Will Kropp, MPA, Executive Director
303-449-0177 x203, will@myparentingplace.org
Having worked in human services and nonprofit administration for over 15 years, Will came to Parenting Place in 2009. Previously, he was the Executive Director/CEO of CCRES, Inc., an organization supporting families with children on the autism spectrum. Will is active in the following organizations:
• Chair, Metro Denver Strategic Collaboration Initiative, Rose Community Foundation
• Board of Directors, Family Resource Center Association (FRCA)
• Advisory Council, Early Childhood Council of Boulder County (ECCBC)
Louise Haimowitz, LCSW, Director of Clinical & Educational Services
303-449-0177 x201, louise@myparentingplace.org
Louise oversees parent support groups, counseling services and parenting education. Prior to working with Parenting Place, Louise worked with families in a number of different settings, i.e. she counseled high risk prenatal and postpartum parents through the Mental Health Center’s Community Infant Program, served as the Clinical Director of the Women’s Recovery Center at Boulder Memorial Hospital, and is Certified Bradley Childbirth Educator. She has been a licensed psychotherapist since 1985.
Matthew J. Newman, Director of Operations
303-449-0177 x200, matt@myparentingplace.org
Matt’s responsibilities include maintaining Parenting Place’s finances, web presence, IT, building operations, and oversees all volunteer programs. Prior to joining Parenting Place, Matthew worked at the National Association of Community Health Centers in Washington, DC and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador. When not at work, Matt is either in the mountains or making music.
Cesilia Pereira, Director of Health & Basic Needs Programs
303-449-0177 x202, cesilia@myparentingplace.org
As a family advocate, Cesilia assists people with things such as the food pantry, donation closet, energy assistance, insurance assistance, and referrals to community resources and services. Celsilia has worked with families in Los Angeles Unified School District in California and Harris County Department of Education in Houston, Texas for 10 years. She recently moved to Colorado and is looking forward to exploring hiking trails and all of Colorado’s natural beauty.
Mahala Evans, Development Officer, Individual and Corporate Giving
303-449-0177 x206, mahala@myparentingplace.org
Mahala’s development work focuses on individual and corporate support for Parenting Place. She has over ten years fundraising for non-profits. When she isn’t working, Mahala loves to spend time with her family and to be silly with her two young daughters
Kimberly DeGraff, Director of Development – Foundations and Governments, Children’s Program Coordinator
303-449-0177 x207, kimberly@myparentingplace.org
Kimberly is the grant writer for Parenting Place. She has also been Parenting Place’s Children’s Program Coordinator since 2009. Kimberly has worked with children in many different capacities for the past 24 years. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys spending time with her family, biking, skiing, and yoga as well as reading and travel.
Maya Vigil, MNM, Latino Family Advocate
303-449-0177 x204, maya@myparentingplace.org
Maya facilitates the Latino Family Support groups in Boulder and Longmont. Maya has worked in the nonprofit field for the past 10 years with various nonprofits who empower Latinos. She is the mother of a five year old daughter and loves to teach Zumba.
Becky Aamot, MSW, Regional Director – Colorado Bright Beginnings Program
303-449-0177 x205, becky@myparentingplace.org
Becky is the director of the Colorado Bright Beginnings Program in the Boulder/Broomfield/Gilpin Counties region of the state. She started with the program as a volunteer over 13 years ago. She enjoys traveling with her family (she has two school-aged kiddos), and she loves to sing.
Rossy Rivera, Outreach Coordinator – Colorado Bright Beginnings Program
303-449-0177 x205, rossy@myparentingplace.org
Rossy works as Colorado Bright Beginnings Outreach Coordinator, connecting with the Hispanic community and expanding the reach of the Bright Beginnings program. For the last eight years, she has been facilitating court ordered programs at National Corrective Training Institute. When she is not at work, she enjoys all kinds of activities with her family, and getting together with her friend.
Mercy Manresa, Group Facilitator, Broomfield
303-818-4351, mercy@myparengtingplace.org
Mercy facilitates the Broomfield support group and is an Incredible Years Instructor. Prior to working for Parenting Place she volunteered with Bright Beginnings. Mercy has two boys, enjoys being active with her family and friends, and strives to learn and grow as a parent and as an individual.
Celeste Reyes, Program Director – Parents as Teachers
720-633-8028, celeste@myparentingplace.org
Celeste is the Director of the Parents as Teachers Program. Prior to joining Parenting Place, Celeste was an elementary school teacher. In her free time she enjoys anything outdoors and loves the mountains.
Carmen Ortiz, Parent Educator – Parents as Teachers
720-633-8028, carmen@myparentingplace.org
As a Parent Educator, Carmen partners with parents and brings developmentally appropriate activities into the home and aligns families with their goals. Prior to joining Parenting Place, Carmen was a supervisor with Latino Healthy Marriage. In her free time, Carmen loves to read, work on her garden, and walk.
Katie Frey, Parent Educator – Parents as Teachers
720-633-8028, Katie@myparentingplace.org
As a Parent Educator, Katie partners with parents and brings developmentally appropriate activities into the home and aligns families with their goals. Prior to joining Parenting Place, Katie was a preschool teacher in North Denver for 5 years. She loves to camp and enjoys music of any kind with her family.
Melanie Malaspina, MSW, Group Facilitator, Data Management
303-449-0177 x208, melanie@myparentingplace.org
Melanie joined the staff of Parenting Place in 2010. Her responsibilities include running parent support groups and managing all of the data and data analysis. Previous to working at Parenting Place, Melanie worked in a number of different children’s advocacy and research positions (including adolescent depression research and working as a social worker at a middle school). When not at work, Melanie enjoys spending time with her family and her baby daughter, dancing, quilting, and hiking.
Chelsea Mahan, AmeriCorps VISTA/ Volunteer Coordinator
303-449-0177 x210, chelsea@myparentingplace.org
Chelsea is an AmeriCorps Vista with Serve Colorado, placed with Parenting Place to work on developing the volunteer program while identifying potential community resources and helping to expand program reach. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in Asheville with a Bachelor’s in Spanish and BFA in Art, Chelsea spent a year doing AmeriCorps NCCC in the Southern Region, and afterwards interned at an NGO in Peru as Women’s Empowerment Program Manager. She also enjoys making pottery and jewelry, painting, reading and volunteering.
Kimberly Baker, Intern
303-449-0177, Kimberlyb@myparentingplace.org
Kimberly assists Louise in group facilitation and administrative tasks. Currently she is in school for a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. In her free, Kimberly likes photography, travelling, and hiking.
Michelle Koross, Intern
303-449-0177, michellekroross@gmail.com
Michelle assists with group facilitation, administrative tasks, and Colorado Bright Beginnings. She has a background in nutrition, and currently is in a Master of Social Work program. Michelle enjoys spending time with her three children and dog.
Sonya Hayes, Intern
303-449-0177, sonya@myparentingplace.org
Sonya works in the areas of marketing and administration. She recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and minor in Marketing. When she is not working she is at her other internship or spending time with her 3 kids and friends. She also enjoys scrapbooking and watching all sporting events.
