2026 Speakers

Data Analytic Support & Sensemaking

KAF SMF Survey Project

Government Performance Solutions

  • Greg founded Government Performance Solutions, Inc. (GPS) in 2013 to help public sector and non-profit leaders address the unique challenges of leading mission-driven organizations. He brings 20 years of experience in strategy, operational analysis, continuous improvement, and key initiative facilitation.

    Through GPS, Greg works with more than 25 of Colorado’s largest public agencies and several non-profits. In the last 7 years, he has engaged with more than 2,000 social sector leaders via training and project work, giving him an uncommon perspective on the practical approaches that work in practice, not just on paper.

    Greg holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton, is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and a certified PMI Project Management Professional (PMP®). For obvious reasons, he still has all four years of college athletic eligibility.

  • Agustín brings over 15 years of experience in public sector service and consulting, specializing in strategy and operational excellence across diverse sectors. He believes that effective consulting is rooted in trust and relationships, empowering those on the front lines to make decisions and implement changes with reliable support.

    His style blends technical expertise with a deep understanding of human dynamics, fostering collaborative environments where teams can effectively work together and enjoy the process. Notably, Agustín's “Top 5 Strengths” span all four domains of the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment.

    Holding a master’s in public health from the University of Colorado, he has also instructed over 600 learners in Lean Improvement and Management practices, including multiple instructional trips to Toyota Material Handling's headquarters in Columbus, Indiana.

    Outside of work, Agustín is a father who cherishes time spent with family and friends in the stunning Colorado outdoors, enjoys playing ice hockey, and occasionally finds himself stepping on the wayward Lego.

  • Kate is an experienced principal consultant and certified change practitioner and leader at Government Performance Solutions (GPS) with more than 20 years of experience supporting strategic change efforts, including over 15 years in the public sector. She works closely with leaders and teams to translate vision into action and ensure change efforts deliver meaningful, lasting results. 

    Kate is also a certified Six Sigma Green Belt in process improvement and has led hundreds of process improvement projects across the state. She has trained and coached hundreds of public sector employees using GPS’s SOLVE approach, helping agencies improve performance, simplify work, and build internal problem-solving capability. Her work focuses on the practical realities of change, aligning people, processes, and systems; managing resistance; navigating conflict; and sustaining momentum over time. Kate brings a deep understanding of the political and organizational dynamics that influence implementation and uses levers such as governance, roles, measures, and culture to embed change into day-to-day operations. 

    As a change practitioner/coach and process improvement leader, Kate is known for deep listening, thoughtful questioning, and clear feedback. She designs and facilitates inclusive engagements that surface new insights, build trust, and create shared ownership for positive, lasting change. 

  • Laura has over 20 years’ experience working with the public and social sector providing analytical, facilitation, and advisory services. Over the past 10 years, she has extensively used her expertise in policy research, performance and budget analysis, and facilitation with government and non-profit organizations to help them develop outcome-driven strategies, increase their operational performance, and design implementation structures to ensure their vision and objectives are met. 

    Laura’s years as a public servant give her a unique perspective on the possible. She intuitively understands a system’s constraints and works with leaders to accommodate them while driving meaningful change.

    Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Colorado State University. Laura lives in Denver with her family.

  • Brian has over 20 years’ experience consulting with a variety of local and state government, non-profit, and private organizations. He is particularly adept at facilitating diverse groups to consensus through a combination of advanced facilitation methods and old-fashioned humanity.

    Brian's style is “hard on problems, easy on people.” He helps organizations use data to attack challenges and break down barriers, both real and perceived. Brian has teamed with leaders across Colorado to drive operational efficiencies, leading more than 100 process improvement projects.

    Brian holds a Master of International Management (MIM) from Thunderbird, Garvin School of International Management, a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Colorado, and a Bachelor of Arts in Germanic Studies from the University of Colorado. He chairs the University of Colorado Daniels School of Business committee for forecasting economic activity across professional and business services. A father of two, no one is surprised when they learn Brian was a Boy Scout.

  • Erin brings 20 years’ experience leading non-profits, driving collective impact, and designing and implementing strategy to make programs more effective and accessible. Her roles in community based organizations, non-profits and government agencies across the globe have allowed her to quickly get up to speed in new environments. Erin is skilled at identifying ways to be flexible and person-centered in rigid and/or bureaucratic environments.

    Erin believes in strengths-based approaches to improvement that meet clients where they are at and help them stretch to where they want to go. Her ability to bring partners, with different experiences and expertise, together around common strategies enables clients to maximize the impact of each engagement.

    Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Math and Economics from Boston University, and a Masters in Public Health from the Mailman School at Columbia University. Erin is also an avid soccer player and once won a National Championship with a Haitian women’s team.

