Chris joined SLVEC in June 2000. She mobilized key local and regional constituencies to support legislation for the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act 0f 2000 and received congressional recognition for her efforts. In coordination with the EPA Region 8, she enjoined with SLV community leaders to prioritize environmental health protocols which have since engaged over 1,000 households in educational forums for protecting their indoor air and water quality through mitigation and regular household maintenance. Chris developed a solar/transmission working group in 2009 that had a tremendous impact on renewable energy awareness and continues in pursuit of strategy for distributed solar generation. She has participated with core teams to develop other SLV conservation organizations including: Citizens for San Luis Valley Water, which opposed a trans-basin water diversion; EPA TAG Summitville mine oversight and clean up; Rio Grande Headwaters Landtrust: Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area and is currently collaborating with Conejos Clean Water to structure a USDA RUS Solid Waste Management and EPA Recycling Plan for the SLV. Before moving to the SLV in 1988, she worked as an engineer with CNN Headlines in Atlanta, Georgia and NBC News in New York City.

Christine is the recipient of several awards:

• EPA Environmental Stewardship Award, 2008.

• The Jasper Carlton "Activist in the Trenches" Award, presented by the Rocky Mountain Wild BOD, 2015

• Fund For Wild Nature Grassroots Activist of the Year, 2017

• CO School of Public Health–CWHE Partner of the Year- 2023