Evan Abbott
Evan Abbott is the Director of Organizational Development and Learning with Mountain States Employers Council. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University and a Masters degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Colorado at Denver. In addition, he also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification. In his 13 years at MSEC Evan has led professional workshops on a variety of topics including Generations in the Workplace, Motivation and Engagement, Change/Transition management, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as well as various topics related to Leadership & Supervisory skills. He consults with members of MSEC about issues related to training, organizational development and strategic management. In addition, Evan teaches courses in Research Methods, Psychology, and Organizational Behavior in the College of Professional Studies at Regis University.

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Candice Alder
Candice Alder is the director of Technical Assistance for the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center which is managed by Meeting the Challenge, Inc. (MTC), an information services consulting firm that serves individuals and organizations with rights and responsibilities for compliance under federal disability laws. MTC also operates the DBTAC Rocky Mountain ADA Center which provides information, informal guidance and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Alder has been with MTC and the Rocky Mountain ADA Center since 2002.  In her current role, she gives guidance on ADA-related issues and helps people with disabilities understand their rights under the ADA and how to advocate for themselves.  In addition, Alder manages the Center's training program by coordinating its annual training schedule and providing customized training to various stakeholders.  She also serves deaf clients by providing sign language interpretation and performs outreach duties.  Alder has generated content, and collaborated on several MTC publication projects such as, Service Animals Welcome; Service Animals & the ADA, Sign Language Poster Series: Sign Language Basics, Vital Signs, Signs of Civic Access, All Kids Count: Lean to Sign, Getting it Right Participants Guide, Reflections on a Promise DVD, and Reflections on a Promise Facilitatiors Guide.  In addition, Alder also develops training curriculum on the ADA and other Disability Related topics.  

Cindy Charlton
Cindy Charlton is a professional speaker and author with a valuable message.  As a triple amputee, her story of survival will not only amaze you but give you hope and inspiration to appreciate and make the most of every precious moment.  Cindy has a Master’s degree in psychology and is an active member of the Colorado Coalition of working amputees, (CCWA). She, along with the other members of the CCWA, helped write and pass the Prosthetic Parity bill, for the state of Colorado, which was signed into law in 2000.  She helped organize and facilitate an amputee support group in the Denver/Metro area and is a certified peer counselor through the Amputee Coalition.  Governor Hickenlooper appointed Cindy to serve on the state regulatory board for Physical Therapists in 2012, and she serves on the Continuing Competency Committee for Physical Therapists in Colorado. Cindy is known as the Disability Diva™, from her training programs on disability etiquette and the ADA for corporations and non-profits. Cindy is a contributing columnist for the inMotion magazine and is published in the on-line magazine, “Happenstance.”  She is a contributing author to four “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Books, including “Family Caregivers,” “Power of Positive,”  “Angels Among Us,” and the yet to be released “From Lemons to Lemonade.” Cindy writes about her life as a Survivor on her blog entitled “The Survivor’s Handbook.” She also writes a blog called “The Disability Diva,” which is about issues arising from the ADA, discrimination against people with disabilities, and disability etiquette. She is the mother of two sons, which she believes is her most important job, and the biggest blessing in her life. Cindy believes that “if you only look at what you’ve lost, you will never be able to see what you have.” 
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Timothy Chevalier

Timothy feels one of his greatest gifts from his parents was to have American Sign Language as his first language.  He is employed at Colorado Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) as an Outreach Consultant.  He provides educaiton, training and technical assistance on linguistic and cultural awareness, communication access, auxiliary services and aids to state and local governmental agencies, public agencies, private entities, and community-based organizations.  Timothy has completed his dissertation research, and is now writing the final chapters of his study.  He anticipates completing his Doctorate degree in Administration and Adult and Higher Education Programs this Fall.  Timothy's workshop will cover communication access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Paula Friedland
Paula Friedland is a corporate trainer, licensed clinical social worker, certified life coach, and public speaker. Her background includes extensive work in the Employee Assistance (EAP) field as a management consultant, and trainer, as well as a phone counselor and executive coach. She has delivered numerous trainings to many city and county municipalities, as well as library districts, public service and transportation entities, hospitals, and government agencies. Currently she has a private coaching/consulting/training practice, where she coaches individuals and groups, and also designs and delivers trainings to companies on a vast array of topics. Paula has a dynamic presentation style that is combined with a strong component of inspiration as well as a comprehensive knowledge base from which she draws her content.

Ernie Lee
Ernie Lee is a life-long procurement professional with experience at the federal, state, and local levels of government.  Ernie is a native Texan who graduated from S. F. Austin High School in Bryan, Texas.  He spent 22 years as a material manager and logistics expert with the United States Air Force.  He graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Business and Management, and Texas State University with a Masters in Public Administration.   Ernie is a former City Manager for Flat River, Missouri. His work on hazardous materials disposal brought a national award from NIGP in 1990, the only recipient to date of the Lewis E. Spangler Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Development of Purchasing Procedures and Systems.  His book, Contracting for the Disposal of Hazardous Materials was viewed internationally in the 1980s, but is currently out of print. Ernie has worked in Texas public procurement in Texas since 1988.  Ernie makes his home in Canyon Lake, Texas with his wife Donna.  He currently serves as a Contract Specialist for TxDOT, with primary responsibilities of writing and administering high-risk architectural/engineering contracts, and training field staff in contract procedures. Ernie is three-time past President of SAPPA (1990-1991, and 2003), and is a past President for the Texas Association of Public Purchasers (TAPP 2009).  Ernie has served as a master instructor for NIGP and as a mentor to hundreds of public procurement professionals across the country.  Ernie authored a six volume text for the University of Texas (Austin/San Antonio) Extended Learning program.  In 2004 Ernie was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from NIGP.  He is a frequent presenter at state and national NIGP conferences.  His lecture series on Ethics in Public Procurement has become a favorite topic and has resulted in frequent appearances from coast-to-coast.

