Our Team

Our Team

Aaron Azari

Retired Executive Vice President, BOK Financial

Aaron joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Aaron Azari

Position: Retired Executive Vice President, BOK Financial
Categories: Board

Aaron joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2018, previously serving on the Foundation’s Governance Committee. He is currently serving as the Board and Executive Committee Chair.

Aaron brings over 37 years of experience as a Trust Officer and Wealth Advisor. He recently retired from BOK Financial. Previously, he led the Wealth Division for Colorado State Bank where he helped expand community access to professional trustee services across Colorado and into Wyoming.

Aaron attended Colorado State University and the University of Colorado. He holds an M.S. degree in Finance.

Community Participation:
As a resident of Arvada, Aaron served the City of Arvada for nearly 20 years as a Planning Commissioner, and then an elected City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem. He is also a member of the Denver Lions Club, Susan M. Duncan Advisory Board (YMCA of Metro Denver), and Colorado Bankers Government Relations Committee. He also serves on the following boards and committees:

  • Colorado Gives Foundation Board Chair and Executive Committee Chair – Current
  • Colorado Gives Foundation Board Vice Chair – Past
  • Colorado Gives Foundation Governance Committee Chair – Current
  • Colorado Gives Foundation Audit & Compliance Committee – Past
  • Children’s Hospital Legacy Planning Advisory Council, Member – Current
  • The Denver Foundation Professional Advisory Board, Member – Past
  • Denver Estate Planning Council, past President and Current Member – Current
  • Colorado State Bank and Trust Foundation Board, Member – Current
  • International Society of Trust and Estate Professionals, Member – Past
  • Lutheran Medical Center Foundation, Vice Chairman – Past
  • National League of Cities, Finance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee – Past
  • Kids in Need of Dentistry – Past

David Bomberger

Retired, Pinnacol Assurance

Dave joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

David Bomberger

Position: Retired, Pinnacol Assurance
Categories: Board

Dave joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2015. He currently serves as a member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Dave recently retired from Pinnacol Assurance as the Chief Investment Officer, a position he held since 2012. He has more than 35 years of experience guiding large investment portfolios. His responsibilities as Chief Investment Officer included managing Pinnacol’s investment portfolio for maximum return, while ensuring its risk, quality and duration.

A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Dave holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Community Participation:

  • Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado, Board Member
  • Pinnacol Foundation, Board Member

A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell

Executive Director, National American Indian Court Judges Association

A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell joined the Board of Directors at...

 

A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell

Position: Executive Director, National American Indian Court Judges Association
Categories: Board

A. Nikki Borchardt Campbell joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2021. She currently serves on the Community Impact Committee and Business Development & Community Engagement Committee. She is currently the Executive Director at the National American Indian Court Judges Association, and prior to this position served as an attorney with Luebben, Johnson & Barnhouse.

She attended Stanford University and holds Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.

Community Participation:

  • National Native American Law Students Association Board
  • Native American Law Students Association
  • Indian Law Program Certificate

Kristin L. Calder, CPA

Director, Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, P.C.

Kristin joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Kristin L. Calder, CPA

Position: Director, Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, P.C.
Categories: Board

Kristin joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2022. She currently serves on the Audit and Compliance Committee. Kristin is a director and shareholder at Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, P.C. (KCM), a Denver firm which provides audit and tax services exclusively to nonprofit organizations. Kristin joined KCM in August 2009 after a three-year career at Hanson & Co. in Denver. She received her bachelor of science degree in accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  Kristin has extensive experience working with KCM’s numerous private foundations and is also the firm’s Designated Partner for audits of employee benefit plans.

Kristin is a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants (COCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is a graduate of Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s Impact Denver, and completed the COCPA’s LeadFit leadership program.  Outside of CFF, Kristin is on the Finance Committee for the Women’s Bean Project, and volunteers for Friends of Retired Greyhounds.

Elycia Cook

Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado

Elycia joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Elycia Cook

Position: Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Colorado
Categories: Board

Elycia joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2017. She currently serves on the Community Impact Committee and the Colorado Gives Subcommittee. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado (March 2021). Previously, Elycia served as the Executive Director of FRIENDS FIRST, a nonprofit that mentors teens to make positive life choices and develop healthy relationships.

