
The Center for People With Disabilities
CPWD is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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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.

Alexia Diaz
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
Alexia joined CPWD in 2022. She has worked in the mental health and psychology field for 6 years and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. She has two cats and is a painter and seamstress.

Andrea Brea
Employment & Benefits Specialist
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.

Ashley Mercer
Accounting & Administrative Assistant
Ashley worked as an office manager for 8 years before returning to school to get her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, after which she moved to Colorado with her boyfriend and two Boston Terriers. Ashley has a passion for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as her mother is hard-of-hearing and her uncle is deaf. Ashely joined CPWD in 2021

Ben Rodman
VIP Advisor
Having worked with people with disabilities for more than 30 years, 23 of them here on the Front Range, Ben joined CPWD in 2021. Ben is a lifelong learner with a lot of passions and hobbies including horticulture, mycology, beekeeping, composting and vermicomposting, reading, fishing and hunting, and many more.

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.

Connie Stafford
Veterans Independence Program 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.

Craig Towler
Community Organizer
Born and raised in Boulder, CO, Craig has a strong connection with the community and has been actively involved in systems advocacy focused on safety and accessibility for over 5 years. His background includes project management and he has been a member of the Pedestrian Advisory Committee with the City of Boulder for the past 3 years. Craig joined CPWD in 2020.

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.

Dawn Brady
Beyond Vision Skills Trainer
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.

Diane Groff
Integrity & Advocacy Mentor/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 Program Manager
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.

Heather Kamper
Director of Core Services
Heather started at CPWD in January 2021 as the Director of Core Services. Originally from California, she’s also lived in Michigan, Guatemala and since 2010 has called Colorado home. She has her Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver and is a Licensed Social Worker. She’s worked in various non-profit organizations for the last 13 years, specially working with adults and older adults. Heather loves working alongside the CPWD core services teams and supporting both staff and consumers in achieving their goals.

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
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.

Jude O'Brien
Director of Development & Communications
Jude 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.

Kia Akin
Independent Living
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.

Marcela Stambaugh
Bilingual Independent Living Advisor
Marcela made Colorado her home in 2001 after moving here from Mexico. She worked as a pharmacy technician for 6 years and then received her Bachelors in Business. She has volunteered for cultural organizations that work to provide a safe environment for kids, teens and young adults through art, music and dance. She joined CPWD in December 2021 and enjoys helping people gain independence.

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.

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.

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

Mary Baughman
Nursing Home Transitions Program Manager
Mary joined CPWD in June of 2022 as the Nursing Home Transitions Manager. She holds her Masters in Public Health Education from Ithaca College in Upstate NY, where she is originally from. Mary has 4 years of previous experience working with non-profits in Boulder County and is passionate about empowering individuals and strengthening communities.

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.

Rachel Barham
Youth Independent Living Advisor

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.
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