North Regional Council

Erik Estrada serves as Senior Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and resides in Boulder, Colorado. Mr. Estrada practices corporate and securities law with a focus on corporate governance, public company representation, public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He has extensive in-house counsel and senior leadership experience with Nasdaq-listed and Fortune 500 companies and in private law firm practice. Prior to law school, he served as a Program Officer for Boettcher Foundation and as a Fellow with El Pomar Foundation. Mr. Estrada serves or has served on numerous community, civic and state boards. He earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado Boulder, where he was named a Presidents Leadership Class (PLC) Scholar, and a Master of Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs, where he received the Outstanding Student Award. He earned a Juris Doctor from University of Denver College of Law, where he was named a Chancellor’s Scholar, and a Master of Laws from the Boston University School of Law, where he graduated with honors.

Mike Bond is the Chief Operating Officer of the Weld Trust, overseeing grantmaking activities and development at the organization. Mike has more than 30 years of banking experience in Greeley and has served on several local boards including the Weld Trust and United Way of Weld County.

Wendy Lea connects builders across regions to harness the spirit of innovation, driving ideas, activating talent, and unlocking capital to create thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems. As a civic leader and ecosystem builder, she connects world-class research institutions with the entrepreneurs, investors, and policy networks that transform breakthrough discoveries into thriving businesses.

As founder of TechHubNow!, Wendy catalyzes innovation and entrepreneurship through advanced technologies that deliver economic and national security impact. She drives momentum across multiple fronts in space, quantum, and AI. Through her board service with the Center for American Entrepreneurship, she helps shape federal policy to strengthen new-business growth across the country.

In Colorado, Wendy advances the state’s position as a leader in aerospace, quantum technology, and entrepreneurial resilience. As a board member at Elevate Quantum—funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hub program—she accelerates quantum technology commercialization and workforce development, positioning Colorado as a national quantum hub. As co-founder and board chair of Energize Colorado– a CDFI– she expands access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs across the state.

A leader-practitioner with over 30 years of experience advising Fortune 500 businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, Wendy was named one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce in 2024. She fosters a sense of belonging and builds the connections that enable ecosystems to flourish.

Debbie Pope brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as Executive Director of the Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA). As Boulder’s Family Resource Center, EFAA provides stabilizing services, innovative programs, and advocacy that strengthen families and help community members meet immediate needs while moving out of poverty.

Prior to joining EFAA, Pope served as CEO of the YWCA of Boulder County and as National Executive Vice President of Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where she led a diversified revenue strategy generating $172 million annually. Her career has focused on advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for women, girls, and families, including championing more than 15 legislative bills benefiting women and children across Colorado.

Earlier in her career, Debbie worked as a broadcast journalist for all three major network affiliates from 1994 to 2000, earning recognition for bringing attention to difficult community issues, including homelessness among women and children and unjust laws impacting families.

Pope has been honored with awards such as the Rotary Service Above Self and Zonta Woman of the Year. She is a mother of three children and enjoys painting, hiking Colorado’s landscapes, and cooking with her husband, Chris.

Adam Shake is the former President/CEO of the Estes Park Economic Development Corporation, a role he held since 2018. Adam served nearly 15 years in the U.S. Army, completing tours in Desert Storm, Desert Shield, CONUS, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia and Europe. Prior to his role at the EDC, he served as the Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Agency Program Manager. He has also founded environmental media and news websites including Simple Earth Media and Twilight Earth. Since his arrival in Estes Park, Adam has served on the boards of Visit Estes Park, Estes Valley Partners for Commerce, the Rocky Mountain Performing Arts Center and he founded the Veteran and First Responder Nonprofit, Flinch Forward in 2018.

Jeannine Truswell has over 40 years’ experience in non-profit management. She was the President & CEO of United Way of Weld County from 1986 to 2022. Prior, Ms. Truswell was the Executive Director for Weld County Partners and owned and operated a private child care business for children 3 – 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 nonprofit management. She was 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 including the Colorado Nonprofit Association, Colorado Children’s Campaign, and Colorado Victims Assistance Committee. She currently serves on the Aims Community College Board of Trustees.

Erica Oakley-Courage serves as the Vice President of Grants at El Pomar Foundation, overseeing the operations of the grants department.

Prior to El Pomar, Erica worked for more than six years as a development officer with the Palmer Land Conservancy and the Colorado Springs office of the American Heart Association. The Seattle-area native earned a Bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University in Journalism/Public Relations and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She spent six years facilitating media relations in professional sports before transitioning to the non-profit sector.

Erica was named to the Governor’s Commission on Community Service (Serve Colorado) in 2024 and is also on the Board of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPR). She was a member of the Institute for Leaders in Development’s Class of 2017, participated in the Community Leadership Program in 2021, and was a Fellow in the Mayor’s Civic Leaders Fellowship Class of 2023 and the CiviCO Colorado Governor’s Fellowship in 2025. She has served on multiple boards and volunteered for several organizations in the Pikes Peak Region including Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Girl Scouts of Colorado, and the Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation. In 2016, she was recognized as the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Colorado Outstanding Emerging Fundraiser, and in 2018 she was named a Rising Star by the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Gabe Trujillo joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2024 Fellowship Class. As a 2nd Year Fellow, Gabe serves as a Program Associate for American Council of Young Political leaders, Elevating Leadership Development, and Fellowship Recruiting. He also supports the North and Southeast Regions.

Gabe has lived in Colorado Springs since the age of one. He attended MSU Denver where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Community Interpretation. During his time at MSU Denver, Gabe served on student government for three years, holding roles such as Student Trustee and Student Representative to the Auraria Board of Directors. He joined several programs and committees such as the Urban Leadership Program, Honor’s Program, Hispanic Serving Institution Committee, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to name a few. Gabe is also the 2024 Boettcher Foundation Colorado Student Leader of the Year and was the student speaker at his graduation. In the future, Gabe plans to go to graduate school and eventually earn a Ph.D. in higher education leadership, policy, and research with a hope to increase access to postsecondary education.

In his free time, Gabe loves to spend time with his family and engage in hands-on activities and adventures such as cooking, game nights, hiking, and going on late-night drives.

Rebecca (Bec) Ainsworth joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2025 Fellowship class. As a 1st Year Fellow, Bec supports Elevating Leadership Development (ELD), Alumni Relations, and Communications. She also supports the North region.

Bec is originally from Chandler, AZ, but moved to Colorado Springs three years ago. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). There she obtained a B.S. in Business Management, complemented by minors in American Sign Language (ASL) and Health and Wellness Promotion. While at UCCS, she served as a student leader in the campus ministry, CRU, where she was responsible for fostering community and engaging new students.

Outside of college, Bec worked as a Marketing Assistant and Community Engagement Assistant. She also interned at Early Connections Learning Centers and Pikes Peak United Way, and participated in two mission trips to Estonia.

In her free time, Bec enjoys playing spikeball, crocheting, tending to her plants, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.