North Region
Counties: Boulder, Larimer, Weld
Cities: Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley
The North Council recently concluded its third year supporting youth mental health. The three-year focus included recommended funding to SummitStone Health Partners and North Range Behavioral Health to hire four full-time mental health clinicians to work in seven schools. Over three years, these clinicians worked with more than 580 youth providing almost 6,500 direct service hours. The Council is currently exploring additional ways to have impact in the region.

Meet Our Regional Council Members

Judy Bell was President of the United States Golf Association (USGA) in 1996 and 1997. She was the first woman to hold that position and one of only two in USGA history. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Judy played her first Broadmoor Invitational Tournament at age 11 and won that competition in 1957, 1958 and 1960. She competed in 38 U.S. Golf Association events and joined the USGA Executive Committee in 1987. Judy has been inducted into the Colorado Golf and the Colorado Sports Halls of Fame. She served as a director of Bank One from 1982 to 1995 and operated Bell’s Deli as well as several other retail businesses in Colorado Springs. Judy has served as a Trustee of El Pomar Foundation since 1996.
Judy Bell
Trustee, El Pomar Foundation

Nechie Hall founded Vladimir Jones, Colorado’s third largest woman-owned business and one of the state’s oldest and largest strategic marketing, advertising and public relations firms. Nechie has served as the company’s President, Chief Executive Officer, and is currently Chairman of the Board. In 2003, her firm was honored by El Pomar Foundation as the first recipient of the Corporate Philanthropy Award.
Nechie has served the community in numerous ways including serving on almost 25 boards. Nechie was the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in 2014. She was the first woman to be recognized as the Chamber Business Citizen of the Year and in 2014 was named the Business Leader for the Arts recipient by COPPeR, (Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region). Nechie recently retired after 18 years as a Trustee of the Myron Stratton Foundation. She has served on the boards of CASA, Goodwill, Pioneers Museum, St. Francis Foundation, founding Board of the Sports Corporation, the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center Board for Bioethics and Humanities, to name a few. Additionally, she served in numerous leadership roles on committees to enhance and build the presence of the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado.
She is currently a member of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Board of Trustees. Nechie has served as a Trustee of El Pomar Foundation since 2015.
Nechie Hall
Trustee, El Pomar Foundation

Kathay Rennels is Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Rural-Urban Initiatives at the Colorado State University System. As a former county commissioner and state board representative, she has significant experience fostering public and private partnerships in regional and workforce development. Kathay is currently a member of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Council; she also works closely with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade on the Governors’ Blueprint and is the co-lead for the Food and Agriculture Industry Concentration
Kathay Rennels
Special Advisor to the Chancellor for Rural-Urban Initiatives, Colorado State University System

Laurie Stolen is currently the Behavioral Health Services Director for Larimer County. She has been with Larimer County for more than 23 years. She has been a returning guest lecturer at CSU, a member of several non-profit boards, published in professional journals and trained in organizational development. From 2010-2018, she was the Director of the Alternative Sentencing Department with Larimer County Criminal Justice Services. She also worked for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Jail Division, for 12 years prior to that. Laurie holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and her master’s degree from University of Northern Colorado. She has been extensively involved in contract administration, program development and re-entry initiatives and is an advocate for improving behavioral health across the region. In her free time, Laurie enjoys time with her family, playing golf and traveling.
Laurie Stolen
Behavioral Health Services Director, Larimer County

Jeannine Truswell has over 30 years’ experience in non-profit management. She has been the President & CEO of United Way of Weld County since 1986. Prior to this, Ms. Truswell was the Executive Director for Weld County Partners and owned and operated a private child care business for children 3 to 12 years old. She has a bachelor’s degree in both elementary education and special education. She has hundreds of hours of course work and training in business and non-profit management. Ms. Truswell leads a successful $4 million non-profit organization employing over 30 people. She’s responsible for overall supervision including resource development, resource investment, financial management, volunteer management, marketing and communications, program development and community building.
Ms. Truswell is an active volunteer and has served on several local, regional and statewide community boards and committees.
Jeannine Truswell
President and CEO, United Way of Weld County

A life-long Coloradan, Dave Young serves as the Colorado State Treasurer, assuming office in Jan. 2019. In that capacity, he chairs the Colorado Secure Savings Board, the CLIMBER Small Business Loan Fund, and the Public School Fund Investment Board, and he is a member of the Public Employees Retirement Association Board of Trustees. As Treasurer, Dave manages all of the State of Colorado fund cash flows, investments, debt, and unclaimed property. He is an active leader of the National Association of State Treasurers, and also serves on the Donor Alliance Foundation Board as its secretary/treasurer. He was previously a state representative for the Greeley area, and served as a member of the Joint Budget Committee. Prior to being elected to the legislature, Dave was a senior instructor for a learning technologies masters program at the University of Colorado Denver, and taught math, science, and technology in the Greeley Weld 6 School District before that. He has also worked in a variety of private sector technology positions throughout his career.
Dave earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Colorado State University in 1975 and his master’s degree in learning technologies from the University of Colorado Denver in 2000.
Dave Young
Colorado State Treasurer

Contact Erica:
719-577-7056
Erica Oakley-Courage
Associate Vice President of Grants, El Pomar Foundation

Contact Emma:
719-577-7071
Emma Mantooth
Program Director, El Pomar Foundation

Contact Coya:
719-577-7059
Coya Pair
Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation