Board of Directors
The following individuals are knowledgeable, caring, dedicated family members and professionals in our community. Board members continually strive to ensure quality services for individuals with developmental disabilities. These are the esteemed volunteer directors of the DDRC Board.
C. David Pemberton, II, President
"I see my role as providing direction to the Community Centered Board in helping to gain understanding of how to get the most services from the funding dollars that we receive. And, how to utilize those services to provide the best we can for the consumers. In order to do this, I am required to gain understanding of the organization by learning about the many programs we administer. Being a director is satisfying to me especially when employees are recognized for the good work they do, advancements and joy they get from their work. It is wonderful when consumers show me they are happy with their program and the individual services they receive from staff. I have seen many occasions where strong bonds of friendship have developed between consumers and employees."
2327 S. Urban Court
Lakewood, CO 80228-4755
303.980.9751
e-mail: davpem@comcast.net
· Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
· Appointed by and Representing Jefferson County Commissioners
· Parent
· Chair — Executive Committee
· Past Chair of the Family Support Council
Neal Berlin, Vice President
"I bring to the Board a perspective of having worked with government and nonprofits with a particular emphasis on personnel matters and finance. It is clear that my role in this world is to see what I can do to improve the lives and experiences of people with developmental disabilities. Combining that with the experiences and knowledge I have makes that possible. It is great working with an organization that has committed staff. It is evident that it is more than just a job for them."
5901 W. Lehigh Avenue – 3 Windsong
Denver, CO 80235-2977
303.988.5769
e-mail: myneber@msn.com
· Community Representative
· Parent
Joanne Elliott, M.A., Secretary
"My involvement with the Board began with serving on the Family Support Council. This experience allowed me to see the severe difficulties facing DD families emotionally, physically and financially. Parental involvement is very important because it is one way to learn. I want to help other parents who are looking for programs and funding for their family member with DD. Being part of the DDRC Board of Directors has helped me to understand the importance of Community Centered Boards and their goal of helping the DD population. It has been very enriching."
6396 S. Pierce Court
Littleton, CO 80123-3600
303.973.9466
· Homemaker and Parent
· Adult Vocational Services Representative
· Chair — Nominating Committee
· Past Chair of the Family Support Council
Jack Stunkard, Treasurer
"My involvement on the Board came one year after my son got excluded from the George Hook School on 38th Avenue. The Fire Department determined that my son could not continue to attend because he was in a wheelchair and the only school for kids with developmental disabilities was not accessible. It perked my interest and I became a Board member. I always like our budget meetings because it seems like there are concerns every year, yet DDRC comes out well. The fact that staff are so dedicated and knowledgeable I think has made it a completely enjoyable relationship. They have made a big difference in my son's life."
5830 Taft Court
Arvada, CO 80004-4235
303.467.1445
· Retired Adolph Coors Company Executive
· Community Representative
· Parent
· Chair — Finance/Personnel Committee
Jean Armour, B.S.N., L.P.C.
"I see my role as being in an oversight position to ensure quality of services and stability of the agency. More specifically for myself, I have the responsibility of overseeing the residential programs and services as chairperson of that particular committee. My role there is simply to guide committee process and work towards ensuring that we take advantage of all possible opportunities for clients. And, that we do it in a cost and service effective way while maintaining a level that meets the need. I also feel some commitment to the Board to ensure that services remain for other people because my own family has benefited for some time. My son was two years old when we first enrolled him in DDRC services and he is now forty-one. I am very grateful that we have been able to benefit from those services."
8070 D Holland Court
Arvada, CO 80005-2280
303.589.8493
· Owner, Armour Consulting, Inc
· Brain Chemistry Expert
· Parent
· Quality Living Options (QLO) Representative
· Chair — QLO, Recreation, Supported Living Services Committee
Jan Beckett, Denver Federal Center
"I love my role as consumer representative. I see a lot of my fellow consumers at activities and we talk about our needs. I am the treasurer and past president of People First in Jefferson County. I love to travel and went to a self-advocacy conference in Washington D.C. where I met Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Ken Salazar."
Contact David Pemberton to forward information
· Bureau of Reclamation
· Consumer Representative
· Past President of People First
Pat Bolton, Director of Child Care Innovations
"My work for several years has been involvement in early childhood and more specifically in advocacy and improving the quality, availability and access of services. In particular for children birth through age eight. When it comes to children with special care needs, both through my work at Red Rocks and even before that, I have worked to ensure that all children have access to the highest level of services. We have increased the ability of childcare facilities to effectively respond to special care needs. Through my work with DDRC and the Early Childhood Council, we have been able to engage community partners to address this issue. We are very excited about the partnership we have with DDRC and the opportunity we both have to learn about each other. My dream is that some day we won't have to advocate specifically for kids with developmental disabilities, but that all children will be able to access high quality services that meet their needs."
4725 W. Quincy Avenue #208
Denver, CO 80236
303.794.4543
· Red Rocks Community College
· Community Representative
Dan Fishbein, Ph.D., Corporate Business Director
"I am the representative from Jefferson Center for Mental Health (JCMH) and have direct involvement in making sure our organizations are working together and supporting each other. Board members are advocates and community leaders for the cause of developmental disabilities. We also exercise governance and fiduciary responsibilities for DDRC activities. One of the neat and unique things about the DDRC Board is that it is comprised of a broad cross section of the community, everything from consumers to community partners to business leaders and family members. The strength of a board and organization is the extent to which it reaches out and touches the community at large. JCMH and DDRC have had a longstanding and very positive relationship in which each organization promotes and supports the other."
