CDFA Board Members

Lloyd Lewis is CEO of arc Thrift Stores of Colorado, where during his 21-year tenure he has generated nearly $250 million for disability advocacy and employment. arc Thrift is one of Colorado’s largest disability employers. Lloyd also chairs the boards of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Atlantis Community Housing Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Human Services, and serves as Treasurer of The Arc of the U.S. Foundation and Inclusion International. A University of Chicago Booth School of Business distinguished alumnus, Lloyd has received the International Civitan World Citizenship Award and has been recognized in the Congressional Record for his work. He is the proud father of a 23-year-old son with Down syndrome.

Jim Goddard has more than 22 years of experience as a nonprofit CEO leading health, housing, and disability-related organizations. He has served as President/CEO of Senior Housing Options, 9Health Fair, and the Rocky Mountain Arthritis Foundation, and as Interim Executive Director of Atlantis Community Housing Foundation and the Colorado Wildlife Federation. His grantmaking experience includes reviewing grants for federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, and the Denver Rotary Club Foundation. Jim holds a B.S. in Community and School Health Education and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration.

Ellen Blatt is an attorney, physician, disability advocate, and President of the Colorado Disability Bar Association. She practiced law at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, handling complex health care matters and advocating for prisoners’ constitutional rights, after practicing pediatric radiology for two decades. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while in medical school, Ellen brings significant lived experience to her disability advocacy. She has also served on the Colorado Women’s Bar Association board. Ellen earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University and her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Peter Droege is a Senior Grants Program Officer at the Daniels Fund, focusing on K–12 education and programs serving people with disabilities in Colorado and New Mexico. He has more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, education, and public policy. His career includes counseling adults with developmental disabilities, serving on the Laradon board, leading Step Denver as Executive Director, and co-founding Life Skills High School. Peter also serves as President of the Belvidere Theater Foundation in his hometown of Central City.

Kari Easterly has more than 30 years of experience working alongside and advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions. Her roles have included job coach, case manager, independent living mentor, guardian, advocate, and executive leader. She currently serves as Assistant Director of Family and Therapeutic Services and previously spent more than 20 years with an independent advocacy organization, ultimately serving as Executive Director. Kari also serves on the Colorado Disability Funding Committee and brings extensive experience in advocacy, civil rights, community engagement, and systems change.

Mary Anne Harvey served as Executive Director of Disability Law Colorado, now Disability Justice, from 1980 to 2021, leading Colorado’s Protection and Advocacy System for people with disabilities. She has held national leadership roles with the National Disability Rights Network and helped develop national standards and outcome measures for protection and advocacy organizations. Her extensive board service includes the Colorado Nonprofit Association and Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council. Mary Anne received the Colorado Nonprofit Association’s William Funk Award for Building Community and brings more than four decades of disability civil-rights leadership.

Mike Hess is Founder and Executive Director of Blind Institute of Technology, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the employment gap for professionals with disabilities. After two decades managing multimillion-dollar technology projects for Fortune 500 companies, Mike founded BIT to expand career opportunities for people with disabilities. Under his leadership, BIT created the Salesforce-approved BIT Academy, launched a U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program, and secured a federal Disability Innovation Fund grant. Mike combines lived disability experience, technology expertise, workforce development, and nonprofit leadership.

Nick Koncilja is a business and real estate executive and the father of a 13-year-old son with significant autism and communication disabilities. He began his career in the Denver Mayor’s Office, helping lead the city’s $350 million criminal justice infrastructure expansion. He later joined Urban Villages, working in real estate development and asset management, and in 2015 became the founding member of Bow River Capital’s real estate platform. Under his leadership, the platform grew to approximately $1 billion in equity across eight private funds. Nick brings business, finance, development, and family disability experience to the board.

Kenneth Maestas is Legislative Coordinator for the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and has served on the Colorado Disability Funding Committee for four years. His experience with the committee provides valuable institutional knowledge as its work transitions to the Colorado Disability Funding Authority. Kenneth also serves on the Board of Directors of High Plains Community Health Center. He earned a degree in Communication from the University of Colorado and brings disability advocacy, legislative, governance, and community experience to the board.

Martha Mason is a person with a disability with 44 years of experience in nonprofit disability services and advocacy. She spent 23 years as an executive director with Excel Case Management, The Arc of San Juan County, and Southwest Center for Independence. Martha has served as a grant reviewer for Colorado Rehabilitation Services and the Colorado Disability Funding Committee and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Colorado Statewide Independent Living Council. She holds degrees in psychology and animal behavior and a master’s degree in special education and remains active in disability and community organizations in southwest Colorado.

Staci Nichols is a Deaf advocate who has lived and worked throughout her life in rural northwest Colorado. She works at the NorthWest Colorado Center for Independence, helping connect people with disabilities to resources and supports that allow them to live and participate fully in their communities. Her lived experience gives her firsthand understanding of the communication barriers, access limitations, and resource challenges facing people with disabilities in rural areas. Staci brings a strong commitment to independent living, rural communities, disability inclusion, and ensuring that people can live where and how they choose.

Dr. Jacob Pellinen is a neurologist and epilepsy specialist at University of Colorado Hospital and the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His clinical and research work focuses on improving epilepsy care and addressing gaps in access and outcomes. He holds leadership roles in quality improvement and neurodiagnostics and has experience writing and reviewing grants and building health-system and community partnerships. Jacob has chaired the Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado and Wyoming’s Professional Advisory Board and has served on the Colorado Disability Funding Committee since 2023.

Zach Tidwell is a Marine Corps infantry veteran, adaptive athlete, software developer, technology entrepreneur, and brother of a sister with Down syndrome. After losing his sight and hearing in one ear, Zach taught himself software development after encountering accessibility barriers in higher education. He has since received recognition for his technology work and is developing a new technology venture. Zach also speaks publicly, facilitates adaptive sports opportunities for visually impaired veterans, and volunteers in suicide-prevention and veterans organizations. He brings lived disability experience, technology expertise, entrepreneurship, and a strong commitment to accessibility.

Jim Vacik is an accessibility consultant, disability advocate, and community leader with 47 years of lived experience as a full-time wheelchair user. His work includes accessibility consulting, facility and venue review, public policy, legislative advocacy, and practical usability. Jim has served on the Board of The Independence Center since 2021, including as Secretary, Vice Chair, and Board Chair. His advocacy has included government testimony, accessibility litigation, and policy work supporting passage of Colorado Senate Bill 24-019. Jim brings extensive lived experience, organizational leadership, accessibility expertise, and public-policy experience to the board.