DPP - Key Persons
Elsa Hoguín is a pillar of our state's early childhood education community, and her early childhood experience runs deep. She came to DPP from Rose Community Foundation, where she served as the senior program officer for Child & Family Development for 21 years. During that time, she oversaw more than $50 million in early childhood development grants, positioning the foundation as a leader in this area. She played a pivotal role in the initiative that eventually became DPP during her time there.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief of Staff, Denver International Airport
Andrea is a Denver native and has 25 years in public service leadership with a focus on leading large organizations to reform policy, strengthen systems, and improve employee and customer experiences; with 19 of those years serving in a variety of roles as a Denver City and County employee. She currently serves Denver International Airport (DEN) as Deputy Chief of Staff leading a range of programs such as the first-of-its-kind Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA). Prior to her current role, she served as DEN's Senior Vice President of Culture and Strategy where she led precedent setting work related to strategy, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, business, and workforce development. Prior to DEN, Andrea was appointed by Mayor Michael B. Hancock as the first Chief of Staff for the Denver Sheriff Department leading policy and operational reform efforts; and spent eleven years with the Denver Department of Human Services in a variety of roles including as Deputy Executive Director leading local, state, and federal programs focused on marginalized communities, generational poverty policy gaps and operational efficiencies. Andrea has been recognized by the USDA as a national Champion of Change, Leader of the Year by Denver Peak Academy, and the 2023 DEI Trailblazer for Airport News Experience, among other recognitions. Andrea is committed to transforming systems that embeds lasting equity work where everyone can thrive.
Job Titles:
- Emeritus of the Board
- President Emeritus of Mile High Early
- President Emeritus, Mile High Early Learning
Anna Jo Haynes is president emeritus of Mile High Early Learning Centers, Denver's oldest and largest provider of subsidized quality early childhood care and education. She is a long-time advocate for children and their families, and is the founding chairperson of the Denver Public Schools/City of Denver Ready to Succeed Early Childhood Council. Haynes was the founding chairperson of the Colorado Children's Campaign and past president of the Women's Foundation of Colorado.
A Colorado native, Anne Rowe is an entrepreneur and former elected official who has spent nearly four decades advocating on behalf of children.
Anne served on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education from 2011 to 2019 and was the President of the board from 2015-2019. She currently serves on the board of the DPS Foundation and has been a board member of the Public Education Business Coalition (PEBC), A+Denver, the Colorado Children's Campaign, the Children's Museum of Denver, Planned Parenthood of the Rock Mountains and Girls Incorporated.
Her business career started in 1986 as an associate with the Wallach Company and since then, Anne has helped launch and lead two small businesses, RP Publishing in 1992, and La Vie & Company in 2001, a firm she currently co-owns and serves as one of its principals.
Anne is a graduate of Stanford University and has an MBA from the University of Denver.
Originally from Lake Worth, Florida, Carley joined our team with a variety of experience in administration, finance, and operational development. She is a passionate administrative professional specializing in project management, conflict resolution and workplace culture. Carley exhibits an unwavering commitment to excellence and always strives to make a positive impact.
In her spare time, she teaches children's performing arts and volunteers with food desert assistance programs.
Chris is a Partner in RubinBrown's Assurance Services Group and Transaction Services Group with more than nine years of accounting experience. Outside of RubinBrown, Chris serves on the Board of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (Network Member representative) and the Associated General Contractors of Colorado (Associate Council representative).
Chris works with clients in various industries, including a focus on construction and manufacturing and distribution food.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Quality Initiatives
Chris Miller (he/him) joined the Denver Preschool Program in April 2015. Most recently, he was the Manager of Quality Improvement Initiatives at Denver's Early Childhood Council (DECC) and Denver Preschool Program Operation Specialist at Qualistar Colorado.
Chris has worked closely with the DPP provider community since 2011 and has over a decade of experience in early childhood, public health and community outreach. He is committed to ensuring DPP's quality improvement resources support all providers in the best ways possible.
Job Titles:
- Universal Preschool Program Manager
Diana Herrera (she/her) is a dedicated early childhood professional, administrator, and advocate. She is currently serving as the UPK Program Manager at the Denver Preschool Program. Before that, Diana was the Director of Education and Special Education at Bal Swan Children's Center in Broomfield, a Pyramid Model Demonstration Site with a 5 diamond Colorado Shines rating. Diana also taught Guidance Strategies at UNC as an Adjunct Professor and has work experience for the local and state government as well as Head Start and the Colorado Preschool Program in an advisory role.
