Sarah Shrader is the Owner and Co-Founder of Bonsai Design, a world-class aerial adventure course design/build firm based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Shrader's attention to detail and profitability has facilitated Bonsai's exponential growth over the last fifteen years, helping to position Bonsai as an industry leader in sustainable outdoor aerial adventure. Shrader is a founder of the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of the Grand Valley (ORC), a group of businesses and organizations committed to economic development in the outdoor recreation industry in Western Colorado. The ORC has had statewide recognition as a leader of the grassroots effort to bring economic diversity to rural Colorado through the outdoor recreation industry. In 2019, Shrader testified at a Congressional hearing in Washington about the outdoor recreation economy in rural communities, highlighting the ORC's efforts. She is an executive committee member of the State of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. She also serves as a board member of Colorado Public Radio and the Colorado Forum. Shrader was a Colorado Governor's Fellow for 2018-2019.
Most recently she took on a new position as Program Director and Faculty at Colorado Mesa University's new Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies Bachelor of Science degree. Shrader is excited about engaging students in one of the fastest growing industries in the country and helping them pursue their own outdoor passion. In her free time, she can be found climbing 14ers, paddling the Colorado river, trail running and skiing with her husband, Thaddeus, and their three boys.
The outdoor recreation industry is one of the fastest growing economic drivers in our country, and Shrader is inspired to help build outdoor recreation industry professionals at CMU. With a thorough knowledge of business and outdoor recreation, she is excited about helping students find their own outdoor passion and build a career around something they love.
