Meet Our Team

Jaione Axpe

Joined Bright by Three in August 2018. Jaione is currently working on the implementation of the new Zoho CRM system. Jaione has over 10 years experience deploying HR & Finance in multiple geographies. Her work experience includes: business requirements, change management, process mapping and application support.  

Demie Fultz

Joined Bright by Three in August 2018. Demie manages Bright by Three’s community partnerships in Southern Colorado. From Kit Carson to Montezuma, Demie provides ongoing training and technical assistance to current partners spanning 32 counties. She also develops new partnerships to expand Bright by Three’s programs across the areas she serves. Demie is committed to creating robust and cohesive Bright by Three partnerships. She is passionate about the early childhood landscape as well as the nonprofit sector, and is driven by the impact they have on all Coloradans. 

Prior to joining the Bright by Three team, Demie served as an AmeriCorps VISTA with Assuring Better Child Health and Development in Denver, Colorado. As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, she worked diligently to build sustainability through communication and marketing efforts. She developed a breadth of knowledge and valuable experience in the early childhood field and the nonprofit sector, which made for a natural transition to her role at Bright by Three.

Demie has a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Child and Family Development from the University of Central Missouri where she enjoyed playing on the women’s golf team. When she’s not working, Demie enjoys spending quality time with her husband Donald and Yorkshire Terrier Rue, crossfit, yoga, golf, and hiking Colorado 14ers.

Jean McSpadden

Joined Bright by Three in January 2012. As CEO, Jean is charged with all facets of leadership and management to support Bright by Three’s vision and mission throughout all 64 counties in Colorado. Jean works directly with the board of directors to establish the strategic direction of the organization, as well as serves as chief liaison with community groups. Additionally, she ensures program quality as well as oversees the design, marketing, promotion, and delivery of products and services. Jean also oversees fundraising planning and implementation. Prior to joining Bright by Three in January 2012, Jean served as the Director of Education with the Vail Valley Foundation and prior as the Director of the US Olympic Committee responsible for securing major gifts and as the founding executive director of the Children’s Literacy Center. Jean has a degree in speech and hearing science from the University of Washington.

Jared Wigdor

Joined Bright by Three in July 2015. Jared manages Bright by Three’s fundraising and communications, engaging foundations, corporations, and individual supporters to fuel Bright by Three’s program supporting children’s physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. He leads the development staff and oversees grant proposals, fundraising events, major gifts, earned income, and all other revenue streams. Jared is committed to charting a path to long-term, sustainable development growth that lets Bright by Three focus on what it does best -- helping give children the best start in life. Before joining Bright by Three in the summer of 2015, Jared managed the fundraising and financials for four political campaigns, most recently in the 2014 Maryland Governor/Lt. Gov race. He has a degree in history from Yale University.

Nim Patel

Joined Bright by Three in July 2016. Nim oversees all technology and development of Bright by Text. He also supports the scaling and expansion of Bright by Text statewide and nationally. Nim is the Principal at NimbleIQ, a company that works with Business Founders to launch MVP's that solve real problems, and Business Owners/Managers to create software solutions that transform their business. Nim is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business, and a Mentor for the Unreasonable Institute.

Ashleigh Kirk

Joined Bright by Three in December 2016. Ashleigh Kirk, LSW, is an infant and early childhood mental health specialist, with an interest in policy and program development. Ashleigh’s professional focus on early childhood systems development began in her Masters in Social Work program at Washington University in St. Louis, and continued into her work in Chicago. In Chicago, Ashleigh attended Erikson Institute and received a Certificate in Infant Mental Health, while working at a non-profit to improve children’s mental health systems in Illinois. Ashleigh is also the current President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health. In this role, Ashleigh leads a volunteer Executive Board who focus on providing professional development, networking, and policy opportunities for infant-family providers across Colorado. Most recently, Ashleigh worked at Colorado Assuring Better Child Health and Development, as a Community Outreach Coordinator. She provided technical assistance, training and support to community stakeholders in counties across Colorado to build quality developmental screening and referral systems.

Lynn Debilzen

Joined Bright by Three in January 2017. Lynn Debilzen comes to Bright by Three with over a decade of experience in the child development and nonprofit management fields. Lynn will manage the New Generation Initiative in conjunction with PBS and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation/ Overdeck Family Foundation national scaling grants for Bright by Text. She’s passionate about early childhood, building partnerships to maximize impact, and supporting parents and families. Lynn recently served as a Senior National Trainer at Playworks based in Colorado, and before her move out west, she was a Jumpstart Site Manager in Massachusetts, a Youth Development Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines, and an AmeriCorps member in Wisconsin and Montana. She earned her MBA at The Heller School for Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University, her MA in Intercultural Youth & Family Development at The University of Montana, and a BS in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Alexandria Hellrung

Joined Bright by Three in September 2017. Alex does graphic design and manages social and digital media for Bright by Three and Bright by Text. Alex originally worked for Bright by Three in 2015 as the Development Coordinator, but realizing her true passion was in communications, left the organization to go to the Office of Early Childhood at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) where she was the Child Care Quality Initiatives Communications Specialist working on Colorado Shines. In September 2017, Alex left CDHS to become an Independent Communications Consultant, and once again began working with Bright by Three. Alex specializes in communications for early childhood organizations and is passionate about helping the youngest in our communities. Alex has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Communication from the University of Wyoming, where she taught public speaking.