Diana holds an Undergraduate Degree in Early Childhood Development and has completed the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program. She then completed her master's degree at UC Denver in Administrative Leadership and Policy Studies with an Early Childhood Education/ Special Education emphasis. To further her understanding of research Diana is in the process of completing her Doctoral Degree at CU Denver's Leadership for Educational Equity program with an emphasis on ECE/ECSE. Diana is particularly interested in researching early childhood inclusivity and culturally competent practices, especially as they relate to social-emotional learning. In her spare time, Diana is busy with her 5 children, one of which is an aspiring ECE teacher. She loves to read and write and hang out with her children and husband at home.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Evaluation and Impact
Dr. Cristal Cisneros (she/ella) was born and raised in NW Indiana, and is a first generation Mexican and former head-start student who knows first-hand how important quality preschool is for our youngest learners. She just graduated with her doctorate in education focusing on environmental racism and its impact on students of color utilizing Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality as theoretical frameworks. She wore a variety of hats in the ECE profession as a teacher, home-visitor, infant supervisor, mentor-coach, community liaison, admin and specialist for DPS.
In her spare time, she is usually outside taking up space with her golden retriever, Ghosty, and pitbull rescue, Canelo, doing typical Colorado activities. She has yet to climb a 14'er, but plans to do that this summer (maybe). She loves coffee, gardening, hiking and taking wonderful naps in the Colorado sunshine. She feels like she's just started a new chapter in el movimento as an advocate and activist; She is excited to continue deconstructing systems of oppression so that all of our youngest learners have equitable access to high quality early childhood education.
Before starting Lifespan Local, Dr. Prado spent 17 years with the Mental Health Center of Denver as the Vice President of Child & Family Services. She is the project visionary behind the Mental health Center of Denver's Dahlia Campus for Health & Well Being, an innovative community center in Northeast Park Hill that promotes well-being across the lifespan. The campus features an inclusion preschool, a full service dental clinic for children, a one acre urban farm, 5,400 square feet aquaponics greenhouse, horticultural therapy spaces, community gardens, teaching kitchen, community room, gymnasium and a full array of mental health services for all ages.
Job Titles:
- Director of Enrollment & Evaluation
Ellen Braun (she/her) joined the Denver Preschool Program in 2010. In her tenure, she has worn a variety of hats, from managing the preschool provider community to special events, bookkeeping, project innovation, family enrollment and eligibility, operations, community outreach, strategy planning, program implementation and communications. Through her dedication and deep commitment to DPP she has championed the evolution of the organization's communications strategy, was a key visionary to launch a new tuition credit scale, continuously manages a $30 million annual budget, led the transition to build the latest DPP staffing team and so much more.
As the Chief Operating Officer, Ellen is responsible for the overall management of the Denver Preschool Program under the guidance of the Board of Directors. Key duties include operational and fiscal management, communications oversight, quality program development, executive staffing transitions and upholding the direction and leadership of the organization's philosophy, mission, strategy, and annual goals and objectives.
Ellen embodies the qualities of leadership and accomplishment, and she represents everything we should value in a leader. We ask Ellen to handle the most challenging issues facing DPP because we know she has the focus, drive and intellectual capacity to achieve results. She has been the catalyst behind a number of our most impactful innovations and advancements over the past decade.
Ellen holds a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Colorado. Due to her work with the DPP, Ellen has received the Segal Education Award from AmeriCorps. She is a 2014 graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation's, Impact Denver, a 2019 Civic DNA Fellow and a 2023 Leadership Denver alumni. Ellen is also a proud recipient of the Denver Business Journal 2021 C-Suite Award.
Ellen is originally from Minnesota but is proud to call Colorado home. She lives in Observatory Park where she relentlessly attempts to keep up with her two girls and wild Australian Labradoodle. She enjoys spending time with friends and being outdoors in the beautiful Colorado landscape.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founding Member
- President
Elsa Holguín (she/ella) is the President and CEO of the Denver Preschool Program and oversees all organization activities and, in partnership with the board of directors, provides direction and leadership toward the achievement of DPP's overall mission, vision and strategic plan.
