MEET THE TEAM

It takes a village to provide the programs and services the PAVE offers our community.

PAVE strives to hire and retain team members that are representative of the communities we serve.

OUR STAFF

Brent Adams

Director of Program Development and Evaluation

I manage PAVE's day-to-day work helping boys to develop healthy masculinity within the True Man program. Additionally, I facilitate PTHR classes in the fall. I am drawn to the work at PAVE by his desire to intervene in the intergenerational transfer of sexism and misogyny via programs for boys, though this is work he also continues to do in the space of his own family and personal identity. In my life outside of work, I spend my time restoring vintage and classic cars and motorcycles, and cruising to abandoned places on my motorcycle. I hold a Masters degree in Ethnic Studies from Colorado State University with a focus on the intersections of race, class, and gender and a research emphasis in the intergenerational transfer of masculinity via father-son relationships.

Melissa Bongirno

School Based Therapist

I am Melissa and I'm excited to work as a School Based Therapist for PAVE. I have spent most of my career in mental health specializing in anxiety, interpersonal trauma, and gender issues. I enjoy the unique culture of working with youth in school settings and am excited to work with an organization that is able to provide a holistic lense to serve students and their community. When I am outside of my therapist role, I love to snuggle dogs, watch movies, try new restaurants, plant flowers, and take my family roller skating.

Joel Cornell

Operations Administrator

I'm Joel, the People and Operations Administrator here at Project PAVE. I joined the team in May of 2023 after working at another community based non-profit for the previous 15 years. I originally began my work in the non-profit sector through youth recreation programs and then moved into operations and administration. Most of all I enjoy supporting a team of people who are on the front lines trying to make positive change in the world, which here at PAVE means trying to end the cycle of violence. I hope that my work can enable the staff to fulfill our mission effectively and efficiently. Away from work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, interacting with our cat, bowling, baseball, long walks / hikes, and growing all types of plants.

Danny Roetzer

Development Director

Hi! I'm Danny (he/him) and I’m the Development Director here at PAVE. I have an academic background in international relations and public policy, but fell in love with community-based work years ago as a case manager at a Safehouse. Over the years, I’ve led fundraising initiatives for small, grassroots organizations as well as larger institutions like PBS and NPR.

From Buffalo but having found a home in Denver, I spend my free time reading, writing, enjoying the Colorado sun, going to shows, and binging crime-thriller miniseries.

Stephanie Roman, MAEd, LPC, ACS

Program Director & Clinical Supervisor

I began my journey with Project PAVE 17 years ago when we started the school based counseling program in 2004. This position has allowed me to connect with the youth in our community, build relationships with families, and trust with our school partners.
When I'm not saving the world I spend time with my family and my new puppy, Frankie.

Reina Ross

Senior Intervention Manager

Hi, I’m Reina! I’m the Senior Intervention Manager and I facilitate social-emotional wellness groups with youth to provide support, skills-building, and mental health education. At the beginning of my career I was working to close the academic achievement gap for low-income youth and families. I then decided to switch fields to address what I saw as one of the root causes of students and their families not meeting their own personal and academic goals: violence. Being at an organization whose primary focus is youth at the intersection of violence is what brought me to Project PAVE. I'm originally from Boulder. I love spending time with my niece and nephew, and my favorite treat is chips and queso from Illegal Pete’s!

Nick Sabolik

Intervention Manager

Hi! I'm Nick Sabolik, an Intervention Specialist here at PAVE, which means I facilitate various social-emotional groups in schools. My background is in teaching, and as a teacher I noticed fairly quickly that a lot of the important conversations I was having with students didn't fit in any curriculums but took place outside of class. When I discovered PAVE, I was excited to see an organization that intentionally made space for these conversations to take place inside classrooms. I currently live in Denver, and like to use our three-day weekends to play soccer, write, and get into the mountains.

Jasmijn White

School-based Therapist

My name is Jasmijn White. As a therapist, I go by (Miss) Midge and I'm looking forward to being a School-Based Therapist with Project PAVE. Before getting a Masters degree, I spent much of my career working with MS and HSers in academic and mentorship capacities. My career as a therapist has been focused on supporting youth overcoming trauma and youth navigating their neurodivergence. At Project PAVE, I'm excited to get back into the school environment and blend all my passions into one job. Outside of work, I'm kind of a homebody. I listen to and play a lot of music, watch TV, read, and dream of eventually adding soccer back into the mix. But I'll always venture out of the house for the potential of good food or a fun concert!

Lynne Wichert

Finance Director

I’m Lynne, PAVE’s Finance Director! My journey to PAVE began in 2011. At the time I had my own non-profit consulting business and PAVE hired me temporarily to help with finance. After a couple of months, the gig turned into a permanent, full-time position. I was and continue to be excited about PAVE’s mission and vision because of my work as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a Big Sister, and a parent of an adopted child. I believe all children should feel that their world is a safe place where people care about them and their needs and where they can develop healthy, positive relationships. When I’m not working, I love reading fiction, hiking and riding bikes with my daughter, and spending quality time with family and good friends.

