Speakers & Trainers

Keynote Luncheon Speaker - Robert Egger

Robert Egger is the founder and president of DC Central Kitchen, where unemployed men and women learn marketable culinary skills while foods donated by restaurants, hotels and caterers are converted into balanced meals. DC Central Kitchen takes in close to two tons of food per day, converts it into 4,500 meals, and delivers those meals to partner agencies that serve seniors, kids, people in shelters, and folks in recovery/addiction programs throughout the DC metro area. Nationally, Mr. Egger was a founder and the co-convener of the first ever Nonprofit Congress in 2006. He now directs the V3 Campaign, which is working to get the Voice, Value and Votes of the nonprofit sector recognized in every election in America. Among his many other honors, Robert Egger has been named three years in a row to the Non Profit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 list as one of the sector’s top executives and thinkers. Learn more about him at www.robertegger.org.

Capacity Building Workshop Trainers, Presenters and Panelists:

Mark D. Andersen has more than fifteen years of nonprofit experience in administration, fundraising, program management, and community relations. Mark is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Communication. He has worked in development at the University of Colorado Foundation; led a summer camp for children with chronic medical conditions; managed an experiential education program at a residential treatment facility for abused, neglected and adjudicated youth; and run the local United Way in Routt County. Currently, Mark works as an independent facilitator/consultant to assist organizations with a variety of issues including strategic planning, board development and organizational structure.

Sue Birch is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Birch has served the Northwest Colorado VNA for the past 15 years, where she has been instrumental in expanding programs, developing strategic partnerships and strengthening operations. Birch recently completed the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Livingston Fellowship and the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship.

Shelli Bischoff-Turner is the co-founder and president of Conservation Impact. Shelli specializes in strategic positioning, marketing and organizational development. She works with clients to be more constituent-centered and position them for success. She is passionate about focus and efficacy—doing the right things to get intended results. She is the co-founder and president of Conservation Impact. Shelli specializes in strategic positioning, marketing and organizational development. She works with clients to be more constituent-centered and position them for success. She is passionate about focus and efficacy—doing the right things to get intended results. Since founding Conservation Impact in 1996, Shelli has served more than 300 organizations including land trusts, watershed groups, state, regional and national resource management and protection coalitions, and environmental grant makers. Three years ago, Shelli founded Nonprofit Impact to serve a broader array of nonprofits including human services, women's rights, and arts, culture, and historic preservation organizations. Shelli has provided consulting, training, and facilitation to nonprofits, government agencies and small businesses for the past 25 years. Her knowledge is based on significant hands-on management experience in starting and growing organizations. Her experience includes creating revenue-generating nonprofit enterprises in the juvenile justice field, fundraising for environmental education, and creating a several million-dollar profit center in higher education. Prior to her work with Conservation Impact, Shelli founded and managed the Red Rocks Institute. Shelli has also held positions as assistant state director for the Small Business Development Center; executive director of Midtown Services; project director for the Colorado Technical Assistance Center; director of development for Thorne Ecological Institute; and technical assistance planner in the U.S. Department of Interior.

Elaine Brett is principal consultant for EMB Associates LLC. She has worked in the private, government and nonprofit sectors in organization development and change leadership. A graduate of the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, Elaine now lives in Hotchkiss, Colorado and is involved in numerous community organizations including the Black Canyon Land Trust and Western Colorado Food & Ag Council. 

Mary Brown has more than two decades’ experience in policymaking and public affairs, including extensive work in land use planning, water projects, natural resources and real estate development. She served on the Steamboat Springs City Council for eight years, including four as council president, and she served on the Executive Board of the Colorado Municipal League, providing her great insight into consensus-building, navigating local government processes, and effectively engaging public officials and communities on behalf of clients. Mary also served as director for external affairs for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment under Governors Romer and Owens and was a gubernatorial appointee to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, where she served as chairperson for two years and buttressed her understanding of complex environmental and public health issues. Mary is now the president of InterMountain Corporate Affairs, a Colorado-based public affairs consulting firm.

Dace Carver Kramer has over 10 years’ experience working in communities and in the nonprofit sector.  Her background includes expertise in community development, research and development, fundraising, project design and program implementation devoted to issues that affect rural citizens and communities in the Rocky Mountain West.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Duke University. As Director of Wellness and Aging Services, Dace has combined her wide range of expertise in facilitation, strategic planning, governance, resource and community development, sustainability strategies, marketing and public relations with her passion for healthy aging.  Through her efforts, Dace has helped to create and implement Aging Well, a unique community innovation in the delivery of healthcare and social services to older adults in rural areas.  Under Dace’s leadership, the Aging Well program has gained national exposure and recognition as a model of comprehensive home and community-based services, activities and programs emphasizing wellness and prevention for older adults who reside in rural areas and desire to remain at home in their communities for as long as possible.

