The Governor's Commission on Community Service

Juan brings more than ten years of experience in the environmental and conservation services field. His main areas of expertise include environmental education and advocacy, nonprofit management, watershed management, rural community development, water quality, and environmental restoration/stewardship. Currently, Juan is the Executive Director of Environmental Learning for Kids. Previously, he served as the Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships with the Wilderness Society. He played a leading role in designing and implementing advocacy campaigns driving federal policy change to protect public lands, climate, and western communities.
 
Juan earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in environmental management from the University of Panama, and a Master's of Science in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. During his time in Ohio, he was also awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.
 
Before moving to Colorado, Juan was the National Coordinator for the Million Hectares Alliance in Panama. He led a multimillion-dollar public-private partnership that seeks to restore more than 2.4 million acres of degraded land in a 30-year period.
 
Juan loves hiking, camping, snowboarding, and spending time with his family. Juan also volunteers his time as a board member for the Cottonwood Institute, a local organization working on transforming the way we empower Colorado Front Range students to be leaders and problem-solvers in their communities and the Next 100 Coalition to ensure equitable access to public lands and nature.

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Melissa Calhoon has almost twenty years of experience in program development, education, and non-profit management. She is currently the Director of Student Success and Engagement at Colorado Mesa University on the Western Slope where she assists students in reaching their goals while overcoming systematic and individual challenges. Melissa is a two-time AmeriCorps alumnus and past AmeriCorps Program Manager. 

She holds the belief that people are what make the community a vibrant place to live. She has been involved with various boards within Steamboat Springs, around Colorado and Grand Junction. Most recently, Melissa was a Colorado Governors Fellow. She holds a Master in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University, MA and B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Slippery Rock University, PA. In her free time, she enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible exploring and hiking with her family. 

Represents a knowledge of community service.

D.J. Close is a civic and social impact leader with a proven track record in cross-sector partnerships. He is the inaugural Executive Director of the DaVita Giving Foundation and Director of Corporate Giving at DaVita - a Fortune 500® Health care company focused on Kidney Care and headquartered in Denver. The dual roles address DaVita’s commitment to long-term social issues and maximizing community impact.

Before joining the DaVita Village D.J. worked at Mile High United Way and started the Colorado Reading Corps, an AmeriCorps program focused on K-3 grade literacy. Prior to Mile High United Way D.J. worked in The Office of Colorado Lt. Governor Joseph Garcia, and is a graduate of El Pomar Foundation’s Fellowship program

Represents a knowledge of business.

Ashley Farmer-Hanson is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Rocky Vista University in Parker. She has published and presented nationally in the areas of community engagement, social justice, and diversity. Her specialization is in mobilizing college students into the community using their skill sets to partner with local agencies to solve community needs.  Before moving to Colorado, Ashley managed and led thousands of volunteers annually and was an AmeriCorps site program manager for over 400 members. Ashley served on the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and the Iowa Campus Compact board of directors. She has a Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration from Wisconsin – La Crosse and a Doctorate in Education Administration: Higher Education from the University of South Dakota. She is also an AmeriCorps alumna. Ashley enjoys gardening, spending time with her partner Matt and their two dogs Zoey and Rocky. In her free time, she trains for Ironman triathlons and enjoys traveling. 

Represents a knowledge of community service. 

With over 18 years of experience in education and leadership, Heather Grantham is a dedicated professional passionate about fostering excellence and community growth. Currently serving as an Educator Recruitment and Retention Specialist at the Colorado Department of Education, she designs and leads initiatives to enhance teacher recruitment, retention, and workforce development across the state.

Previously, she was recognized as the 2022 Charter School Leader of the Year and led her school to multiple accolades, including top rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. She and her team successfully grew enrollment, expanded facilities, and forged strong community partnerships, securing millions in funding for school improvements.

Heather’s expertise extends to developing strategic partnerships with local governments, enhancing educator training, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. She has successfully led large-scale projects, including a multi-million dollar school expansion, and works closely with military transition programs and international organizations to strengthen educator recruitment efforts.