Elycia has more than ten years of experience working with positive youth development programs in the nonprofit sector, managing multiple federal, local and state grants and million-dollar budgets. Her diverse employment history also includes strategic planning, business development, sales, corporate training, teaching, event planning and cross-cultural relations in the business sector.

Elycia received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Marketing from Wayne State University. She lived and worked in Japan for more than eight years.

Community Participation:

  • Cherry Creek STARS Mentoring Program, founder, 2009 – 2015
  • Jack and Jill Incorporated South Suburban Chapter, member, 2013 – present
  • Mentor Colorado, committee member, 2014 – present; conference committee member, 2016
  • My Brother’s Keeper, City and County of Denver Office of Children’s Affairs, 2015 – present
  • Colorado Christian Fellowship Children’s Ministry, leader, 2012 – 2014

Joy S. Johnson

Community Advocate

Joy joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Joy S. Johnson

Position: Community Advocate
Categories: Board

Joy joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2017 after serving on the Core 40 Leadership Group for the Foundation’s Innovators Society, a program accelerating new solutions for mental wellness. She brings expertise in business and experience as a community volunteer and philanthropist. She currently serves on the Executive Committee, as chair of the Community Impact Committee, and as a member of the Finance & Investment Committee.

Joy’s philanthropic efforts have focused on children and women’s healthcare, educational reform and personal self-sufficiency. She is a current trustee of The Madeira School where she chairs the Strategic Planning and Investment Committee. Joy served on the Executive Committee of Children’s Colorado Hospital and chairs its community and economic benefits committee focusing on population health and health disparities.

Previously, Joy worked in the U.S. Senate and later as a lobbyist in her hometown of Washington, DC. She enjoyed a successful career as an institutional trader on Wall Street as vice president of the New York financial firm of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Joy received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations /Political Science from Colgate University and a Master of Business Administration at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Community Participation:

  • Children’s Colorado Hospital, board and committee member, 2003 – present
  • Colorado Children’s Campaign, board member, 2010 – 2016
  • Children’s Colorado Foundation, past chair and other roles, 1999 – 2012
  • The Madeira School, Trustee, 2017 – present. Chair, Strategic Planning and Investment Committee
  • Constellation Philanthropy, investment committee member, 2016
  • Denver Art Museum Foundation, investment committee member, 2004 – 2014
  • The Denver Foundation, human services committee and investment committee member, 2004 – 2013
  • Children’s Colorado Foundation, board member, 1999 – 2012
  • Get Smart Schools (Now Catalyst), founding board member and chair, 2008 – 2012
  • Rose Community Foundation, child and family development committee member, 2005 – 2011
  • The Women’s Foundation, board, committee member and chair, 1999 – 2006
  • Urban Peak, board member, 2003 – 2006

Kelly Kaminskas

Chief Digital Officer, FirstBank

Kelly Kaminskas joined the board in March 2021. She serves...

 

Kelly Kaminskas

Position: Chief Digital Officer, FirstBank
Categories: Board

Kelly Kaminskas joined the board in March 2021. She serves on the Audit & Compliance Committee and the Colorado Gives Subcomittee. She is the Chief Digital Officer at FirstBank, overseeing the bank’s retail, digital, operations and treasury management functions. In her previous role as President of Retail and Digital Banking at FirstBank, she oversaw the bank’s branch strategy, digital banking channels, contact center, consumer product strategy and overall customer experience. She joined the bank in 2004 and has served in many positions including prior leadership roles in Loan Operations and the bank’s Arizona market.

Kelly graduated from Drake University, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in International Business. She is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School, at the University of Washington.

Community participation:

  • Board Chair, Hope Communities, an affordable housing nonprofit in Denver
  • Member, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Joint Payments Advisory Group

Past Service:

  • Colorado Bankers Association Advocacy Program
  • Scottsdale Leadership
  • Valley Partnership Advocacy Program
  • D’Evelyn Schools Scholarship Selection Committee
  • Foothills Foundation Board Member

Russell W. Kemp, Esq.

Attorney, Ireland Stapleton

Russell joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Russell W. Kemp, Esq.

Position: Attorney, Ireland Stapleton
Categories: Board

Russell joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2016 after serving as a Community Committee Member on the Foundation’s Governance Committee. He is currently serving on the Executive Committee, and as the chair of the Governance Committee.

