A survivor of the Waldo Canyon Wildfire of 2012, Kerri Waite began her work with UP as a volunteer assisting in her own community’s long-term recovery then transitioned into the role of UP’s Colorado Coordinator one year later when a second major wildfire broke out in El Paso County. Kerri was intricately involved in lobbying for the Colorado Homeowners Insurance Reform Act of 2013.   Kerri has since served as the Colorado Coordinator of the 2013, 2015, and 2020 Roadmap to Recovery Programs as well as Roadmap to Preparedness Programs in 13 counties.   An experienced advocate helping survivors navigate the insurance claim process, Kerri has been a contributing writer of the Survivors Speak, Partial Loss Section of the Claim Guidance Library, and Disaster Tax Tips publications.

In April of 2014, The Mountain Shadows Community Association, representing the neighborhood that took the brunt of the Waldo Canyon Firestorm, awarded Kerri their “Good Neighbor Award” for her advocacy and recovery work in the community.  Kerri holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management and Administration from The University of New Orleans.