Gina Maione Earles

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gina has been the Executive Director of Blue Sky Bridge since 2012. During her tenure, the organization has expanded into three programs providing child abuse intervention, therapy, and prevention education services. She has extensive experience with numerous nonprofit and for-profit organizations nationwide, offering her expertise in financial management and fundraising, communications and event planning, external relations, and organization dynamics and operations. Gina also serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Colorado Children’s Alliance. She received her BA from Northwestern University and MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College. Born in Indiana, Gina has lived on both coasts before settling permanently in Boulder with her husband and two sons. She enjoys the beautiful Colorado outdoors, visiting her Florida getaway, and escaping to her home pottery studio.

Susana Avelar, MSW

INTERVENTION TEAM DIRECTOR & FORENSIC INTERVIEWER
Susana joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2022. She began working as a Forensic Interviewer in 2016 and has conducted over 1,500 forensic interviews, in both English and Spanish. She began working in victim assistance in 2006 as a Legal Advocate and then as a Bilingual Counselor. Prior to becoming a Forensic Interviewer, Susana worked for Adams County Human Services as a Child Protection Intake Caseworker. Through the Colorado Children’s Alliance, Susana participates as a statewide trainer and has presented locally and nationally on the topics of forensic interviewing and language access. She has been endorsed as an expert witness in Forensic Interviewing in several Judicial Districts in Colorado. Susana has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and a Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Viviana Bracamontes

BILINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE
Viviana rejoined Blue Sky Bridge in early 2023 after a short career pause in 2021. She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Peace & Justice Studies and Sociology from Regis University. Viviana began working in the field of victim advocacy in 2016 and is highly passionate about serving her community in the capacity of a family support advocate. Working with children and families impacted by traumatic events is her calling and she is happy to be a part of the Blue Sky Bridge team.

Allison Breed, MSW, LCSW

THERAPIST
Allison Breed joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2017 as a Therapist.  Allison received her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2005 from the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University joint program.   She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Olaf College.   Allison has worked in community mental health with young adults, as well as worked for several years in schools supporting and empowering adolescents.   She was a school social worker in Boulder Valley School District, and also a Prevention/Intervention Specialist at a middle and high school in St. Vrain Valley School District.  Allison is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and provides Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at Blue Sky Bridge to children, teens, and caregivers impacted by traumatic experiences.  Using TF-CBT, Allison strives to meet families where they are to help them in their healing, as well as to strengthen their resiliency and overall wellbeing.

Tava Broze

PREVENTION OPERATIONS MANAGER
Tava joined Blue Sky Bridge in early 2022, after completing her BSW practicum with the Intervention Team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from University of Massachusetts. Tava coordinates all aspects of the School Based Education Program serving BVSD and SVVSD, is the supervisor of the Prevention Education Internship, and coordinator for the Education Committee volunteer program.  She also supports the Development & Outreach Team. Tava is passionate about empowering children and supporting families, and she is honored to be a part of the team.

Nicole Cherro

PREVENTION EDUCATION TEAM ASSOCIATE
Nicole joined Blue Sky Bridge in early 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Sociology certificate in Health, Care, and Resilience from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is passionate about educating and empowering children, as well as advocating for mental health, self-love, and body positivity. Since volunteering with the Education team for the past year and a half, Nicole is beyond excited to officially join the Prevention Education Team and continue helping keep kids safe.

Sophie Cohen

PROJECT & ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Sophie is originally from California and moved to Colorado 4 years ago. Her experience growing up with two younger brothers and working with children in various settings inspired her to want to be a role model and source of safety for children. She first joined Blue Sky Bridge as a Case Support Advocate. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a B.A. in Sociology focused on Education, she returned to Blue Sky Bridge as our Project and Administrative Coordinator. She takes pride in being part of an amazing non-profit where she and her team share a deep commitment to child welfare. In her free time, she loves being outdoors, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.

Gretchen Fair, LCSW

PREVENTION DIRECTOR
Gretchen joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2017. She has a Masters of Social Work from the National Catholic School of Social Service and a B.A. from Duke University. For the past decade, Gretchen has worked with survivors of interpersonal violence as a therapist and advocate in non-profits and in private practice. Gretchen works from a strengths-based model that emphasizes each individual’s inherent ability for growth after trauma.

Robin Friesen-Holwell, MS, LMFT

CLINICAL DIRECTOR & THERAPIST
Robin Friesen-Holwell joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2014, after working as a Family Support Advocate during her Master’s level internship. Robin holds a Master’s degree of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. During her time at Blue Sky Bridge, Robin has worked on strengthening and expanding prevention education across Boulder County.  Robin gives a variety of trainings about the issue of child sexual abuse, how adults can recognize it and respond appropriately, and how adults can talk to kids about their bodies. She is committed to the goal of expanding awareness of these issues in order to create a safer community for children and families. As a therapist on staff, Robin works with children and families who have experienced trauma and are on the journey of healing.  Robin is a nationally certified TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) therapist, is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy), and is a member of AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists) and APSAC (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children).

