Our Team
Each child is unique. We help them thrive in a safe, nurturing environment.
Our team is passionate about transforming the lives of young children with visual impairments.
We’re known for our transdisciplinary team approach to serving children and families. Our gifted staff of Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Teaching Assistants, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical, Occupational, Horticultural and Music Therapists, and Ophthalmologists move beyond a discipline-specific approach. Working collaboratively, they provide the best in early intervention and childhood education services for the remarkable children and families we serve.
Together, we are Anchor Center.
Get to know us a little better and see why our collaboration sets us apart.
Teachers of the Visually Impaired
As a team, their collective credentials and expertise include: Certification as Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) and Certification in Orientation & Mobility (O&M).
Melinda Carter, TSVI; O&M
(303) 377-9732 ext 123 email
Elise Darrow, TSVI, O&M, Perkins CVI Endorsement
CVI Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 136 email
Tammy Miller, TSVI
(303) 377-9732 ext 154 email
Jen Parker, ECSE, TSVI
(303) 377-9732 ext 119 email
Melissa “Covi” Rodriguez, ECE
(303) 377-9732 ext 112 email
Jenn Taylor, TSVI, Perkins CVI Endorsement
(303) 377-9732 ext 115 email
Teachers
Collectively, our teaching staff has over 35 years of experience in the field of education and early intervention.
As a team, their collective credentials and expertise include: Certification in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE); expertise in Early Intervention, Assessments, Deaf-Blindness, and Assistive Technologies.
Tamara Gibson, ECE
(303) 377-9732 email
Erin Lovely, CTRS, HTR
(303) 377-9732 email
Jessica Meisel, ECSE
(303) 377-9732 ext 170 email
Merlin Miall, ECSE
(303) 377-9732 ext 122 email
Lashley Rhodes, ECE
(303) 377-9732 email
Caroline Vaszauskas, ECSE
Preschool Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 151 email
Therapists
Collectively, our therapists have over 55 years of professional experience providing therapeutic services to children with blindness, visual impairments, and deaf/blindness.
As a team, their collective credentials and expertise include: Certification in Speech/Language Pathology (SLP), Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Recreational Therapy (RT), and Music Therapy (MT); and expertise in early child development, communication, feeding, sleep, positioning, and sensory-based therapies.
Mindy Doyle-McCall, PT
(303) 377-9732 ext 155 email
Laura Ganguli, MT
(303) 377-9732 ext 116 email
Gina Higbie, OT
(303) 377-9732 ext 143 email
Ali Huckins, LPC, BCBA
Developmental Psych Consultant
(303) 946-1097 email
Kelly Mitchell
Horticulture Therapies Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 210 email
Kathryn Tower, CCC, SLP
(303) 377-9732 ext 165 email
Program Support
Our Program Support team has over 50 years of collective experience serving children with vision impairments.
As a team, their expertise includes: curriculum planning, literacy, braille, vision services and screening and early childhood programs.
Bethany Karlin
Teaching Assistant
(303) 377-9732
Johanna Covarrubias Ponce
Teaching Assistant
(303) 377-9732
Dalia Vega
Teaching Assistant
(303) 377-9732
Family Services
Together, our Family Services team has over 35 years of experience working in the fields of patient and family advocacy and disabilities.
They have an impressive breadth of expertise in social work, family services, developmental disabilities, mental health, special education, child development and vision services.
Courtney Albers
Intake & Referral Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 133 email
Naomi Aitken
Student Records and Data Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 13 email
Anne Brown
Family Resource Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 117 email
Katy Brumley
Eye Clinics Administrator
(303) 377-9732 ext 114 email
Development and Community Relations
Our Development and Community Relations team has over 45 years of collective experience in fund development and awareness.
Their expertise spans the fields of fundraising, volunteerism, marketing and public relations, with specialties in major gifts, events, grants, marketing, media relations, campaigns and appeals.
Naomi Aitken
Student Records and Data Entry Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 130 email
Melissa Morris
Marketing and Communications Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 142 email
Savannah Wippel
Director of Development and Community Relations
(303) 377-9732 ext 156 email
Administrative Services
Our Administrative Services team supports the daily administrative duties entailed in operating Anchor Center’s nonprofit educational functions.
They have experience in providing professional services and administrative support to teachers, practitioners, managers and volunteers.
