The Governor's Commission on 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. 

Brandon Lloyd is the Vice Chair of Serve Colorado and a dedicated champion of service, youth development, and community impact. A former NFL All-Pro wide receiver and alumnus of the University of Illinois, Brandon completed his undergraduate degree in 2018 and later earned his MBA from the University of Denver’s Daniels School of Business.

Following an 11-year professional football career, Brandon transitioned into civic and business leadership with a focus on expanding opportunities for young people. He served as an Ambassador for CareerWise Colorado, helping strengthen workforce development pathways between education and white collar apprenticeships. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Denver Tennis Park Board, where he advocates for equitable access to tennis, wellness, and safe community spaces for Denver youth.

Professionally, Brandon is a Health & Benefits Consultant, advising employers across industries on how to optimize benefits, manage risk, and strengthen employee well-being.

Across his roles, Brandon remains committed to advancing opportunity, fostering service, and strengthening the systems that help Colorado communities thrive.

Represents a knowledge of community service.

Juan brings more than 20 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 Water Education Colorado. Previously, he served as Executive Director of Environmental Learning for Kids and 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 Executive Director of Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation. Previously, he was Director of Giving and Executive Director of the DaVita Giving Foundation - a Fortune 500® Health care company. Before joining DaVita, 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.

State Commissioner of Education's designee.

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

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 experience promoting the involvement of adults 55+ in service and volunteerism.

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 expertise in educational, training, and developmental needs of youth, particularly disadvantaged 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.

Marissa Harmon took office as Lone Tree’s fourth Mayor in May 2024. She is an entrepreneur, small business owner and the first elected official to own a brick-and-mortar business in the City of Lone Tree.  Her decision to run for office originated from a deep desire to serve and maintain the quality of life for residents and businesses in our growing community. Mayor Harmon’s commitment to the community is demonstrated
through her prior service on the City Council, Lone Tree Planning Commission, Douglas County Youth Initiative, South Suburban Parks and Recreation subcommittee, Colorado Municipal League, and Co-chairing the campaign for 2E. 
 
Marissa has been a proud residents of Lone Tree for over a decade and feels fortunate to be raising two daughters in this amenity-rich community. You will likely see them hiking, biking, and running throughout the city taking advantage of every opportunity to be outdoors. Mayor Harmon understands the importance of commerce, community, and culture that makes our City so special. 
 
In her role as Mayor, she actively represents Lone Tree through her involvement with numerous organizations, including the Partnership of Douglas County Governments; Chair of Denver South Transportation Management Association and Board of Directors, Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors; the Metro Mayors Caucus Executive Committee; South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; and Chair of the Arapahoe Community College Cosmetology Board. She is passionate about supporting Lone Tree residents, businesses and restaurants and looks forward to engaging with residents throughout the community.

Represents local government.

Kari Barnett has over twenty-five years of experience in public education.  She currently teaches English and is the incoming English department coordinator at Grandview High School in the Cherry Creek School District.  She is dedicated to supporting students from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.  Kari is an active participant in the school’s accountability improvement, Voices of Color, inclusive excellence, and academic interventions teams.  She has also been a National Board Certified Teacher for 18 years.

Previously, Kari taught high school English in both Mesa County Valley Schools and Aurora Public Schools, where she was named Aurora Public School’s Outstanding New Teacher.  She has served as a Professional Learning Community leader, assistant department coordinator, in-building curriculum and instruction coach, Link Crew coordinator, speech and debate coach, and sponsor of a variety of student-led clubs. 

Most recently, Kari was a 2024-2025 Teach Plus Colorado Policy Fellow and a delegate to the Colorado Education Association Delegate Assembly.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English: Secondary Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Learning from Regis University. 

Represents local labor organizations.

Skyla Mahe brings four years of experience serving in AmeriCorps programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to national service and community engagement. She is currently a member of the AmeriCorps – Corps for a Change program at Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice, where she works closely with students to promote academic success, personal growth, and equitable access to resources. In this role, Skyla provides direct support to students through individualized coaching, attendance and credit-recovery assistance, mentoring, and connections to school and community resources. She is dedicated to helping students navigate academic challenges, strengthen their confidence, and build pathways toward post-secondary opportunities.

In addition to her service, Skyla is actively pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, with the goal of becoming an elementary teacher. Outside of her work and studies, Skyla enjoys baking, crafting, and spending quality time with her family and friends. 

She hopes to inspire younger generations to become engaged citizens and give back to their communities, using her own service as an example of the meaningful impact individuals can make through dedication and compassion.

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