Elsa grew up in a small town in Chihuahua, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 17. Elsa learned English while attending high school and college in Denver, where she worked as an intern in the nonprofit sector. That internship eventually led her to the Women's Foundation of Colorado, and then to Rose Community Foundation where she served as the senior program officer for Child & Family Development for 21 years.
Elsa is a social entrepreneur and started The Business Center for Women at Mi Casa and the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado. She is one of the founders of Early Milestones Colorado, the Denver Opportunity Youth Initiative, Colorado's Office of Early Childhood, Borealis Philanthropy, and the Skills to Compete Coalition. A former member and co-chair of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, Elsa currently serves on the board of Tools of the Mind and chair the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado board.
Elsa's pride and joy are her husband, five children, and four grandchildren.
Elsa is also a founding member and the current co-chair of Colorado's Early Childhood Leadership Commission. She played an instrumental role in the creation of Colorado's Office of Early Childhood, the Denver Opportunity Youth Investment Initiative, the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado and the Skills to Compete Coalition, and was a founding member of Early Milestones Colorado. She is a member of the Children's Funding Project Policy Advisory Group and serves on the boards of Borealis Philanthropy and Tools of the Mind.
Erin Brown currently serves as the Vice President of Community Investment and Impact at the Colorado Health Foundation. Erin was formally the Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Michael B. Hancock in the City and County of Denver where, as an appointed official for two consecutive administrations under Mayor Hancock, Brown provided bold and forward-thinking leadership, and was instrumental in building a system of collaboration among community members and organizations, local businesses and city agencies.
As an advocate for children and youth in Denver, Brown previously led the Office of Children's Affairs, accomplishing Mayor Hancock's goals for children and youth as they relate to early childhood experiences, grade level reading, re-engaging disconnected youth, completing post-secondary pathways that lead to employment and decreasing childhood obesity. In her capacity as executive director Brown worked to improve quality and increase access to experiences that will ensure all children have resources and opportunities to succeed in school, in the workplace and in a global society, regardless of race, ethnicity, income or disability. With more than 25 years of leadership experience directing civic programs and services, Brown has an endless and unbroken passion for addressing issues concerning children, minorities and elderly communities.
Prior to joining the Mayor's Office of Children's Affairs, she served as Deputy Director for Denver Parks and Recreation, the Director of Resident Services for Kappa Management, held the position of Vice President of Programs and Development for the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver and was an Executive Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver.
Today, her work and leadership are guided by the essence of a quote from President Barack Obama, "No matter who you are, what you look like, where you come from, you can make it. That's an essential promise of America. Where you start should not determine where you end up."
Erin Brown currently resides in Denver with her husband and four children. As a parent, a community member and a youth advocate, Brown is extremely committed to "being a voice for the voiceless."
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications and Engagement
- for Media Inquiries
Irene Bonham (she/her) joined Denver Preschool Program in the fall of 2022. She has dedicated her career to helping mission-driven organizations bring their brands to life through innovative campaigns, experiences, and strategies that engage and inspire their audiences. For the previous eight years, Irene led marketing and communications in the higher education space at both University of Colorado Denver and University of Denver. Descending from a long line of educators, Irene is particularly passionate about the importance of equitable access to quality education. In her early career, Irene worked in the arts and culture sector at leading institutions such as the Kennedy Center and Denver's own Clyfford Still Museum. She is pursuing an M.S. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Denver and holds a B.A. in Arts Management from the University of Redlands.
In her free time, Irene enjoys spending time exploring new places in Colorado, the Rockies, and beyond; creating memories with her two daughters; and playing with her two labrador retrievers, Waffles and Muffins. She relishes her morning coffee, loves the theatre, meditates daily, and is always up for karaoke or a song around the campfire.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Early Excellence Program of Denver
Jennifer founded the Early Excellence Program of Denver in 2002 as a small pilot project in the basement of the Wyatt-Edison Charter school. Over the next two decades, she guided the program as it became an independent nonprofit, moved into its own space in the Cole neighborhood, and was recognized as one of the top-tier preschools in Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Principal, Mariposa Analytics
Keshia Allen Horner is the founder of Mariposa Analytics, a company dedicated to helping organizations maximize their impact through insight, action, and evolution. Her passion for improving organizational performance stems from her upbringing, where her parents - both teachers - instilled in her the belief that knowledge is a gift to be shared in service of others.
