COMMUNITY LIVING ALTERNATIVES - Key Persons
Alayna Troha is our newest Residential Program Manager. She is from Indiana and graduated from Ball State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's in Psychology. She moved to Colorado after graduation and has been in many different roles since. Some of these roles include being an Instructor for an Outdoor Education Center and working with children, as well as a Personal Care Assistant for elderly patients living in an assisted living facility. Although she is new to the field of DD/ID, she loves working with people of all ages and abilities. In her free time, Alayna likes to go hiking, camping, snowboarding, and just being outside with her friends.
Barb has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. She started out when she was a teenager at a day camp in Long Island, NY in the summers and has worked with individuals with I/DD ever since. She worked in recreational programs, was a job coach, was live-in staff and was an assistant group home manager.
Barb also worked with the Residential Director of the CCB to open the first PCA (24 hour staffed apartments) in Glenwood Springs in the 80's. While there, she was an advisor for People First and had the opportunity to travel in Europe with a group of self-advocates following the International People First Conference in London.
When she moved to Denver, she worked for a short time as relief staff for an apartment program, and as direct support staff in respite apartments. Then she began working at CLA in 1989 as a Program Manager. After a few years she became Assistant Director and, in 1995, she became the Executive Director. Barb has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education from St. John's University, New York. Barb has been with CLA since 1989.
Betty has a Bachelor of Science Business degree with an emphasis in Accounting. She has been working in all aspects of the accounting field for almost 30 years. She has worked for various types of companies including non-profit and for-profit, but her heart has been set in the non-profit world! Betty started with CLA in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Intake Coordinator
- Residential Director
- Residential Director / Intake Coordinator.
Bill and his family moved to Denver in 2010 from Mesa Arizona. Since that time Bill has worked in the DD/ID field for almost 10 years in different roles with other agencies such as para-professional with Jeff-CO public Schools, direct care provider, supported employment and day program services with Goodwill of Denver, and most recently case management with Developmental Pathways. Bill graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2014 with his Master's in Psychology.
Bill has a speech impediment and actively advocates for others who experience adversity due to their disability. He started doing public speaking in 2019 to raise awareness in the community about the experiences and challenges of having a speech impediment. In 2019 Bill served on the Colorado Governor's Employment Coaching Corps and represented job seekers in the ID/DD community and worked with other employment professionals from all over Colorado to bridge the gap between job seekers, employers, through accessible services and resources.
Outside of work, Bill and his family volunteer at the Molly Brown House Museum and Special Olympics. Bill's son Adam participates in Curling with the Denver Curling Club in Golden and so they are involved with the Juniors Program. Bill enjoys creative activities, playing sports, and the outdoors. He hopes to stay with CLA for a very long time and get to serve amazing people.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President
After growing up in Wyoming, then living in the large metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco, Brook finds Denver to be a great place for his family to grow. "I have an autistic, middle aged son at home and I just love to coach Special Olympics basketball and soccer, as I have for the past two decades. With its urban culture and close proximity to Colorado's mountains and Wyoming's wide-open spaces, Denver gives me a great opportunity to maintain my rural roots."
Brook comes to CLA with a wealth of business management and entrepreneurial experience. With a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Stanford University, he has over 40 years' experience in the oil and gas drilling and production industry, starting at Exxon Co. USA, and working his way up to the rank of VP Production & Engineering of Axem Resources. He founded his current company, NiCo Resources LLC, an independent oil and gas producer in 1994.
Brook has a passion for building and renovating custom homes and also brings to CLA a solid understanding of board-level leadership principles. As a former board member of Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America, an onshore and ultra-deepwater research organization; past chairman of their Small Producer Program and former chairman and board member of a national education program: Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, he understands the intricacies of strategic planning and organizational development.
"I love the mission of improving the lives of adults with developmental disabilities. I joined the board 2005 because CLA has a solid history of financial security, with conservative financial judgment, good governance, and a caring staff and director. "
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary
Camille volunteered with people with IDD throughout middle and high school. Camille went on to work as an EMT before starting nursing school. She graduated from Platt College with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing in 2019. At the start of 2020, Camille worked at The Medical Center of Aurora on the Neurotrauma floor before deciding that the hospital setting was not the right fit for her. Camille has also worked as an IV hydration nurse, a vaccination nurse and various other positions throughout the pandemic before joining CLA.
Camille and her husband got married in Estes Park in April of 2021. She likes to go camping and off roading with her husband and their dogs when the weather is nice. Camille also has five godsons that live in other parts of the country, that she loves to visit.
Carmen received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas in 2000. She started working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities shortly after. She started at CLA as an Employment Consultant and Community Partner and then became a Program Manager. Carmen has been with CLA since 2001.
Debi started volunteering in a nursing home at the age of twelve and started getting paid when she was 15. Debi went to school while she worked in the nursing home and became an RN in 1985. She worked as evening charge nurse RN at the same nursing home until 1987.
She then worked at the Medical Center of Aurora as a charge nurse for a 38 bed medical/cardiac floor for ten years. She taught cardiac rehabilitation for post cardiac patients for 3 years and volunteered as respite camp nurse at Easter Seals for three summers. Debi has volunteered as a nurse for Boy Scouts, school outings, muscular dystrophy camp, and vision and hearing screening through Cherry Creek schools for nine years. She then started working at Heritage Club of Aurora when it first opened its doors and was a wellness coordinator supervisor with 96 elderly residents. Debi has also worked at a twelve bed Alzheimer's unit. Debi then joined CLA in 2001.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Day Program Director
Gregg started working in this field because he truly wanted to help people. He began working with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities at another agency in 2000, providing direct care for individuals living in apartments.
