Meet Our Board

David Bute

County Attorney/Morgan County

Board President 

Serving since 2020

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Born Sept 27 1966 Wheeling West Virginia. Lived in Manhattan Kansas but was raised in Yuma Colorado since age 2.  Yuma High School 1985 valedictorian.  CU Boulder Anthropology degree 1989.  Law degree CU Boulder 1994.  Morgan County Dept Human Services attorney since 2001.  Hobbies arrowheads, French horn, trombone, cribbage.

Jennifer Walker

Operating Manager/Wolfe Waste

Board Secretary

Serving since 2020

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I am a Colorado native currently living in West Texas. I’ve been a part of KATB since the very beginning & am honored to sit on the Board of Directors. I manage a waste removal company in Morgan county and have worked to stay very connected to our communities & this opportunity is a perfect addition. 
 
Aside from work & KATB I teach yoga, coach fitness classes & stay busy with my husband and 3 children. 

Arnel Negranza

Environmental Engineer/Western Sugar

Board Member

Serving since 2022

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Arnel became involved with KATB when his son became an Americorps member. He brings to the table years of parenting experience as well as a cultural lens. His experience in science and his willingness to help teach others has been an asset to the team. He graduated with a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from the University of CA at Davis, CA. When Arnel isn't working for KATB you can usually find him on the golf course or having a beer at a local brewery.  He also loves spending time with his kids and grandkids.

Evin Moore

Executive Broker/Charles Schwabb

Board Vice President

Serving since 2012

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Evom joined the Kids at Their Best Board in 2012 and has held multiple positions on the leadership team. More importantly, he’s been nonstop inspired by the impact KATB accomplishes every day.
 
Mr. Moore has a number of roles outside of his board duties including the Executive Director and Founder of Burning Through Pages, a Denver-based at-risk youth literacy nonprofit, working as a Sr. Marketing Manager for Charles Schwab, and has over a decade of financial services experience, he also sits on the advisory board of Books to Kids, another youth-focused organization, and does no-cost nonprofit and small business consulting around the state.
 
Outside of his professional and volunteer life, Evin has a wonderful wife who said yes at a surprise wedding (she had no idea), two young children (Penelope and Ronan) and just one dog who’s an Okay-Dane (he’s not Great, just okay).

Andrew ROwell

Manager/Wiggins Farms

Board Member

Serving since 2020

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Andrew was raised in Nebraska farm country but soon found the adventures of Colorado to be his calling. After spending 6 years in Telluride, CO refining his back and front country skills,  Andrew found himself in Wiggins, CO where he fell in love with KATB and their mission of breaking the cycle of poverty through education and opportunity.  Andrew holds a bachelor's degree in finance & psychology from the University of Nebraska.  Currently, when Andrew is not working you can find him climbing the peaks, rafting the rivers, chasing the elk, or SCUBA diving the world.  He also enjoys sharing his love of the outdoors with his two boys.

Houefa akele

Outreach Coordinator/Northeast Colorado Health Department

Board Member

Serving since 2022

Bethleen McCall

Owner/Colorado Hemp

Board Treasurer

Serving since 2019

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Pamela Thomas

Retired/Thrivent Financial Services

Ex Officio

Serving since 2006

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I was born and raised in Minnesota and attended Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minnesota.  Our family camping trip when I was seven led me to promise myself that I would someday live in the mountains.  Thirty-two years later I realized that dream when my husband and I moved to Colorado with our two children and I began working for Western Sugar in operations.  That is where I met and became friends with Jodi Walker (Kids at Their Best Founder and Executive Director).  In 2003, I changed careers and joined Thrivent Financial as a Financial Advisor.  I retired from Thrivent and now spend full time in the mountains except for occasional forays into the city when it cannot be avoided and even more occasional trips back to Minnesota to visit family.
 
When Jodi formed a non-profit to provide enrichment to disadvantaged kids, she asked me to join the Board of Directors.  That was in 2005, and I have been involved ever since.  When I reached my term limit, I thought I "retired" but it didn't last, so here I still am.  During that time, I have watched the organization grow and have been privileged to meet some phenomenal kids - who are now assuming the leadership positions we have nurtured them for.  Kids at Their Best has worked wonders in the lives of so many kids and it is humbling to be a part of it.

Sonia Mendoza

Owner/Medoza Welding

Board Member

Serving since 2022