Keshia's journey started as a government auditor, where she spent almost 14 years at both the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the City and County of Denver Auditor's Office. She then spent over three years as the deputy director of a nonprofit organization. She holds a Master of Public Administration, as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Public and Urban Affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
With her experience and expertise, Keshia brings the full breadth of her knowledge to help organizations develop actionable strategies, make structural improvements, and refine their operations to align service delivery with desired outcomes.
In her spare time, Keshia enjoys exploring the great outdoors, trying new foods, and traveling to new places with her family and friends. She loves nothing more than hitting the trails for a run, embarking on a camping trip, or simply taking in the beauty of nature. As a food enthusiast, Keshia also spends time cooking and sharing her culinary creations with loved ones during get-togethers, seeing food as an expression of culture, heritage, and love.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Strategies 360
Job Titles:
- President of Gold Crown Management Company
Michael is the President of Gold Crown Management Company, a commercial real estate firm based in Denver since 1972. Gold Crown Management Company owns and manages a portfolio of multi-family, parking, industrial, and retail assets. The firm also advises large institutional clients, such as the University of Colorado, Centura Health, and Colorado State University, on complex real estate projects. He is a proud former Board Member of SafeHouse Denver and the Reisher Scholarship Program, and a current Board Member of the Children's Museum of Denver.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and President of Venture for Success Preparatory Learning Center
Nathaniel is distinguished by his innovative approach to early education and an unwavering dedication to community engagement. This potent combination of innovation and community-centric vision has catalyzed transformative changes in the educational sector. Drawn by his commitment to children's welfare, Nathaniel joined the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children (COAEYC), eventually ascending to the role of board chair. Under his leadership in 2020, COAEYC secured pivotal funding, enabling members to attend key NAEYC conferences on public policy. This funding also fortified board governance, provided scholarships, and enhanced the organization's structure and processes, amplifying its mission to champion quality early education.
In an environment where adult learners often grapple with limited resources, Nathaniel's groundbreaking initiative in establishing Northeast Denver's (Montbello) first ECE Professional Training Center has been pivotal. This facility not only empowers over 100 adult learners but also serves as a beacon of hope in a community where academic achievement can be elusive due to economic and resource constraints. By providing accessible education and training, the center directly addresses the teacher employment gap and the broader issue of educational inequality, offering a tangible pathway to success for many who previously saw none.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Nathaniel is an avid outdoors enthusiast. He relishes the thrill of skiing down snowy slopes, carving through powder on a snowboard, and navigating the challenging currents of white river rafting.
Today, as the Co-Founder and President of Venture for Success Preparatory Learning Center, Nathaniel continues his mission of improving early education quality, generating employment opportunities, and bridging resources for families. His alliance-building acumen showcases exceptional skills in nonprofit organizational management, ensuring children and families receive the support they need through strategic partnerships.
Nayely Avila (she/ella) joined the Denver Preschool Program in November 2021. Nayely is a Denver native, but her home is in Mexico, where she regularly spent her summertime growing up. With over five years of experience working with students, members of her community in a clinical, school, and admissions settings. Nayely is passionate about the importance of education and its accessibility within the education system. Through personal, professional, and academic experiences, Nayely became passionate about contributing to early childhood education changes and inspiring others. Nayely appreciates spending quality time with her family and friends. She admires nature and loves singing karaoke in her free time.
Job Titles:
- President & CEO, Mile High Early Learning
Zaki's practice covers a broad range of corporate and transactional matters, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, corporate & real estate finance, as well as general corporate, transactional, and governance matters. In addition, Zaki has substantial experience in the field of advanced and renewable energy, where he handles matters involving energy generation and storage, construction, distribution, and investment and finance. In addition to his day-to-day representation of founders, executives, and boards, Zaki has served as an author, speaker, and presenter at conferences and continuing legal education programs for lawyers and other participants in the corporate and renewable energy industries.
Zaki is admitted to practice in the states of Colorado and New York. Before joining Moye White, Zaki worked in the New York City office of an international law firm focusing on securities and capital markets, real estate, and general corporate governance. Zaki has served on various boards and committees within the firm and throughout the community in addition to dedicating time to pro bono initiatives.
In his spare time, Zaki enjoys spending time with his pet Rhodesian Ridgebacks, skiing, and rooting on the Michigan Wolverines and the Virginia Cavaliers.