Lois Landgraf
Board Chair
llandgraf@tre.org
Before moving to Colorado in 2002, Lois Landgraf lived in Seattle, WA where she worked at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine. While there, she played an integral role in starting the Cardiovascular Health Research Unit. Lois has her MBA from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland.
While in Germany, Lois worked with the German Jugendamt to establish a Foster Care program for the children of Americans living in Europe. After moving to Colorado, she became active in the political arena holding offices within the County Republican Party, serving on the City of Fountain’s economic development committee and on City Council. She has held many civic positions including Coordinator of the Red Cross Program in a US Army community of 10,000, zoo volunteer, PTA treasurer, and 4-H leader. In 2012 she was elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives, where she was ranking member of the Public Health and Environment Committee. She was also a member of the Energy and Environment Committee and sat on the Heath Benefit Exchange and the Governor’s Behavioral Health Task Force.
She is currently the Executive Director of the nonprofit organizations Friends for the Future and Friends for Colorado. She and her husband, Jim, who is retired from the Army, have five children and six grandkids.
Patrick Davis
Board Vice Chair
pdavis@tre.org
For over 33 years, Patrick Davis has been serving clients and candidates regionally and nationally in the areas of public affairs, political consulting, strategy and public relations.
Patrick and his wife have two children and have lived in Colorado Springs for 21 years.
Jessie Martinez
Board Treasurer
jmartinez@tre.org
Jessie Martinez is an Audit Manager at BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm in the Colorado Springs office. He provides audit services for a variety of public sector and nonprofit clients. As an audit in-charge, Jessie leads the client engagement process, including the supervision and training of the audit team, review of audit workpapers, and communication with the client and lead audit executive. He also provides Single Audit compliance testing, which allows nonprofit and governmental organizations to conform with federal funding requirements.
Jessie is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Colorado Society of CPAs. He graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, with an M.S. degree in accounting and a B.S. degree in business with an emphasis in accounting.
He likes to hike, watch movies, play video games, travel and is the proud uncle to five nieces.
Laurie Huisingh
Secretary
lhuisingh@tre.org
Laurie Huisingh is a Certified Nursing Assistant and has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Western Washington University. Laurie was born and raised in the Seattle area and married an Army officer, which took them overseas and to different cities all over the country.
She and her husband now live in Colorado Springs with their three children. Their youngest was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at 19 months old. Laurie coordinates the medical and therapeutic care of her daughter and has been active in fundraising and community projects through the Rett syndrome Research Association and the Rocky Mountain Rett syndrome Association.
Heidi Brandon
Self Advocate
hbrandon@tre.org
Heidi Brandon has received services from TRE since 1990 and now serves on the Board of Directors as a self-advocate. Heidi was born in Big Spring, Texas and graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs.
She now lives in a host home where she enjoys sewing, knitting, and adult coloring. She has attended New Life Church and Springs Church since 1989. Heidi is an accomplished swimmer, competing in Special Olympics for many years, including the Special Olympics International World Games in Minnesota in 1991, where she won a Gold and Silver medal and two Bronze medals.
Heidi’s son was born in 1998, and she made the decision to place him in an open adoption. A proud Mom, Heidi visits her son often and traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas to see him graduate from North Little Rock High School in May 2016.
Dave Paul
Board Member
dpaul@tre.org
Dave Paul has an extensive background in not only the mortgage profession, but also public service. He is the CEO of Town & Country Residential Lending and was also elected as Teller County Commissioner, serving in that role from 2011 to 2019. He is a Judicial Performance Commissioner on the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance and previously served on the Colorado Limited Gaming Impact Grant Advisory Committee. Dave graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and has been a member of Rotary International since 1999.
He also enjoys being a member of the Denver Broncos Football Club, participating from the south stands at all home regular season and playoff games including Super Bowl 50.
George Mentz
Board Member
gmentz@tre.org
Commissioner George Mentz JD MBA CILS is a global educator, tax-economist, international lawyer and CEO of the International Board of Standards. George is also an award-winning author and graduate law professor of wealth management in the United States for a top US law school. George has an earned Doctor of Jurisprudence, an MBA, a graduate international law certificate/diploma and is a licensed attorney admitted to the US Colorado Federal Courts. He has worked as an investment banker and management consultant, and he is a professor teaching over 250 law, business, and ethics courses. An economic advisor for various organizations, he has also written and published over 50 books and audio books. He and his companies have been featured or quoted in radio, TV and press.
George has volunteered for several administrations including Obama, Bush, and Trump, writing and consulting for the US Department of Labor, and has also recently served as a member of the White House Commission for Presidential Scholars (2019-2021). Most recently, he was appointed to the Colorado Springs Airport Commission and is a Commissioner on the Colorado Springs Civil Service Commission.
George enjoys tennis, travel, raising his three children, and serving as a founder of the Aspen Commission. He was introduced to TRE by various leaders in Colorado over a decade ago, and years later TRE was able to help his family.
