Staff
Meet Our Staff

Aaron Pasterz
Independent Living Advisor
Aaron attended the University of Northern Colorado where he received a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in sociology. Aaron has been an Independent Living Advisor with CPWD since 2010 and is passionate about helping people living independently.

Amy Dixon
Transitions Coordinator
Amy is a former Certified Nursing Assistant. Her education includes a Certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling from Fresno City College and Baccalaureate in Social Work form Fresno State which included 9 units of Gerontology. Her personal experience in dealing with Type I Diabetes and its side affects for over 41 years adds to her ability to assist people that are differently able. Amy has been with CPWD since 2015.

Andrea Brea
Bilingual Independent Living Advisor
Andrea joined CPWD in 2021. She relocated to Colorado from Florida where she worked as a health insurance agent. She has a passion for helping people acheive independence.

Ari Goodman
Rural Independent Living Advisor
Ari has a BA in Criminal Justice with a concentration in corrections and treatment. Ari is originally from Michigan but moved to Colorado two years ago and joined CPWD in 2019. She has worked as support staff for youth in temporary home placements, an adventure supervisor for a Colorado kids mountain camp, as well as a resource specialist in Longmont Colorado.

Barbara Stark
QAPI Nurse/ IHSS Nurse
Barbara has been with CPWD since 2015 as a Home Health nurse, and has been a nurse for more than 50 years. She works onsite in the office and in the field with consumers in their own homes.

Bertha Meads
Receptionist
Bertha has been with CPWD since 1985! As our receptionist, she’s the friendly face at the door, and keeps everybody in touch with each other. Bertha loves working with other people and supporting the work at CPWD.

Brandy McIntosh
Independent Living Advisor Manager
Brandy attended Mississippi State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling. She worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services for 4 years. She joined CPWD in 2019, and strongly supports the mission of assisting individuals with disabilities in overcoming barriers to living independently.

Carol Elmore
Accounting Assistant
Carol returned to college in mid-life to earn an Associates Degree of Applied Science in Accounting from Front Range Community College in order to support her family. Since then, has worked as an accountant for various nonprofits. In addition to her position at CPWD, Carol does accounting for the Town of Ward Water Commission, and runs her own business making and selling jewelry at SilvertreeJewelry.com.

Chris O'Brien
Director of Development & Communications
Chris has worked with CPWD since August 2013 as a fundraising and communications consultant. His background includes marketing and fundraising for various nonprofit and for-profit pro-social organizations in the community.

Connie Stafford
Veterans Independence Advisor
Connie served in the US Air Force in support of Operation Desert Storm, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and completed Master’s coursework in mental health counseling. Her 20-year career in advocacy includes work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program Director, and as the supervisor at a residence for people with developmental disabilities. She joined CPWD in 2019, and is excited to assist veterans in maintaining a vital level of independence.

Darcy McLean
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
Darcy McLean has been a Low Vision Skills Educator and Low Vision Support Group Facilitator in the Beyond Vision Program since 2015. Darcy has lifelong experience in low vision & blindness, with an Bachelors of Science in Human Services Counseling and 20+ years living with low vision herself. She is an avid kayaker, hiker, and gardener. Darcy feels a strong connection to those with low vision and those caring for people with vision loss.

David Law
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
David has had low vision since the age of 17. He brings a wealth of adaptive technology experience after working at Apple, and a genuine passion for helping others experiencing sight loss. He is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado. David joined CPWD in 2019.

Dawn Brady
Longmont Receptionist
Dawn loves sharing her knowledge and skills to encourage and help others. Dawns’ work at CPWD began in 2018 as a volunteer. Dawn has worked for Guide Dogs for the Blind and continues to provide awareness to the community when she and Feebie, her guide dog, are out and about in the Longmont Community.

Debbie Brandon
Independent Living Skills Trainer
Debbie has been working with the elderly since 2007 as a Certified Nurse’s Aide and in the Life Enrichment department. She worked as a independent home care aide for two years before coming to CPWD in 2014. Debbie has two granddaughters who were both born with moderated hearing loss. She loves helping people live a full and independent life.

Diane Groff
Longmont Manager
Diane has worked at CPWD since 1984 in a variety of roles including independent living, youth summer employment and as the Longmont manager. She serves on several local committees including the St. Vrain Community Council Executive Committee, Longmont Housing Opportunities Team, and as a Peer Educator for Strength Based Professional Development through Boulder County’s Building Livable and Caring Communities for All.

Diane Jessee
Accounting and Administrative Assistant
Diane started working for CPWD in March of 2016 as the Accounting and Administrative Assistant. Prior, she was a bookkeeper at an assisted living home. She also worked in a manufacturing company as an office manager, oversseeing finances and human resources.

Estefania Corral
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
Estefania started her journey at CPWD in 2017 as a volunteer. She developed a close relationship with consumers and staff during this time. She then joined the Beyond Vision team as the Bilingual Beyond Vision Skills Trainer to bring her knowledge and experience to the Beyond Vision Program . Having a passion for Orientation and Mobility instruction and accessible technology, she is currently pursuing further education in the field.

