Team
Glenn Harper
Glenn Harper has been a community activist for over 20 years working in Denver’s Jefferson Park and Sun Valley neighborhoods. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Sun Valley Community Coalition, is a member of the Denver Housing Authority’s Community Advisory Committee and serves on the Policy Council of Denver Great Kids Head Start. He has a passion to support children and families in his community. Glenn founded the Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center in 2014.
FOUNDER
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Emma Welty
Raised in Colorado, Emma has always had a deep love for the outdoors and a passion for food. Her journey took her to Washington state, where she studied Biology and Global Development. After graduation, Emma accepted an AmeriCorps service position, managing an organic farm and educating communities on environmental and nutritional topics in the Hood Canal region.
Returning to Colorado, Emma pursued a Masters of the Environment at the University of Colorado Boulder. Specializing in Sustainable Food Systems, she partnered with Hunger Free Colorado to evaluate the Food Pantry Assistance Grant, aiming to advance food equity through local procurement. Emma’s career has since focused on transforming food systems. At Longmont Food Rescue, she promoted food equity and reduced food waste. Now, at Sun Valley, Emma has found the perfect place to merge her passions for sustainable food systems, health equity, and community development, working to create change and build strong communities through the power of food.
PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
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Sofia Chavez
Dr. Sofia Chavez is a Board-Certified Doctor of Natural Medicine and Master Herbalist, through the American Naturopathic Medical Association DNM. She received the Outstanding Woman’s Award for her Community Health Education classes in 2010 from Metro State University and Pillar of The Community Award from Denver Health in 2017. She is a member of The International Collaboration of Indigenous Healers, Curanderos, Sanadores y Shamans which originated in Tepotzlan Mexico – University of Morelos. Sofia is a Community Liaison for Denver Health Southwest Denver Pena Clinic supporting all patients, especially Spanish speaking. Her focus is Community Health, specifically addressing health disparities and access to care for underserved populations.
HEALTH & WELLNESS COORDINATOR
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Evan Carroll
Originally hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, Evan has made Colorado his home for over a decade, forging a vibrant path in the restaurant industry since his teenage years. With 16 years of hands-on experience, Evan has honed his skills as a Bar Manager at the prestigious Garden of the Gods Resort in Colorado Springs for 4 transformative years. Evan’s journey then took a purposeful turn as he became the Food Service and Events Manager for Shiloh House, a non-profit dedicated to supporting at-risk youth, where he made meaningful connections for over 6 years. Today, Evan proudly serves as the Kitchen Manager at Sun Valley Kitchen, where his passion for community, food, and service continues to flourish.
KITCHEN MANAGER
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Amabel Bernabe
As a Colorado native and recent graduate from the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and International Business, Amabel has gained valuable experience working with World Wide Events, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for children. Additionally, Amabel has mentored CU Denver students, helping them achieve academic success and develop emotional intelligence. Currently, Amabel is excited to be part of the Sun Valley Community and Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center, where she is focused on reaching out to local youth and fostering a supportive environment for their growth and development. Beyond her professional pursuits, Amabel is passionate about the outdoors and staying active. She enjoys attending various events, including sports and music, and has a deep interest in traveling, which allows her to explore diverse cultures and perspectives. This enthusiasm for community engagement and cultural understanding is something she brings to her role at Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center, where she applies her experiences to foster connections and support local youth.
YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR
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Board of Directors
Aaron Martinez
Aaron has nearly 20 years of experience managing nonprofit organizations and programs focused on housing, sustainability, renewable energy and efficiency, and youth development. He is currently the Vice President of Operations and Sustainability for Urban Land Conservancy, a Denver-based nonprofit leading the way in preserving and creating affordable and equitable access to real estate.
PRESIDENT
Collin Edwards
Collin Edwards lives in Denver, CO with his wife Theresa. Collin currently works as a multifamily housing underwriter for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Originally from the Kansas City Metro, Collin attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies and Geography and continued on to receive a Master’s in Urban Planning. Prior to HUD, he worked in donor development at an international non-profit, as a financial analyst at the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and as a leasing and permitting specialist in the engineering consulting sector. Collin and Theresa began their partnership with the Sun Valley Kitchen and Community Center in 2018, volunteering at the children’s cooking classes. They continue to volunteer at SVK when able.