Genevieve Miller
Office Manager & Volunteer Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 110 email
Consulting Partners
Ali Huckins, LPC, BCBA
Developmental Psych Specialist
(303) 946 1097 cell
Executive Leadership
Our Executive Leadership team is charged with supporting the smooth sailing and navigation of Anchor Center, fiscally, operationally and programmatically.
Collectively, they have over 65 years of experience in nonprofit management, with expertise in governance, fundraising, financial management, strategic planning and program development.
Meghan Klassen
Executive Director
(303) 377-9732 ext 113 email
Tamara (Tammy) Miller, TSVI, Perkins CVI Endorsement,
Director of Children’s Programs
(303) 377-9732 ext 154 email
Elise Darrow, TSVI, O&M, Perkins CVI Endorsement
CVI Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 136 email
John Taylor, CPA
Director of Finance
(303) 377-9732 ext 125 email
Savannah Wippel
Director of Development and Community Relations
(303) 377-9732 ext 156 email
2023-2024 Board of Directors
Charles (Chic) Naumer, Ph.D
Board President
Doug Weiss, MBA
First Vice President
Jill Hollingsworth
Second Vice President
Robert Olson, MBA
Treasurer
Suzanne Hoover, M.S.
Secretary
General Members:
Dave Bahr, M.Mus.
Shauna Callahan, CPA
Wendee Crowley
Flora Njionou Djofan
Matthew Harrington
Maria Kunz
Andrea Laser, Ed.D.
Matt Morris
Anna Steele, MD
Susie Winders, JD
Jenae Neiman, MBA, RN, BSN
2023-2024 Advisory Board Members
Murri Bishop
Former Anchor Center Board Member; Delta Gamma
Cheryl Blankenship
Former Anchor Center Board Member, Delta Gamma
Elizabeth Brenner
VP Foundation, Denver Delta Gamma Alumnae Group
Silvia M. Correa-Torres, Ed.D., COMS
Professor of Special Education, Doctoral Program Coordinator, School of Special Education at University of Northern Colorado
Nancy Cozart
Teacher for the Visually Impaired, Littleton Public Schools
Fred Davis
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader
Rob DeHerrera
Executive Director at Developmental Disabilities Resource Center
Matt Duncan
Former Anchor Board Member; Former Anchor Center Advisory Council Chair; Principal, Pie Consulting and Engineering
Kelly Dunkin
President and CEO at Community First Foundation, Delta Gamma
Lori Frisher
Spokesperson and motivational speaker for nonprofits, especially disability organizations
Jill Hollingsworth
Anchor Center Advisory Committee Chair; Anchor Center Board Member, Retired Corporate Communications Leader, Delta Gamma
Mary Lou Johnson
Retired from Children’s Hospital Colorado (speech-language pathologist); Delta Gamma
Robert Keyser, M.D.
Ophthalmologist, Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Anschutz Medical Campus
Gwen Lillis, Ph.D.
Chair of the Lillis Foundation; Board Member, University of Puget Sound; Chair, Lundquist College of Business/University of Oregon; Delta Gamma
Lindsey Linden
Owner/Founder Lindsey Linden (Events), Former development staff at Children’s Hospital Colorado; Delta Gamma
Zoe Morgese
Former Anchor Center Speech Language Pathologist
Julie Mork
Former Anchor Center Board President; Former Managing Director of ECA Foundation; Former Director at Energy Corporation of America; Delta Gamma
Matt Morris
Anchor Center alum parent; Senior Manager, Financial Accounting Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP
Kerry Musfeldt
Anchor Center alum parent; Former Anchor Center Board President; Physical Therapist
Robert Olson
Anchor Center Board Member; Retired CFO and Executive VP of Tyco and DISH Network
Michael Perez-Mesa
Anchor Center alum parent
Carol Benson Puchalski
Former Anchor Center Developmental Psychologist; Delta Gamma
Nickie Rico-Bowman
Licensed Occupational Therapist and Early Childhood Special Educator; Owner, Pediatric Therapies
Nicole Rueth
Branch Manager, SVP, The Rueth Team (Mortgage Company)
Peter Rueth
Integrations Manager, The Rueth Team (Mortgage Company)
Sherry Stripling
Delta Gamma, Former Director of Talent Management Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc.
Jennifer Ursetta
Senior Vice President, FirstBank
Kiera Zink
Anchor Center alum parent