Saguache County Sustainable Environment & Economic Development

Whitney Smalley-Freed has called Saguache home for the past six years and joined the ScSEED board in 2023. She holds a PhD in cancer research and has spent the last 15 years building and running her own medical writing business. Her work focuses on developing continuing medical education for physicians, with an emphasis on improving patient care for all patients, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or health literacy.

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Whitney’s connection to Saguache began through family. After her parents retired to the area in 2016, she found herself drawn to the San Luis Valley during frequent visits. Each time she came, it became a little harder to leave. In 2020, she made the move permanent.

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Her path to ScSEED came through a desire to give back locally. After seeing a post from ScSEED Board Chair Max Gibson about an opening for Treasurer, Whitney recognized an opportunity to apply her prior nonprofit financial experience. She stepped into the role with a strong commitment to transparency and integrity in ScSEED’s financial operations.

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When Whitney joined the board, the Treasurer position had been vacant for several months, and the organization’s financial records required significant attention. With the support of bookkeeper Juli Close, ScSEED was able to restore and strengthen its financial systems. Today, Whitney helps ensure that the organization maintains accurate, reliable, and accountable financial practices.

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Whitney views ScSEED’s most important work as building connections across Saguache County. This includes supporting small businesses, strengthening relationships among community members, and creating space for collaboration. Through its fiscal sponsorship model, ScSEED also supports affiliated nonprofits by managing administrative needs, allowing those organizations to focus on delivering programs and resources to the community.

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From Whitney’s perspective, this work reaches beyond Saguache County. By supporting initiatives like the Crestone Energy Fair, the San Luis Valley Seed Exchange, the Crestone Community Garden, and Crestone Artists, ScSEED contributes to a stronger and more resilient San Luis Valley.