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Originally from Manchester England, Lee Jones relocated to the Vail Valley in 2000. For the past 25 years, Lee has been a leader in local nonprofits, including 12 years with the Vail Valley Foundation (VVF), where he served in a variety of leadership roles, including  Vice President of Membership and Development. In addition to leading the development efforts at the Vail Valley Foundation, Lee also served as Director of Operations for a year and spent nearly nine years as Director of Programs in the Foundation’s education department. 
 

In 2017, Lee joined Steadman Philippon Research Institute as Vice President (VP) of Development and Patient Excellence Programs. In this role, Lee advanced SPRI’s philanthropic funding and cultivated meaningful and impactful relationships with benefactors, community members and partners. During his time as VP of Development, Lee collaborated closely with the institute’s executive leadership, research teams and physician partners from The Steadman Clinic, demonstrating profound leadership skills, a passion for the organization and a vision for the future. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2025.
 

As COO, Lee works in close partnership with SPRI’s executive leaders, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Chairman, alongside the science and administrative teams and Board of Directors. In addition to his continued attention to fundraising and donor relations, Lee is focused on developing, implementing and overseeing comprehensive operational strategies that resonate and align with the institute’s major funding sources, prioritizing a sustainable future for SPRI and its world-class scientific research.