VICE PRESIDENT
Ashton Cortright
Ashton is an active CPA in the state of Colorado with 10 years of experience in the Accounting and Auditing industry. She presently works in financial regulation inspecting the audits of SEC-registrants. Her background includes experience in both corporate and non-profit worlds. Ashton serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center.
TREASURER
Daisy Wiberg
Daisy has dedicated her career to community building. From trash dump communities in Managua, Nicaragua, to the beautifully diverse community in Sun Valley, Daisy believes wholeheartedly in the power of investing in people and coming alongside them to help build strong, vibrant communities.
As the former Director of Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center, Daisy has a deep passion for the sustainability, growth, and impact of the organization. She is committed to the kids, families, and partnerships that have shaped SVKCC into a true community center.
Daisy currently resides in San Luis Obispo, CA, where she is the Homelessness Response Manager for the City of San Luis Obispo.
SECRETARY
Dan Metzger
Dan Metzger is Chief Operating Officer at Brinkman Real Estate, a Colorado-based commercial real estate investment and development firm founded in 2005. As COO, Dan is responsible for operational execution, real estate portfolio strategy and performance, and contributing to corporate initiatives and overall company strategy. Dan has been a member of the commercial real estate industry since 1998, and has a varied background in real estate finance, development and asset management.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Nicole Munoz
Nicole is a Colorado native whose career is focused on fundraising, non-profit technology and non-profit management. She received her degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has managed fundraising campaigns for some of the largest employers in the USA, Canada and Panama. One of the most rewarding aspects of this work for Nicole is being able to see the impact of her fundraising efforts. In her free time she enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking and enjoying Colorado’s great outdoors. She also spends time volunteering for non-profits in the Denver area and is a member of LatinasGives!
MEMBER AT LARGE
Natalie Schock, Ph.D.
Natalie is a learning and development expert with over 15 years of experience, including a PhD in education from Johns Hopkins University and terms of service through Teach for America and AmeriCorps. Specialties include needs analysis, content development (especially for online learning), training facilitation and evaluation.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Kayla Ferguson
Kayla was born and raised in Denver, and is proud to call this city home. She graduated from Pepperdine University (California) in 2012 with a degree in film and a minor in graphic design. From there she went on to work in freelance film production around Los Angeles, and ultimately landed at WME talent agency where she worked as an assistant to a television agent. Kayla left Hollywood to travel the world (26 countries in 12 months!) in 2015, and came back to Denver after that trip. Since then, Kayla has joined the non-profit sector, currently serving as a Senior Program/Grant Manager at the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s, a national foundation with headquarters in Colorado. During her time at the Foundation, Kayla has helped develop and launch three different community programs, most notably the Foundations grant programs that make both international and domestic investments in building Healthy Parkinson’s communities.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Carlos Maestas
Carlos was hired by the Sun Valley Kitchen in 2019 to help run the Sun Valley Kitchen restaurant. During this time, Carlos developed a strong relationship with Glenn and the Sun Valley community. Carlos worked at the Kitchen until the pandemic and volunteered his time thereafter. As many people did during this time, Carlos and his family faced extreme financial strain. With no money and facing eviction, Carlos decided to take a chance and founded Litto’s Fencing. With no tools and no experience, Carlos created a fence company by himself, becoming an entrepreneur. Currently, Littos Fencing has 4 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. Carlos believes in hard work and investing in others. Carlos aspires to have to have the best fencing company in Colorado.
MEMBER AT LARGE
Pax Moultrie
Pax Moultrie is a Denver-based attorney with over 15 years’ experience. She has previously served on the board of Colorado’s Office of Child Protection Ombudsman, the Governor’s Executive Clemency Advisory Board, and the Center for Work, Education and Employment (CWEE).
MEMBER AT LARGE
Courtney Meihls
Courtney Meihls is a Denver-based strategic marketing and communications professional with more than 15 years’ experience in marketing, communications, public relations, brand management, graphic design, and crisis communications. Courtney is committed to working for good and building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. She is currently the director of communications and public information at Denver’s Department of Finance.
MEMBER AT LARGE