Shimmering Wings Board of Directors
Barb Kamlet, MA, NCC, LPC - President
CenterJourney Counseling, PLLC
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: The aftermath of possibilities for children who are not supported in their grief is stunning - statistically, there is a significant possibility of depression, substance abuse, incarceration and suicide among others. I co-founded Shimmering Wings to help provide children and their adult caregivers with programs that give them the opportunity to have their voices heard, their memories cherished and most importantly, their feelings validated.
Professional Background: I am passionate about providing support to grieving individuals and their families. I earned my Masters in Counseling Psychology degree from Regis University in 2010 and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2014. I did my internship at People House and am currently a clinical supervisor there for graduate student interns. In addition to my role as Executive Director of Shimmering Wings, I have a small private private practice, GriefJourney Counseling, where I specialize in grief, loss and life transitions as well as working with seniors. I am also a grief counselor with Halcyon Hospice.
What I Do in My Spare Time: Spare time in a little bit of a foreign concept to me but when I can find it, I love being with my grandchildren and sometimes just being at home having quiet time, reading, doing needlepoint or playing with my kitty, Gracie.
What Inspires Me: The resilience of the human spirit.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: There are a lot of people I consider to be my heroes. My Shimmering Wings hero is my brother, Andy, who was a Shimmering Wings Board member and logistics coordinator for Camp Erin Denver. Andy manifested kindness in everything he did and was and is my continuing inspiration.
What's Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: I guess people would say it's quirky that I'm passionate about working with grieving people.
Sara Chadil, Vice-President
Extraction Oil & Gas
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: When I was 11 years old, my world was shattered when my 13-year old brother died suddenly. I came across Camp Erin as an adult on an ESPN special and knew this was something I wanted to be part of. I wish as a child I would have had an event/opportunity like this to help me realize I was not alone and there were other kids my age going through grief and we could support each other.
Professional Background: I graduated from CU Boulder with an MS in Accountancy and have a BS in Business Administration. I earned my CPA license in 2013. I have worked in the energy industry for six years at Anadarko and am currently an Expenditure/Accounting Supervisor at Extraction Oil & Gas.
What I Do in My Spare Time: In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and Newfie! My husband and I enjoy backpacking, camping and fly fishing throughout the summer. We also enjoy traveling and going on adventure in new places. I have volunteered over the past couple years at a variety of organizations including Food Bank of the Rockies, Habitat for Humanity and Mile High United Way.
What Inspires Me: Emotional connections with people from different backgrounds inspire me. It encourages me to be open-minded and appreciate the differences in experience and perspective that people can offer and teach one another.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My mom. She is the most generous, caring and hardworking person I have ever met and I feel thankful every day that I am lucky enough to call her my mom and best friend.
What's Something Quirky, Funny/Interesting about Me: I am a Colorado native and I plan to live my entire life here!
Jeremy Hubbard - Secretary
KDVR TV
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: I became part of Shimmering Wings because of a TV news story, One Last Hug. I anchor FOX31 Denver News at 5, 9 and 10:00 pm and visited Camp Erin Denver in 2016 to produce a report on the bereavement camp. That story had a huge impact on me and I wanted to get more involved. I joined the Board of Directors of Shimmering Wings in 2017.
Professional Background: I am a Colorado native, born in Glenwood Springs. Before working at FOX31, I was an anchor and correspondent for ABC News in New York. I co-anchored ABC's national early morning newscasts, "World News Now" and "America This Morning," and reported for "Good Morning, America," "World News with Diane Sawyer" and "Nightline." I am a 43-time Emmy Award winner and I've received another 55 Emmy nominations on top of that. The best part of that humblebrag? I'm honored to say that three of those Emmys have come from stories and news specials we've produced about Camp Erin and Shimmering Wings.
What I Do in My Spare Time: I love traveling. I've been to 49 of the 50 states and to more than 50 countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. I've even reported for Afghanistan. I also serve Denver Metro Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, and volunteer with Denver Rescue Mission, Attention Homes, The Greatest Generations Foundation, Junior Achievement, and others.
What's Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: Music inspires me. While incapable of playing a single instrument, I can recite the lyrics to nearly any 80s pop or country song. Feel free to test me.
Kevin Thomas, Treasurer
Tracey Lamers, MA, LPCC
Tracey A. Lamers Psychotherapy
Professional Background: My personal grief journey brought me to pursue a new career as a therapist. I earned a Masters in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in 2015 and am a Licensed Professional Counseling Candidate. After many deaths in my family in a short span of time I learned meditation and mindfulness which taught me how to be with my grief one moment at a time. As a result I wanted to offer this to others. I have a private practice in Boulder Colorado where I specialize in grief and loss, anxiety, performance anxiety, depression, life transitions and relationship issues. I also offer mindfulness based grief supports groups. Additionally I teach Horticulture Therapy in the Wilderness Therapy Department at Naropa University.
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: I was initially attracted to Shimmering Wings after working under Barb Kamlet’s supervision at Namaste Hospice. She had asked if I wanted to volunteer for Camp Erin. I was in graduate school at the time training to be a therapist and I thought it would be a good experience. My older brother died unexpectedly when I was 10 years old. Volunteering for Camp Erin is very rewarding. I wish this had been available to me when I was a child. Each year the campers arrive and are pretty nervous. By the last day of camp I have witnessed some great friendships develop between kids who now have a friend who gets what they are going through. I am in awe of the camper’s resilience and progress they make over a weekend. The camp is very powerful and many tears are shed throughout and yet it is also a weekend of growth and bonding. Each year I volunteer I also feel I am able to honor the memory of my loved ones who have died.
