Congratulations to the 27 graduates of The Weld Trust’s Executive Leadership Lab.
Over the past nine months, executive directors and senior leaders from nonprofits across Weld County designed and led projects that strengthened their organizations’ capacity while growing their own leadership skills.
Each month participants met with the facilitator Chalice Springfield of Unstoppable Curiosity to explore topics such as integrity and extreme ownership, above and below the line thinking, limiting fears and beliefs, self-awareness, and more. Participants were also paired with accountability partners and met monthly for coaching sessions to support one another and sharpen the skills they developed throughout the program.
The program’s capstone project gave participants the opportunity to immediately apply what they were learning in real time. At the conclusion of the program, each leader delivered a five-minute presentation highlighting their project, lessons learned, challenges faced, and the overall impact on both their leadership growth and organizational capacity.
Participants also built strong connections and learned from one another in a highly collaborative environment.
The next session will be the Emerging Leaders Lab, a nine-month leadership accelerator designed for rising leaders in nonprofit organizations. The deadline to apply is July 3. For more information or to apply, click here.
2025-2026 Executive Leadership Lab Graduates:
Allison Jones-Lockwood, SAVA
Becca Vaclavik, Greeley Creative Arts District
Celeste Ewert, Envision
Dan Ordaz, Jobs of Hope
Dave Dixon, Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
Diane Heldt, A Woman’s Place
Dr. Jessica Fiedler, Almost Home, Inc.
Hillary Rudisill, Hispanic Women of Weld County
Joe Sarr, Catholic Charities
Josh Fulenwider, High Plains Housing District
Julie Hill, The Success Foundation
Kelly Jackson, Aims Foundation
Kim Collins, North Range Behavioral Health
Kim Swaney, Happiness Through Horses
Kristi Briles, Respite Care, Inc.
Laurie Berdahl, Youth Empowerment Group
Lisa Drake, Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy
Maria Miller, Community Grief Center
Melissa Jensen, CAHEC
Michelle Kempema, Colorado Model Railroad Museum
Miranda Ochoa, The Greeley Dream Team
Monique Sprinkle, Schaefer Enterprises, Inc.
Nate Broeckert, Coal Creek Meals on Wheels
Niamh Mercer, HPLD Friends & Foundation
Robin Blakely, 60 Plus Ride
Tacy Mead, Project Self-Sufficiency of Northern Colorado
Wendy Sosa, Colorado Dance Collective