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Staff and Board

ADMINISTRATION
Karmen Carter, Executive Director
Karmen brings with her a deeply-held passion for RAAP's mission and over 25 years of experience in building strong teams, fostering strong relationships and providing sound fiscal management.  Karmen recently served as Executive Director of Judi's House, Director of Programs for the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center and, most notably, Executive Director of RAAP. 

Sara Ingram, Executive Manager
Sara is a native of Iowa and has a B.A. degree, with Honors, from the University of Iowa. She also has a diploma in writing children’s literature and is a graduate of the Denver Police Department Citizens Academy.  Sara has been with RAAP since 1999.  “I knew I was fortunate to land at RAAP,” Sara says. “Not only was it a great fit for contributing my years of previous professional knowledge and experience, but also a solid fit for my interest in social justice. I know what we do at RAAP makes a difference every single day in the lives of those who seek our services. To be able to interact with deeply committed colleagues, and witness the courage of survivors, is profoundly motivating.”

Away from work, Sara spends time with her family and pets, is an avid reader and writes daily. While residing in Iowa, she spent several years as a volunteer teaching PE to elementary school children and coaching girls’ softball and basketball teams – experiences she states were nourishing, memorable, and foundational in her desire to make a difference in the lives she touches.  “Regarding my position at RAAP,” Sara reflects, “I realize that all my significant life experiences have been valuable for doing this very important work. From single parenting for years, to educating on sexual harassment in work environments, and even to coaching – which requires diplomacy and motivational skills – it all has contributed to the management responsibilities of my position. Empathy and compassion for others are essential. And providing chocolate helps, too.”

Betty (Vita) Casias, Bilingual Administrative Assistant
Betty's position at RAAP is to work with our clients. Betty is the first point of contact our clients have and she creates a warm and welcoming environment for them. Betty is the glue that holds RAAP together as she works closely with both the staff and clients ensuring that everyone's needs are met. Betty believes that working at RAAP is its own reward. Betty appreciates the quote, “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” When Betty's not at work, she enjoys spending time with family and riding her Harley!

Tara Roesener, Director of Development
Tara joined the RAAP team in August and is thrilled to be on-board! She brings more than thirteen years of non profit experience to her work here at RAAP and was most recently Director of Fundraising and Communications for the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center. Tara has also worked for the Colorado AIDS Project where she was responsible for producing and managing AIDS Walk Colorado and AIDS Run Colorado. She has four dogs – Griffon, Gizmo, Mei Mei and Sprout – and admits to dressing them up for the Holidays. To learn more about how you can make a positive impact on our community and eliminate sexual violence through a financial or in-kind contribution, please contact Tara!

VICTIM SERVICES

Jacquelyn Aamodt, LSCW, Director of Client Services
Jacquie comes to RAAP with over 15 years of experience in the Mental Health and Human Services field.  Originally from NYC, she received her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University.  Much of her career has been spent working in urban settings and/or with children and families from the inner-city who are either experiencing a recent crisis or have a history of trauma.  Her experience includes 7 years at the Visiting Nurse Service of NY, Community Mental Health Services in Bronx, NY.  She started there as a social work intern, and then eventually became the Program Coordinator for the Home Based Crisis Intervention and Family Support Programs.   Following that experience she worked for 4 years at Green Chimneys Children’s Services in Brewster, NY as the Assistant Director of Social Service for the Residential Treatment Center.  Upon leaving that position she spent some time training and working in the filed of health and fitness as a Personal Trainer and Health Counselor.  In 2007 Jacquie re-located to Denver, CO, where she worked for 4 years as the Director of Residential Programs at Denver Children’s Home.  It was through this experience that she had the opportunity to receive intensive training in the Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), and had the opportunity to learn and implement specific trauma-focused interventions based on brain development.

At RAAP, Jacquie oversee client services, which includes individual and group therapy, the 24-hotline, and case-management and advocacy services.  Her philosophy in working with survivors of sexual assault is strengths-based, client-centered, trauma-informed and one that considers the whole person.   She is inspired by the strength, resiliency and beauty of the human spirit and believes it is important to “trust the wisdom of the heart”.  When not at RAAP, Jacquie enjoys outdoor activities, cooking and reading as well as spending time with friends and family.

Meghann McCluskey, L.S.W., South East Office Therapist
Meghann brings to RAAP a combination of direct service, client advocacy, and grassroots activist experience in the field of sexual violence prevention. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a B.A. in English and Women's Studies, she worked for a nonprofit organization in Portland, Maine that specialized in preventing sexual violence by promoting the healthy development of boys and young men. Meghann later received her M.S.W. from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City where she provided trauma-focused individual, family, and group therapy to women and children living in an urban domestic violence shelter. Meghann also has previous experience as a licensed therapist in an outpatient mental health setting where she worked one-on-one with both adult survivors of adult sexual assault and adult survivors of childhood sexual assault. At RAAP, Meghann provides outpatient therapy at the South East office, completes new client assessments, and facilitates a variety of groups. When she's not a work, Meghann enjoys hiking, cooking, and practicing yoga.

