Our Leadership

"I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people."
-Mahatma Gandhi

Rev. Melissa "Bee" Ashton, ADF-MB, MNM

An Ohio native, Rev. Missy came to Colorado to share her remarkable talents with our Grove. A former editor-in-chief of ADF's international publication, Oak Leaves, a professional medical laboratory scientist, and mother of three, Rev. Missy became the first of ADF's Master Bards, founded the Order of Bardic Alchemy, and served as the national Member's Advocate for three consecutive terms. Her music is the spirit of our Grove. She is the keeper of our tales, the singer of our songs, our Bard… in the most sacred sense of the word. Ordained on August 16, 2014, In December of 2017, Rev. Missy graduated with honors with her Masters of Non-Profit Management from Regis University, Denver. Rev. Missy's commitment to polytheist modernity and poetic relevance inspires us whenever we're blessed to hear her. An accomplished cook and epicurean, you can find her sharing meals around her table with the folk on a daily basis.

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Rev. Sara K. Blackwelder, ADF

Recently of Manatee Oak ProtoGrove, ADF in Tampa, FL, Rev. Sara (and her daughter) have had quite the life-change moving from there to Colorado. Enjoying a place that celebrates all four seasons, she brings the gifts of two Bachelor degrees, one in Anthropology (focus on religious practices within the realm of cultural anthropology) and another in Religious Studies, both from the University of Central Florida. An extremely talented musician (pianist) and vocalist, Rev. Sara has worked from Disney to the exhibits & collections departments of museums. Joining ADF in 2008, she completed her Dedicant work in the spring of 2012, and around the same time, started her own ProtoGrove. In December of 2014, Rev. Sara received her ordination. Additionally, she has also served as national Treasurer, South East Regional Druid, Bardic Guild Chief, Scholar’s Guild and Bardic Order Preceptor, and most recently the Sacred Fires SIG Chief. Focusing her current work on Home Hearth Practices, Rev. Sara is an excellent resource for those wanting to deepen their home devotional work.

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Rev. William E. Ashton, ADF (Rev. Badger)

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rev. William attended Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where in 2007 he graduated with a degree in Religious Studies, minoring in Psychology. Currently residing in Longmont, CO, he is one of the Priests and founder of Mountain Ancestors Grove. First joining ADF in 1997, Rev. William shortly thereafter went on religious walkabout for nearly a decade, taking time away from his polytheist practice. After much soul searching, he returned to ADF in 2009 with renewed perspective and awakened passion. On February 8th, 2014 he was ordained as a priest in ADF. He spends his time playing mandolin (and some guitar), writing, engaging in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and education, community service, and sharing a larger vision of how a polytheist perspective can lead to greater human understanding, acceptance, and gods be good, peace.

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Nickolas Jones, President

Nick is a Colorado Native and grew up on a small farm outside of Longmont, CO. Coming from a farming background, the Wheel of the year always made sense to him, and after leaving the Catholic Church at age 17 and trying to find his own spiritual path for 25+ years he came to ADF and Mountain Ancestors. Nick is a entrepreneur and Limited Principal with a Asset Management Firm in Denver. Nick took over as Senior Druid in May of 2017. Nick's passion for people and building community led him to Mountain Ancestors Grove and his service with the Board of Directors. His vision is to grow a healthy and vibrant community in and around Mountain Ancestors, focused on right relationship with the land, our past, one another, and the Divine.

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Nieves Aleman, Treasurer

Nieves is a Colorado Native from the north side of Denver. She is a business woman and student of people. Having run her own business and managing a 50+ person sales office, she joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer in January of 2017. She is fascinated with what brings people and communities together and keeps them together. She never thought that she would find herself in a church that accepted her, and now she helps to build accepting communities with Mountain Ancestors with an eye toward building a self-sustaining Eco-Village in the future.

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Alicia Yantosca, Children's Programming Director