Sara Craig-Scheckman is the Executive Director of the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation (CSFF). Sara founded the CSFF with husband Michael in 2005. Through the CSFF, Sara runs the grassroots Youth Advocacy Project for Routt County (YAP). The CSFF grants approximately $160,000 annually through YAP to agencies, schools, and other nonprofit groups throughout Routt County that are providing services to special needs, at-risk and/or low income youth. Sara serves as an advisory board member for Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Partners in Routt County and First Impressions of Routt County, all organizations working to serve youth. She is also an active volunteer at the Lowell Whitman Primary School. In 1992, Sara received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In 1995, she received a J.D. from City University of New York.

Dana Duran, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Craig, has worked for the organization for almost two years. Growing up in Colorado fueled Dana's affection for working in the outdoors. She has a passion for leadership and serving the common good. Dana supports Rural Philanthropy Days because she values the critical role nonprofits play in every community.

Sarah Fischler is the Interim Co-Director for the Community Resource Center and oversees CRC’s training, consulting, and rural outreach activities.  Previously, Sarah served as the Director of Grantmaking and Mission Initiatives for the Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure where she oversaw the distribution of nearly $10 million in funding.  Sarah graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor of arts in history, a bachelor of science in business administration, and a master’s degree in public administration.  Sarah brings expertise in grantmaking, board development, fundraising, planning, organizational assessment, and program development, management, and evaluation to CRC.  Sarah is also the co-author of Engaging Tomorrow’s Donors Today, a toolkit for nonprofits interested in utilizing social media tools and developing specific strategies to attract and engage younger donors.

Lisa Flores is Senior Program Officer at the Gates Family Foundation, where she reviews capital grant proposals for small and large projects throughout the state of Colorado. Previously, she served as senior staff to Denver’s Mayor Hickenlooper. Earlier in her career (when she had more energy than experience), she served as executive director and raised operating and capital funds for the Denver Inner City Parish, a multigenerational community center. Flores received her Master’s in Nonprofit Management at Regis University and is an alumni trainer for the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training.

Dan Harris is Regional Philanthropic Manager with the Wells Fargo Charitable Management Group. Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2006, Dan was director of gift planning for the Community First Foundation, a position he held for five years. Dan has more than 18 years of financial markets experience, including positions in the Unites States, Japan and Germany.  Dan holds a B.A. from McGill University in Montreal and an MBA in Finance from the University of Texas.  Dan is a volunteer with a number of nonprofit organizations including the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable, where he has served on the board for five years and was President in 2007.  Dan is a frequent speaker on gift planning and philanthropy.

Tami Havener is the Executive Director for the Family Development Center of Steamboat Springs. She holds a BA in Child Development and a Masters in Early Childhood Education. She was elected to the Steamboat Springs School District Board of Education, where she served as Vice-President and legislative liaison and to the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children as President. She was appointed to the Colorado Child Care Improvement Oversight Commission; and the State Early Childhood Systems Team.  Currently Tami serves as adjunct faculty for Colorado Mountain College; Public Policy Chair for CAEYC; on the Colorado Early Childhood Summit; and as an invited expert for the P-3 subcommittee of the Governor’s P-20 Council. 

Cari Hermacinski earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (B.S.W.) from the University of Wyoming, an M.B.A. from the University of Wyoming and a J.D. from the University of Denver. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Colorado. During law school, Cari interned at the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute and wrote for the Water Court Reporter at the University of Denver College of Law. In 1999, she founded her own consulting firm, Telecomm. Acquisition Group, Inc. (TAG), which acquires and performs the due diligence work for property necessary for the construction of wireless telecommunication sites. Cari has lived in Steamboat Springs since 2001 and is the President Pro-Tem of the Steamboat Springs City Council.

