Southeast Regional Council

William J. Hybl is Chair Emeritus and charter member of the board of Trustees of El Pomar Foundation, after serving 30 years as Chairman and CEO. In 2008 Hybl was confirmed by the United States Senate as Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Public Diplomacy, a position he was appointed to by President George W. Bush. He was reappointed by President Barack Obama on June 2, 2011 and currently serves as Vice Chairman.

He serves as Chair Emeritus of the U.S. Olympic Endowment and is President Emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). He served twice as President, when he led the U.S. Olympic Team Delegations at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. In 1998, he again led the U.S. Team at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and, in 2000, at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2000-2002. He has also been engaged in a variety of public service activities. Hybl is Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (Senior).

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Hybl as U.S. Representative to the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations. He serves as vice chair for the Fund for American Studies. In addition, Hybl was Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) from 2003-2009 and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus. He was named Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show of Denver in 2003. He is Chairman of the Colorado State Fair Board of Authority.

Hybl is a graduate of Colorado College and earned his juris doctor at the University of Colorado School of Law. He was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1972 and was Special Counsel to President Ronald Reagan in 1981. He was married to Kathleen Horrigan for 56 years. They have two sons, B.J. and Kyle, and six grandchildren.

Paul O’Brien is a fourth-generation Pikes Peak Region native and an avid outdoor enthusiast.

Since 2022, Paul has served as a Project Leadership Consultant and contract employee for El Pomar Foundation, focusing on conservation and open space initiatives. His primary work supports the Security Open Space and Agriculture Resilience (SOAR) program, which seeks to conserve 80,000 acres around military installations in Colorado Springs. He also plays a key leadership role in establishing the Pikes Peak Sentinel Landscape, a federal designation designed to strengthen environmental resilience around Department of Defense assets through collaboration with five military installations and more than 50 local partners across the Pikes Peak region. 

Previously, Paul spent 22 years as the Colorado Director of a national service dog organization. In that role, he oversaw fund development and program management while leading several national initiatives, including a veteran service dog program and the creation of seven prison-based puppy-raising programs across the western United States. 

Earlier in his career, Paul worked for the United States Golf Association, helping develop a national $10 million grant-making program and a prestigious fellowship program. He is also a former El Pomar Foundation Fellow and has served on numerous national, state, and local nonprofit boards. 

Currently, Paul is the CEO of Summa Land and Cattle Company, President of the Cheyenne Mountain Heritage Center, and Manager of Water Rights for the 12-Mile Ranch. 

Melanie Bravo is the Vice President of Philanthropy at Caring for Colorado Foundation, where she leads the foundation’s grantmaking and nonprofit capacity building efforts in Pueblo and manages statewide initiatives directed to adolescent populations. Before joining the Foundation, Melanie spent 10 years in the Boys & Girls Club movement—first as the President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County and then as the Director of Organizational Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Early in her career, Melanie served as a Fellow and then Director of Programs at El Pomar Foundation. In this role, she worked on the Foundation’s regional grant making and leadership development programs. Melanie was born and raised in Pueblo, Colo., and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.

Mike Cafasso has served as President of Executive Office at St. Mary-Corwin since February 2018, and additionally in July of 2023 was named President of St. Thomas More Hospital, after serving as the Vice President of Operations since March 2011. Prior to joining St. Mary-Corwin, Mike served as Colorado President for the American Bank of Commerce. He also led Pueblo Bank and Trust as President and CEO with their expansion into several Colorado markets.

Mike is a strong supporter of the Pueblo community, having been named the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2018. As an active supporter of wider Colorado communities, Mike has served on Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Board, co-chaired Access Denver, Girl Scouts of Colorado, and the Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado boards. He currently serves as an elected member of the Board of Water Works of Pueblo and as a Colorado State Fair Commissioner.

Gina M. Cimino is President and Broker for Kip Hampden Properties. She is also President of Mt. Carmel of Colorado and Chair of the Board of Trustees for two nonprofits: Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, which serves Las Animas County, and Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, which serves El Paso County. Gina spent 18 years in the advertising industry and was later appointed Vice President of Graham Advertising. She has served various organizations, including The Fox West Theater Alliance, The National Charity League, Newborn Hope, Boys & Girls Club, Care and Share, National Cancer Society, St. Paul Catholic Church, Pauline Memorial Catholic School, and St. Mary’s High School. Gina is a Colorado native and a graduate of the University of Colorado, where she attained degrees in both Marketing and Business. She has three adult daughters and two grandsons.

