Board of Directors
We strive to help those who are less fortunate, and to foster a legacy of giving back.
Rusty Crossland (Founder)
After graduating college in 1969 and a teaching and coaching career in Atlanta, Rusty joined 6 other individuals and started a financial services company in 1977. Rusty moved to Colorado in 1994 where he lives today in the small mountain town of Durango where his office and museum are located. He also has a second home in Scottsdale, AZ. Rusty has 4 children and 7 grand children.
Frosty Merriott (Financial Director)
Mr. Merriott received his B.S. in accounting from Louisiana Tech University in 1971. He has extensive experience in tax planning and compliance, Internal Revenue Service examinations and management advisory services. He gained valuable tax expertise as the Corporate Tax Manager for Country Pride Foods, Ltd; a multi-state food processing conglomerate, and subsequently became partner in charge of the tax department at Roberts, Cherry & Company, a large local CPA firm in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Merriott coordinated the accounting services function in the Lakewood, Colorado office of Gordon, Hughes, and Banks, LLP before beginning the firm of J. Frost Merriot Inc CPA in Basalt in march of 1998. He specializes in the areas of taxation, attestation and accounting services for closely held companies in the industries of insurance, financial services, medical services, oil and gas, real estate, construction and manufacturing.
Frosty and his family, along with Goldens Daisey, Bentley, and Miley lived 25 years at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale and remain members of Orchard Church.
Theresa Riddle (Managing Director)
Theresa M. Riddle is Managing Director and founder of The Crossland Group, with primary responsibility for innovation, business creation and account and strategic partnership management. With a strong focus on translating the critical linkages between strategy and execution, she designs customized solutions that help clients achieve sustainable business results fast. Ms. Riddle applies her vast international public and private sector business experience—working in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas—to support clients from a diverse and cross-cultural market base. Ms. Riddle has worked extensively in the areas of organizational design and change management, strategy and innovation and leadership development. She is committed to helping organizations build capability through the design and delivery of formalized internal consultant engagements, and has demonstrated this in places like The World Bank Group, IBM, BF Goodrich and The Boeing Company. Crossland Group works closely with Governments, NGOs, donor groups and development organizations across the globe to help countries execute their complex strategies—with a strong focus on youth and addressing infectious diseases like HIV/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Ms. Riddle has played a significant role in the company’s African strategy. Ms. Riddle received her MBA from Boston University and holds advanced degrees in Business Management and Human Services from the University of New Hampshire. She is the recipient of New Hampshire’s “Outstanding Woman Achievers” and was honored with the “Excellence in Management” Award by the New Hampshire Charitable Fund.