Amy Humble joined the Colorado Nonprofit Association (CNA) in August 2009 as the new Economic Recovery and Community Outreach Coordinator. Before joining CNA, Amy served as a Program Associate with El Pomar Foundation since 2007. In that role, she was responsible for the Foundation Stimulus Project and managed El Pomar’s Northwest Regional Council. Prior to El Pomar, Amy was Special Assistant to U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. During that time, she oversaw constituent relations for the Washington, D.C. office. Amy is the vice chair of the Governor’s Commission for Community Service and serves as a director for the University of Colorado Alumni Association. She was born and raised in Rifle, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Colorado summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Betsey Jay, Executive Director of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, has 25 years of management experience in the public and nonprofit sector. Previously she worked for 15 years in development communications for the University of Colorado Foundation and three years at Tufts University. Prior to that, she oversaw communications for the Jefferson County School District in suburban Denver. Early in her career, Betsey also worked as an award-winning journalist in the Boulder area.

Tom Kaesemeyer is Executive Director of the Gates Family Foundation, a position he has held since 1997. He was head of Kent Denver School from 1989 to 1997. Previous to his position at Kent Denver School, Tom was Headmaster (1978-1989), Curriculum Committee Chair and Instructor (1976-1978), and Director of Development (1970-1976) at Westtown School in Pennsylvania. Tom is a board member for Denver School of Science and Technology, Common Good Colorado and Colorado Association of Funders. He received his Bachelors of Arts in U.S. History from Lehigh University in 1965 and his M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Washington in 1970. Tom was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Peru for two years.

Sharon Knight is Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. Sharon joined the Association in May 2005, stepping into the Chief Operating Officer position in 2006, and briefly serving as interim President and CEO in 2008-2009.  In addition to broad supervisory responsibilities, she provides leadership in the areas of programs, fundraising, communications, and budget and acts as the primary spokesperson for the organization. During her tenure at the Association, Sharon has helped to double the size of the budget and staff in order to better serve the nonprofit sector, established the Leadership Luncheon Series, improved research and communications from the organization, and provided leadership to the Colorado Generosity Project and the Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence Program. She recently spearheaded the Generous Colorado Campaign, ads and website to help increase philanthropy and engagement in the nonprofit sector. Prior to the Association, Sharon was Executive Director of the Front Range Community College Foundation for eight years.

Katie Kramer serves as Vice President & Assistant Executive Director of the Boettcher Foundation. In this role, she has come full-circle in her relationship with Colorado’s most prestigious merit-based, full-ride scholarship award. Her selection as a Boettcher Scholar in 1993 supported her decision to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she was a President's Leadership Scholar and graduated with honors in her triple major of Leadership Studies, Organizational Management and Human Resources Management. Kramer served as the Boettcher Foundation’s Director of the Scholarship Program for five years prior to assuming her current role where she is responsible for all operational aspects of a $250M private family foundation, including the administration of $12M annually awarded in grants and scholarships in the State of Colorado. Her extensive knowledge on issues relating to access to higher education, merit-based scholarships, capital campaign funding, and the nonprofit sector, makes Kramer a frequent conference presenter and expert panelist in local, regional and national venues.

Dervla Lacy is the Routt County Director for Grand Futures Prevention Coalition (GFPC). Prior to joining GFPC, Dervla was an attorney with a local law firm, practicing in the areas of corporate law, civil litigation, and homeowners’ association representation. Before moving to Steamboat Springs in August 2007, Dervla served as a public defender in Kentucky, specializing in juvenile law and juvenile representation. Dervla is committed to assisting youth in breaking free from the cyclical problems which result and revolve around substance use and abuse, as well as in helping youth to find positive role models in their community. Dervla received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and a J.D. from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law in Louisville, Kentucky.

Megan Ledin is Executive Director of the Grand Foundation, the community foundation for Grand County, which focuses on Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services and Sports and Recreation. Prior to her role at the Grand Foundation, she was the CFO for the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Megan has lived in Grand County for 15 years. She chose it for the many recreational and outdoor activities but stayed for the beauty and warmth of the community and its residents. Megan holds degrees in Accounting and Biochemistry and an M.B.A. with a focus on Accounting. Megan is passionate about the role nonprofits play in the vitality and vibrancy of Grand County. On the RPD Steering Committee, she hopes to foster collaboration between nonprofits, funders and elected officials to solve community issues.

Julie Lerudis is the Director of the Grants Program at the Boettcher Foundation in Denver and is also a certified public accountant. She began her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and has more than 16 years experience in project management and accounting in the nonprofit, healthcare, and real estate sectors. Prior to joining the Boettcher Foundation, Julie was an auditor at Kundinger, Corder & Engle, P.C. in Denver, which specializes in nonprofit accounting.

