ABOUT
US
Board
of Directors
Liz Oster
Liz is the visionary and co-founder of the non-profit Courage
is Change and serves as Chair on the Board of Directors.
Liz is responsible for building alliances with like-minded
organizations and foundations, providing overall direction
and vision, administration, curriculum direction and fund
raising. Liz is a dynamic and creative individual with more
than 20 years experience in sales, marketing and business.
In 1998 Liz founded the Superior Chamber of Commerce and grew
the organization to over 150 members. As an entrepreneur herself,
Liz started and managed two successful small businesses. Her
areas of expertise include new business development, event
planning, creative sales techniques, networking, promotions
and campaigns, product launches, advertising communications,
client relations, fund raising benefits and public relations.
She is also a Certified Professional Coach. Elizabeth Oster
obtained her BBA in Marketing from the University of Miami
School of Business.
Diane DeBella
As a teacher and a writer, Diane DeBella has spent over twenty
years studying women writers, women’s history, and feminist
issues. She currently teaches writing and Women's Studies
at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and has had her
work published in numerous journals, including California
Quarterly, Vermont Literary Review, and Montpelier. She recently
received the CU Women Who Make a Difference Award.
Melissa Walker
Melissa Walker, MA, R-DMT is a Body-Centered Psychotherapist
with a private practice in the Westminster area. With training
in Dance Movement Therapy, Somatic Archaeology, and Psychodrama,
as well as experience with Dialectical Behavior Theray (DBT),
Melissa is skilled in adapting the therapeutic experience
to the needs and strengths of the individual, couple, or group.
Her focus in working with clients is in supporting a sense
of empowerment and mastery in adopting skills that will alchemize
the darkness in life in order to grow towards joy, wellness,
and the development of healthy relationships. For more information,
visit her website at www.melissawalkerDMT.com.
Gregg R. Emmel
Gregg Emmel is an attorney with a general practice law
firm focusing on business law. Emmel Law, LLC works with individuals
and businesses to determine their needs and develop comprehensive
solutions and is committed to a new way of practicing law
that makes it responsive, flexible, and affordable. Gregg
builds long-term relationships based on trust, reliability,
and dedicated legal service. For more information please visit
www.emmellaw.com.
A second career attorney
with ten years experience as a business and information technology
analyst and developer, Gregg lives in Superior with his wife
Brooke and their dog Izzi. He believes in the mission of Courage
is Change and making communities stronger through education,
communication, and healthy relationships.
Consulting
Members
Brandy A. Mello
Brandy Mello is co-founder of the non-profit Courage is
Change and serves as Co-Chair on the Board of Directors.
Brandy is responsible for operations, community relations
and fund raising. Previously, Brandy served as Deputy Campaign
Manager on a successful State Legislative campaign in 2006.
Subsequently, she served as a Legislative Aide. Brandy's diverse
background also includes working as an event planning consultant,
an administrator, and an educator. In her career as an educator,
Brandy taught elementary school, middle school Reading and
a high school English for at risk teens. She started her career
in education as a facilitator for struggling community college
students striving to transfer to a four-year university. Brandy
is very involved in her community, often volunteering for
town events and local political causes, focusing efforts on
fund-raising, volunteer organizing, and event planning. Currently
she serves on the Angel Eyes, Claws for a Cause (Louisville)
steering committee to benefit SIDS education and research.
Brandy has a BA in English Education from California State
University, Long Beach and performed some graduate work at
Johns Hopkins University in Elementary Education.
Ruth Aten
Ruth currently works as a Criminal Investigator with the Boulder
County District Attorney’s Office in Colorado. Her responsibilities
include trial case preparation, victim and witness location
and investigations. Ruth has worked in law enforcement since
1994. Over the past 14 years she has worked as a Trooper with
the Colorado State Patrol and a School Resource Officer with
the Broomfield Police Department. As a Resource Officer she
has had the opportunity to work with children in the community,
witnessing first hand many of the issues that we are addressing.
Ruth's expertise makes her an exceptional asset to the Courage
is Change Board of Directors. Ruth has a BA in Criminal Justice
from Columbia University.
Terri Dimond
A passionate educator for Boulder Valley Schools since 1995,
Terri is currently a licensed elementary 4th grade Teacher
at Emerald Elementary School in Broomfield, Colorado. Endorsed
as a K-12 literacy specialist, she is also ESL certified.
Her desire to end domestic violence began many years ago.
She began work in victims witness advocacy and as a paraprofessional
therapist for families recovering from domestic violence in
Virginia and then Colorado. Terri is Secretary on the Courage
is Change Board of Directors. Terri Dimond has received a
BA in Political Science and Psychology from James Madison
University in Harrisburg, Virginia, an MA of Education in
Curriculum and Instruction and an MA of Education in Multicultural
Education both from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
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