In my spare time: I love trail running, cycling, cross country skiing, hiking, gardening, camping, cooking, concerts at Red Rocks and dinner parties with friends.
What Inspires Me: I am inspired by those who are selfless even when they are experiencing great challenges. I am also inspired by those who protest injustices, and fight for the underdog or those who are marginalized in society.
Quirky things about me: I do a pretty good Elvis impersonation. I can recite many movie lines, and I remember lyrics to songs quite readily and for eternity!
Who is a hero of mine: A hero of mine is my brother Sam who died in September 2017. He faced many physical challenges in his lifetime and yet he was always so thoughtful, kind and caring to others. He never once complained about his health issues. He was grateful for every day he had.
Other organizations I am Involved with:
- I am a part time therapist at Queer Asterisk in Boulder. This agency provides therapy for
members of the LGBTQIA Community. I work with many clients who struggle with gender identity. I am passionate about providing a safe and supportive environment for those often marginalized in society. - I am a member of the Grief Support Network of providers in Boulder County.
- I am involved in garden restoration for People House of Denver. I did my internship at this wonderful affordable counseling center and am passionate about giving back.
Sonya Roberts
Western Union
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: I found Shimmering Wings while searching for volunteer opportunities that revolved around children. While on the Shimmering Wings website, I was immediately drawn to the mission being that I lost my father to cancer at a pivotal young age. I was also recently faced with navigating the possibility of my own two children's grief while watching their father battle a life threatening illness. I believe that we all have grief in common and children should have a safe place like Shimmering Wings to be vulnerable while on the journey to healing.
Professional Background: I hold an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Masters in Human Resources. I was a teacher for over 14 years and decided on a career change in 2011. For the last 8 years, I have been a Human Resources professional. Most recently a Global HR Business Partner for Western Union.
What I Do in My Spare Time: I love spending time with my family, hiking, camping and skiing. I also love to travel, although I hate to fly.
What Inspires Me: People who are passionate about change and who find creative ways to solve problems and help others. I am also inspired by people's stories and how they have overcome adversity and hard times.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My kids. They have made me see things from a different perspective and have taught me things that I would have never learned if I didn't have them in my life.
What's Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: I used to want to be an astronomer when I grew up!
Kathleen Marsh
Mom of Maxon
Kathleen Marsh, Music Therapist, MM, MT-BC
Kathleen Marsh
Music Therapist
Kathleen Marsh, Music Therapist, MM, MT-BC
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: I began volunteering with hospice programs in 2010 while I was pursuing a degree in music therapy. My own personal experiences with grief and loss drew me to hospice volunteering, which eventually led to a connection with Camp Erin. I volunteered with Camp Erin Denver in 2011 and 2012. After a few years of living in Iowa, my husband and I returned home to Colorado and I was happy to learn that Shimmering Wings was sponsoring Camp Erin Denver. I have been volunteering with Shimmering Wings and Camp Erin Denver again since 2017. I resonate deeply with Shimmering Wings' mission and feel honored to help children and families during their grief journeys.
Professional Background: I am a proud graduate of Limon High School in Limon, CO. I received a BA in Music Education from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and then earned a Master's Degree in Music Therapy from Colorado State University. I've enjoyed working as a music therapist for several years with people who've experienced grief & loss, hospice patients, people living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, children and adults with developmental disabilities, and adults living with neurologic illnesses.
What I Do in My Spare Time: I love to be creative-I crochet often and enjoy making cards, coloring, and scrapbooking. My husband, Evan, and I enjoy spending time together outdoors hiking and camping and our dog often accompanies us on our outdoor adventures. I enjoy visiting with friends over a good cup of coffee. My newest adventure is becoming a mother to my son, Maxon!
What Inspires Me: Music, arts, nature, and learning from other people's stories.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My best friend, Erin, who lived her entire life with faith, grace, and spunk-all while enduring chronic illness and life in and out of the hospital. My Grandpa Wayne, who was a soft-spoken and incredibly sturdy and dependable man also lived courageously with serious illness at the end of his life.
What's Something Quirky, Funny/Interesting about Me: I am a Colorado native and have yet to go skiing in Colorado.
Beverly Bledsoe
Community Volunteer
Andy Kamlet (In Memory)
J3K Consulting Group
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: Along with being Barb's little brother (so how could I say "no"?) I wanted to find a way to take the experience my own daughters had when they lost their mom (my wife, Kim) to metastatic breast cancer in 2014. I've seen first hand how devastating the death loss of a parent can be and wanted to help other children get the support they need to deal with their own loss.
Professional Background: I have an extensive career dedicated to marketing and business development in the high tech industry. I have had the privilege of working for some great companies including subsidiaries of Microsoft, WPP, Experian and FiServ. I currently work as a senior product manager for GutCheck, a Colorado-based agile market research company.
What I Do in My Spare Time: Ski, travel, walk our dog, Penelope, read, golf and spend time with family.
What Inspires Me: Kids like my daughters who have taken their own grief and found ways to help others that have experienced similar loss.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My Dad - a patriot, hard worker, devoted husband, a family man
What's Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: I was a music major for an entire two weeks!