Florinda Trevino
Intake Coordinator/ Scheduler
Florinda has worked in the healthcare field since 2002 as a CNA, and has experience in hospital, hospice and home health environments. She enjoys working with consumers and people with disabilities. Florinda has two sons who are her pride and joy.

Heidi Bison
Veterans Independence Program Advisor
Heidi is the wife of a Veteran and mother of four children, two of whom have special needs. All of Heidi’s professional career has involved working with and alongside people with disabilities and assisting them with reaching their goals and finding their greatest potential. Prior to joining CPWD, Heidi lived in China where she served people with disabilities with a focus on helping them to see their worth and value within the community. She finds it a great honor to support our Nation’s heroes with maintaining their independence at home and is excited to be a part of the CPWD team.

Holly Ewing
Program Manager
Holly has a wealth of experience assisting people with disabilities in achieving independence. Prior to joining CPWD in 2019, she worked for more than 20 years managing an employment program that assisted people with disabilities increase their job skills, employment readiness training, job development and placement support, and long term supports for those employed.

Jan Dabroski
Employment Coordinator / Office Manager
Jan has a life time passion for people who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. She has a Deaf sister who was her inspiration and she has been involved with the Deaf community for many years. Jan finds great fulfillment being an advocate, teaching, and assisting people in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community. Jan also has a passion for people who are Blind and Low-Vision and has volunteered at the Anchor Center for Blind Children. Her deepest desire has always been to work with people who are Deaf and Blind. Jan has been with CPWD since 2013.

Jane Sinclare
Transitions Program Manager
Jane started working in the independent living movement in 2000 when she first worked with CPWD. Jane rejoined the team in 2016. She feels passionately about disability rights and finds that it is the strength of the human heart and spirit that keeps her so deeply engaged in this work.

Janelle Barto
Employment Specialist
Janelle is an Employment Specialist & Work Incentives Counselor certified by Virginia Commonwealth University in collaboration with the Social Security Administration to provide in-depth benefits counseling to Social Security beneficiaries so they can understand how their benefits may be impacted when they start working. Janelle offers services in American Sign Language (ASL) and English. Janelle has been with CPWD since 2016.

Kia Akin
Home Health Operations Manager
Kia joined CPWD in 2013 as and Independent Living Advisor, eventually becoming the manager for the Independent Living Day program. Currently, she is working in our Home Health Department, managing critical skilled and unskilled nursing services, that allow people with disabilities with medical and other needs to remain independent in their own homes.

Libby Hastings
Transitions Coordinator
Libby received her BA in Biology from Knox College where she developed her passion to assist individuals with disabilities to live independently through her work with various hospice organizations and with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Hartford in Connecticut. She is originally from Wichita, Kansas and joined CPWD in 2021.

Lisa Nelson
Home Health Administrator
Lisa returned to CPWD in June 2017 working with all grant funding programs in Boulder, Longmont and Thornton as the Director of Core Services, transitioning in 2019 to Home Health Administrator. Lisa began working for non-profit organizations in 2005 and managing programs for individuals with disabilities in 2011. She is excited to support CPWD’s mission of assisting individuals with disabilities in overcoming barriers to independent living.

Margaret Catterall
Director of Operations
Margaret joined CPWD in 2012 after moving to Colorado from Michigan where she worked in administration and accounting. She has two children and enjoys the Colorado outdoors.

Marni Tharler
HR Coordinator
Marni has been the HR Coordinator since October of 2017. Previously, she worked at CPWD for 5 years.

Martha Fierro
Bilingual Independent Living Advisor
Martha Fierro has long-term experience with seniors and people with disabilities. She has a passion for assisting people to overcome struggles and strive for personal growth. Martha joined CPWD in 2019, and represents CPWD as a member fo the Supporting Action for Mental Health steering committee in the Longmont community.

Maria Stepanyan
Executive Director
Maria has been with CPWD since 2010. Originally from Armenia, she started her career in human rights organizations in 2001 in Moscow, Russia, where she was part of the management team for an Art Rehabilitation Studio for orphans with disabilities. She is also the Founder and Board member of the Colorado Chapter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief. Maria is a graduate of the Moscow Financial College and 2017 graduate of the Leadership Academy of Georgetown University.

Melanie Shotwell
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
Melanie received her undergraduate from Colorado State University and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver. She has been with CPWD since September of 2012 as a Beyond Vision Skills Trainer. She enjoys working with older adults, which is her passion. Working with people have low vision has been a wonderful opportunity for her as her mother has been dealing with vision loss since her mid-twenties.

Teresa Greene
Youth Independent Living Skills Adviser
Teresa Greene holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development with a focus on Special Education and Youth Mental Health. She has more than 15 years of professional and personal experience working with people with a range of disabilities. Teresa joined CPWD in 2019. She has a compassionate heart and is always willing to help out.
Thank you to our approximately 30 Home Health Staff: CNAs, RNs, Skilled Staff, Homemakers and PCPs
In an independent living environment, people with disabilities have more control and choice over their lives, more freedom to reach for their full potential, and more opportunity to integrate with community.
Boulder Colorado 80301