Gregg started with CLA in 2001 working with individuals to integrate them into the community and help them become more independent. In addition, he assisted individuals obtain jobs in the community. From 2001 to 2005, he was also an adviser for People First of Denver, a self-advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
In 2013, Gregg became the Day Program Director and was a main player in developing and implementing C.L.A.S.S. Gregg has a background in music education and plays in a blues band when he's not at CLA.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Day Program Direct Support Professional
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
Ken has over 25 years of experience working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as an advocate for adults and as an advisor for a statewide self-advocacy group.
Ken served in the United States Army for two years as a Medical Corpsman/Technician and Operations/Protocol NCO. He received his B.S. in Computer Technology from Purdue University. For 25 years, Ken worked in the telecommunications industry for very notable corporations. During that time, he was transferred to Colorado where he eventually retired after 25 years of service in the industry.
Ken then started his work as an advocate at the Arc of Denver/Advocacy Denver, where he worked for 14 years. During his time there, he assisted adults with I/DD in finding and receiving quality residential placements, employment, community and medical services, and assisted in court proceedings, among many other responsibilities. Ken received the Advocacy Denver's Shenkein Distinguished Service Award in 2015, the same year he retired.
Ken continues to work in the community as an advocate for individuals with I/DD. He has worked with various programs such as the Colorado Special Olympics, Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Cerebral Palsy Center, and Winter Park's Blind Skier Program.
Ken has a loving wife and three step children, one of which has profound intellectual and physical disabilities as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Ken and his wife have two grandchildren, who he enjoys caring for regularly. Ken also enjoys getting out in the garden, as he is a Denver Urban Gardens Master Composter and Denver Master Gardener through the CSU Extension.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Linda received a BSBA and MS from Kansas State University. She has worked in a variety of capacities but mostly performing marketing, program development and training in educational facilities, healthcare and nonprofits. She was first introduced to working with individuals with special needs in graduate school where her class ran the local Special Olympics. She then worked with an NGO in New Zealand, where she created a mentorship program for adults with developmental disabilities. She worked for CLA as their Employment Specialist before retiring and becoming a Board Member.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Margaret Dominguez has a great passion for people. She has worked her entire career, starting in the early 1980's, with public, private and non-profit agencies that provide services to elderly and developmentally disabled people. She uses her knowledge and experience in Person Centered Planning, regulatory compliance, program administration, policy development and implementation to support CLA and the great work this agency provides. Margaret is excited about the opportunity to support CLA and continue her work to improve the quality of care and services for disabled individuals. She was voted on to CLAs Board in 2018 and feels honored to be of service to this Board and the people who receive services from CLA.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Director
- Administrative Director & Human Resources.
Mary graduated from Emily Griffith High School. Later, she started taking classes at Emily Griffith for Basic Office Skills Certificate. Upon completion, she was hired at The Granville Assisted Living Center as a weekend receptionist. Over the course of 20 years, she worked her way up to Administrative Assistant. Then COVID hit! During this time, she worked non-stop in every position needed. QMAP, laundry, resident assistant, along with her regular duties. Once the world opened back up, she decided to make a change. She is grateful for the opportunity to work at CLA. She plans to stay with CLA until she decides to retire.
She has 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys. Her oldest son passed away at birth. She has 3 granddaughters. A set of twins who will turn 5 in September and the youngest is 3 years old. She enjoys spending time with them any chance she gets.
She enjoys reading in her spare time. She prefers "James Patterson", but also likes Romance novels. She also enjoys crocheting blankets. She wants to learn how to make quilts, she even bought a sewing machine, (4 years ago), She still has not used it.
Lastly, she has a dog named Champ Bailey Green. He is an 82-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback. He loves meeting new people. He looks intimidating but will lick you to death if you let him.
Melanie received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Metropolitan University, Denver. She has been working at Community Living Alternatives' CLASS Day Program since June 2019, until starting a position as a Program Manager in 2021. Melanie spends most of her time enjoying outings with her family, and she has always enjoyed helping people. She is proud to be a part of the CLA Team and looks forward to continuing the work of helping persons with disabilities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
We're always looking for key individuals with the expertise to grow CLA in a positive and sustainable direction. If you identify with our mission and have board-level experience in fundraising, legal, or program development, please send us your resume!
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
Shari has been a leader in environment, health, and safety management for the Oil & gas industry for over 30 years. As a Health & Safety Specialist, she brings a unique focus to our organizational development, ensuring that CLA remains at the forefront of risk assessment and management.
Throughout her life, Shari has been an active participant and proponent in charitable causes and non-profit missions with a focus on the intellectual/developmental disability community. As a young person, she started helping people with I/D disabilities as a member of 4H and she has continued that leadership role throughout her life. As a regular volunteer for Special Olympics, she has organized groups of over 30 volunteers to help organize their annual track and field event, along with participating in many other events throughout the year.
With her deep connection to the disabilities community, a directorship with the CLA board is a perfect fit for her interests, experience and expertise. Shari is excited to be a member of the CLA team stating: "The integrity and focus this organization has on the I/DD community is very impressive." Besides enjoying the intrinsic rewards of helping others, Shari loves to sew, play softball, and most of all, play with her puppy. "Being a Denver native has always been a plus, I can't find a better place to live!"