Dialogue and curiosity. These are two of the most important ingredients in finding solutions to the trickiest challenges. This foundational view is what fuels Gini Pingenot in her work with county government. Serving as the Director of External Affairs for Colorado Counties, Inc., Gini advocates for system change in affordable housing, public health, tax policy, public assistance, behavioral health and other areas that touch on the social determinants of health. She is deeply committed to policy and system changes that create options for communities around the state so that the tools and resources for change are readily available. Gini was born in Atlanta, Georgia where she spent many summers riding bikes to the pool, chasing fire flies and listening to the southern summer hum of cicadas, katydids and crickets. Her undergraduate degree is in biology and she holds a Master’s degree in ecology and sustainable development. She’s the proud mother of two kids and can typically be found in the evening hours walking in the neighborhood with her husband.