Tara Williams

Executive Director

I'm Tara the Executive Director at PAVE. I oversee development & operations (fundraising, finance, HR, and all things administrative). I've been at PAVE for 10 years in various roles before becoming the Co-ED in January. My background is in development, including working at small social service organizations and at large university development offices. I was drawn to PAVE's work with youth in our community to end gender based violence and was excited to bring my fundraising and gender studies research experience to an amazing organization. It is the people that I've worked with at PAVE (staff, Board, volunteers, youth) and their passion for the work that has kept me here and dedicated to this organization. Born and raised by the beach in New Jersey, I've lived in Colorado for fourteen years now. In my time away from PAVE, I enjoy spending time with my two kids, reading, drinking wine and coffee, traveling, Netflix binges, and feeding treats to my fuzzy dog.

Staff

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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Case Collard

Immediate Past Chair | Dorsey & Whitney

I am Case Collard. I work as an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney in Denver. I do large commercial litigation cases with a focus on IP. I live in Evergreen with my wife, three kids (ages 8, 9, and 12), and dog Mopsy. My wife and I are originally from Kansas and like to visit lakes and humid places on vacation. I was a volunteer firefighter in Golden for 13 years (just retired). I got involved with PAVE after my wife heard Derek on CPR and told me that I *had* to reach out to him because he was my new best friend! II’m so glad that I did – I love Derek, Tara, and the whole PAVE team. I played football in college, so the idea of using sports as a conduit to teach healthy masculinity is very appealing to me.

Shelby Demby

Co-founder | Why Restorative Justice

I am Shelby Demby, Co-founder of Why Restorative Justice. I have been immersed in Restorative Practices for over 13 years; from working with students, supporting implementation of Restorative Practices in schools across the nation, training school staff and building policies and procedures to support sustainability of restorative practices. I am passionate about school and youth violence prevention, strength in relationships and storytelling, and empowering our youth to lead happy full lives. This is why the work Project Pave does is so important to me.

As a 4th generation Denverite (my kids are now 5th) when I am not working I am enjoying every minute with my family soaking in the 300+ days of Colorado sunshine.

Mike Johnson

Director | Johnson Wallace Consulting

I began working with Project PAVE in 2005 as a volunteer and shortly after that I became a board member. In 2006 I became the E.D. for PAVE and served in that capacity until 2016. Shortly after that I became part of the PAVE Honorary board.I joined the Board again in 2020. I am currently a consultant for Jonson and Wallace Consulting
I became passionate about the PAVE mission for many different reasons but the initial "pull" was because I have two family members who were victims of relationship violence.
I was born and raised in Minnesota and moved around some until we moved to Colorado in 1990. I currently live in Loveland where my two children and two grandchildren live

Danielle Landry

I am an HR Business Partner with a focus in Talent Management and love that I get to guide cultural change, process movement, and form future leaders. My passion for PAVE stems from trauma that I personally experienced in my youth. Being a part of this organization awards me the opportunity to be a part of changing the youth of today and tomorrow. We moved to Colorado five years ago from Houston, Texas and haven’t looked back. We love all that Colorado has to offer our family – hiking, camping, snowboarding and no mosquitos!

Jonathan McDonald

Chair & Treasurer | GE Johnson Construction

I’m a Construction Executive for GE Johnson Construction Company focused on the Advanced Technology market. In my job, I’m responsible for large commercial construction projects and I enjoy building high performance teams. My wife and I moved to Colorado in 2010 and have since fallen in love with the pace of life and access to the outdoors that Colorado offers. We have four children, an ever-shrinking home, and enjoy exposing our kids to new experiences. I joined the PAVE board in 2018 for multiple reasons. First, I had stopped volunteering when our twins were born, but felt the need to re-engage with the community. Second, as I learned about PAVE’s work, I was drawn to their mission and felt that in a seemingly divisive world, this was a unifying organization.

Fun fact #1: My mom’s from Ireland so I grew up visiting family over there every other summer. It’s a special place.
Fun fact #2: My dad’s from Chicago so I grew up a Chicago sports fan (Cubs not Sox). Unfortunately, I have passed this affliction on to my kids.
Fun fact #3: We have a sweet minivan and every summer, I do my best Clark Griswold impersonation and drive the family (dog included) to the east coast for a few weeks. As crazy as it is, I secretly look forward to the drive.

Ashley Randle

Vice Chair & Secretary | Courtyard Denver Downtown

Hi! I am Ashley and am the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Courtyard Denver Downtown. When not at work you can find me enjoying family time with my husband, Jared, and our two children, Sofia (2.5) and Everett (6 months), and our 4-ish year old Great Pyrenees, Bruno. Our life with a toddler and baby is a little hectic right now but you can usually find us outside at a playground or a brewery! I joined PAVE because I believe having healthy relationships is something everyone should get to experience in life.

Romy Ricafort

West Division Sr. Director of Sales Engineering | Comcast Business

I grew up around violence in San Ysidro, CA and joined PAVE because I believe in the cause of ending violence through empowerment and building healthy relationships. When not at work you can typically find me hanging with my wife, Brooke and our 2 kiddos (12 and 9). We love being outdoors, from biking and Golf in the summer to snowboarding and skiing in the winter.

Myrna Snider

Director of Technology Strategy | PwC

I am Director of Technology Strategy for PwC. My focus is to be a specialist in the end-to-end orchestration of large-scale technology transformation journeys. My passion for PAVE stems from witnessing the detrimental effects of mental health issues and violence on individuals and families. Being a part of this organization provides me with the opportunity to be a part of a group that is rooted in supporting individuals that are touched by violence -- but whose impact reaches out into the larger Denver community and ripples out to our larger society. Since moving to the Denver area, I have been able to do all of my favorite things - hiking, skiing, and being able to have so many other wonderful experiences that only Colorado affords.