Our Team

Bernadette Johnson is the GM and Head of Power & Renewables at Enverus. As a member of the executive team, Bernadette leads the Power & Renewables business unit and is responsible for the strategic planning that supports all aspects of the business including marketing, sales, product, tech, and client engagement. She also has responsibility for acquisition activity, including integration of products, cultures, and people.

An economist by training, Bernadette has dedicated her career thus far to analyzing and accurately forecasting energy fundamentals, providing data that enables companies to grow.

Bernadette serves as Board President for Denver CASA. She has a B.S. Economics and Master International Political Economy of Resources, both from the Colorado School of Mines.

Suzanne Sanchez is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Empower Retirement. Sanchez is responsible for all human resources functions. In her role, she leads the company’s efforts to attract, engage and retain top talent in support of the company’s long-term strategic roadmap. This includes providing attractive benefits, competitive compensation and leading-edge training. She is a member of the Empower Retirement executive team.

Prior to her current role, Sanchez was the assistant vice president of talent management and corporate social responsibility. She spent her earliest years at the firm in talent acquisition roles.

Sanchez is passionate about giving back to the community and is Chair of the Board of Denver CASA. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and is a certified senior human resources professional.

Ryan Gensler is the Director of National Partnerships for CareerWise Colorado, working to expand modern youth apprenticeship across the US. His career in workforce began after his time as Marketing Manager and Director of Community Engagement for Intertech Plastics. Ryan was contracted by the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance to build workforce development programs across Colorado. This led Ryan to manage the startup of CareerWise Colorado, a systemic approach to youth apprenticeships, akin to the Swiss VET System. Additionally, he helped build Governor Hickenlooper’s Business Experiential Learning (BEL) Commission and organized the Governor’s apprenticeship delegation to Switzerland.

After helping run a gubernatorial campaign, Ryan went on to consult with various nonprofit and government organizations on workforce development initiatives, including raising over $4M for the State of Colorado to upskill retail workers and developing a 20-state network focused on skills in the digital economy, before returning to CareerWise to lead national growth efforts. Since rejoining CareerWise he has built a technical assistance and new community division, supported the launch of youth apprenticeship programs in New York City and Indiana and provides technical assistance to community organizations across the country.

He received his bachelor’s in entrepreneurial management and marketing from Creighton University and was the first recipient of the Creighton Entrepreneurial Student Leader of the Year Award. Ryan has been on the Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado Young Professionals Board since 2013 and is an appointed member of the American Swiss Foundation’s Young Leaders Conference. He enjoys traveling with his family and friends, skiing, cooking, and camping.

Shelley Banker is a visionary leader passionate about changing inequities in education for Colorado youth, disrupting social injustice, and organizing and empowering communities. Shelley is the Director of the Colorado Trustee Network (CTN) – a project of the Colorado Education Initiative – that seeks to expand partnerships with trustees of public colleges and universities to elevate the issues of greatest impact to Colorado’s learners and the state. Shelley has over a decade of leadership promoting educational equity and access in Colorado’s postsecondary systems, including through the implementation and expansion of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), the establishment of the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Educational Equity Office and Equity Champions Coalition, and most recently serving as Interim Executive Director of the Community College of Denver Foundation.

Shelley received her MSW from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work, focusing on community and social change, emphasizing stable housing, education, and workforce development for communities that are traditionally underserved. Before graduate school, Shelley utilized her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and specialized in marketing in the higher education technology and e-learning space. Shelley joined the Denver CASA board of directors in 2022 after volunteering as a CASA on two cases between 2015 and 2017. Shelley also serves as the co-chair of the annual fundraising committee for Polite Tumor and the Secretary of the Collaborative School Committee at McKinley Thatcher Elementary. She is originally from Colorado and enjoys introducing her daughter to everything nature offers.

Natalia Arango is a general OB/GYN in the Denver community. She believes in patient centered, evidence based practice and places a strong consideration on her patient’s personal preferences and cultural beliefs. Having returned to Colorado after 5 years away, she is happy to be home. She was introduced to CASA through fellow board member, Bek Coelho-Shumskiy and her husband, in 2020, and was immediately drawn to the mission and values of CASA and is thrilled to be serving as a board member. Prior to her work with Denver CASA, Natalia worked with CU Peru and provided healthcare education in the Peruvian Amazon with local village health workers. While working with CU Peru, Natalia served on both their fundraising committee and education committee. When she isn’t taking care of women and helping deliver babies, Natalia enjoys spending quality time with her husband, 2 kiddos, and their Goldendoodle, Bruno.