KAF

Talks

My Discomfort Zone:
The Hardest Part Wasn’t Getting Sober

Traci Hiatt

  • After growing up in California, Traci made the move to Colorado in 1996, eventually finding her way “home” to Steamboat in 2003. Traci is passionate about the Yampa Valley and being of service to this community and its people. She joined the Yampa Valley Community Foundation in 2019, and is energized by cultivating meaningful connection with others. Through her work, she supports the nonprofit organizations serving the Yampa Valley and serves as a resource to donors, to promote philanthropy and help build a thriving community where our shared values are preserved and celebrated.

Opening the Door to
Brave Spaces of Belonging

Ana Villanueva

  • I am a bilingual and bicultural therapist raised in the Wood River Valley. I believe that the client is their own expert and use evidence based modalities to guide our journey together. I have experience working with children, youth, young adults and their families who have experienced trauma or any form of violence. I currently serve as the Director of Youth Services with The Advocates. A non-profit organization in the Wood River Valley who provides services to all people who have experienced any form of violence or abuse. I am passionate about breaking the barriers and stigmas around mental health specifically with the Latinx community and have focused a lot of my studies and training on the effects of trauma on child development, the brain, and people of color.

Big but not Beautiful:
HR1 and Its Impacts on Behavioral Health

  • Mindy Klowden, MNM is a national consultant, leader, and strategist in behavioral health and integrated care. As managing director, she leads Third Horizon’s competitive RFP business strategy, spanning public, non-profit, and private sectors. She also leads multiple concurrent consulting engagements, serves as a subject matter expert, and ensures high-quality deliverables.

    Mindy has devoted her career to improving systems and services for underserved populations through policy, systems change, and organizational development. She is skilled in strategic planning, including stakeholder engagement, facilitation, landscape reviews, and writing actionable, impactful plans. She has over 25 years of experience in community behavioral health and health care policy, working at the national, state, and local levels. Since joining Third Horizon, Mindy has played a key role in leading client relationships. She has managed a portfolio of 6–10 concurrent projects for government agencies, providers and community-based organizations, guiding high-impact initiatives including crisis system improvements, opioid abatement planning, and behavioral health policy transformation. Previously, Mindy held leadership positions with the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, the National Council for Mental Well-Being (previously known as the National Council for Behavioral Health), the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, and the Colorado Community Health Network.

H.R. 1 introduces significant changes to Medicaid eligibility and requirements and restricts state health care financing tools. Other federal and state-level policy and financing changes are also creating uncertainty for behavioral health.  In this session, Ms. Klowden will highlight what is changing and when and discuss how advocates, providers, and communities can best prepare.

Recent Impacts on the Immigrant Community:
A Conversation with the KAF Network

  • Professor Violeta Chapin joined the Colorado Law faculty after serving for seven years as a trial attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS). Professor Chapin has represented both adult and juvenile indigent defendants charged with serious felony offenses at all stages of trial. Prior to her work as a public defender, Professor Chapin had clinical experience performing appellate litigation in a capital case on behalf of a death row inmate, working together with attorneys at the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. Professor Chapin also worked with incarcerated youth in Louisiana and monitored the state's compliance with a consent decree to provide a safe and rehabilitative environment to children imprisoned in detention centers across the state. 

    Professor Chapin brings a wealth of experience of working with indigent populations outside of the United States as well, as she previously worked with poor farmers and families in rural El Salvador in an internationally funded water project. Born in and having lived in Central America, Professor Chapin brings a rich cultural background and a firm commitment to justice for all people to Colorado Law.

Join Professor Chapin for an engaging overview of the current national immigration landscape — what's happening at the policy level, what it means for the mountain resort communities in the KAF Network, and practical ways to best support the immigrant communities you serve.

Cultivos de Sabiduría
Crops of Wisdom

Jackson Hole, WY

El unico programa radial psico-educativo en el pueblo de Jackson

The only Spanish psycho-educational radio show in the town of Jackson

  • Antuanett is a licensed bilingual psychotherapist with six years of clinical experience specializing in guiding individuals through transformative emotional and cognitive growth. In both therapeutic settings and public speaking engagements, Antuanett helps clients cultivate emotional insight, challenge limiting narratives, and reclaim a confident, empowered sense of identity. Her approach integrates evidence-based practices with culturally responsive care, fostering meaningful and sustainable change.