Rhonda M. Epper, Ph.D., is President of Trinidad State College, based in Southern Colorado with campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa. She has spent her career serving all levels of the higher education sector – at the college level (rural and urban), system level, state level, as well as regional and national policy levels. Prior to Trinidad State, Dr. Epper served as Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Community College of Denver. She also served as Chief Academic and Student Affairs Officer at the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and in several roles at the Colorado Community College System Office, including Assistant Provost and Co-Director of Colorado Community Colleges Online. Dr. Epper also served at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO). She is recipient of the WCET (WICHE) award for lifetime achievement; was a Fellow with the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research, and a Presidential Fellow with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. Dr. Epper has served on numerous boards and advisory groups in higher education, and currently is a trustee for Mt. San Rafael Hospital and the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, both in Trinidad, Colorado.

Roger was elected Mayor for the City of Lamar, retaining the position for a decade. Roger had previously served as a City Councilman for 8 years. Currently he serves as Prowers County Commissioner for District 3. He is an active member on the many boards and committees that his elected position includes.

Roger grew up in Lamar, Colorado. As a young man he relocated to Holyoke, Colorado to open a branch of the business, an Automotive Maintenance Center, before returning to his hometown of Lamar to support and grow his family’s business. Roger is an ASE Certified Mechanic and Co-Owner of Stagner Inc. alongside his Father and Brother. Stagner Inc is an automotive sales and service center, which has been in operation for over 60 years and is one of the longest standing businesses in Prowers County.

Roger is married to Leslie, and together they have two grown children and six grandchildren. He enjoys being involved in multiple roles in his church and throughout the community. Previously, Roger was an instructor for recreational gymnastics for children with Leslie for over 10 years with the Lamar Recreation Department. He formerly coached youth football and is a Certified Rescue Scuba Diver for Southeastern Colorado. He also volunteers at the Colorado Welcome Center greeting travelers and tourists. In his free time, Roger enjoys vintage cars and riding motorcycles.

Stella Hodgkins is Senior Vice President and Elevating Leadership Development Program Officer for El Pomar Foundation. In this role, Stella directs the Elevating Leadership Development (ELD) program and serves as the senior staff member for the Pikes Peak and Southeast Regional Councils.

Stella currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Peak Vista Community Health Centers and as a board member of Rocky Mountain Public Media. She was recognized as a 2018 Builder Member of the Year by the Colorado Springs Housing & Building Association, 2019 Woman of Influence by the Colorado Springs Business Journal, 2022 El Paso County Public Health Champion, and is a graduate of Leadership Denver 2016 and Colorado Springs Leadership Institute 2018.

Stella earned a bachelor of fine arts from the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, and worked professionally in architecture, interior design, sustainability consulting, and corporate citizenship prior to joining the Foundation.

Gabe Trujillo joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2024 Fellowship Class. As a 2nd Year Fellow, Gabe serves on 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.

Lu Quiñones joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2025 Fellowship class. As a 1st Year Fellow, Lu serves on Awards for Excellence, Recruiting, and Western Legislative Academy. She also supports the Northwest and Southeast regional councils.

Lu grew up in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She graduated from Amherst College with a double major in Political Science and History, and an International Relations Certificate. At Amherst College, Lu worked as a Peer Career Advisor, assisting students’ career exploration and planning processes. This experience allowed her to advocate for the student body at Amherst College, increasing the accessibility of resources offered by the Loeb Center for Career Exploration. Her role as a Peer Career Advisor and participation in on-campus clubs allowed her to give back to her community. At Amherst, she developed multiple leadership roles in the Amherst Christian Fellowship, The Women’s Network, and Amherst College Koh-Ed. She also attended the Washington D.C. Government and Nonprofits Trek, increasing her passion for mission-driven work.

Lu has a strong passion for learning and academic research, which culminated in the completion of a Senior Honors Thesis in history—highlighting her deep interest in the discipline. In addition, her commitment to lifelong learning and dedication to serving others inspired her to pursue Portuguese as a third language through an immersive program at the Middlebury Portuguese Language School. During her free time, she enjoys playing the guitar and piano, singing opera, hiking, visiting museums, and running.