Ed Lucero is Senior Program Officer for The Colorado Trust. Established in 1985 and endowed with the proceeds of the sale of the PSL Healthcare Corporation, The Trust is a grantmaking foundation dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of the people of Colorado. On behalf of The Colorado Trust, Ed provides leadership and management in designing and implementing a range of grantmaking efforts intended to achieve access to health for all Coloradans by 2018. His current oversight involves the creation and strengthening of a statewide advocacy partnership focused on achieving access to health. In addition, Ed oversees the Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families Initiative, one of the largest multi-year/grants in The Trust’s history. Ed has served as past president of Metro State College of Denver Alumni Association and presently serves on the executive committee of the board of directors for Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families (GCYF). He is an active volunteer in local community efforts that address the strengthening of ethnically and culturally diverse families. As a 2001 American Memorial Marshall Fellow – an international leadership exchange program – Ed strives to foster local leadership for global impact. He has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver and is a fellow of the Denver Community Leadership Forum and Leadership Denver. At his core, Ed is best at being a dad to his sons and embracing authenticity in life.

Lorez Meinhold, Senior Policy Officer, of The Colorado Health Foundation, works to support efforts to improve access to health care, health coverage and healthy living, as well as to identify current and emerging health care policy and leadership issues and solutions. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Meinhold was the Executive Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative for six years.

Diane Miller received a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She has 18 years experience in the nonprofit arena, most of which has been spent working to develop avenues of health care access for the uninsured. She has received awards for her work on several collaborative projects including a school-based health center, an outreach project for CHP+ and, most recently, a Community Health Center in Craig, Colorado.

Jennie Miller is from Great Britain and started her career with a degree in hotel management. After graduation, she joined the Royal Navy and became a British Naval intelligence officer. Jennie has worked for two university student unions, the University of London and the University of Sydney in Australia, and she has also worked in the oil and gas industry. After completing a second undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, she worked for a big four accounting company and an accounting firm whose clients are solely in the nonprofit sector. She has worked for Energy Outreach Colorado since 1998 and was originally the organization’s controller while doing program management, as well. Jennie now oversees the home energy assistance program.

Alexandra Mitchell founded Pathfinder Solutions, Inc. in 2006. She provides services as an independent consultant to a variety of types of clients including foundations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Alex has a particularly strong background in research and evaluation, program development, education, and providing training and technical assistance for organizational capacity building. Across her career, Alex has specifically focused on providing authentic support and fostering positive, tangible outcomes for underserved populations of diverse age, gender, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Her work has crossed the fields of health, education, positive youth development, aging, the environment, cultural competency, foundation and nonprofit organizational capacity, leadership and governance. Alex’s professional experience in these areas spans 25+ years. She has been involved with research and evaluation work since 1989, has been a high school and university teacher, a nonprofit program director, and cross-cultural consultant. 

Lori Mueller is the Program Director at YouthZone, and she holds her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. YouthZone is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving youth and families. Through prevention, advocacy and direct services, YouthZone strives to enhance the quality of life in our communities. Lori has worked in many capacities for the past 20 years with YouthZone, including drug and alcohol prevention and parent education. She has a varied background in her work with families, everything from running workshops on time management to climbing ropes on the Challenge Course to foster self-esteem and teach communication skills. She finds her passion working with people, supporting families, coaching and organizational development.

Jay O'Hare is the founder and principal of Altera Performance Group, a marketing and technology company in Steamboat Springs. Jay has fifteen years of experience in online marketing including consulting for some of the largest companies in the world, such as HP, OnStar, FedEx and Service Master. 

Riley Polumbus works part-time as the Communications Specialist for Yampa Valley Medical Center (YVMC). She was previously the Communications Director at the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. In addition to working for YVMC, Riley acts as a spokesperson for Routt County Search & Rescue and contracts freelance PR and writing services.

Lauren Price is a Consultant and Trainer at the Community Resource Center, working with clients across the state in strategic planning, board governance, major donor development, 501(c)(3) development, and fund planning. A former El Pomar Fellow, Lauren is a passionate advocate for small and rural nonprofits. She implements CRC’s Rural Philanthropy Days program and works with clients to build their sustainability. She also staffed the committee that revised the Colorado Common Grant Report, bringing together grantmakers and grantseekers in a collaborative ten-month process. Lauren has served as the campaign manager for the $19 million comprehensive campaign at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and as grantwriter and fundraising consultant for arts organizations serving the physically disabled. Lauren has also been to more than 50 of Colorado's 64 counties.