Beating Burnout :
Rhythms of Wellness, Self-Care, and Community

  • A keynote speaker, multi-instrumentalist, and group facilitator, Jonathan Crowder, JD, founded Peak Rhythms in 2003 with the mission to empower and unite people through music.  Since then, he and the Peak Rhythms team have facilitated diverse organizations, corporate events, and conference groups in fun, inspirational personal growth and group development music making experiences. Jon is a Remo Drum Company Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator and a Health Rhythms Trained Facilitator.  He graduated from Vanderbilt Univ, the Univ of FL law school, and served on the Vanderbilt Univ Board of Trust.  He lives in Boulder, CO, is an avid hiker and skier, and practices taichi and yoga.

Our Philosophy: We combine ancient wisdom and the heartbeat of the drum with modern scientific research and proven tools for personal growth and group development.  We honor diverse cultures and believe in your musical spirit.  Life is deep play.  Music is the universal language that breaks thru barriers to powerfully uplift, connect, and unite people.

Field Notes:
Implementing a Comprehensive State & Community Strategy for Suicide Prevention

Eagle County & Telluride, CO

  • Erin Ivie is the current Executive Director of SpeakUp ReachOut and serves as Co-Chair of the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention Commission. For the past 12 years she has grown SpeakUp ReachOut from a small one-person operation into a thriving non-profit organization serving Eagle County in suicide prevention.  Erin lost her best friend, Luke, to suicide in 2007, which changed the trajectory of her career and life. Today Erin is committed to grassroots suicide prevention in communities rooted in collaboration.  Erin is a facilitator in QPR, Vital Cog, COMET, Talk Saves Lives and Its Real. She lives with her husband and German Shepard in Silt, CO and spends her free time on or near the water. 

    I work with SpeakUp ReachOut to show people that there is HOPE! And that no one is alone in this journey whether they are struggling with mental health, suicidal ideation or the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Erin Ivie

  • Jamie Hurst is the Education & Awareness Programs Administrator at Tri-County Health Network, coordinator of the Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Recovery Coalition (SPARC), and serves as a Commissioner on the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention Commission. Based in Montrose and covering six rural counties on the Western Slope of Colorado, Jamie spent three years working at the local crisis walk-in center before joining TCHN. She is a trained facilitator of multiple Community Helper Trainings including Mental Health First Aid, Talk Saves Lives, QPR, COMET, VitalCog, and Facing the Mourning. When not working, Jamie spends her time reading, playing games with family & friends, and exploring with her husband & dog. 

Jamie Hurst

Rooted in the Sierras:
An Integrated School Wellness Model

Tahoe Truckee, NV/CA

  • With over 25 years of experience in educational leadership, non-profit management, and program development, Kim Bradley has served in leadership roles across a variety of Tahoe Truckee organizations. For the last 14 years, she has been the Wellness Coordinator for the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD), where she spearheaded the TTUSD Wellness Program, which includes: K-12 Wellness Centers, a robust mental health program, universal Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and substance use navigation services. She is an active member of the Community Collaborative of Tahoe Truckee and has a long history of collaborating with local education, public sector, and non-profit partners to develop responsive and innovative community initiatives.

Learn about Tahoe Truckee Unified School District’s comprehensive Wellness Program model, which includes: K-12 Social Emotional Learning (SEL), school-based Wellness Centers, and targeted mental health and substance use interventions.

Participants will engage in practical SEL strategies designed to regulate, connect, and deepen relationships. 

Ski Town Safety:
IPV Innovations from Eagle County, CO & Park City, UT

  • Chelsea Robinson is a Clinical Director at Peace House, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending interpersonal violence and abuse. She is involved in various fundraising efforts to support the mission of the organization. Chelsea's role involves providing clinical services and support to individuals affected by interpersonal violence and abuse. Her work is part of a larger effort to create communities free of such violence and abuse.

  • Sheri Mintz serves as CEO for the Bright Future Foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Drew University in Madison New Jersey, and a Master’s of Science in Social Work degree from Columbia Graduate School. She has dedicated her professional life to serving diverse and vulnerable populations, including social work positions within hospital, community service, and private practice settings.
    In her current role at Bright Future Foundation, Ms. Mintz executes the mission, vision and values of Bright Future Foundation: to empower individuals and families to lead safe and productive lives through prevention, early intervention and advocacy for victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Stocked for Wellness:
Public Health Vending Aross Nevada County

Tahoe Truckee, NV /CA

  • Devin is a community health educator with over 20 years of experience in the Truckee–Tahoe public service sector, working across public education, public health, and community-based organizations. Since 2008, he has partnered with the County of Nevada to support reproductive health education in both community and clinical settings, while also specializing in substance abuse prevention. Outside of his work, he is a proud father and avid outdoor enthusiast.