With a proven track record of leadership and a deep commitment to educational equity, Heather Grantham is excited to serve as a commissioner representing education, continuing to drive positive change and empower communities to reach their full potential.

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Diana Hicks is a veteran non-profit leader and the Founder and Executive Director of Can’d Aid, a nationally recognized, publicly funded nonprofit. Diana has dedicated her career to purpose driven work. Her impact is well known in Crested Butte where she was a founding member of The Trailhead Children’s Museum, served as the Program Director for the Center for the Arts, and the Executive Director of the Crested Butte Arts Festival. 

After Crested Butte, Diana got involved in the craft beer industry working as the Sponsorship Director for Oskar Blues Brewery. When the 2013 Colorado flood struck the small town of Lyons, and the birthplace of Oskar Blues, Diana put her penchant for volunteerism and charity to work and Can’d Aid was born. She teamed up with Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis and the craft beer industry to provide canned drinking water to those in need, as well as leading grassroots efforts to rebuild communities devastated by the flood. 

For the past decade, Diana has effectively activated people from all walks of life, building a movement of passionate do-gooders and creating deep impact across the country. Through her unconventional and entrepreneurial approach to giving back, she continues to evolve the way people think about philanthropy. Fueled by people power, Can’d Aid demonstrates how big, out of the box thinking can lead to great things for our communities. 

Represents a knowledge of community service

Colonel Rebecca “BB” Lange is an active-duty Air Force officer, currently serving as the Department Chair and Professor of Aerospace Studies, and Commander of the Air Force ROTC Detachment at the University of Colorado Boulder. Over the last 24 years, she has deployed in support of combat and peacekeeping operations and held multiple command positions, specializing in cyber intelligence and legislative affairs.   

Rebecca also served in the second class of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, a residential national service program designed to address unmet human needs and improve local communities. She remains active in the AmeriCorps Alumni community. She is an ardent advocate of expanding service opportunities for Americans, with an eye toward finding opportunities at the cross-section of military, national, and community service.

Her additional areas of interest and action include eliminating barriers for servicewomen and families, the retention of cyber talent in the workforce, and civilian-military relations.

Represents a knowledge of military and veteran affairs. 

Scott McLagan is an Emeritus Professor of the Practice in Management at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. For 18 years, he led the Executive Leadership and Global Business segments of DU’s top-ranked Executive MBA program before retiring in 2022. Today, Scott continues to teach and consult in leadership, executive team development, strategic planning, and geopolitics.

Before transitioning to academia, Scott spent over 25 years in the corporate sector, holding senior executive roles at Fisher Controls, Emerson Electric, and a high-tech start-up acquired by Oracle. His global experience includes five years living in Singapore, where he deepened his expertise in international business and education.

Scott currently serves on the Board of Directors for Hyder Construction, Inc., and the Advisory Board for the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging at the University of Denver. He is President Emeritus of the Denver Children’s Home Board and was previously Chairman of the Board of HSS, Inc., overseeing its acquisition.

A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, Scott holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Finance. He has completed advanced leadership programs at INSEAD in France and the Aspen Institute.  Recently, Scott completed a Fellowship at the University of Chicago's Leadership and Society Initiative, focusing on helping accomplished leaders transition to meaningful new phases in their lives. In early 2025, he and his wife will launch the "Retirement Reimagined" program through the DU Enrichment Program and the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging.

Represents a knowledge of the needs of older adults.

Alex Nees is an environmental consultant and ecologist working on the Western Slope on issues related to water development and conservation, energy resources, recreation, transportation infrastructure, and municipal facilities. Prior to his current career, Alex has worked in the Bureau of Land Management and also managed a Youth Conservation Corps program focused on public lands service and job training for Native youth. He has also served as resident restoration ecologist for private conservation properties in New Mexico. He works on a wide variety of complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and regulatory agencies, including multiple Federal agencies, and his unifying interest is in guiding public lands development in ways that are informed by science and beneficial to the human community. Alex grew up in Philadelphia and holds a bachelor's degree in ecology from Princeton University and a master's degree in biology from Stanford University. He lives in Grand Junction with his wife and two children, and is proud to call the Western Slope home.