Jeff Pryor is the Executive Director of the Anschutz Family Foundation and an adjunct faculty at Regis University's Masters of Nonprofit Management Program.  Jeff has a sustained commitment to the nonprofit sector in Colorado, and was a founding board member of Colorado Youth Corps Association, co-founded Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and served on the Colorado Governor’s Commission on Community Service.  Jeff was also instrumental in helping establish a graduate school for NGO leadership and management in South Africa.  He is the recipient of the Colorado Nonprofit Association’s 2009 Steve Graham Award for Building Nonprofit Capacity.

Sally Winters Rippey is the Executive Director of the Adolph Coors Foundation. She served as Program Officer for nine years before assuming her current positions in 2000. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Metro Denver Gives, an initiative to increase volunteering and charitable giving in the six county area. At Metro Denver Gives, she helped form The Two Percent Club, an organization of 200 businesses that give a minimum of 2% of their profits to the charities of their choice. Previously, she worked as Nonprofit Public Relations director for the Radisson Hotel, where she started the Metro Denver Fund Raising Calendar. Sally has served as President of the Colorado Association of Foundations, on the Board and Executive Committee of the Conference of Southwest Foundations and has sat on two Governor’s Commissions. In 2005, the Association of Nonprofit Professionals named her their first “Community Treasure,” and in 2006 Metro Volunteers awarded her their first “Heart of Volunteerism” Award.

Randy Rudasics joined the staff of Colorado Mountain College as the Manager of the Bogue Hall Business Enterprise Center and as a Small Business Resource Center Counselor in June of 2006. His role at CMC includes coordinating the Yampa Valley SCORE Counseling activities, representing CMC within the business community, and managing the 30-suite business incubator on the campus of CMC. Prior to moving to Steamboat Springs, Randy was the president of Star Staffing Services, Inc., a regional staffing service in South Bend, Indiana. Under Randy’s management, Star Staffing grew from $7 to $22 million. Randy graduated from Colorado State University and has an MBA from the University of Wisconsin. He has been a regular Steamboat visitor and property owner since the mid-80s. He is active in Rotary International, Steamboat Springs Economic Development Committee, Routt County Economic Development Cooperative and the Main Street Economic Restructuring Committee. Previously Randy has served on Boards of the Boy Scouts, American Cancer Society and the Indiana Staffing Association.

Misty Schulze is a Regional Prevention Consultant working for the training and technical assistance project, the Regional Prevention Services (RPS) project, housed at OMNI Institute funded by the Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health (DBH). She is responsible for planning and providing consulting services to DBH's Region 6, the northwest corner of the state. Based in Craig, Misty provides consulting services in planning, implementing and evaluating effective prevention programs, policies and practices within the region. Misty brings over 14 years of coalition building, project development, prevention, intervention experience, juvenile justice knowledge and policy implementation skills to her role at OMNI. Misty has worked extensively in matters of juvenile delinquency, restorative justice, mediation, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and Victims Rights Amendment cases. Prior to OMNI, Misty worked as a Juvenile Diversion Officer and Crisis Intervention Team Member. She also worked as a Grant Coordinator where she wrote and oversaw underage drinking law enforcement grants and subsequent programs.

Michaelle Smith, MPA, has been involved with nonprofits for the past 24 years. She is currently a Vice President for Client Services with Hilltop Community Resources, a nonprofit with a 30 million dollar budget and more than 500 employees located in Mesa County. She has been the Executive Director of Mesa County United Way and Manager of the Southwest Regional Office for the Land Trust Alliance. Michaelle's areas of expertise are organization development, human resources, leadership and collaboration. She has 12 years of experience working in community-wide collaborative projects, including the Western Region Alternative to Placement (WRAP) and the Early Childhood Partnership of Mesa County.

Pattie Snidow is the Northwest Area Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. She joined the Rural Development division of the USDA in 2005. Her division has offices in Delta and Craig, serving 17 counties. Rural Development is a federal finance agency, specializing in infrastructure, which can build a rural community from the ground up, including financing the businesses in that community. Pattie has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Regis University, with a minor in communications, and is completing her master’s degree in Executive Public Administration through the University of Colorado Denver and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. She continues her work in community development and is utilized as a resource to her national office in training other federal employees throughout the nation in community and economic development.

