The People Who Show Up Every Day
Colorado UpLift does not run programs. It builds relationships. The people on this page are the reason that distinction matters. Each one made a choice to dedicate their career to showing up, in classrooms, on hiking trails, at college orientations, and at kitchen tables, for young people who needed someone to believe in them. Most of them have been doing this for years. Some for decades. That is not a staffing strategy. That is a calling.
Administration
The team that keeps the mission resourced, accountable, and growing.
Crystal Yepez
Individual Giving Officer
Program Staff
The directors and managers who design and deliver the work in schools and communities.
Northwest Region
Serving students in Westminster and northwest Denver schools.
Rob Sanchez
Site Operation Manager
Tanya Martinez
Teacher/Mentor
Carlos Montoya
Teacher/Mentor
Olivia Dunbar
Teacher/Mentor
Carlos Guzman
Teacher/Mentor
Southwest Region
Reaching students across southwest Denver and neighboring districts.
Bernadette Torrez
Site Operation Manager
Elsy Martinez
Teacher/Mentor
Joey Rasmussen
Teacher/Mentor
Richard Leyva
Teacher/Mentor
Brayden Van Meter
Teacher/Mentor
Sheri Mestas
Teacher/Mentor
Southeast Region — Pulley Team
Embedded in schools across Aurora and southeast Denver.
Lemule Pulley
Regional Director
Josh Cox
Teacher/Mentor
Devyn Drayton
Teacher/Mentor
My'Kael Harvard
Teacher/Mentor
Marissa Montoya
Teacher/Mentor
Southeast Region — Rojas Team
Reaching students across schools in Aurora and southeast Denver.
David Rojas
Area Manager
Dominique Bargaineer
Teacher/Mentor
Thang Li
Teacher/Mentor
Razalia Salazar
Teacher/Mentor
K'Wahn Smith
Teacher/Mentor
UpLift Board
Business leaders, community builders, and longtime believers who govern and champion this mission.
Our board brings decades of leadership across real estate, energy, finance, and community development. They are not passive advisors. They are active champions.
Executive Committee
- Walt Rakowich, Chairman of the Board, retired Prologis
- Ivan Anaya
- Dave Beaver, Beaver and Associates Consulting, LLC
- Bret Berglund, Enoch Holdings, LLC
- Beth Bowlen-Wallace
- Ken Harrison, WaterStone Foundation
- Clifford Hickey, Anschutz Investment Company
- Dick Lewis, Consultant
- Erik Olson, SERVPRO Team Olson
- Bill Pauls, The Pauls Corporation
- Joe Sanders, Colorado UpLift
- Steve Sanders, Consultant
- Jeff Vaughan, Trestle Energy Partners
- Celso White, Celso and Maria White Family Foundation
Board of Directors
- Tamiko Abo
- Anthony Albanese
- Gary Anderson
- Bryan Bennis
- Ryan Birnel
- Patrick Blanchard
- Corey Brown
- Eric Buchanan
- Paul Cooke
- Michael Cuje
- Nick Dolan
- Tucker Erdmann
- Alex Farren
- Taylor Gitcho
- Jeff Gott
- Rob Keepers
- John Keith
- Nick Lazzara
- James Lobato
- Matt MacFarlane
- Jared Martin
- Paul Murray
- Joe Parkhill
- Cody Phifer
- Pierre Powell
- Kelsey Sahli
- Neville Teagarden
- Rod Thacker
- Zack Tolpen
- Charlie Wham
- Bert Williams
- Boyd Williams
Executive Committee, Emeritus
- Bob Boswell
- Steve James
- Eric Koeplin
- Jim Lightner
- Dick Saunders
Want to Join This Team?
We are always looking for people who want to build careers around what matters. If you have a heart for urban youth and the discipline to show up for years, we want to talk.
Contact UsForty Years of Showing Up. Will You Join Us?
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