Karen Main
Karen Main specializes in delivering innovative leadership development programs. Her work has been recognized by Mountain States Employer’s Council, Rocky Mountain ASTD, IPMA-HR and the Asch Center @ The Harvard Kennedy School. She is currently the Training Specialist for the City of Englewood and owner of her own consulting company, Innovations In Training. She is a graduate of DU and certified by Harvard in “The Art & Practice of Leadership Development.” Karen is a popular speaker and consultant in the Rocky Mountain region, delivering training workshops to both private and public-sector entities. She keeps her pulse on research in the field of leadership development as adjunct faculty at DU’s University College and stays involved with the local training community as current President of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the American Society of Training & Development.

Tim Nicklas
Tim was working as a biomedical engineer for Children's Hospital Colorado, a large not-for-profit healthcare network, for over five years. He was constantly thinking up and trying to launch new endeavors in addition to his job responsibilities. He eventually pitched the idea of creating a new position to hospital leadership for him to lead an effort to pursue new endeavors as his full time job. The result was his current position of “Ideator” in 2011 where he helps fellow “intrapreneurs” identify problems and generate solutions with the goal of creating value for patients. He also continues to pursue his own endeavors creating novel ways to get kids moving using digital technologies. Tim received both his BS and MS in mechanical engineering, biomedical option, from CU Boulder. During that time he was a National Science Foundation Fellow developing curriculum and teaching science and engineering to K-12 students. Tim has also worked as a forensic biomechanist investigating and interpreting trauma to the human body as evidence for expert testimony. Tim has been actively involved Children's Hospital Sports Program (HSP) as an adaptive ski instructor as well as fundraising and advocating for the program. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and just about anything in the mountains with his wife Kara.

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Chuck Passaglia
Chuck Passaglia is an employment lawyer in Denver, Colorado. He also founded and manages Employment Law Solutions, Inc., a human resources consulting firm, which specializes in conducting workplace investigations and training the entire workforce in critical employment law compliance matters, including managing employees’ absences and protections under the anti-discrimination laws. Previously, he was a litigation associate with Moye Giles in Denver and in-house employment law counsel for Mountain States Employers Council, Inc. He is a regular contributor to human resources publications and a lively and entertaining presenter at national and local conferences. He is proud to say that he has spoken at every Summit for Professional Growth.

David Remson


David Remson has been teaching, training and learning about organizational effectiveness for 20 years. He has been an invited speaker in both the public and private sector world on topics ranging from generational issues to performance improvement. He holds a Masters Degree in Management and Organizational Leadership from Regis University. David’s personal mission is to tie social justice and equity in the workplace to business objectives.

Bill Robinson- Speakers Bureau Representative with Connect for Health
Bill joined Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. as an Area Vice President in 2002.  He has over 30 years of experience in the benefits industry.  Before coming to GBS, Bill served as Senior Vice President with a national employee benefit consulting and actuarial firm for nearly 15 years.  Prior to benefits consulting, Bill worked as an officer for two national insurance companies.   Bill has extensive experience with public sector health consulting, specializing in cost management strategies, managed care, joint purchasing initiatives, self-funding, competitive bidding, flex benefits, and consumer directed healthcare.   Bill obtained his undergraduate degree in Economics (with honors) from the University of California, and earned an MBA from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA.  He is a licensed health insurance broker in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, New Mexico, and South Dakota. In addition, Bill is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute and a Registered Health Underwriter.  

Ellen Winiarczyk
Ellen Winiarczyk, President and Sr. Consultant of Win-ar-zic & Associates, celebrates 13 successful years building and supporting strategic and collaborative initiatives on emerging issues in local communities and across the United States. Ellen partners with local and national foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies on evidence-based and research-oriented projects in youth development, K-16 education, leadership, multicultural excellence, emerging technology, and volunteerism. She led two projects for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in education reform and adult immigration research. She has also led 5 projects in strategic planning and sustainability initiatives for 4 different youth conservation programs.  For 5 years, Ellen co-managed executive leadership development training for the National Service Leadership Institute. She currently is coaching school principals for Denver Public Schools. She is recognized by the NW Chapter of the Association for Experiential Education for her community service to youth programs and experiential education expertise. Ellen is a doctoral student in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Denver focusing on leadership theory, coaching, organizational change and cultural competence. She teaches in the classroom and online in the University of Denver’s Leadership and Organization’s Masters program and the Regis University Masters of Nonprofit Management program For fun she loves to ski, hike, bike, and garden.