Erin Fleischer, LCSW, North Office Therapist
Erin received a BA in Psychology from Bucknell University and her Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She also spent time at the University of Stockholm in Sweden where she studied women’s policy issues.  At RAAP, Erin provides outpatient therapy at the North Denver office, completes new client assessments, and facilitates the Open Support Group at the Denver office. Erin has worked in community mental health centers, residential facilities for struggling adolescents, and eating disorder treatment centers. When not at work, Erin is usually on her snowboard in the winter or her bike in the summer.

Herminia Martinez, Bilingual Case Manager
Herminia join RAAP in Feb. 2008.  Before moving to Colorado in 2007, Herminia worked in various places that gave her the opportunity to advocate for young children and their families against child sexual abuse and testified as a witness in civil and criminal cases.  Herminia earned a Mental Health degree, in McLennan College in Waco, Texas.  As the bilingual Case Manager, at RAAP, she works with Spanish-speaking clients and agencies as a priority.  Herminia meets survivors of sexual assault at the hospital, police departments and court appointments to provide advocacy, emotional support, community resources, and to inform them of RAAP services.  One of the many things Herminia loves about working at RAAP is the opportunity to outreach and build collaborations with other agencies. Herminia is the primary contact for RAAP’s 24 hour “Linea de Crisis” hotline.  Herminia creates and maintain referral guide for “La Linea de Crisis” hotline, provides crisis intervention and referrals. When not at work, Herminia enjoys spending valuable time with her family, pets, traveling to Texas, and volunteering at her local Church.  I love Colorado weather!

Mariestela Smith, Bilingual Multicultural Therapist
Coming Soon ...

Melissa Murphy, Case Manager
I recently packed up my car and moved from Chicago (go white sox!!) to Denver, with my pet bunny Tater Tot in tow.  I graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where I studied English and Gender & Women’s Studies.  After college I worked for Planned Parenthood for a few years as a sexual health educator and later the health center manager.  Most recently I worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence at a small nonprofit in Chicago.  I’m very passionate about providing advocacy services to victims of trauma and helping to empower them to make the best decisions for themselves.

When I’m not working I am out and about exploring my new city.  I love to be outside running, hiking, or riding my bike.  I’m very excited to check out the local bands around Denver & catch some live music.

PREVENTION & EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 
 
John Nelson, Prevention & Education Director
John Nelson happily comes to RAAP with over 10 years of experience working in the Prevention and Education world. He graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BA in Communications and Writing with an emphasis on Public Relations. His professional career has included working directly for 4 different non-profit organizations and building healthy collaborative relationships with countless organizations and schools. 

John arrives at RAAP fresh from over five years of experience at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains where he managed multiple programs within the Community Education Department.  John’s previous positions each had a strong facilitation component and allowed him teach a diverse community of learners. John has had the most experience working with high-school and middle-school aged youth but he also had worked with many adult learners throughout his career, thus far. 

John has been a resource to both male and female sexual violence survivors by helping them to make police reports, connecting them to services and organizations such as RAAP and facilitating presentations around sexual violence prevention. He has been interested in joining the RAAP team for some time and is over the moon about being named the new Director of Prevention and Education.

CANVASS DEPARTMENT
Steve Pultz, Canvass Director
Okay, I’m not a fan of writing my own bio, so I’ve supplied you with a list of fun bio facts!  I was born and raised in Maryland.  Graduated from Towson University (outside of Baltimore) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications.  I am the oldest of 3 siblings younger brother, baby sister.  I am an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker (GA-ME, March-October 2002) and I moved to CO in May, 2004.  I started canvassing with Clean Water Action in May, 2005 and became a canvass director in March, 2007.  I started working at RAAP November, 2009 and I'm an avid Disc Golfer and a burgeoning banjo player.

                          Canvass Team                                              Interns

Canvassing Director
Steve Pultz

Office Manager
Sarah Copp

Trainer
Sara Holloway

Field Managers
Drew Davidge
Sheva Pekar
Morgan Howell
Alana Kilgore
Canvasser
Paolo Solarzano
Karissa Cialelli
Nicole Wirth
Tim Underwood
Joseph Gibson
Heather Osborne
ElizaBeth Whittington

Trainees
Colleen Potocki
Katie Emmerling
Counseling Interns
(click name for more information) 
Laura Berman
Crystallin Dillon
Genesa Falcao
Amanda Jamieson
Jamie Mahoney
Abigail Wolfe

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers
Tom Ventura, Board Chair
Roger Schmitz, Treasurer
Kim Irby
Members
Jason Anderson
Dr. Lavita Nadkarni
Katie Walsh
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