METRO VOLUNTEERS - Key Persons


Barb Knapp

Job Titles:
  • Health Corps Manager

Brooks Bryant

Job Titles:
  • Community & Corporate Director

Daniel Smith

Job Titles:
  • Secretary

Danielle Leighton

Job Titles:
  • Strategic Business Consultant at L5 Consulting
Danielle Leighton is a strategic business consultant at L5 Consulting and serial entrepreneur. She is an avid volunteer, community leader, and world traveler, currently writing a book about becoming an educated, connected, and active citizen of the world.

Dave Severino

Job Titles:
  • Marketing & Development Committee / Trinet

Dena Rodriguez-Leach

Job Titles:
  • Clinical Specialist

Emily Garrigus

Job Titles:
  • Community & Corporate Manager

Gretta Kuebert

Job Titles:
  • Executive Committee / Marketing Consultant
Gretta is currently completing a marketing and integration consultancy position following the sale of a business she helped guide and position for sale. Her career path has served a variety of industries and leadership roles including 7 years in the entertainment industry as a music marketing executive, followed by a complex sales position working with small business owners on strategic HR solutions, and in 2017 became the Director of Marketing for a packaging company where she spearheaded and managed restructuring initiatives and a rebranding campaign leading to the sale of the company. Though her career has taken many turns her constant passion has always been building and serving her community as a volunteer and leader. Gretta lives in the mountains of Eagle, Colorado and joined the Spark Board of Directors to #SparkCONNECTION throughout Colorado! Suraya has worn many hats (attorney, business strategist, entrepreneur) and now runs her own fractional COO firm serving fast-growing small businesses across the country. She is a proud mom of 3 active children and is grateful to serve on and lead the Governance Committee at Spark. #SparkHOPE: Suraya is excited about the hope and impact Spark brings to lives across communities in Colorado.

Jamie Jackson

Job Titles:
  • Chairman Elect

Jenn Lambert

Job Titles:
  • Case Manager
  • Marketing & Development Committee
Jenn Lambert is a Case Manager who works with Youth experiencing homelessness. She believes in loving hard and the strength of community to help and heal one another. Jenn joined the Spark the Change board to #SparkCOMMUNITY and to support others in finding purpose through volunteering.

Jennifer Tierney - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer
  • Business Executive
Jennifer Tierney is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, business executive, and mental health advocate with 15+ years of experience in award-winning C-suite positions. Jennifer is a NeurOptimal Neurofeedback representative and the owner/founder of CŌR Neuro, Parker Neurofeedback and The Rock Neuro providing neurofeedback treatment to individuals, businesses, nonprofits and sports organizations in order to improve cognitive performance. As a Board Member, Jennifer is an advocate for the nonprofit community while also donating hundreds of sessions to local nonprofits. Trained by the Human Potential Institute, Jennifer also educates the corporate world on mental health, and serves as COO of Full Velocity Consulting and a professor at Red Rocks Community College. Jennifer's expertise in operational finance, mental health in the workplace, regulatory compliance, and more have made her a respected industry leader.

John Remillard

Job Titles:
  • National Service Programs Administrator

Josie Boynton

Job Titles:
  • Director

Karla Perez

Job Titles:
  • Mental Wellness Program Manager / Denver

Kelly Groen

Job Titles:
  • Wellness Program Director

Kirsten Vermulen

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director of Black Fret Colorado
James Thacker, a Colorado native, is a senior performance consultant and coach, with more than 30 years experience working with individuals, teams and Senior Leaders (Corporate and Non-profit) throughout the US. Currently the Senior Manager of Training and Development for ibotta, James' experience includes implementing learning strategies such as Crucial Conversations, Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Facilitation Essentials, and many other transformative learning solutions for leaders and teams. James devotes much of his off-hours to #SparkCHANGE with his most favored causes and local non-profit organizations (including Spark!). ​Kirsten Vermulen is the executive director of Black Fret Colorado. She is a nonprofit leader, music lover, maker and creative business owner with 20 years of professional and volunteer experience leading impact in Colorado.

L. Cope

Job Titles:
  • Volunteer Care Specialist

Laura Kinder

Job Titles:
  • Senior Companion Program Director

Leanne Mersmann

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Lynn Soukup

Job Titles:
  • RSVP Manager

Madison Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Marketing & Communications Director
  • Marketing & Communications

Mary Bradley - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Director of Membership, Visitor and Volunteer
Mary Bradley is the Director of Membership, Visitor and Volunteer Services at Denver Botanic Gardens. A lifelong Denverite, Mary has worked in the non-profit cultural community for over 20 years and thrives on collaboration and communication. Mary joined the Spark Board of Directors to #SparkConnections!

Mike O'Connor

Job Titles:
  • Community & Corporate Event Coordinator / Denver

Minoru Yasui

Job Titles:
  • Community Volunteer Award

Nancy Harris

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Patrice Hawkins - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer

Roger Palmer

Job Titles:
  • Management Specialist With the U.S. Department of Housing
Roger Palmer currently serves as a Grant Management Specialist with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Northern Plains Office of Native American Program (NPONAP) since September 2021. Before joining NPONAP, he served with the Corporation of National and Community Service as Senior Portfolio Specialist and as an AmeriCorps Member. ​While with AmeriCorps he spent time supporting Hurricane Katrina, Sandy, and Irma recovery. He has a degree in Communications from The University of Texas at Arlington.

Seth Hyman

Job Titles:
  • Senior Companion Program Manager / Denver

Terri Patrick

Job Titles:
  • Senior Companion Program Manager

Tonya Johnson

Job Titles:
  • Southern Colorado Program Manager