Shimmering Wings Board of Directors
Sara Chadil, 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!
Barb Kamlet, MA, NCC, LPC - Vice-President
GriefJourney 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.
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
The Hartford Financial Services Group
What attracted me to Shimmering Wings:
I found Shimmering Wings through Camp Erin, which was introduced to me by a colleague. After listening to the mission statement of Shimmering Wings, I was eager to become more involved. It spoke to me, as I lost my father to cancer in my youth and struggled with the grieving process. I joined the board of Shimmering Wings in April of 2020. Prior to joining Shimmering Wings, I sat on the board of The Cove, Center for Grieving Children, in Connecticut.
Professional Background: I received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Roanoke College in Virginia. I currently work as a Managing Director for The Hartford Financial Services Group, in the Middle Market Property & Casualty Insurance unit.
What inspires me: I am most inspired by Camp Erin, and all the collective work we do at Shimmering Wings. Feeling and knowing that I am making an impact on a child who is suffering through grief is a powerful and fulfilling feeling.
What I Do in My Spare Time: People often poke fun at me for having too many hobbies. Of them, my favorite must be golf, tennis, squash, lacrosse and skiing; though I spend most of my spare time now at home with my wife and my son, who just turned 6 months old.
What's Something Quirky, Funny/Interesting about Me: I moved around the country quite a bit before finding a home in Colorado. While I am originally from Michigan, I lived in Virginia, California and Connecticut before moving to Denver.
Logan Heffner
Rye Ridge Resources
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: What attracted me to Shimmering Wings is their mission and the quality of people in the organization. Providing grief support to those in need, especially young children, comes second to none for me. I am lucky beyond words to be involved with such an incredibly selfless group of people.
Professional Background: I am a Petroleum Engineer with a degree from the Colorado School of Mines. I have been working in the oil and gas industry with a few different operating companies. However, in 2018, I partnered with another energy professional to start our own business in the industry. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and am pleased to have found that in my current company.
What I Do in My Spare Time: I love running (especially trail running), spending time with my wife and kids, grilling, hiking and cheering for the New Orleans Saints (I'm from Louisiana originally.). Overall, enjoying the outdoors with my family in Colorado is where I find the most peace.
What Inspires Me: Nature and the resilience of humanity are what inspire me the most.
What Is Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: I have incorporated a lot of The Office lines in my everyday speak. I love playing guitar for my kids when they are eating breakfast, having dance parties with my wife in the kitchen an wrestling with our golden retriever, Jack.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My parents and my wife are all heroes of mine. I am thankful to have had wonderful parents. My wife is involved personally and professionally in serving underprivileged families and children with special needs. That has always been an inspiration fo rme to serve something far beyond myself.
Josh Chebul
What attracted me to Shimmering Wings?
Losing my mother to cancer when I was 11 has been the most consequential event of my life. My extended family and community were there to help us process this loss. Shimmering Wings helps connect those who are grieving with others familiar to their heartbreak, and I hope to help even just a single person process a loss similar to what I experienced.
Professional Background?
Educated as a petroleum engineer at the Montana Technological University, my first fourteen years after college saw me working on amazing projects in the energy industry. Following pursuit of my MBA at The Wharton School, I am embarking on my second career, as a financial planner. I’m excited to help people define their goals, optimize their assets, and confidently pursue the life of their dreams.
What you do in your spare time?
Cheering on my son as he grows and cheering on my wife as she pursues her goals are what is most important to me. Golfing, skiing, spending time in the outdoors, and spending time with my friends and neighbors are my main hobbies.
What inspires you?
People who challenge themselves to improve, to pursue their dreams, and to give back to their community are inspirational. Optimists, the selfless, and those with strong work ethic motivate me to continually evaluate my role in my family and in my network. Also: architects and gardeners, maybe for their vision and patience.
What is something quirky/funny/interesting about you?
Although I didn’t have a passport before work sent me abroad, I caught the travel bug soon thereafter and married a fellow globetrotter. We got our son a passport early on, and we can hardly wait to explore the world with him.
Who is a hero of yours?
Anyone who learns who they are and stays true to themselves unconditionally is heroic in my mind. The life Warren Buffett has led fascinates me, and the work of Franklin Roosevelt has taught me the power of leadership.
Sara Blake
Retired - System Architect/Nelnet
What Attracted You to Shimmering Wings
After the death of both of my sons, I am very acquainted with grief and the affect on the family. I am always willing to help anyone else going through the loss.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy music including singing in a large church choir; cooking, gardening and reading as well as whatever else looks interesting.
What inspires you?
Kindness
Who is a hero of yours?
Eleanor Roosevelt; my first mother-in-law, Eva Winter.
What is something quirky, funny, interesting about you?
When I started back to work after seven years as a stay at home mom, I got a part time job. This job, at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, turned into my teaching dancing. I think getting into IT was maybe not as fun but a little more stable.
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!
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!