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
70 Executive Center
4851 Independence Street
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-6715
303.432.5149
e-mail: danielf@jcmh.org
· Representing Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Corinne Gray, Director of Educational Advocacy
"Our biggest responsibility is making sure that parents and families have access to the information, resources and support that they need to be involved with their family member throughout their life. We are responsible for people having access in order to be good parents and supporters of the individual with disabilities. I am in a new role now with an 18 year old. I always felt responsible as a young parent to educate young families for the journey I know they have ahead of them. I am proud to represent an agency that has a good reputation and plays a very powerful role in people's lives."
6054 Terry Lane
Golden, CO 80403-2649
303.232.1338 ext.210
· Arc of JC
· Supported Living Services Representative
· Chair - Family Support Council
· Parent
· Former ARC Board President
Susan Hartley, Qwest Communications
"First, as a parent of a young child with severe developmental disabilities, parents want to learn when and how to get services. Over the years, my family has received so much help from the staff at Margaret Walters School and the Jefferson County Community Center, now DDRC. I felt more compelled to get involved not only to give back, but to get more educated and, hopefully, to share with others. As a member of the Board, what I have learned is incredible in terms of the structure to provide services, especially now that my son is an adult. I can understand the frustrations of families having to decide where and how to get help for their child with special needs. Every single issue is so complicated, but you don't know that or have appreciation for it until you've looked at the whole picture as Board members. Some decisions we've made have been difficult when dealing with the realities of funding, care providers and ensuring safety and consistent monitoring to meet all obligations to our clients, each other as parents and the community at large. We really do have to be committed to understanding the system. The Board is blessed to have leadership with a passionate commitment to improving services."
4015 Eaton Street
Wheat Ridge, CO 80212-7220
303.467.3581
Email: TS_hartley@msn.com
· Senior Director of Sales Mid Markets
· Services at Large Representative
· Parent
Joni Krickbaum, YMCA
(photo and interview coming soon)
6475 Deframe Way
Arvada, CO 80004-2064
303.423.1093
· Active Older Adult Coordinator
· Parent
· Family Support Services Representative
Carolyn Kwerneland, R.N., B.S.N.
"As an important member of the Board of Directors, my health experience and skills have been utilized numerous times. I represent the Jefferson County Department of Health who works cooperatively with DDRC through the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs. What I have gained from being a member of the Board is a vastly increased knowledge about the legislative process and how it affects the consumers of DDRC as well as the administration of programs."
6029 W. Roxbury Place
Littleton, CO 80128-4639
303.681.1513
· Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs
· Representing Jefferson County Department of Health & Environment
Dick Markley, Vice President
"I became involved on the Board when my son was seven years old in order to find ways to improve programs and facilities for him as well as others with similar needs. Although my son has passed away, my interest remains in representing a parent's perspective in improving programs and especially finding ways to serve more people from the waiting list. It is important that the agency is strong and viable so that families know there is an organization capable of rising to the task as DDRC constantly faces regulatory and systemic changes. It is vital that consumers be insulated from negative effects of some of those changes and that they continue to receive services that support their dreams and aspirations. I believe the Board of Directors has been instrumental in seeing that DDRC has financial stability, but especially has staff and senior executives who provide strength of character and ability."
5460 Windsong Court
Morrison, CO 80465-2177
303.980.6732
e-mail: dick@themarkleys.net
· Owner, CD3 Equipment Company
· Community Representative
· Parent
· Governor Appointed Member of the State Medical Services Board
· Former ARC Board President
· Past President of Colorado Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
· Chair — Adult Vocational Services Committee
· Chair — Facilities Committee
Sue McElroy, Homemaker and Parent
"My involvement with the Board is two fold. First, and for purely selfish reasons, as a parent wanting to become involved in the system and understand what is available for my family and child. Second, feeling like I want to pay back an organization that has been invaluable to my family. We would have sunk without DDRC and I am proud of the growth and success as DDRC continues to do great things. I like representing adolescent services because my daughter is still young and I am learning about many other programs. It is so impressive to me. You don't think about this until it's in your own backyard. I'm still on a learning curve and guess I will be for a long time. It is exciting. We have a good working relationship and it is very approachable both ways."
8500 W. Belmar Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226
303.763.9309
· Infant & Adolescent Services Representative
Suzanne Stratman, FirstBank of South Jeffco
(photo and interview coming soon)
FirstBank of South Jeffco
3500 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80235
303.763.2601
e-mail: suzanne.stratman@efirstbank.com
· Senior Vice President
· Public/Community Representative
Kent Willis, Esq.
"We raised our daughter with Down Syndrome the same as all our other children. She has always been a part of everything we do. We tried to teach her that she can do whatever she wants and that we would help her along the way. She is currently attending college in New Mexico and lives independently in the campus dorm. I have enjoyed being part of DDRC and the Board. DDRC has always worked hard to make a difference for children and adults with developmental disabilities. I have found that staff genuinely cares about the clients we serve. I am amazed by the longevity of the staff at the middle management level. These are people who have worked their way up through the organization because they like what they are doing and who they are serving. Senior staff are always looking at what is ‘over the horizon' and issues that could really affect us."
706A Meadow Drive
Frisco, CO 80443-1101
970.668.3712
e-mail: calwil@colorado.net
· Willis & Associates, P.C.
· Community Representative
· Chair — Resource Coordination, Children's, Early Intervention Committee
· Parent
· Frisco Town Council Member
· PEAK Parent Center Board