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Erica Oakley-Courage is proud to serve her community and state in a variety of capacities. She brings nearly 15 years of experience from working in the non-profit sector as a fundraiser and in grant making to her role as the Associate Vice President of Grants at El Pomar Foundation. In that role, she oversees the operations of the grants department and acts as the program officer for the entire state, giving her a perspective on communities across Colorado.

Prior to El Pomar, Erica worked for more than six years as a development officer with the Palmer Land Conservancy and the Colorado Springs office of the American Heart Association. The Seattle-area native earned a Bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in Journalism/Public Relations and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She spent six years doing media relations in professional sports before transitioning to the non-profit sector.

In addition to Serve Colorado, Erica is participating in the CiviCO Colorado Governor’s Fellowship and is on the Board of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPR). She is a member of the Institute for Leaders in Development’s Class of 2017, participated in the Center for Creative Leadership’s Community Leadership Program in 2021, and was a member of the Colorado Springs Mayor’s Civic Leaders Fellowship Class of 2023. She has served on multiple boards and volunteered for several organizations in the Pikes Peak region and is a lifetime Girl Scout. In 2016, she was recognized as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Colorado Outstanding Emerging Fundraiser, and in 2018 she was named a Rising Star by the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

In her free time, Erica enjoys practicing ballet, reading, and exploring the outdoors.

Represents a knowledge of community service and philanthropy.

Ray has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit, advocacy and mission-driven sectors. He served in President Obama’s Administration at the Department of the Interior and at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. During his time with President Obama and Secretary Ken Salazar, Ray helped create the Office of Youth in Natural Resources and was on the Federal government's committee for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Ray has served on numerous nonprofit boards that connect with his passion for getting diverse communities active in the outdoors. Ray earned his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government and now he advises companies and causes part-time while performing his full-time job of caring for his two boys, Mateo and Gregory, ages 7 and 5. Whatever time Ray has to spare after getting the entire family into the great outdoors, he invests in mentoring the next generation of civic leaders.

Represents knowledge of community service.

Alisa Rizo is currently working as the Bilingual Case Manager with Ithaka a non profit transitional housing organization. Over the course of her academic and professional pursuit she has practiced serving underrepresented communities; in her current role as a case manager with Ithaka, her previous role as an Education Advisor with Conexion Americas and during her Peace Corps service as a Youth in Development Volunteer. In her past and current positions she has facilitated many conversations to amplify voices of directly impacted families about the unique educational and physical needs of their students. She has experience in working with directly impacted communities, coordinating communication and collaboration with Colorado Springs service providers and actively pursuing allyship to marginalized populations. She is committed to elevating access so that marginalized communities can achieve prosperous and viable lives. 

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Dr. Dedrick Sims is a respected leader, educator, and advocate dedicated to transforming the lives of young men of color through equity-driven education and systemic change. As CEO of the Sims-Fayola Foundation, he leads an organization that has impacted over 17,000 young men and supported 6,000 youth service professionals nationwide, tackling systemic inequities and breaking institutional barriers. The foundation also serves as the backbone organization for My Brother’s Keeper Denver, advancing policies and programs that empower communities.

Dr. Sims began his career as a substitute teacher and has since held roles as a teacher, school leader, district administrator, and school founder. His expertise in single-gender learning, mentorship, and educational equity has made him a sought-after speaker and trainer. Through workshops and keynotes like Hardwired by Nature: School Design Through an Equity Lens, he equips educators with tools to foster success for all students.

An accomplished author, Dr. Sims wrote Hey Man, We Just Talkin': Daily Conversations With Young Men and is working on his next book, The Sims Framework for Empowering Young Men of Color: Reimagining Education for Equality. He also founded Shearwater Equity Alliance, LLC, a consulting firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Recognized with numerous awards, including being named the 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker for the Denver Broncos, one of Black Enterprise’s “100 Modern BE Men,” Dr. Sims is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and continues to inspire through his work in education, advocacy, and social justice.