Russell is an attorney at Ireland Stapleton in Denver where he has practiced law since 1998. He represents clients in business deals and disputes and in estate planning and probate. Russell has a passion for creating connections and partnerships between nonprofits serving the Denver community.

Russell received his J.D. at University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his A.B. at Dartmouth College.

Community Participation:
Russell has served on the Rocky Mountain Regional Advisory Board of the Institute of International Education and as a trustee of the Metro Denver YMCA. He has chaired the boards of several organizations, including:

  • Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver
  • The University of Denver Sturm College of Law Alumni Council
  • WorldDenver
  • The Downtown Denver YMCA

Russell is a proud supporter of WFCO’s PEP Club and Dads for Daughters.

Shelly A. Marquez

President, Mercy Housing Mountain Plains

Shelly joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Shelly A. Marquez

Position: President, Mercy Housing Mountain Plains
Categories: Board

Shelly joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2016. She currently serves on the Executive Committee as Board vice chair, chair of the Audit & Compliance Committee, and member of the Community Impact Committee.

Shelly is the President at Mercy Housing Mountain Plains, creating affordable housing and helping residents with supportive services. Her previous work includes her role as Senior Vice President and Community Relations Senior Manager at Wells Fargo, with 37 years of experience in financial services. She was with Wells Fargo for more than 27 years, and managed the Community Relations teams across 13 states. Marquez and her team were responsible for community outreach, stakeholder engagement, charitable contributions and reputation activities.

In 2012, Shelly received an Outstanding Women in Business award from the Denver Business Journal.

Community Participation:

  • Housing Colorado, Board Member
  • Asset Funders Network, Board Member
  • National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), board member
  • Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Bank On Advisory Board
  • Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver, past Board President
  • Mile High Community Loan Fund, past Board President
  • Colorado Enterprise Fund, past Board President
  • City and County of Denver, Housing Task Force
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas, Community Development Advisory Council, past advisory member

Dale Martin

Director of Private Markets, Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado

Dale joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in...

 

Dale Martin

Position: Director of Private Markets, Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado
Categories: Board

Dale joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in January 2021. He serves as the Board Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Dale brings three decades of finance and investment experience to Colorado Gives Foundation. He is the Director of Private Markets at the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado. He attended the University of Denver and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Finance.

Community Participation:

  • Member, Fiduciary Investors Roundtable for Collaboration and Partnerships
  • Head Coach, Southeast Denver Baseball and Softball League

Andre McGregor

Founder+CEO, ForceMetrics

Andre McGregor joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors...

 

Andre McGregor

Position: Founder+CEO, ForceMetrics
Categories: Board

Andre McGregor joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in January 2021. He serves on the Colorado Gives Subcommittee. Andre is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ForceMetrics. A self-proclaimed tech enthusiast and a veteran FBI Cyber Special Agent, he currently serves on the board of the National Cybersecurity Center in Colorado Springs and the Denver Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Andre is a Colorado native and attended Brown University as one of the first Daniels Scholars.

Community Participation:

  • ShiftState Security, co-founder and board member
  • Space ISAC, board member
  • National Cybersecurity Center, board member
  • Environmental Learning for Kids, advisory board member
  • Volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, East Brunswick Independent Fire Company and Rescue Squad

Adi Merchant

Senior Director, Talent Acquisition Vail Resorts Management Company

Adi joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in...

 

Adi Merchant

Position: Senior Director, Talent Acquisition Vail Resorts Management Company
Categories: Board

Adi joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in January 2021. He serves on the Community Impact Committee and Governance Committee.

He is the Chief of Staff at Vail Resorts and brings extensive experience in organizational leadership, change management and talent development to Colorado Gives Foundation. He attended Purdue University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Secondary Education, with a minor in Spanish. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree in Human Capital and Leadership from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Community Participation:

  • Head Coach, American Youth Soccer Organization
  • Volunteer, Plant-Based Nutrition Support Group

Stacey Pool

Chief Marketing Officer, Noodles & Company

Stacey Pool joined the Board in 2020. She serves as...

 

Stacey Pool

Position: Chief Marketing Officer, Noodles & Company
Categories: Board

Stacey Pool joined the Board in 2020. She serves as the Board secretary and chair of the Business Development & Community Engagement Committee.