Bek Coelho has been closely involved with the CASA organization since 2014 – serving on a multi-child case with Boston CASA and as a Development Committee member with Denver CASA. Bek, a Colorado native, spent nearly a decade on the East Coast, working in research at Boston Children’s Hospital and leading an early stage biotech company through various clinical trials and FDA submissions. Bek currently works as the Senior Director of Commercial Strategy at DispatchHealth in Denver, focused on bringing all components of healthcare into the home.

Personally, Bek is a first generation Brazilian-American, who is committed to the work of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Bek and her partner, Igor, are very proud foster parents to a six month old boy and spend most of their time with him, their large families and their six year old Bernese Mountain Dog.

The mission of Denver CASA is very personal to Bek as the work of child advocates bridge all of her passions – improving long term physical and mental health outcomes for children, advocating for the cultural nuances of children and families of all backgrounds and providing a voice to the most vulnerable members of our society. Bek is grateful and enthusiastic to be a part of the Denver CASA team!

Ramiro Jimenez is a Senior Vice President with FirstBank, a privately held bank out of Lakewood. He started his career in 2013 in the California Market where he focused largely on Mortgage lending and business development. Currently, Ramiro works at the bank’s headquarters in the Treasury Management department. There he specializes in business development, commercial banking, treasury management product development, and project management.

Ramiro was raised in the Coachella Valley of Southern California and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of California, Merced. Ramiro also serves on the board of Scholars Unlimited an organization that focuses on providing afterschool care for children in vulnerable communities in the Denver Metro area.

Caitlin McHugh is an attorney in Denver at the firm Lewis Roca Rothergerber Christie LLP. Her practice is focused on commercial litigation.  In her work, Cait enjoys finding creative solutions to address her clients’ short and long term needs.

Cait has been on the Board of Child Advocates Denver CASA since the fall of 2015.  She is passionate about CASA’s work and believes that every child should have at least one caring adult in his or her life.

Cait is a Colorado native, she grew up in Arvada, Colorado  and attended the University of Colorado for undergraduate studies and law school.  In her free time, Cait likes to be outside, hiking, golfing, running, or playing tennis.  As a “Double Buff” Cait is a fan of all things CU and enjoys going to Boulder for football and basketball games.

Judge Donna Schmalberger was appointed to the Denver Juvenile Court bench in October 2007, and served until her retirement in April 2020. During that time, she established the Denver ICWA Court in January 2017, for which she was awarded the Impact of the Year Award from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in 2018. She also chaired Denver Juvenile Court’s Best Practice Court Team for over a decade. Before being appointed to the bench, she was an Assistant County Attorney in Arapahoe County, prosecuting Dependency or Neglect cases, from 1997 until 2007. She was in private practice specializing in juvenile law from 1983 until 1997. She received her J.D. degree from the University of Colorado in 1982, and graduated magna cum laude from Lafayette College in 1973.

In addition to the NCJFCJ award, Judge Schmalberger is the recipient of the Speaking Up for a Child Award from Advocates for Children and the Raymond Frenchmore Juvenile Law Award from the Arapahoe County Bar Association. She has been supported in all her endeavors by her husband, attorney David Lichtenstein, and her sons, Max and Vaughn.

Kirsten Stewart has been a member of the Child Advocates – Denver CASA Board since November 2015. She is a member of Sherman & Howard LLC and specializes in employee benefits law.  Kirsten’s interest in helping children in the child protection system began in 1996 when she was a law clerk in Hennepin County Juvenile Court.  She has a degree in Mathematics from Indiana University and a law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Marte Timmers handles all aspects of litigation, negotiation, and settlement in family law and domestic relations for families with estates of more than $1 million. Ms. Timmers, a trained collaborative law divorce attorney, has specific expertise in high net worth financial issues; business valuations; and allocation of parental responsibility issues, such as parental alienation and reunification of parents and children through the legal process. She is a skilled negotiator in mediation settings, working to reach amicable and favorable settlements for clients. Establishing relationships is essential for Ms. Timmers not only with her clients but with experts, and she has a high level of experience with a variety of business valuation experts, accountants, and parental responsibility evaluators in Colorado. Understanding the sensitive and critical situation of working with family matters, Ms. Timmers is always available for her clients to address their questions, ideas, and concerns, and to creatively strategize for an entire family. Ms. Timmers also has experience drafting marital agreements and cohabitation agreements.

From 2005 through 2010, the chief presiding judge for the Denver Juvenile Court appointed Ms. Timmers as a magistrate judge. During this time, she presided over child support enforcement and parenting time cases, contempt matters, and adoptions. Having the perspective of “the bench” assists Ms. Timmers in litigation matters and all aspects of the court process.

Chris Vandall is an Associate Principal and Sr. Project Manager at OZ Architecture where he has worked since 2005.  At OZ, Chris is a leader in the Resort/Hospitality/Mixed Use Practice Area, leads Social Responsibility and OZ Gives initiatives, and serves on the Sustainability Committee.