Scott Stanford has been with the Steamboat Pilot & Today since May 2001, serving as editor and then advertising director before being named the newspaper's director of sales and marketing in 2008. He previously worked as a reporter and editor for 10 years at newspapers in Texas including the Corpus Christi Caller-Times (2000-01); the San Angelo Standard-Times (1993-2000): and the Kingsville Record (1991-92). Scott grew up in Camden, S.C. He earned an English degree from the Naval Academy and did coursework in journalism at Texas A&M University-Kingsville before starting his newspaper career. Scott and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, Maggie and Libby. When he is not at the newspaper, Scott enjoys hanging out with his kids, playing basketball and golf and listening to country music.

Susan Steele, Executive Director of the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, joined the foundation as controller in 1993 and was named Executive Director in 1998. During her tenure, she has helped guide the foundation to prominence as a leader in early childhood development throughout the state of Colorado. Susan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado and began her career as a middle school math teacher. After several years of teaching, she moved into the business arena, serving in management and accounting positions for several family-owned businesses in Denver. Susan currently participates in numerous philanthropic activities both locally and regionally. She serves as a board member of the Colorado Association of Funders and coordinates the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative. She regularly gives informal presentations and consultations on the topics of early childhood and finance.

Michelle Sturm has been with the Anschutz Family Foundation for eight years and is currently the senior program officer. Michelle chaired the two-year effort to revise Colorado’s Common Grant Application and served on the Common Grant Report Revision Committee. Prior to the Foundation, Michelle worked in the nonprofit sector for fifteen years in a variety of rolls including volunteer coordinator, program director, outreach director, and executive director in nonprofits focused on serving the homeless and urban poor, environmental stewardship and volunteer engagement, services for the disabled, and grassroots multi-sector community development work.

Martha Vail’s service in the independent sector spans three decades and lots of roles, from volunteer to staff to board member. Her passion is empowering individuals and organizations to effectively and efficiently carry out mission-critical work. Her areas of expertise include fundraising (building an individual donor base, corporate partnerships, and strengthening fund development capacity), governance (best practices for nonprofit boards, developing the stewardship function, high impact governance for real human beings), and organizational development (startups, growing pains and strategic visioning). Dr. Vail’s professional positions have included Program Officer, The National Faculty; Development Director, the Colorado Chautauqua Association; Training Officer, the Gill Foundation; Interim Executive Director, State of Change; and Director of Organizational and Leadership Development, JVA Consulting, LLC. Her private consulting practice is based in Denver, and her clients are based all over Colorado and the United States.

Patrice "TC" Werner, MNM has been an Executive Director, interim, board chair/treasurer, program director and consultant for various nonprofits. She provides capacity building and coaching services especially in the area of financial management, donor databases, board development, and policy and procedure development. Her services also include training and support on how to effectively use QuickBooks and GiftWorks.

Senator Al White completed his eighth year as State Representative for House District 57 and has now been elected to the State Senate. Al is a businessman who began his time in Colorado 35 years ago in Winter Park. He and his wife, Jean, spent 25 years as owners and operators of several full service ski shops, a bike shop, and a mountain lodge. As an active member of the business community, he served on several bank and nonprofit boards, which led him to voice his concerns on a larger scale in Colorado's legislature. For the past three years, Al has served on the most coveted and powerful working group in the legislature, the Joint Budget Committee. This committee is comprised of only three members from the House and three members from the Senate. Al and his wife now reside in Hayden, have been happily married for thirty years, and have two children, son, Devin 28 and daughter, Jenna 23.

Maro Zagoras has 20 years of experience consulting with non profits and government organizations nationwide.  Her role is as a facilitator/organizational mediator  and her specialty areas  include; strategic planning, transition management, organizational assessment, board development, program logic, and community based needs assessments for foundations, local and state governments and non-profits statewide.   Maro is also known as an outstanding kinesthetic trainer “who teaches practical strategies that you can use.”   A partial list of issue areas which Maro has been involved include: youth violence prevention, youth assets, early childhood development, school readiness, home visitation, immigrant integration, substance abuse, childcare, mental health, Tobacco, IGA regional planning, palliative care, afterschool programs, domestic violence, HP 2010 goals, Colorado water, land use, oil and gas, transportation, council/manager governance, historic preservation, and resource conservation/development.   Prior to founding Desired Outcomes Inc., Maro was a Senior Adviser for the National Civic League in Denver and Director of the Colorado Healthy Communities Initiative.  Before working for The National Civic League, Maro was a Lobbyist at the state legislature.