Jennifer Cajina Gringsby

Jennifer works directly with the 200+ partners we have across Colorado. As a Program Manager, she has recruited over 100 volunteers and partners across the state and has helped expand our outreach among the diverse community of families that live in our state. Additionally, she has helped in the development of trainings, partner materials, and bright by text content to make sure that all of our program is the most up to date to better serve all families and caregivers in the state. Prior to joining Bright by Three in 2015, she managed the fundraising and evergreen donors of another Colorado state nonprofit: New Era Colorado. Jennifer has a degree in Sociology for Colorado College and is committed to always finding ways to improve the Bright by Three program and increase the outreach throughout the state.

Nichole Robillard

Joined​ ​Bright​ ​by​ ​Three​ ​in​ ​January​ ​2017. Nichole​ ​supports​ ​collaboration​ ​with​ ​Bright​ ​by​ ​Three’s​ ​development​ ​partners,​ ​and​ ​ contributes​ ​to grant​ ​proposals​ ​and​ ​reporting.​ ​With​ ​decades​ ​of​ ​experience​ ​managing​ ​ projects​ ​and​ ​programs​ ​in the​ ​corporate​ ​and​ ​nonprofit​ ​sector,​ ​Nichole​ ​is​ ​committed​ ​to​ ​ applying​ ​her​ ​skills​ ​and​ ​knowledge​ ​to organizations​ ​and​ ​causes​ ​impacting​ ​vulnerable​ ​ families.​ ​She​ ​holds​ ​a​ ​B.S.​ ​in​ ​Business​ ​Marketing and​ ​Organizational​ ​Management​ ​from​ ​ the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Colorado,​ ​Boulder.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​dedicated advocate​ ​and​ ​volunteer,​ ​she​ ​has​ ​ served​ ​as​ ​founder,​ ​board​ ​member,​ ​and​ ​operations​ ​advisor​ ​to​ ​a variety​ ​of​ ​nonprofits​ ​ serving​ ​children,​ ​families,​ ​and​ ​educators.

Kathy Brendza

Joined Bright by Three in May 2016. The Rocky Mountains make Colorado a great place to live and Kathy Brendza is supporting families throughout several mountain regions for Bright by Three. She is responsible for 17 counties - from Summit to Yampa to Mesa and beyond. Her strong background in early childhood education supports Kathy’s outreach to community partners and families throughout the mountains and Western Slope. With two Master's Degrees, Kathy also participated in the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program. Upon completion she earned a Director's License in Early Childhood. In the past thirty years, Kathy has received many accolades for her work including the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education; accommodations from the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives; the National Educator’s Award sponsored by the Milken Family Foundation; a fellowship award from The Colorado Trust; the Karen A. Patterson Award for Community Organizational Change from Regis University.

Alex Buis

Joined Bright by Three in February 2018. Alex manages development initiatives, communications projects and content expansion, integrating refined writing skills with keen fundraising strategy. Following his passion for elevating the standard for early childhood education, he focuses on upholding Bright by Three’s brand presence and cultivating relationships with new foundations and community organizations. Alex is dedicated with Bright by Three’s expansion nationally to change the paradigm of caregiver awareness to the pivotal nature of the early years of life. Prior to joining Bright by Three, Alex worked as an editor at Tethered by Letters’ literary magazine, journalist at 303 Magazine, marketing assistant at Book Trust and international business developer at Glamping Hub. Alex graduated in March 2017 from the University of Denver with a degree in English and minor in Spanish.

Rebecca Levy

Joined Bright by Three in February 2018. Rebecca manages the New Generation Initiative in conjunction with PBS and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation/Overdeck Family Foundation national scaling grants for Bright by Text. She enjoys building partnerships that maximize impact, and provide excellent support for parents and families.

Prior to joining the Bright by Three team, Rebecca worked with the Daniels Fund for six years, during which time she held high-level administrative and management positions in both the Scholarship and Communications departments. In these roles, she learned a great deal about the structure, management and guiding philosophies of non-profit organizations. Rebecca has also worked at the Denver Art Museum, where she designed and implemented educational programming targeted specifically toward families with young children.

Rebecca earned an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Denver and a BA in Arts History from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Karen Verdier

Joined Bright by Three in February 2018. Karen Verdier, MBA CPH, is a marketing, project management and public health professional with extensive experience working for vulnerable populations and coalition building. Karen’s professional credentials include working for Mountain Resource Center, a family resource center, where she served as Lead Public Assistance Specialist and Health Services Director for the pediatric health clinic as well as international marketing and finance work for a Fortune 100 company. Karen served as a Consumer Representative on the State’s Customer & Community Partner IPT Committee, as well as on Jefferson County’s Citizens Budget Committee. Karen received her Masters in Business degree from the University of Denver and a Certificate in Public Health from Colorado School of Public Health: Anschutz. Karen is a dedicated and tenacious advocate for the clients she serves and brings that energy to Bright by Three. Her expertise and interest in program management and policy will help to develop and nurture partners who reside within the northeast quarter of Colorado and Denver Metro area. Karen likes to construct bridges between organizations that seem to have disparate interests by listening and finding a common thread to build upon for the benefit of all.

