Southeast Region
Counties: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo
Cities: La Junta, Lamar, Pueblo, Trinidad, Walsenburg
The Southeast Council supports quality afterschool programs to provide literacy, numeracy, and enrichment based opportunities to at-risk youth. The Council recently funded an afterschool program through Project HOPE in Prowers County, and the Rocky Ford afterschool program in Otero County.
The HOPE Center provides healthy active living classes, opportunities for students to restore donated bikes, and a safe and fun place for an average of 150 youth per day, with almost 50 of those students electing to stay until 8:00p.m. In an effort to expand beyond an afterschool tutoring program to a center serving the entire community, the HOPE Center provides adult ESL classes, hosts a youth leadership program, offers a diabetes class facilitated by High Plains Community Health Center for Spanish speaking families, and teaches a Fit Family Challenge class.
The success of the HOPE Center is illustrated by the inspiring anecdotes told by students. One youth captures the true essence of what this place means: “The HOPE Center is the best. It helps me with my homework. I get to be with my friends and spend time with them. The people who work here care about our future. Trust me, these people really, and I mean really, care about us.”
Meet Our Regional Council Members
William J. Hybl is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of El Pomar Foundation. Hybl has also been engaged in a variety of public service activities. He is Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (Senior). 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 1, 2011.
In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Hybl as U.S. Representative to the 56th General Assembly of the United Nations. In addition, Hybl was Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) from 2003-2009 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Chairman. He is President Emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee, having served as President during four Olympic Games. He was named Citizen of the West by the National Western Stock Show of Denver in 2003. William 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 is married to Kathleen Horrigan and they have two sons, B.J and Kyle, and six grandchildren.
William J. Hybl
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, El Pomar Foundation
Gina M. Cimino is President and Broker of Kip Hampden Properties. She also serves as President and Treasurer of the Board for the non-profit, Mt. Carmel of Colorado which serves Las Animas County and will soon be serving El Paso County.
Gina has a business and marketing background. She spent eighteen years in the advertising industry as a media buyer, account executive and was later appointed Vice President of Graham Advertising. Gina later attained her Real Estate License and became active in commercial development and dealing with business properties held by Kip Hampden.
Being part of a philanthropic family has always inspired Gina to give back to her community. She has participated and volunteered in various activities including those by the National Charity League, Newborn Hope, Boys and Girls Club, Care and Share, National Cancer Society, and a multitude of fundraising and support activities for St. Paul Catholic Church, Pauline Memorial Catholic School and St. Mary’s High School.
Gina is a Colorado native who attended Cheyenne Mountain High School and is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.
She has three daughters, Hillary, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University and twins, Angela and Alexandra, who are attending college in Denver.
Gina Cimino
President Mt. Carmel Health, Wellness and Community Center
Angela Giron was raised in Pueblo and is a graduate of what is now CSU-Pueblo. Angela spent 27 years working with Girls Incorporated and Boys & Girls Clubs of Pueblo County, growing their annual budget from $50,000 to $1.5 million and growing their program from serving 200 kids to over 3,000. For nearly three years, Angela worked throughout the southeastern region for then U.S. Senator Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, visiting many Colorado communities and building relationships with community leaders. Angela served in the Colorado State Senate from 2010-2013. She is married to Pueblo City Councilman, Steve Nawrocki, and has one daughter, Melanie Bravo
Angela Giron
Community Leader
Rachel Patrick helps existing and new businesses grow and prosper in southeast Colorado by providing free and confidential consulting and no- or low-cost training programs. She received her master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix with a minor in marketing. In addition, she is a Penrose Non-Profit Institute Southeast Regional Council Member, Fountain Creek Foundation board member, President of the La Junta Rotary, Rotary Assistant District Governor Area 7,and past President of the La Junta Chamber of Commerce.
Rachel Patrick
Small Business Development Director
Rod Slyhoff is president and CEO of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and currently resides in Pueblo. Before becoming president and CEO in 1994, he held the positions of Vice President of Membership, Small Business Development Membership Director, and account representative. Rod has also served as president of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives.
Rod Slyhoff
President and CEO, Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce
Dennis Maes is the former Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial District. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was director of the Pueblo County Legal Services and a Deputy State Public Defender. He was a past member of the Pueblo Regional Planning Commission and the board of directors for Eastside Child Care Center. He is currently on the board of Mental Health America of Colorado. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Colorado State College and his law degree from the University of Colorado. He currently resides in Pueblo with his wife, Donna.
The Honorable Dennis Maes
Former Chief Judge, 10th Judicial District
Senior Staff, Southwest Region
Contact Peter:
719-577-7080
pmaiurro@elpomar.org
Peter Maiurro
Vice President, El Pomar Foundation
Ann Fenley joined El Pomar Foundation as a member of the 2015 Fellowship class. As a second year Fellow, Ann works on the Fellowship Recruitment team, with the Air Force Academy Foundation, the Ackerman and Hambrick funds, and New Fellow Orientation, as well as working in the Southeast and High Country regions.
Contact Ann:
719-577-7057
afenley@elpomar.org
Ann Fenley
Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation
apearson@elpomar.org
Abby Pearson
Program Associate, El Pomar Foundation