Barb Kamlet, MA, NCC, LPC - Vice-President
GriefJourney 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.
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
The Hartford Financial Services Group
What attracted me to Shimmering Wings:
I found Shimmering Wings through Camp Erin, which was introduced to me by a colleague. After listening to the mission statement of Shimmering Wings, I was eager to become more involved. It spoke to me, as I lost my father to cancer in my youth and struggled with the grieving process. I joined the board of Shimmering Wings in April of 2020. Prior to joining Shimmering Wings, I sat on the board of The Cove, Center for Grieving Children, in Connecticut.
Professional Background: I received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Roanoke College in Virginia. I currently work as a Managing Director for The Hartford Financial Services Group, in the Middle Market Property & Casualty Insurance unit.
What inspires me: I am most inspired by Camp Erin, and all the collective work we do at Shimmering Wings. Feeling and knowing that I am making an impact on a child who is suffering through grief is a powerful and fulfilling feeling.
What I Do in My Spare Time: People often poke fun at me for having too many hobbies. Of them, my favorite must be golf, tennis, squash, lacrosse and skiing; though I spend most of my spare time now at home with my wife and my son, who just turned 6 months old.
What's Something Quirky, Funny/Interesting about Me: I moved around the country quite a bit before finding a home in Colorado. While I am originally from Michigan, I lived in Virginia, California and Connecticut before moving to Denver.
Logan Heffner
Rye Ridge Resources
What Attracted Me to Shimmering Wings: What attracted me to Shimmering Wings is their mission and the quality of people in the organization. Providing grief support to those in need, especially young children, comes second to none for me. I am lucky beyond words to be involved with such an incredibly selfless group of people.
Professional Background: I am a Petroleum Engineer with a degree from the Colorado School of Mines. I have been working in the oil and gas industry with a few different operating companies. However, in 2018, I partnered with another energy professional to start our own business in the industry. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and am pleased to have found that in my current company.
What I Do in My Spare Time: I love running (especially trail running), spending time with my wife and kids, grilling, hiking and cheering for the New Orleans Saints (I'm from Louisiana originally.). Overall, enjoying the outdoors with my family in Colorado is where I find the most peace.
What Inspires Me: Nature and the resilience of humanity are what inspire me the most.
What Is Something Quirky/Funny/Interesting about Me: I have incorporated a lot of The Office lines in my everyday speak. I love playing guitar for my kids when they are eating breakfast, having dance parties with my wife in the kitchen an wrestling with our golden retriever, Jack.
Who Is a Hero of Mine: My parents and my wife are all heroes of mine. I am thankful to have had wonderful parents. My wife is involved personally and professionally in serving underprivileged families and children with special needs. That has always been an inspiration fo rme to serve something far beyond myself.
Josh Chebul
What attracted me to Shimmering Wings?
Losing my mother to cancer when I was 11 has been the most consequential event of my life. My extended family and community were there to help us process this loss. Shimmering Wings helps connect those who are grieving with others familiar to their heartbreak, and I hope to help even just a single person process a loss similar to what I experienced.
Professional Background?
Educated as a petroleum engineer at the Montana Technological University, my first fourteen years after college saw me working on amazing projects in the energy industry. Following pursuit of my MBA at The Wharton School, I am embarking on my second career, as a financial planner. I’m excited to help people define their goals, optimize their assets, and confidently pursue the life of their dreams.
What you do in your spare time?
Cheering on my son as he grows and cheering on my wife as she pursues her goals are what is most important to me. Golfing, skiing, spending time in the outdoors, and spending time with my friends and neighbors are my main hobbies.
What inspires you?
People who challenge themselves to improve, to pursue their dreams, and to give back to their community are inspirational. Optimists, the selfless, and those with strong work ethic motivate me to continually evaluate my role in my family and in my network. Also: architects and gardeners, maybe for their vision and patience.
What is something quirky/funny/interesting about you?
Although I didn’t have a passport before work sent me abroad, I caught the travel bug soon thereafter and married a fellow globetrotter. We got our son a passport early on, and we can hardly wait to explore the world with him.
Who is a hero of yours?
Anyone who learns who they are and stays true to themselves unconditionally is heroic in my mind. The life Warren Buffett has led fascinates me, and the work of Franklin Roosevelt has taught me the power of leadership.
Sara Blake
Retired - System Architect/Nelnet
What Attracted You to Shimmering Wings
After the death of both of my sons, I am very acquainted with grief and the affect on the family. I am always willing to help anyone else going through the loss.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy music including singing in a large church choir; cooking, gardening and reading as well as whatever else looks interesting.
What inspires you?
Kindness
Who is a hero of yours?
Eleanor Roosevelt; my first mother-in-law, Eva Winter.
What is something quirky, funny, interesting about you?
When I started back to work after seven years as a stay at home mom, I got a part time job. This job, at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, turned into my teaching dancing. I think getting into IT was maybe not as fun but a little more stable.
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!