Carol is the founder and executive director of PAW. She began her career with a special assignment in 1988 from the U. S. Forest Service to help create access to its programs and facilities by persons with disabilities. As PAW's Director, she has spent a large part of her time teaching the importance of universal design to government agencies and college students. Universal design is simply good design that includes persons of all ages and abilities. She has also written several books and articles on universal design and outdoor recreation. The best known is Everyone's Nature: Designing Interpretation to Include All which was written in 1994 for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. In 2002, the second edition, Everyone's Nature: Accessible Outdoor Facilities and Programs Using Universal Design was published.

Carol  represented PAW on the Access Board's Regulatory-Negotiation Committee to draft the Americans with Disabilities Act for Outdoor Developed Recreation Sites.

Before serving as PAW's Director, Carol was a historical researcher. Her favorite project was gathering oral histories and legends from the Crow tribal members. This background helped her completed the Archeological Assessment for the Berthoud Pass Research Corridor for Universal Design in 2007. 

Carol enjoys being a long-time mentor/client for the Colorado School of Mines EPICS Department for projects using universal design for outdoor recreation.

She also volunteers as the Grand County contact for the Independent Life Center, Inc (ILC) of Craig, Colorado.  The ILC in Craig serves people with disabilities in Grand, Moffat, Routt, Rio Blanco and Summit Counties.  The Center is a place for persons with disabilities to learn to live independently.