Chris has been serving on the Denver CASA Board of Directors since 2017 and served as an Advocate Volunteer on two cases prior to joining the Board.  He is currently serving as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee.  Chris has been passionate about the mission of CASA since his parents served as foster parents for 40 children in his adolescence.

When not in the office, Chris volunteers in the community, travels with his husband, and explores cooking new cuisines.  He enjoys spending time with his friends and trying new experiences.

Colin Ware is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience working in the arts, higher education, academic medicine, and non-profit consulting. Colin holds an M.B.A. from UCLA and served as a major gift or planned giving officer for University of Washington and University of Montana prior to moving to Denver. He is currently the gift planning officer for Intermountain Health Foundation.  Colin is not new to CASA, having served on the board of CASA in Missoula Montana.  He is engaged with the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable and is an active member of the Denver Curling Club.

Jack Weixel is a Senior Director with IHS Markit and plays a key role in product development and client
support focused on modeling real-time, short-term and long-term forecasts of natural gas supply,
demand and storage. Jack comes to IHS Markit from OPIS where he helped build that company’s first
ever natural gas fundamentals service, the PointLogic Energy Suite.

Prior to joining OPIS and IHS Markit, Jack was a director for Bentek Energy, managing its North American Natural Gas, European Gas, and GIS business units in addition to serving on the company’s Senior Leadership Team. He previously led the company’s Client Services division along with the company’s Midcontinent and Canadian natural gas desks. Before joining Bentek in 2006, Jack spent seven years as a senior energy regulatory consultant for the EOP Group, Inc. in Washington, DC after working in the U.S. Senate.

He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University and a degree in Finance from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He also serves on the board of directors for Energy Outreach Colorado and Denver CASA.

Karen Silverman has over 20 years of experience working in non-profit organizations with a background in children’s issue including child welfare, early childhood education, teen prevention and mentoring programs. From 2009 to 2014 she was the Executive Director of Smart Girl. Most recently, she was the Director of External Affairs at JEWISHcolorado. She is passionate about helping children get an equal start in life no matter their circumstances. Karen volunteers at the South High School Food Bank and sits on the advisory board of a new project focused on educating adults about adolescent development.

When not working, Karen enjoys hiking, reading and exploring new restaurants in Denver. Karen earned her BA from the University of Colorado in International Affairs and her JD from the George Washington University School of Law.

Vonia Adams serves as the Program Director for Child Advocates-Denver CASA. Vonia has a background with the foster care system and CASA through her previous position as the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program Manager with Lutheran Family Services, including serving as a CASA volunteer. Vonia graduated from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2019 with a Masters in International Development and Social Change. Vonia spent time in the Peace Corps and two AmeriCorps programs, working with youth of all ages in some capacity for the majority of her career.

Vonia is a Colorado native and loves reading, anything that has to do with water, and spends free time geeking out over Disney, Dr. Who, and Harry Potter.

Theresa joined the CASA team in March 2022. Driven by a passion for service to others and social justice, she has more than 20 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, previously working for Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Denver Preschool Program, and Catholic Charities of Denver. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from MSU Denver and an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. She is active in the community by volunteering at various organizations in the Denver Metro Area.

Theresa enjoys spending time with her family, telling stories, enjoying time outdoors, and brunching on the weekends.

Favorite quote: Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud – Maya Angelou

Kara joined Child Advocates-Denver CASA in June of 2021 as the Director of Development. Her background is in nonprofit development for child welfare organizations, most recently working with development data and strategy at Tennyson Center for Children in Denver.

Prior to working in nonprofit development, she got her start working in fundraising on political campaigns across the American West. Kara earned her BA in Political Science from Tulane University and is currently pursuing her Master in Public Administration remotely from the University of Southern California. In her free time she enjoys taking advantage of Colorado’s amazing outdoors with her rescue dog, Oliver.

Suzy Martin joined Child Advocates – Denver CASA in 2015. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Psychology. Suzy has worked with adolescents for most of her career. Prior to her work with Child Advocates, she worked for several years with Adams County Department of Human Services on the Adolescent Resource Team. She has also worked with runaway and homeless youth in Boulder.

As the Assistant Program Director, Suzy, assists general management of the program including assisting the Program Director in the managing of the Advocate Supervisors who oversee dozens of CASA Volunteers and Peer Coordinators.

Jubitza joined Child-Advocates Denver CASA in July 2022. She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, and received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Genders and Sexualities Studies from Elon University in 2021. Jubitza was previously a 6th grade teacher and has a background working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA groups and educational programs.

Jubitza is devoted to working in her communities and hopes to empower youth and adults in her work at CASA. In her free time, Jubitza enjoys going out for coffee, hiking, and playing with her dog Luca.

