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Now enrolling for Summer 2025!
Heather Simpson
Heather Simpson
Executive Director
Executive Director
Heather accepted the position of Executive Director at Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club in January 2025, bringing with her extensive experience in fundraising and donor relations. Born and raised in Montrose, CO, Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Science in Counseling and Student Development from Kansas State University. After spending time away, Heather and her family returned to Montrose in the summer of 2024. She is excited for the opportunity to serve in a leadership role at Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club. Her passion for children and creating safe, supportive environments where they can thrive makes her an excellent fit for this role. When not at work, Heather enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, paddleboarding, riding, fishing, cross-country skiing, and more!
Joey Schonauer
Joey Schonauer
Club House Director
Club House Director
Joey accepted the position of Site Director in January of 2025, coming from the Boys & Girls Club of Pueblo County. Joey is originally from Oklahoma, she attended the University of Central Oklahoma and graduated with a bachelors in Philosophy with a minor in Grief, Death, and Dying. Joey initially moved to the Western Slope of Colorado in late 2020, she met her husband and together they moved to Denver and then to Pueblo to start their little family. Joey became part of Boys & Girls Club of Pueblo County while still pregnant with her daughter Ellie, she started out as a part time employee at the Ray Aguilera Teen Center. Once Ellie was a little older, Joey took on a full time position at the teen center as a Prevention Specialist. Joey assisted in cultivating and facilitating intentional programming that aimed to prevent risky sexual behaviors, gang activity, and substance use in teens at the club.
Alayna joined the Club as the Executive Assistant in the Spring of 2022. Having two teachers for parents, child education has been a part of her life even past graduation. She was helping Sargent Elementary back in Monte Vista, Colorado, to set up Relay Recess, a school field day dedicated to Cancer survivors and awareness in partnership with Relay for Life. She participated in her local Relay for Life event for two years, once on a team and as the event DJ before COVID.
Alayna is jumping into the Montrose community by helping plan this year’s annual Wine and Food Festival and helping with our donor outreach. Outside of the Club, Alayna loves dipping into art hobbies such as dress and costume making and digital art. She is also a proud fur-parent to Reno, her cat that always makes for amusing office stories.
Alayna Akins
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Tammie Mantz
Tammie Mantz
Business Manager
Business Manager
Tammie started at the Club in 2020 as the Club's Business Manager. She has a passion for working for youth related non-profits; in addition to her role at the Club she also works for (and has since 2013) The Morgan Adams Foundation, a kid's cancer research organization based out of Denver.
Since starting at the Club, Tammie notes she has enjoyed learning about the Club and all it has to offer and getting to know the staff. The Club greatly appreciates all of Tammie's expert knowledge on non-profits particularly from the finance and accounting side. When not busy working, Tammie enjoys being in the outdoors hiking with her dog Annie Oakley (pictured above!).
Christina Varanai
Christina Varanai
Program Manager
Program Manager
Christina grew up in Western Colorado, Delta and Garfield County. She spent her young adult years working in Restaurant Management, and later running an in-home daycare.
She and her husband have 6 kids together.
She wanted to find a career that was rewarding and fun, knowing that like anything, it is what you make it.
Christina always strives to do her best and help others around her. She looks forward to making memories with the Members and Staff @ Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Laura Sanders
Laura Sanders
Board President
Board President
Chief Awesome Person - The Marketing Department
Chief Awesome Person - The Marketing Department
Laura works at The Marketing Department as a Marketing and Communications Specialist. She has 11 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and graphic design. She is also an avid traveler having visited 20 countries and having lived in at least 12 states. She is excited to be settled in and living in Western Colorado as she loves the outdoors. She is thrilled to be working with the Club, after seeing how much joy it brings to the kiddos.
Brad Oberto
Brad Oberto
Board Treasurer
Board Treasurer
Vice President - Bank of Colorado, Montrose
Vice President - Bank of Colorado, Montrose
Brad is Vice President at Bank of Colorado. He is a longtime supporter of the Club and proud board member who believes in the positive impact Club has on our community. Brad is a past President of the Club and past board member for the Colorado Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, cheering the Broncos and fly fishing. He and his wife Rebecca are expecting their first child in 2021, sure to be a future Club kid.
Jennie Tidwell
Jennie Tidwell
Vice President
Board Safety Chair
Vice President
Board Safety Chair
Retired Account Executive & Program Manager
Retired Account Executive & Program Manager
Jennie was raised in Montrose and graduated from Montrose High School. She spent her career as an Account Executive & Project Manager working for software companies supporting the Media Industry. She and her husband, Don Tidwell raised their two children in Littleton, Colorado. In 2021 with the ability to work remotely, they quickly set to moving back to Montrose. Jennie was able to retire in late 2022 and is thoroughly enjoying her retirement.
Jennie's parents (Ted & Tricia Dickinson) were very active in the Montrose community. Jennie wants to continue their legacy by actively participating in the community and supporting outstanding non-profits such as the Black Canyon Boys and Girls Club.
Tom
Kearney
Tom
Kearney
Board Member
Board Member
Retired Civil Engineer Del-Mont Consultants
Retired Civil Engineer Del-Mont Consultants
Tom moved to Montrose in 1980 from Louisiana/Texas. He is a retired Civil Engineer and President of Del-Mont Consultants. He has also been a Rotarian for 35 years of which he was President from 1992-93 and has been the Shoes for Kids Chairman for 14 years. In addition to his role as Club Director and as a Rotarian, Tom also has served on: the Academic Booster Club Board (President in its third year); the Pavilion Advisory Committee (leading to its founding); the Chamber of Commerce Board (1999-2000), the Montrose Community Foundation Board (late 1990's); and the Montrose Economic Development Board (late 1990's). Tom has been married to his wife, Kathleen, for 59 years and has three children, 5 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. In his spare time, he likes to golf, hike, travel, play pickle-ball, and go snowshoeing.
Tom noted the importance of the Club in the community highlighting its ability to serve kids and families in need.
Sherry Kammerer
Sherry Kammerer
Board Member
Board Member
Retired Teacher
Retired Teacher
Sherry is a retired teacher, grandmother, and the current Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club Board President. She has been part of the Club for the past 4 years. At the time she joined she notes "I did not know anything about the Club but I did know that I love working with children. I found out there was a two year waiting list for kids to join Club and wanted to find a way to fix that. This organization is working very hard to remove the waiting list by committing to build a new Club home in our community. I am proud to be a part of the Club, learning about what the Club has to offer in the way of programming for our kids and supporting my community with our Capital Campaign. It is challenging and exciting."
Sherry was also awarded Colorado Boys & Girls Club Board Member of the Year in 2020.
Justin
Mashburn
Justin
Mashburn
Board Member
Board Member
Facilities Manager - Montrose Recreation District
Facilities Manager - Montrose Recreation District
Justin grew up in Frederick, Colorado. After high school , he attended Cornell College in Iowa. While at Cornell, he majored in Sports Management and Economics, was captain of the baseball team and ran the school’s intramural department. He also met his wife Becky at Cornell. After graduation, he started as MRD’s Youth Recreation Coordinator, a position he still has today. Justin's passion for local youth development is part of why he joined the Club Board. Justin and Becky have two boys, Holden and Cy. They love Montrose and the countless opportunities it has to offer. In his spare time, Justin loves hiking, backpacking, and officiating high school & college basketball
Meet the staff!
Meet the staff!
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