needs of the commercial cattleman. Alex served as a trusted member of the Land Committee throughout his tenure with Palmer, and his experience has been much appreciated

Brandon Johnson, Palmer’s newest trustee, joined the Board in October of 2024. Before joining the Board, Brandon and his wife, Dr. Paula Dionisio, MD became executive co-producers of Palmer’s award-winning film—Mirasol: Looking at the Sun, which takes place in their hometown of Pueblo, Colorado. 

Brandon Johnson is a husband, father, and community leader deeply engaged in the Colorado Rocky Mountain Region. A native of Pueblo, Colorado, Brandon graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 2000, earning degrees in Civil Engineering and Economics.

After his time at Mines, Brandon launched his career in the technology sector and has since amassed nearly 25 years at Accenture. He currently serves as Managing Director for an Americas Platform Technology Business Group. In this role, he drives innovation and revenue growth by helping Fortune 500 companies execute large-scale, complex technology transformations across Finance, HCM, Supply Chain, and Digital Customer Experiences.

Over the past decade, Brandon has extended his leadership into the nonprofit sector, supporting numerous Colorado-based institutions through board memberships and advisory roles. His contributions include:
• Rocky Mountain Junior Achievement
• Colorado Springs YMCA
• Colorado School of Mines Athletics
• Colorado State University Pueblo Athletics Advisory
• Accenture Student Leadership Council Advisory

Together with his wife, Dr. Paula Dionisio, Brandon has been a dedicated philanthropist, providing financial support to key community initiatives. Brandon’s passion for joining the Palmer Land Conservancy stems from his multi-generational heritage in Pueblo and his commitment to preserving the Arkansas Valley for future generations. Drawing on his engineering background, he aims to integrate innovative, sustainable strategies inspired by corporate practices into land conservation efforts.