Savanna joined Child-Advocates- Denver CASA in March 2022. She is originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, and she received her bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018. Savanna has a background working in suicide prevention, and currently serves as a Commission Member of the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission.

Savanna is passionate about serving her community, social justice, and empowering youth and adults. In her free time, Savanna likes to cook, hike, garden, travel, and spend time with her dog, Onyx.

Nicole joined Child Advocates – Denver CASA in June 2022 as the Volunteer Retention and Data Specialist. She graduated from Front Range Community College with an Associate’s degree in American Sign Language Interpreting in 2014. She has a passion for child advocacy and her career in the child welfare system began when she became a foster (and later adoptive) parent in 2004. She then worked as the China Program Coordinator for an international adoption agency for over a decade. Prior to joining CASA, she worked as the Foster Care Recruiter and Trainer for Lutheran Family Services. Nicole also volunteered as a CASA in Larimer County.

In her free time, Nicole enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and taking road trips.

Angelia Baker is an Advocate Supervisor with Denver CASA and an upcoming community leader in  Aurora, Colorado.

Over the years Angelia has worked in several key sectors: Public Health, Youth Violence, Youth Engagement, Child Protective Services, Advocacy, Community Outreach and has been responsible for introducing events into the community such as “Women of Color, Inspiring Youth Within the Foster Care System, Kinship Back to School Drive/ Clothing Swap, and Strengthening Families Workshops, Strong African American Workshop and Positive Youth Development.

Angelia has over 15 years working with nonprofit agencies. Her cultural background and focus on community collaboration has led her to a number of volunteer opportunities, collaborative recognitions and community leadership roles. She is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader certified by The National Center for Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Accessibility. Also known as the EIDA Center, where a group of doctoral-level EIDA practitioners and researchers who provide executive-level certification in DEI. She is an alumni and family leader with the Denver/Aurora Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI).

A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc and is the CEO of an organization named “Leaving A Legacy ”, which was created in 2019 after her mother passed to honor her legacy. The mission of Leaving a Legacy is focused on grief/loss supportive services, collaboration, resource sharing, as they are essential in supporting those through difficult times. Angelia has an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising and a Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing.

Drea Froehle joined Child Advocates-Denver CASA as an intern in 2018. Upon graduating from the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Psychology with a minor in Spanish, Drea worked with Denver CASA as a Volunteer & Administrative Coordinator. Drea spent the last two years on the intake team with Douglas County Human Services before returning to Child Advocates-Denver CASA as an Advocate Supervisor in July 2021.

In Drea’s free time she enjoys spending time in the community, reading, cooking, skiing, and exploring outdoor dining spots in her home state of Colorado.

Holly joined Child Advocates-Denver CASA in June of 2023 as an Advocate Supervisor. She was born and raised in Colorado and recently moved back! Holly Graduated from Creighton University with a BA in Social Work and Medical Anthropology and a minor in Healthy Lifestyle Management. She previously worked as a Child and Family Service Specialist on the Alterative Response intake team in Omaha, Nebraska.

In her free time, Holly enjoys playing with her dog, hiking, and trying not to kill her house plants.

Rachael joined Child-Advocates- Denver CASA in August 2021. She is originally from Scranton, Pennsylvania (home of The Office!), and she received her bachelor’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from Syracuse University. Rachael then served as a Community and Youth Development Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia where she worked at a regional library and an organization that served children with disabilities. After Peace Corps, Rachael received a master’s degree in Sustainable International Development with a focus on Youth Development from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.

Rachael is excited to get to know the local community through her role at Denver CASA.

Evan joined Child Advocates-Denver CASA in October of 2023 as the Development Associate. He is originally from the California Bay Area and graduated from Colorado College in 2023 with a BA in Political Science. Evan has a background working in positive youth development and mentorship, and has experience working with both children and older youth. In his free time, Evan enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and exploring Colorado nature.

Dave Zinger has been a Denver CASA volunteer for twenty years and is currently a Peer Coordinator, overseeing and mentoring other CASA volunteers in their court cases. He has also served as a CASA on numerous juvenile court cases and received the Catalyst for CASA award in 2018. Dave is the owner of Masque Publishing, an entertainment and gaming software company, and is currently employed by Masque as its legal counsel. Before joining Masque, Dave was a shareholder at Sheridan Ross, a private practice law firm specializing in intellectual property law, where he was a member of its executive team for several years. He received his JD degree from the University of Colorado Law School and holds bachelor and master engineering degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy. Dave has been a Raise the Future board member for over twenty-five years, helping to serve kids in foster care, and is currently a member of its executive and governance committees. He was the board chair from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, he has volunteered with Reading Partners Colorado for almost ten years, tutoring elementary students to improve their reading proficiencies. Dave enjoys reading, regularly using the gym, and traveling to spend time renewing connections with family and friends.