The 2nd Responder-
Redefining Crisis Intervention

Steamboat, CO

  • Marnie Smith spent nearly 20 years serving as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Flight Medic — but before that life, she was an alpine coach with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Though she didn't grow up here, Steamboat has been home for almost 30 years. 

    In 2016, Marnie founded Routt County Crisis Support (RCCS), a nonprofit built on a simple but powerful idea: first responders need and deserve an easy, confidential path to getting the support they need. What began as the Routt County Peer Support Team has grown into something far larger. Today, RCCS offers a 32-hour Peer Support Training program serving Routt County and neighboring communities, helping agencies build their own peer teams and connecting as many responders as possible to meaningful support. The organization provides free clinical sessions with culturally competent providers for responders and their families, and has developed a Community Crisis Response Team that supports both first responders and the communities they serve. 

    Now serving as Executive Director, Marnie brings the same dedication to RCCS that defined her years in the field. She travels across Colorado — whether for college visits and sports events with her two kids, or to explore how RCCS can expand its reach — always looking for ways to bring more support to responders and communities wherever she goes. 

  • Molly has lived in Routt County for most of her life with much of her time spent working as a social-worker in the local schools and hospital.  With over 20 years of providing crisis support services in the emergency department at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center and extensive training in Critical Incident Debriefing, joining the RCCS team in 2018 was a natural fit.  Molly oversees the therapeutic aspects of our First Responder Wellness program, providing direct intervention services and working closely with our contracted therapists to provide immediate and culturally competent care.  She also works closely with Marnie in the support and development of our Peer Support and Community Crisis Response Teams. 

Our Crisis Response Team provides rapid, trauma-informed support to first responders and community members following critical incidents. Using a structured response model, we deploy immediately afterward to stabilize the scene, reduce emotional impact, and connect individuals to ongoing resources. Our team works alongside law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, and partner agencies to provide peer support, crisis intervention, and coordinated follow-up—helping responders and communities recover more effectively while reducing the burden on local resources, especially in rural areas.  Our goal is to discuss why we started it, how we built it and what works and the challenges we've faced.  A conversation regarding an impactful concept born from a 1st responder who saw a need for a different approach to crisis response.  

Juntos Por Gunnison:
Bringing People Together with Respect for Language, Culture, and Community

Crested Butte/Gunnison, CO

  • Cinthia Saenz is a proud immigrant, moving from Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Gunnison 19 years ago, where she raised her three children. She has built deep ties to the Gunnison Valley and her community. She has held a leadership position in a grassroots immigrant community organizing for over 15 years.

    In recognition of her efforts to promote social justice and immigrant integration, the City of Gunnison proclaimed February 27, 2024, as Cinthia Saenz Day. Cinthia’s experience was instrumental in creating the community resource center, Juntos por Gunnison, which helps the immigrant community integrate successfully into the valley.

  • Alfonso Morales López is a Colombian Economist with a strong background in the design, evaluation, and implementation of social projects focused on community well-being and the promotion of human rights. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Rights and is currently a PhD candidate in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, reflecting his deep commitment to equity, social justice, and sustainable development.

    Alfonso is a State of Colorado certified Peer Support Specialist and serves as the Coordinator of the Peer Support Program at Juntos por Gunnison. In this role, he leads initiatives that provide comprehensive support to youth and families, strengthening mental health, community resilience, and access to essential resources.

     In addition, he works as a Project Manager at Juntos por Gunnison, where he contributes to strategic planning, partnership development, and the implementation of high-impact social programs, particularly within migrant and underserved communities.

  • I grew up and worked in Cartagena, Colombia. After studying Interior Design and Business and working in my own business, God opened an opportunity for me to get married and move to Calgary, Canada, where I lived for 6 years.

    In 2015, my husband, Brad Burton, accepted a position as a professor of the Rady Chair of Petroleum Geology at Western Colorado University, and we moved to this magical place called Gunnison. This place welcomed me and made me feel at home, where I discovered and explored my hidden abilities that I had only previously found in this place.

    Passionate about every project I undertake, today I divide my time between two jobs of service to immigrant families. Since I arrived in Gunnison, I have been serving the community, and I love doing it. Now, at Juntos por Gunnison, I want to better serve the diverse needs of our community with more freedom in a safe space where newcomers always feel supported.

When the Oxygen Thins at Altitude:
Provider Well-Being in Jackson

  • Charlotte Hale Alexander, LCSW, is the Executive Director of The Mental Wellness Collaborative in Jackson, Wyoming, where she works to expand access to mental health care through collaboration, affordability, and community connection. She has been serving Teton County as a social worker since 2009, with a deep commitment to strengthening both client access and provider well-being. Charlotte founded The Mental Wellness Collaborative to address gaps in care by supporting local providers, increasing bilingual access, and offering free, community-based programming. Her work is grounded in the belief that mental health care is strongest when communities come together to support both those seeking care and those providing it.