Represents knowledge of educational, training, and developmental needs of youth.

On behalf of Comcast’s 9,000 employees in Colorado, Mary Spillane manages partnerships and programs that strengthen and enrich communities across the state, investing resources that help communities realize the transformative potential of media and technology to solve problems, improve lives and create opportunity. In 2019, Comcast invested more than $12 million in financial and in-kind resources in programs and organizations serving Colorado communities.

Previously, Mary worked for several nonprofit organizations, including ReSurge International, which provides reconstructive surgical care and builds surgical capacity in developing countries, the Colorado Symphony, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and Civic Center Conservancy, dedicated to activating Denver’s historic Civic Center Park. She currently serves on the Boards of Easter Seals Colorado, the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges, and Aurora Sister Cities International, and on the Community Advisory Council for Phamaly Theatre Company, dedicated to supporting and engaging actors with disabilities.

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Jean Sykes is Chair of Bent County Commissioners in Las Animas, Colorado. She also serves on the Nursing Home Board, Southeast Colorado Economic Development Board, and Chair of the Public Health Board in Bent County and serves on the Colorado Counties, Inc. Legislative Committee. Jean was recently appointed to the State Emergency Medical Trauma Advisory Board where she is serving on the Policy and Finance Committee and Education Committee. Jean has spent most of her adult years as a Business Educator at the collegiate and secondary levels. She has a BS degree in Career and Technology Education and a MS in Education Administration. Jean was named “Business Educator of the Year in 2012 and later inducted into the Future Business Leaders of America Advisors Wall of Fame, Leadership and volunteering have always been important to Jean and she instilled that same value in her students by conducting numerous community service projects with her students. After retiring as a Business Educator, Jean started her own catering business and operated if full-time for four years. After being elected as Bent County Commissioner she closed her business to dedicate her full attention to the responsibilities of commissioner of a small rural community.

Represents local government.

Angie McDowell is the principal at Centennial Elementary in Greeley, Colorado. With over twenty years of experience in education, Angie has served as a special education teacher, classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She is dedicated to teaching students who are living in poverty and students with culturally diverse backgrounds. Her leadership style highlights her collaborative and innovative approach to identifying effective ways to improve educator talent to best meet every student’s needs. Angie and her team focus on creating a positive culture for student learning, planning high quality instruction, using data to inform instruction, and engaging all students. They work together to develop meaningful systems of support for students, families, and staff members.

Angie attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. She earned bachelor of science degrees in elementary and special education and a master of science degree in curriculum and instruction. Angie also attended the University of Northern Colorado, where she earned her doctoral degree in educational studies and a minor in educational leadership.

Represents local labor organizations.

Prior to joining the AmeriCorps Mountain Region as a Senior Portfolio Manager, Julie worked as the Executive Director of a non-profit following a collective impact model, bringing together local and state agencies and individuals to solve community issues. Prior to that she served as the Nebraska State Program Director, a local Foster Grandparent and RSVP program director, and worked in Migrant Education and Head Start. During her previous time with AmeriCorps she was also part of the Disaster Cadre team and was deployed to Florida for hurricane relief. She was appointed to the Nebraska Commission on volunteer service and has served on other boards and associations including Leadership Hastings, Nebraska Senior Corps Association, Home Health, First St. Paul’s Disaster Preparation and Midland Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board.

Represents AmeriCorps.
 

Noah Youngveitch is a Junior at Northfield High School. He takes part in many activities and clubs such as men's high school varsity volleyball, club volleyball, varsity cheer, all-star cheer, student council, and AAPI Club. His current role in the student council is Culture and Inclusivity Chair. He was formerly his class's vice president, and president. He hopes to engage the younger generation in getting involved with their community through community service.

Representative of youth 16-25 who is a participant in a service program.