Sarah Brittain Jack
Board Member
sbrittainjack@tre.org
Sarah Brittain Jack is the principal of Sarah B. Jack & Associates, an independent political consulting and local government relations firm representing various clients since 1994. Sarah is an active community volunteer and non-profit leader.
Sarah served as a Colorado Springs City Council appointed Member of the Martin Drake Task Force on De-commissioning and as an appointed member of the City Re-districting Committee, she was appointed by the Board of Commissioners to serve as a Member of the El Paso County Master Plan Advisory Committee, current El Paso County Planning Commissioner, and current Member of the El Paso County Citizens Outreach Group (COG). She has served for over a decade on the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC Government Affairs Advisory Committee.
As a non-profit volunteer, she served for seven years on the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, two years as Chair; and a Member of the Commission on Homelessness in Southern Colorado. She is currently serving on the New Altitude (TRE) Committee; Daniels Fund Scholarship Awards Interview Team(s); and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region Board of Directors; serving as Chair, Governance Committee.
Practically a native, Sarah grew up in Colorado Springs and raised her son here. When she is not working or volunteering, Sarah’s favorite role is that of Grammy to her two grandchildren, Lucas and Emily. She enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, cooking and occasionally still skiing.
TRE has been a piece of Sarah’s heart since she was first involved in the organization working on a ballot issue in 2006. Close ties to family with special needs makes TRE especially important to her.
Bernard Byers
Board Member
bbyers@tre.org
Bernard Byers is a Branch Manager at Vectra Bank. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University-Pueblo. Bernard has lived in numerous Colorado cities but was raised in the Colorado Springs area and has lived with his wife and three children in Colorado Springs for over 10 years.
In his spare time, Bernard is a volunteer coach for his youth girls’ basketball program, Colorado Storm. Bernard has volunteered with numerous boards and commissions including Colorado Springs Rising Professionals, Colorado Springs Civic Engagement Program, Navy Federal Credit Union’s Employee Engagement, Emerging Leaders and Community Service Council, and served as Chair of the Public Art Commission of the Pikes Peak Region.
Bernard has participated in over 100 running competitions including a 3-time participant in the annual World’s Toughest Mudder, logging a combined 75 miles completed. He also enjoys playing basketball in Pro/Am leagues across the state.
Traci Marques
Board Member
tmarques@tre.org
Traci Marques is the Executive Director/CEO of the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. Marques has been with the Workforce Center since July 2012 and has been recognized for excellence by the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment for her contributions toward the improvement and modernization of veterans’ services.
In her capacity as Executive Director, Marques provides leadership, direction, and oversight and is responsible for long-range planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of programs supporting regional workforce development. Marques is a 2021 graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership Signature Program.
In 2018, she was appointed by then-Governor John Hickenlooper to serve on the Colorado Division of Youth Services Southern Region Community Board until November 1, 2021.
Sharon Thompson
Board Member
sthompson@tre.org
Sharon Thompson is the Mayor of Fountain, Colorado. Thompson has served on the Fountain City Council for eight years as well as the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments in a variety of positions and is currently first vice chair and a co-chair on the legislative committee. She is the vice president of the Fountain Valley Senior Center and represents Fountain on the Colorado Municipal League (CML) Policy Committee. Thompson is an active member of the Fountain Valley Community Services Group building relationships with several of the nonprofits that serve the Fountain area and is a former member of the Fountain Valley Salvation Army Advisory Board.
Thompson graduated California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She has lived in Fountain since 2003 and her many roles include that of elementary teacher, homeschool parent, caregiver, and when she isn’t involved in her community, she is helping run a small business her husband owns and manages in Fountain.
Jennifer Thornton
Board Member
jthornton@tre.org
Jennifer Thornton was born and Raised in Pueblo, Colorado. She left for 15 years to pursue her education and returned to raise her family in 2017. Jennifer has spent her career as a Medical Laboratory Scientist and has her MBA in Healthcare leadership.
Jennifer is married and has two special needs children whom she adores. She is also a CNA parent providing care for her youngest son. Jennifer is very active in the special needs community and coordinates all care of her children. Jennifer is especially interested in Education Advocacy and puts a great deal of time into that for her kids as well as others. Jennifer wants to pave the way, so others do not have to work so hard and fight for the things she has for her own children.
Jennifer spends most of her free time dedicated to the Special needs community and advocacy. When she isn’t advocating, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading.
Megan Billesbach
Board Member
mbillesbach@tre.org
Megan Billesbach is a Community Health Strategist with Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA). CCHA administers physical and behavioral health benefits and coordinates care and services for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) members in Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park and Teller counties. CCHA’s overall goal is to support a coordinated, patient-centered model of care that serves the needs of Health First Colorado members, improves health and life outcomes, and optimizes resources to avoid duplication of services and reduce costs.