Stacey is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Noodles & Company. Prior to joining Noodles, Stacey held a variety of leadership roles at Vail Resorts, Inc., including Senior Vice President of Season Pass Marketing, Chief of Staff to the CEO, and Vice President of Digital Experience. During her time at Vail Resorts, she was responsible for Epic Pass brand marketing and delivering and executing the Vail Resorts digital experience.  With over twenty years of experience in consumer marketing across multiple industries, Stacey has a strong track record of utilizing guest insights to deliver strong business results.  Before joining Vail Resorts, Stacey was at Nike, Inc., where she defined the vision and strategy for the NIKEiD.com digital experience. Prior to Nike, she worked in consulting at Accenture, where she supported both Verizon Wireless and Qwest Communications. Stacey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

Penfield W. Tate III

Attorney and Chief Environmental Justice Officer, Project Canary PBC

Penfield joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Penfield W. Tate III

Position: Attorney and Chief Environmental Justice Officer, Project Canary PBC
Categories: Board

Penfield joined the Board of Directors at Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2017.

He is an attorney with expertise in public finance and municipal law. He has wide-ranging experience representing public entities, lenders and underwriters engaged in the process of financing public improvements and advising local and state government on their administrative responsibilities.

Penfield formerly served as a state legislator in both the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives. Additional roles in his work history include Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Administration for former Governor Roy Romer and aide to former Denver Mayor Federico Peña.

Penfield received his J.D. at the Antioch School of Law and B.A. from Colorado State University.

Community Participation:

  • Denver Water Board, president
  • Sam Cary Bar Association, member
  • Ability Connection of Colorado (formerly Cerebral Palsy of Colorado), board member
  • State of Colorado Banking board, former board member
  • Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, former board member
  • Five Points Community Center, former board member
  • Bell Policy Center, former board member
  • Metropolitan State College of Denver Foundation, former board member

Leah Varnell

Executive Director, CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties

Leah joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in...

 

Leah Varnell

Position: Executive Director, CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties
Categories: Board

Leah joined the Colorado Gives Foundation Board of Directors in January 2021. She serves on the Governance and Business Development and Community Engagement Committees.

Leah is the Executive Director at CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties and has served in that role since 2006, after 5 years as the program director and helping start the organization. Leah’s entire career has been in the non profit sector, starting in 1987.

Leah is a Colorado native, growing up in Centennial. She attended Colorado College and has a BA in Sociology. She moved to Jefferson county in 2001, where she and her husband Joel raised their two daughters.

Leah is on the BOD for Court Support Jeffco, where she serves as vice chair and is a volunteer for The Action Center.

Gaye Woods

System Vice President of Diversity and Health Equity, CommonSpirit Health

Gaye joined the Board of Directors of Colorado Gives Foundation...

 

Gaye Woods

Position: System Vice President of Diversity and Health Equity, CommonSpirit Health
Categories: Board

Gaye joined the Board of Directors of Colorado Gives Foundation in January 2018. She serves on the Executive Committee, as chair of the Colorado Gives Subcommittee and as a member of the Business Development and Community Engagement Committee.

Gaye’s previous work includes serving as the System Director of Community Benefit at SCL Health. She led operations to positively impact the overall health of SCL Health communities, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. Prior to this, her experience includes leadership roles in program management, strategy, community engagement and compliance with companies such as Centura Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical and OSA Partners. Over her 14 year career, her work has been recognized by the Clinton Foundation, American Public Health Association and the Dell Foundation.

Gaye received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University and BA degree from Texas Tech University. Her certifications include: the Robert Woods Johnson Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, Motivational Interviewing and Mental Health First Aid.

Community Participation:

  • Joseph Hospital Foundation – Board of Trustee member (2017 – present)
  • The Catholic Health Association – National Community Benefit Board member (2016 – present)
  • The Women’s Foundation of Colorado – Board of Trustee member (2011 – 2017)
    – Girls Leadership Program – Chair (3 years)
    – Governance Committee – Secretary (1 year)
    – Development Committee – (3 years)
    – Marketing Committee – (2 years)
  • Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce – Board of Trustee member (2012 – 2015)
  • Colorado Chapter – The Link’s Inc. – member (current)