CRC MAIN: 303.623.1540 or 800.516.6284

Learn more about CRC’s new CEO April-Dawn Knudsen here!

Board of Directors

Leslie Baldwin (she/her/hers)

Board Chair

Grants & Database Manager, Boettcher Foundation

Aaron Miltenberger (he, him, his/they, them)

Board Treasurer

Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of the San Luis Valley

Lee Wheeler-Berliner (he/him/his)

Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council

Morgan Turner (she/her/hers)

Community Engagement Director, Colorado Center on Law and Policy

Christine Perigen-Fonner (she/her/hers)

Founder at The Perigen Project LLC & Roam Your Soul

Michelle Little (she/her/hers)

Tax Senior, The Anschutz Corporation

Louise Contino (she/her/hers)

Independent Consultant, LRC LLC

Staff

April-Dawn Knudsen (she/her/hers)

Chief Executive Officer and President

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Ms. April-Dawn Knudsen has lived and served across rural Colorado since 2008 and is proud to call Park County home. Believing in the transformative power of community and strategic vision, she has dedicated over a decade to strengthening nonprofits and building resilient, thriving communities.
Serving as an Executive Director for over ten years, Ms. Knudsen has been pivotal in driving community impact through strategic initiatives and effective leadership. She founded Knudsen Coaching & Consulting in 2012 to empower mission minded organizations and rural leaders with tailored solutions for greater sustainability and impact.

Ms. Knudsen’s approach is centered on fostering strong relationships, prioritizing equity, and collaboratively addressing complex challenges. With a Masters in Community Development, April-Dawn has a deep understanding of the unique needs of rural communities and a commitment to creating lasting change.

Beyond her professional roles, Ms. Knudsen is a fervent advocate for community service and civic engagement. She serves on the Colorado Habitat Government Relations Committee, where she champions policies that support affordable housing and sustainable community development. As a member of El Pomar’s Central Peaks Regional Council, she contributes to regional philanthropic initiatives that strengthen and uplift communities across central Colorado. Additionally, her role as Vice-Chair for the South Park Ambulance District underscores her dedication to supporting vital health services in her local community.

Alex McHenry (she/her/hers)

Director of Programs and Development

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Alex joined Community Resource Center (CRC) in 2020, bringing over twelve years of experience in education, leadership, and community engagement. As a leader, Alex stives to create teams that are transparent, community-driven and collaborative. A natural and authentic relationship builder, Alex has spent her career in the nonprofit sector connecting people and galvanizing groups to work together for community growth. As the Director of Programs, Alex provides strategic oversight to CRC’s core program areas including Grant Services, Rural Action Network, and Civic Engagement and Advocacy. Born and raised in Denver, Alex’s passion for community engagement has also been shaped by her time living in Kenya and Malaysia. Alex has a masters’ degree in Conservation Leadership, is a graduate of the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) and is passionate about working at a systems level to tackle complex social issues. In her free time Alex enjoys all outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

Marcy Mitchell (she/her)

Manager of Programs & Communications

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Marcy has lived in Southwest Colorado for over 20 years and has assisted numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations with marketing, web development, and administration. With her experience as a former Executive Director, grant writer, small business development advisor, and business owner, Marcy brings an array of experiences to help nonprofits impact their communities. She has served on several nonprofit boards and community organizations including the Community Foundation Serving SW Colorado, Early Childhood Council of Archuleta County and the CRC steering committee for Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days. Marcy joined CRC as Colorado Grants Guide Manager in 2024 and is excited to help nonprofits expand their grant funding and resources. Marcy and her husband have three grown children and one grandchild. In her free time, she loves hiking, skiing, climbing Colorado’s 14ers, and traveling.

Jennifer Allen

Rural Action Network® Program Coordinator

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Jennifer is the Co-Founder of Next Level Regen, a small health and wellness business in Grand Junction since 2018, and one of the Co-Founders of Bravestone Project, a non-profit that assists survivors of human trafficking and sexual traumas in finding hope, healing, and restoration. She moved to Grand Junction 12 years ago from North Carolina and loves Colorado! She enjoys hiking, planting and growing flowers, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Alexandra Cruz (she/her/ella)

Program Coordinator

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Alexandra (she/her/ella) started at CRC as a Lead Community Outreach Organizer for the Civic Engagement team, and later switched roles to Civic Engagement Assistant Program Manager and the Program Coordinator. She graduated from MSU Denver with a major in business administration and minor in Italian and has been involved with non-profit organizations since she was in high school. Due to this, she was able to experience the positive impact non-profits had in her family, future, and community. In 2009, she migrated with her family to the US from Guadalajara, Jalisco, and feels lucky she ended up in beautiful Colorado.

Alexandra enjoys sharing resources with the community and talking to community members. She’s excited to continue to work at CRC and its partner organizations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time being active, either taking a gym class (dance or yoga) or taking a walk with her husband and their dog Luna. She also loves hot springs, watching shows and movies, and traveling.

Monica DeWitt (she/her/hers)

Civic Engagement Specialist

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Monica brings over a decade of experience managing projects in the nonprofit and public education sectors. As Civic Engagement Program Manager, she believes civic engagement across Colorado has never been more important. She prioritizes data-driven decision making and cultivating meaningful partnerships to meet collective goals. She is returning to CRC after working on the Colorado Healthcare Corps pilot project where she recruited and coached AmeriCorps members to build capacity in healthcare.

Monica lives in Lafayette and enjoys reading and yoga. She is currently learning how to make sourdough bread and garden. She spends sunny weekends with her partner, daughter and dog hiking and camping in the mountains.

AmeriCorps VISTA Members

Ariel Chukwuma (she, her, hers)

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Ariel Chukwuma is an environmental justice advocate who focuses on sustainable practices and community empowerment. With a degree in Environmental Science and Inequality Studies from Duke University, Ariel has led initiatives addressing the intersection of environmental and social justice issues, particularly for BIPOC communities. She has experience in community engagement, research, and event coordination, all aimed at creating equitable and inclusive environmental solutions. Ariel is passionate about fostering sustainable change and supporting underrepresented voices in the fight against climate and socioeconomic challenges.

Avery Gloria Lourdes Saenz (she, her, hers)

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Avery (She/her/hers) grew up in Cordele, GA, a rural town where her parents settled after traveling as migrant crop workers. She enjoyed the slow country life, spending most of her childhood outside with their small farm animals. Since she was a child, Avery always dreamed of moving to the city. In 2015, she moved to Colorado to be closer to her family, specifically her Abuelita.
Avery completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Economics. Her passions and career aspirations have always been geared towards helping people and communities with limited resources. She is passionate about world travel, personal/emotional development, and writing. In her free time, Avery enjoys watching novelas with her Abuelita, taking her dogs to the park, and reading books.

Tanisha S. Medina (she, her, hers)

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Tanisha (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate with a B.S. In Applied Mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado. She brings a strong foundation in data collection, data cleaning and data analysis. She is eager to apply her skills as an intern and gain valuable experience.

Steve Williams (he, him, his)

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Interns

Brody Furline (he, him, his)

Civic Engagement and Advocacy Intern

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Brody Furline (He/Him/His) grew up in Nashville, TN and received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. As a person with deep ties to those in recovery, he is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work. He hopes to blend his capacity for navigating technical information and cultivating relationships in his work going forward. In his personal life, he enjoys exploring his creative identity both on canvas and through personal expression.