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Kipp Kramer (Founder)
Kipp is the Founder and Executive Director. Kipp has an extensive background in supporting and empowering Colorado’s youth. Kipp worked for Goodwill Industries for nearly six years where he led and grew the Student Advisory Council in which 150 students representing 23 different schools in the Denver area learned and enhanced their leadership abilities. This was done in a variety of ways including participation in the Leadership Program, volunteering in the community, Career Development, College Readiness, Job Shadows, and conversations with a mentor. In 2015 under Kipp’s leadership, the Student Advisory Council received the prestigious “Bright Future Award” at Goodwill’s Power of Work Luncheon. Kipp has also spent several years coaching and empowering students through teaching tennis lessons in Colorado and various programs throughout the East Coast. Kipp believes that “every student should have the opportunity to live up to their full potential."
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Michelle Fuller
Michelle loves working with amazing nonprofit organizations and helping people connect to them in a meaningful way; which is why she founded Philanthropy Field Trips. Michelle has volunteered and worked in the nonprofit sector for over 30 years and has her Masters of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University. When Michelle is not trying to save the world, she enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and spending time with her family.
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Rachel Mullen
Rachel believes in doing good well. She loves people – especially young people and people who are passionate about applying their talents and skills to help others. Rachel believes we get more done together in community, and that asking why and being curious is how we can be most effective accomplishing anything. A consummate strategist and optimizer, for the past eleven years, Rachel thrives in environments with frequent change and loves working with a team to problem solve and create things together. Rachel's work is focused on philanthropy, community engagement, and education.
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Irene Mendelsberg
Although she’s traveled much of the world, Irene is a Colorado native and here to stay. After being an art director at a few advertising agencies, she started her own graphic design firm over 21 years ago and has been designing locally, nationally and internationally ever since. She is quite possibly the only Denverite that has never once skied, but instead enjoys tennis, golf, and yoga. As a devoted mother to three daughters, Irene is a firm believer in empowering our youth and helping them achieve their dreams.
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Stacey Cha
Stacey is originally from New Jersey before moving out to Colorado and making it her home. She graduated from Tufts University of Dental Medicine and has been in the industry for 7+ years. Stacey loves the outdoors and nature of Colorado.
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Brian Nelson
After nearly 20 years working as an environmental engineer, Brian joined his wife and little dog in the family business assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer at Nelson Literary Agency. Brian is an avid tennis player, a novice yogi, and he thinks that math is the answer to most of the world’s problems.
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Nicole Cogan
Nicole is excited to be involved in a program that provides encouragement and support to young members of the community. She recognizes it can be both overwhelming and inspiring to listen the students’ experiences and passion as they follow their dreams. Her hope is that the program helps students activate their limitless potential!
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Eric Lentz
Eric grew up in Western Europe, where he gained an appreciation for and love of international music and cultures. His background includes an education in music and theater and has pursued a master’s degree in nonprofit management. Eric was involved with Up With People, beginning back in 1986, during his time there, he held the Senior VP, Artistic Director and an integral part of the production team as a songwriter, lead vocalist, master of ceremonies, director and producer. Eric is involved with many Denver area performing arts groups and has served in leadership roles on the board of directors for several non-profit music and theatre organizations. Eric is married to Jill, and they have two sons.
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Kristen Morel
After graduating from University of Iowa, Kristen experienced the world through travel along Up With People. After six years of travel on the road, she decided to make Denver her home. I went back to my original goal of working in public schools; she continued her education by earning a Master's in Early Childhood Education. Kristen believes all people learn best when given high quality experiences and support to learn from them. She and her husband enjoy living in Colorado for all it has to offer and their two children, who also keep them pretty busy.
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Ryan LaneRyan has been in the telecom industry for the past 10 years and has worked with Cricket Communications, Comcast, and Ultra Mobile. He volunteered with Goodwill’s Student Advisory Council for 7 years and was blown away by the potential of the students in the program. He is honored to be a part of Kramerica Gives and hopes to see more and more students impacted by such an awesome organization. He’s married and loves spending time with his daughter and son at the pool during summertime.
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Ken Lane
Is a Citizen, scholar, adventure capitalist
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Adrienne Young
Adrienne grew up in northeastern Ohio. She moved to Colorado to study sociology at the University of Colorado in Boulder. After doing development work for non-profits for a few years, she returned to school to get a master’s degree in social work at Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Adrienne has worked in various settings that focus on youth or refugee programming over the last ten years, and has experience in program management, grant management, technical assistance, capacity building and program evaluation. She spends free time playing outside in the mountains as much as possible.
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Casey Shank
Casey is a mental health professional with 8 years of experience in higher education. She has worked in a variety of settings from high school to community college and university. She is very passionate about self-advocacy and teaching students the skills to find valuable resources. She is very excited to work with the Kramerica Gives scholars to provide the tools necessary for a successful transition from high school into college.
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Christine GallagerChristine is a New Jersey native who has made Denver her home since serving 2 years with AmeriCorps NCCC in 2011. She has her Master's in Social Work. Christine is the Associate Director of the Center for Professional Development at the University of Denver and loves that she has been able to make a career in higher ed. When not at work, Christine shares her time with a few local Denver nonprofits, drinks craft beer, and plans her next adventure. She hopes to leverage her insider knowledge of higher education systems, as well as connections in the Denver community, to support scholarship recipients as they prepare for their college journey!
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Robyn Purvin
Robyn moved to Colorado in 2008 with her best friend. Since her arrival, she has worked in nonprofit healthcare and education. When not working with youth, she tries to head towards the mountains, enjoy the music scene, and walk her dog!
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MaryClaire Fey
MaryClaire is a middle school teacher from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. She majored in geography at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. During the summer you can find her swimming, and in the winter she enjoys snowshoeing and watching reruns of Parks and Rec.
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Cat Portillo
Cat Portillo is a HUGE fan of Kramerica Gives and got her first professional job with the help of Kipp Kramer. She believes that young people are capable of big things when given opportunities that build confidence and trust in themselves. She graduated from Fort Lewis college with honors, and enjoys doing career readiness trainings and running girls groups. Currently, she manages a mentoring program that supports teens in creating a post-secondary plan. Yes, she loves cats. And hiking. And happy hour.
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Marcee Mygatt
Marcee was raised in the small town of Carbondale on the western slope of Colorado. This is where her love of the mountains, the thrill of downhill skiing and the passion for road biking all started. She spent her senior year of high school in France and then attended Colorado State University where she majored in French and minored in Spanish. Following college, she taught both French and Spanish to students for Boulder Valley School District. Combining her love of languages with her interest in young people was the perfect fit.
Marcee is happily married to her husband, Chris and together with their daughter Lindsey, they love to travel, explore different cities and countries and meet new people. It is only fitting for Marcee to be involved with Kramerica Gives. She was looking for a meaningful way to reconnect with your people outside of a classroom and is honored to be part of something so impactful after having significant mentors of her own who helped navigate her way! |
