Meet the Keynote Speaker and Biographies
Demetrius "D" Parker
Keystone Speaker
Demetrius "D" Parker is the Founder and CEO of Trust Leadership Collective, a firm focused on building collaborative spaces, shifting organizational culture and developing leaders through self-awareness and trust-building. A U.S. Army veteran and former local government professional with more than 40 years of leadership experience, Demetrius now serves as an inspirational speaker, workshop facilitator, and executive coach. He is certified in the Awareness to Action Enneagram framework (Personalities@Work Train-the-Trainer), along with other behavior & personality assessments. He is known for a facilitation style that blends pragmatic philosophy with energy and entertainment, making leadership development effective, enjoyable, and immediately useful. Based in the Denver metro area.
Lola Garcia
Panelist
Lola Garcia, is a proud San Luis Valley native and the Co-Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley. As a first-generation Latina college graduate, her path into the non-profit sector began by chance a turn of events that quickly transformed into her life’s core calling.
Driven by a lifelong commitment to serving her community, Lola leads with a focus on inspiring and challenging others to make a meaningful difference. Under her leadership, the Boys & Girls Club operates as far more than an out-of-school time provider; it serves as a critical community hub offering workforce development, prevention programs, and essential resource navigation. She is dedicated to advancing the Club's mission: creating a place of hope and belonging where every youth and family in the Valley has the support, opportunities, and resources they need to thrive.
Kaylee Romero
Panelist
Community Relationship Manager for the San Luis Valley Region at CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority). In this role, she works to strengthen communities through affordable housing, economic development, community investment, and strategic partnerships. Kaylee connects local governments, nonprofits, lenders, businesses, educational institutions, and community leaders with resources and opportunities that help communities thrive.
A proud San Luis Valley native and resident of Alamosa, Kaylee brings a deep passion for community engagement and regional collaboration. Prior to joining CHFA, she worked in higher education and most recently served as Project Director for the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Adams State University, where she helped create pathways to higher education and success for migrant and seasonal farmworker students and their families. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Adams State University.
Known for her ability to build authentic partnerships and connect people with resources, Kaylee is committed to helping communities across the San Luis Valley grow and prosper. She believes meaningful changes happen through collaboration, service, and investing in the strengths of local people and organizations.
David Atkinson
Workshop: How DVR’s BRU brings value to the Collaboration Summit
Business Outreach Specialist for the State of Colorado's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, which is part of the Department of Labor and Employment. He has been with DVR for 16 years and is passionate about helping people with disabilities to gain and maintain employment.
Jae Sanders
Workshop: Conflict is Not Failure - Tools for Staying in It When Things Get Messy
Jae Sanders is a community organizer, systems designer, and local food advocate. Her path into food sovereignty work began in 2010 with a Taos, New Mexico-based nonprofit focused on local food, and cultural resilience. That work has since carried her to the San Luis Valley, where she now serves as a program director at the San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition.
In this talk, she brings both professional and personal experience to the messy, necessary work of collaboration, conflict, repair, and staying in relationship when things get hard.
Marie Harrelson
Workshop: Every Piece Matters - Building Stronger Communities Through Data and Collaboration
I am the new Rocky Mountain Regional Manager for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, where I works alongside community partners to strengthen food access across rural communities. I am also the Data Lead for SLV Community Solutions, where I gather and analyze data from community projects. I am passionate about building meaningful collaborations, using data to drive community solutions, and helping organizations turn ideas into action. I am dedicated to creating sustainable partnerships that improve food security and empower communities to thrive.
Amanda Pearson
Keystone Address
Amanda has served the San Luis Valley since graduating from law school in 1987. Over the course of time she saw good people with good ideas, struggling to get the outcomes they wanted for the community. In 2010 she entered a Master’s leadership program to find different ways to approach these struggles. Following that course of study, she began a doctoral program in organization change and performance. She has been a part of collaborative efforts around eviction process and broadband. One of the solutions to the “good people struggles”, was to provide the resources to help facilitate and coordinate collaboration, so the folks already putting in full hours into their organizations and communities, didn’t have to try and keep collaborative efforts and communication going. With the help of her current employer, La Puente Home, Amanda founded SLV Community Solutions, and is currently the board treasurer.
Mayor Ty Coleman
Panelist, City of Alamosa, Colorado
Mayor Ty Coleman is a dedicated community leader with a strong passion for promoting health and wellness, fostering business and youth development, and expanding access to housing opportunities. He facilitates collaboration among diverse groups, helping them find common ground on key issues while respecting and balancing differing perspectives to create solutions that serve the community. He actively serves as a mentor, author, motivational speaker, and volunteer—consistently working to inspire, support, and uplift those around him.
Mayor Coleman is the Chief Operating Officer for Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation, where he works to ensure people in rural Colorado have access to safe, quality, and affordable housing. His leadership is rooted in the belief that strong communities start with a secure place to call home.
D.J. Salazar
Executive Director, SLV Community Solutions
Welcome & Opening Remarks
DJ Salazar is a lifelong San Luis Valley resident and passionate community leader dedicated to bringing people together to create meaningful change.
DJ is the Director of San Luis Valley Community Solutions and the founder and leader of Valley Veterans ReCreation, where he connects veterans with outdoor experiences and opportunities to reconnect with community.
His career has taken him through work with seniors, veterans, businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and community organizations—experiences that taught him one important lesson: meaningful change happens when we stop working in silos and start working together.
Today, DJ is focused on building stronger partnerships across the San Luis Valley and creating opportunities for communities and organizations to accomplish together what none of us could accomplish alone.
