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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.

teacher with student

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 Initiative Interim Manager
(303) 377-9732 ext 136 email

Jessica Hank, TSVI, Perkins CVI Endorsement
(303) 377-9732 ext 144 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

Margi Moldane, ECSE
(303) 377-9732 ext 127 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

Mary Wahlgren
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

Sunni Lisco
Special Events Coordinator
(303) 377-9732 ext 190 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

Marlene Evans, BSN, RN,
Pediatric Nurse Consulting Services, LLC
(303) 906-8399 cell

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

Catherine (Cathy) Smyth, TVI, PhD
Director of Research
(303) 377-9732 ext 120 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

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

Jenae Neiman, MBA, RN, BSN
VP, Research Operations, Children’s Hospital Colorado; Former Pediatric Oncology/BMT RN

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