Before stepping into her current role, Megan worked at The Resource Exchange (TRE) for five years. She began at TRE as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator, supported resource navigation, and concluded her time there as a Family Support Coordinator. While she loved her work at TRE, Megan decided to continue supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a different capacity.
At CCHA, Megan identifies, cultivates, and maintains strong relationships with community, government, and ancillary health care stakeholders to decrease gaps and barriers individuals experience while accessing various health care supports. Beyond her passion for supporting individuals with disabilities, Megan has a personal connection to TRE. Through having a family member with a traumatic brain injury and multiple chronic conditions, she has personally seen the benefits, struggles and rollercoaster of emotions that come with trying to access various services and help a loved one live as independently as possible.
As a board member, Megan will bring insights and expertise around Medicaid, long-term services and supports, and access to care. She has extensive knowledge of state and federal systems, case management, community resources/agencies, Medicaid, and other social service-related programs and processes. Megan is passionate about ensuring individuals and community partners work cohesively to identify and bridge any gaps or barriers within the system and increase support for those most in need.
As a Colorado Springs native, Megan enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband have six adopted pets—three dogs and three cats—and are strong advocates of “adopt, don’t shop.” She also teaches 2nd grade Sunday School and is actively involved in her church.
Emerald Doyle
Board Member
edoyle@tre.org
Emerald Doyle recently graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with a Comprehensive Higher Education Certificate in American Sign Language. She currently works at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind as a Teacher’s Assistant, and has recently began working at Wal-Mart. Through both positions she is able to utilize her fluency in ASL.
She also is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, which connects her to where she is from since she was adopted from China at age 11. It is because of her fluency in Chinese that led to her flourishing ASL skills, since there are similarities in the structures of both languages.
Though she hadn’t received any schooling prior to coming to the United States, Emerald was able to finish in the top third of her high school class. She was introduced to TRE as a client in 2018 to help her navigate her learning disabilities and figure out further educational and learning.
Emerald has been awarded the Girl Scout Ambassador Gold Award in 2020 for raising 4,200 pounds of food and hygiene products for the impoverished Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Additionally, she was ARC of Pikes Peak Region’s 2020 Volunteer of the Year. As Board Member, she is hoping to learn more about what TRE is currently doing and what they plan to do, in addition to contributing her unique perspective of someone who has received TRE services.
Beyond learning and volunteering, Emerald loves playing tennis, hiking, crotchet, singing and dancing, and taking her dog, Lady, for walks. She also enjoys having some quiet time, but overall enjoys staying busy and being active.
Stephen Valera
Board Member
svarela@tre.org
Stephen A. Varela is a dedicated community leader and advocate, previously serving as a member of the Colorado State Board of Education. He was appointed to the Board on January 14, 2023, and held that position until October 2024. He is proud to be the first Latino to represent Congressional District 3.
Mr. Varela holds a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Chicano Studies from Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU-P).
A passionate community organizer and advocate, Mr. Varela has served on numerous boards and commissions. He was on the Board of East Side Child Care Center and Early Learning Ventures Advisory Council, and served on the Board of Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy, a charter school in Pueblo. His efforts helped secure a BEST grant to update school facilities and improve educational opportunities for students. He also contributed to the Pueblo County Planning and Zoning Commission, where he worked on community revitalization efforts.
While working for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VHA), Mr. Varela was a Labor Official for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), advocating for employee rights and safe working conditions. He also co-founded the Student Veterans of America chapter at CSU-P and the Pueblo Voter Registration Project, both of which supported veterans and encouraged civic engagement.
Mr. Varela is married to his wife, Kayla P. Varela; both are veterans. During his military service, he was deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), first with the Active Duty Army and later with the Colorado Army National Guard. Mr. Varela and his wife currently reside in Pueblo, Colorado, and have four children. He is the only former State Board of Education member with children currently in the K-12 educational system.
Colleen Head Batchelor
Chief Executive Officer
Colleen Head Batchelor, long-time Child and Family Services Director at TRE, was voted in as permanent CEO by the TRE Board of Directors in June 2020. Colleen joined TRE in 2009 and has over 30 years of experience working in the field of early child development, disability, and intervention.
Colleen has worked in multiple-state systems, including Texas, New Jersey, and Colorado where her roles have included service provider, program administrator, state personnel development coordinator, and state procedural safeguards coordinator. She has also been Executive Director for Colorado Springs-based nonprofit, Resources for Young Children and Families, providing oversight and supervision of the implementation and delivery of early intervention services in El Paso County.
In addition to serving as Director of Child and Family Services at TRE, Colleen is also adjunct professor for University of Northern Colorado’s (UNC) Early Childhood Special Education Master’s Program. Colleen earned her Bachelor of Psychology from Austin College and her Master of Clinical Psychology from the University of North Texas. She also graduated from the Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware and is an ACES Master Trainer.