Lisa Jonsson

Joined Bright by Three in November 2017. Lisa works with the development of the Bright by Text application. Lisa has worked over 17 years in the software development industry. Her work experience includes software development, business requirements, project management, end-user training and application support.

Kathryn Harris

Joined Bright by Three in February 2019. Kathryn leads business development initiatives to scale Bright by Text. She also oversees content management and evaluation for Bright by Text and our Colorado programs. She is passionate about early childhood and improving the lives of children through reaching parents and caregivers.

Prior to joining Bright by Three, Kathryn served as President and CEO of Qualistar, a statewide nonprofit that elevated the quality of early childhood education in Colorado. She is currently a Buell Early Childhood Leadership fellow, furthering her expertise in this field. Kathryn took her ability to manage multiple initiatives, lead programs and excel in a corporate environment to the nonprofit sector in 2000, working as executive director of the Grand Foundation. She has also held leadership positions at Generation Schools Network and Rose Community Foundation. Kathryn utilizes her professional background in fundraising and corporate consulting to engage the business community and develop mutually beneficial nonprofit partners.

Leisha Andersen

Joined Bright by Three in July 2019. Leisha Andersen, MD, MPH reviews and writes content for Bright by Three and Bright by Text materials. She is a board-certified pediatrician who has redirected her professional efforts toward large-scale, preventative issues affecting pediatric health. She has worked on projects with MotherWise Colorado and AAP-Colorado in an effort to provide an upstream-level impact on the lives of children and families. Leisha is a graduate of Duke Medical Center (MD) and University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health (MPH). She lives in a Denver suburb with her husband and three children.

Dave Grimsland

Joined Bright by Text in August of 2019, Dave supports the marketing and expansion of Bright by Text statewide and nationally. As a father of triplets, Dave brings a passion for all aspects of early childhood development. He has a professional history of client development and audience expansion in a variety of industries. Prior to joining the Bright by Text team, Dave worked as Director of Sales & Marketing at Boulder Weekly and as Retail Sales Manager for the Daily Camera. He also currently serves as Fundraising Chair for the Autism Society of Boulder County.

Tara Stingley

Tara joined Bright by Three in July, 2019. Tara supports Bright by Text by cultivating and maintaining strong partnerships. Specifically, she helps our partners in Colorado learn how to leverage the Bright by Text platform to expand and strengthen their communication with families and caregivers. 

Prior to joining Bright by Three, Tara worked for Denver Public Schools on the Child Find team. In her role with Denver Public Schools, Tara managed a caseload, focused on collaboration within the early childhood community, and provided developmental evaluations for children birth to five. Prior to her role with DPS, Tara provided in-home services under Part C of IDEA. 

Tara has an MA in Early Childhood Education, a teaching license in Early Childhood Special Education, and a BA in Integrative Physiology, all from the University of Colorado.
 

Katie Richardson

Dr. Katherine Richardson, known as Katie to her friends and colleagues, is a dedicated medical professional​ ​and​ ​an​ ​active​ ​leader​ ​and​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​community​ ​she​ ​works​ ​and​ ​lives​ ​in.

Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Richardson is proud to have been a member of the Denver community since attending and graduating as Valedictorian from Highlands Ranch High School. A true transplant, Dr. Richardson was selected as a Boettcher Scholar in 1991 and continued her studies as a Biology major at The Colorado College. Subsequently, Dr. Richardson attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Upon completion of residency, she spent a brief stint in private practice before​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​Colorado​ ​Permanente​ ​Medical​ ​Group​ ​(the​ ​physicians​ ​of​ ​Kaiser​ ​Permanente).

In addition to her work as a practicing pediatrician, she has held multiple leadership roles for Kaiser Permanente including Chief of Highlands Ranch Primary Care, Primary Care Operations Chief, CPMG Director of Physician Experience, and she currently works on a team leading innovation for our medical group and Kaiser Permanente Colorado. As part of that role, Dr. Richardson has been an active part of the burgeoning digital health technology community in Denver, helping facilitate partnerships between cutting edge start-ups, accelerators, industry leaders and medical professionals. She also has the pleasure of being a clinical advisor to three health​ ​technology​ ​start-ups.

Dr. Richardson has a passion for public service. She volunteers her time for several charities, including Wish for Wheels and Center for Personalized Education for Physicians. She is also a member of the Cherry Creek School District Medical Advisory Board. In her free time, Dr. Richard of the Cherry Creek School District Medical Advisory Board. In her free time, Dr. Richardson enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and traveling to new places.