  • Kate Schelbe is an experienced educator, school administrator, and nonprofit leader.
    As the Teton Behavioral Health Alliance Backbone Leader, Kate provides strategic guidance, coordinates Alliance activities, cultivates community engagement, uses shared measurement to evaluate progress, and advances funding. The Alliance is utilizing the collective impact model to address challenges facing community well-being at the system level. This work aligns with Kate’s values of people, place, and impact while applying her facilitation skills and systems thinking approach. 

Teton Interagency Peer Support (TIPS):
A Model for Peer Support & Mental Health for First Responders

Jackson Hole, WY

  • Elizabeth Cheroutes, MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker and consultant specializing in trauma-informed community mental health systems, @irst responder peer support programs, and rural behavioral health initiatives. With over two decades of experience working at the intersection of mental health, community collaboration, and public safety, she has developed innovative programs that expand access to care and strengthen support networks for vulnerable populations. Elizabeth has worked extensively with nonpro@its, community coalitions, and government partners to design and implement peer support systems and trauma-informed services. She played a key role in the development of the Teton Interagency Peer Support Program, helping @irst responders access peer-based support and mental health resources. She also serves as a Clinical Advisor to the National Park Service Law Enforcement Peer-to-Peer Support Program. In addition to her consulting work, Elizabeth previously served as Board President of The Mental Wellness Collaborative (2021–2023), where she helped guide community-driven initiatives focused on improving mental health awareness and access to care. Elizabeth’s consulting focuses on helping organizations build collaborative, sustainable mental health programs that support @irst responders, survivors of violence, and rural communities. 

Mountain
Mocktail Mixoff

Kate Schelbe

  • Kate Schelbe is an experienced educator, school administrator, and nonprofit leader.
    As the Teton Behavioral Health Alliance Backbone Leader, Kate provides strategic guidance, coordinates Alliance activities, cultivates community engagement, uses shared measurement to evaluate progress, and advances funding. The Alliance is utilizing the collective impact model to address challenges facing community well-being at the system level. This work aligns with Kate’s values of people, place, and impact while applying her facilitation skills and systems thinking approach. 

  • Maeve brings her wealth of engagement and strategic skills to her new position as Director of Impact Portfolio at the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. Prior to joining the team as Program Manager in 2024, Maeve gained in-depth experience in grant management, data storytelling, direct services, and youth education, equipping her with a deep understanding of community needs and effective program implementation strategies. She is driven by mission-led environments and works to create sustainable solutions for community resiliency.

Maeve Donovan

Kristen Griffin

  •  Kristen Griffin joined Building Hope’s team in the summer of 2023. She has been working in the behavioral health field since 2016 and holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Prior to joining Building Hope, Kristen worked as a clinical social worker and treated a variety of mental health conditions with a specialization in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other anxiety disorders.  Kristen is thrilled to be a part of Building Hope’s team as the Mental Health Program Manager. She is very passionate about serving Summit County and improving her community’s behavioral health system.  In her free time, Kristen enjoys spending as much time in the mountains as possible, usually trail running, backpacking, or climbing. Kristen also enjoys giving back to her community as a volunteer rescuer with the Summit County Rescue Group.

Together in Wellness:
A Year of KAF Network Coordinator Connections

  • Jenna brings more than two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and community wellness to her role as founding executive director of TogetherWe. She has dedicated her career to mission-driven nonprofits and educational institutions, advocating for healthy, active living to promote mind-body wellness. Jenna helped turn a community vision for mental well-being into action through the creation of the Mental Well-Being Initiative and now leads TogetherWe, the dedicated backbone organization that supports the efforts to strengthen connection, resilience, and wellness across Blaine County. A longtime Wood River Valley resident, Jenna has also worked at the Blaine County Recreation District and Sun Valley Company.

Jenna Vagias

  • Kiernan moved to Big Sky in 2021 to enjoy the mountains of Big Sky. She holds a BA in Psychology and a minor in Spanish, from SUNY Geneseo. During college, she volunteered with a nonprofit in New York City, called DOROT, that aided socially isolated older adults. As a community services intern, she assisted social workers with local outreach events, conducted home visits, and helped clients with daily tasks such as grocery shopping or getting to appointments. After college, Kiernan worked various seasonal roles that helped her gain insight into the experience of the workforce population. She is deeply interested in contributing to the community and building connections to further local access to resources. In her free time, she can be found hiking, camping, or skiing in the mountains she now calls home.

Kiernan Volden