Our People
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado Staff
Our professional staff provides day-to-day continuity for operations, responds to the needs of the Board and helps to direct the energies of more than 200 volunteers.
Development Team
- Joan Mazak, President & CEO
- Marilyn Tillery, Vice President of Operations
- Eileen Danahy, Director of Development
- Patti Murphy, Director of Events/Promotions
- Becky Schilling, Director of Volunteers/Workplace Giving
- Robert Newman, Director of Communications/Annual Appeal
- Bridget Fitzpatrick, Development Associate
- Margaret Makowski, Database Manager
Wish Granting Team
We plan the wishes of all medically eligible children in Colorado. In addition, we perform outreach work to the medical community throughout the state as well as serve as a liason between the medical professionals who refer patients for wishes and who determine eligibility. We also assist other Make-A-Wish chapters with the wishes of children who want to visit Colorado, we hold volunteer wish grantor trainings and monthly meetings. We are on-call 24 hours a day and are responsible for all aspects of wish granting.
"We pay special attention to each child's dream, ensuring that it is the most magical and memorable experience for the child and their family."
- Jennifer Mace, Supervising Director of Wish Granting
- Lauren Beede, Referral Coordinator
- Veronica Rivera, Director of Wish Granting
- Luann Griffen, Wish Coordinator
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado Board of Directors
A volunteer Board of Directors, elected annually to two-year terms, governs the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado. Our Board is a 100% giving Board, meaning each member makes annual cash contributions to the Foundation. Board members are diverse in their professional backgrounds and experience.
- Gary A. Aboussie, Board Chairman, The Colorado Group, Inc.
- Stephen Blackwell, Board Vice Chairman, Holme, Roberts & Owen LLP
- Charla McClintock, Board Treasurer, Colorado Community College System
- Dennis Brown, Holland & Hart
- Scott Esmond, Breckenridge Communications
- Robert Flynn, Crestone Partners, LLC
- Patricia L. Gruber, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
- Brett Hanselman, KPMG, LLP
- Kelly Maloney, M.D., The Children’s Hospital
- William Marsh, M.D., Kaiser Permanente
- William D. Myers, Starz Entertainment
- Jim Nussbaum, The Kentwood Company
- Suzanne Phillips-Klein, Transformation Ventures Inc.
- Edward Pine, Pine Construction, Inc.
- Kelly Potter, Community Volunteer
- John Schafer, Hyatt Regency at Denver Convention Center
- Forrest D. Smith III, Merrill Lynch
- Beau Stark, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
YPAC: The Young Professionals Advisory Council of the Colorado Make a Wish Foundation
The Young Professionals Advisory Council of the Colorado Make a Wish Foundation® was formed in 2005 by a group of 15 individuals who are all under 35 years old and share a philanthropic spirit toward children. Under the leadership of the Make-A-Wish® Board of Directors, the group was formed to help raise funds and awareness among their peers and colleagues for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
- Nate Baldwin
- Scott Esmond
- Katarina Brown
- Kyle Chernoff
- Lisa Christian
- Laura Esmond
- Carolyn Gravit
- Jennifer Gunn
- Rhiannon Hendrickson
- Mindy Jaouen
- Jason Merrihew
- Andrew Schlauch
- Greg Tilley
- Josh Vajda
- Suzanne Wilson