Ashley Maestas
Panelist
Director of Rural Partnerships at The Attainment Network, brings more than 15 years of experience in career development, workforce services, and building partnerships and programs that expand opportunity in rural communities. She is passionate about the power of collaboration and works across education, workforce, government, economic development, business, and community organizations to strengthen pathways and create lasting opportunities for individuals and rural communities.
Before joining The Attainment Network, Ashley served as Director of Alumni Relations & Career Services at Adams State University, where she led efforts to connect students, alumni, and community partners with meaningful career and professional opportunities. Prior to Adams State, Ashley held multiple roles with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, supporting individuals and employers through workforce and employment services.
A proud San Luis Valley native, Ashley holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Government, History & Biology, both from Adams State University. Born and raised in Colorado, her connection to rural communities is deeply personal. She is passionate about building the partnerships, resources, and opportunities that help rural communities thrive and create a strong future for the next generation, including her own high schooler, Gisel.
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Ari Devora
Workshop: Building the Employee Ownership Pipeline - From Curiosity to Conversation
Ari Devora is the Director of Community Engagement at Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center, where she supports rural businesses, entrepreneurs, cooperative development, and community-based economic growth in the San Luis Valley and across rural Colorado. Born and raised in the San Luis Valley, Ari brings a deep local connection to their work and a strong commitment to helping communities build more equitable and resilient local economies. Her work focuses on outreach, technical assistance, and building awareness around employee ownership, cooperative business models, and opportunities that strengthen small businesses and rural communities. Ari also loves working with entrepreneurs and helping turn ideas into action. Dream big; she and the team at RMEOC are excited to help make your dream a reality!
Wes DeVaul
Workshop: Elevating Learner Voice in the Valley
Wes DeVaul brings over a decade of experience in accounting, operations, fundraising and project management to the Attainment Network. Wes is adept at building the infrastructure and critical systems required to turn strategic goals into community impact. Wes is fueled by a personal commitment to the growth of the San Luis Valley with a focus on building the reliable partnerships necessary to connect local students with sustainable career opportunities. He is proud to serve the region he calls home, driving long-term success for the people and industries of the Valley.
Ivette Atencio
Workshop: From Stakeholders to Co-Stewards- Turning Shared Concern into Shared Action
Ivette Atencio is a lifelong San Luis Valley resident who proudly calls Monte Vista home. She serves as the Monte Vista Community Officer for the LOR Foundation, where she is passionate about strengthening the community through collaboration, equity, inclusivity, and respect for the Valley's rich cultural heritage. Ivette has dedicated her career to serving others in a variety of roles throughout the region. She lives in Monte Vista with her husband, TJ, a lifelong Monte Vista resident, and believes that thriving communities are built by embracing diverse perspectives, creating opportunities for all, and working together to support one another.
Stephanie Sales
Workshop: "Building Successful Collaborations Between Non Profits and Community Partners
A nonprofit leader, community advocate, and Executive Director of Alamosa Senior Citizens, Inc., where she leads a community-centered organization serving adults 50 and older throughout Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.
Stephanie’s work sits at the intersection of aging services, nonprofit leadership, community development, and collaboration.
At Alamosa Senior Citizens, she oversees operations, programs, partnerships, fundraising, financial management, and long-term planning while working with local organizations, businesses, government agencies, volunteers, and community members to create practical solutions to the challenges facing older adults in our rural community.
Her professional experience extends beyond the nonprofit sector. Stephanie has owned and operated businesses and worked in community-centered industries where success depended not only on sound business practices, but on relationships, reputation, adaptability, and understanding the needs of the people and communities being served. These experiences gave her a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by small businesses and locally rooted organizations—and the important role they play in creating strong, connected communities.
Her approach to collaboration is practical: start with relationships, understand what each organization brings to the table, communicate honestly, and keep the people you serve at the center of the partnership.
Through her work, Stephanie advocates for a broader view of community impact—one in which nonprofits, businesses, government, civic organizations, and individuals recognize that they don’t have to solve every problem alone. Sometimes the most meaningful change happens when we stop asking, “What can my organization do?” and start asking, “What can we accomplish together?”
Nick Barela
Panelist, Director of Social Services for Conejos County
Nicholas Barela is the Director of Social Services for Conejos County. With over 25 years of experience in the human services field, Nicholas brings a deep commitment to community well-being and a proven track record of leadership and impact. As the current Director of Human Services, he oversees a broad range of programs designed to support individuals and families, promote equity, and strengthen community resources.
Nicholas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, combining strategic insight with a passion for service. This foundation has guided his work in developing effective programs, managing multidisciplinary teams, and leading initiatives that address critical social issues.
In addition to professional roles, Nicholas has been actively involved with faith-based and community organizations for many years, aligning personal values with professional service. Through this work, he has fostered strong community partnerships and supported holistic approaches to human development and support.
Gigi Dennis
Panelist, City Manager of Monte Vista, Colorado
Gigi Dennis currently serves as the City Manager of Monte Vista, Colorado. With over three decades of public service and executive experience at the local, state, and federal levels, she brings extensive expertise in public administration, community development, and intergovernmental affairs.
Prior to her leadership in local government—which also includes serving as the Alamosa County Administrator—she represented southern Colorado in the Colorado State Senate from 1995 to 2001. In 2001, she was appointed by President George W. Bush as the Colorado State Director for USDA Rural Development, where she managed statewide rural housing, infrastructure, and business programs until 2005. She then served as the 34th Colorado Secretary of State from 2005 to 2007.
In addition to her public sector roles, Dennis spent eight years in the private sector as Senior Manager of External Affairs for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. She also served on the state Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Advisory Committee and most recently the CO Aeronautical Board by gubernatorial appointment.
Gigi resides in Monte Vista with her husband Mark and their
Chocolate Labrador, Otis.