Raine Garcia, MA, LPC, ATR

BILINGUAL THERAPIST (she/ella)
Raine joined Blue Sky Bridge as a bilingual therapist in 2019. Raine’s formal training was at Southwestern College where she graduated with a dual Master of Arts degree in Counseling and Art Therapy. Prior to her employment at Blue Sky Bridge, she provided trauma-informed psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and adults in private practice, education systems, inpatient facilitates, and non-profit sector. Raine is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Art therapist, providing support to caregivers and children as a nationally certified TF-CBT (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy) therapist. Her individual and group sessions also incorporate aspects of creative, mindfulness, somatic, and humanistic therapeutic modalities. Guiding clients to understand the dynamics of their trauma with curiosity and compassion while expanding their relationship to their resilience is at the core of her work. She is motivated in supporting wellness, growth, and healing within families and communities.

Lisa Gills

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Lisa joined the team at Blue Sky Bridge in April 2024. During her career, she has contributed to the success of development and membership programs at local, state, and national non-profits in the health/human services, arts, and environmental protection sectors. Lisa has always prioritized working for organizations that make a positive difference in the lives of others and the environment. She is deeply motivated by Blue Sky Bridge’s important work to address and pursue preventive steps to eliminate child abuse. Lisa will be primarily focused on Blue Sky Bridge’s grants and planned giving programs. She grew up in Alexandria Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Lisa has found Colorado to be equally beautiful to her native state of Virginia and lives in Lafayette with her son, Chris. In her free time, she likes to stay active with family and friends by hiking, biking, singing, paddling or walking her dogs Belle and Loki.

Tanja Leonard

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE

Lisa Lohmann

SCHOOL PROGRAM PRESENTER 
Lisa Lohmann has dedicated her career to helping children. Her work has included teaching, serving lunch to elementary students, tutoring, volunteering at Blue Sky Bridge, and raising four wonderful children. Outside of helping others, you will find Lisa at kick-boxing and strength training classes, hiking up the goat trail on Sanitas, playing pickleball all over Boulder County or traveling to a new adventure with her husband.

Jetzabel Martinez

BILINGUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM PRESENTER

Lucia Martinez Diaz

BILINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE 
Lucia joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2022. Before joining the Intervention Team, Lucia worked as a Bilingual Child Protection Intake Caseworker for Boulder County were she collaborated regularly with Blue Sky Bridge. Prior to that Lucia had worked in different non-profits both in Boulder and Mexico City where she grew up. Lucia feels passionate about supporting children and their families. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Centro Eleia in Mexico City.

Megan O’Neil

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Megan joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2023. She recently worked in the private sector at Crestone Capital, LLC on their Client Advisory team in Boulder, overseeing the business development activities, process, and strategy. From 2009 – 2020, Megan served as Development Director for Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a think tank and nonprofit organization, in Aspen/Snowmass, raising funds and awareness for renewable energy projects worldwide. Prior to RMI, Megan worked in philanthropy at a single family office in Chicago, and at an educational foundation in San Francisco. This role at Blue Sky Bridge aligns with her passion for building authentic and long-term relationships to further advance philanthropic goals. She received a BA from Santa Clara University and grew up in San Diego.

Marce Olsen

PREVENTION EDUCATION TEAM ASSOCIATE
Marce joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2020. Marce graduated with a bachelors in social work from Utah State University. She started her career as a child welfare social worker and loved being part of the solution to combat child abuse. She loves teaching and empowering children to keep their bodies safe and having a voice. This work is her lifelong passion and is honored to be a part of this team!

Jillian Reid

FORENSIC INTERVIEWER & MDT COORDINATOR
Jillian joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2024. She has been conducting forensic interviews for 6 years at the largest child advocacy center in the state of Georgia. She began as an intern there in 2013 and served in multiple roles prior to beginning her work as a forensic interviewer. Jillian has trained partners, taught students, and served as the Multi-Disciplinary Team Facilitator for Fulton County, home to Atlanta. Jillian has been qualified as an expert witness in multiple Georgia courts in the areas of forensic interviewing and child sexual abuse dynamics. In addition to child sexual and physical abuse cases, Jillian has extensive experience interviewing human trafficking victims, witnesses to homicide, and gun violence victims and witnesses. Jillian has a bachelor’s degree in Human Services-Case Management from Kennesaw State University. She is excited to be part of the team at Blue Sky Bridge and serve the children and families of Boulder County.

Jeff Stewart

OPERATIONS MANAGER
Jeff joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2018. Coming to us from financial services management in a corporate environment, Jeff wanted to parlay his skills and experiences into meaningful administrative and logistical support for Blue Sky Bridge’s clinical and educational programs. His transition to the non-profit world was influenced by memories of years past, serving the needs of kids through education and volunteering opportunities. He’s proud and excited to be part of a mission which tangibly protects and serves children and families, and advances abuse prevention goals through educational outreach.  He holds a B.A. in History from Lafayette College.

Lisa Taylor Strauss

BILINGUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM PRESENTER

Imelda Villalobos

BILINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT ADVOCATE 
Imelda joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2024. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a B.A. in Criminal Justice focusing on Victims and Victim Services as well as a minor in Sociology. Imelda has interned at the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) and was a case support intern at Blue Sky Bridge before being hired as a staff member. She is proud to be a part of a non-profit that is committed to advocating for the awareness and prevention of child abuse. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and hanging out with her cats.

Ruth Wight

SCHOOL PROGRAM PRESENTER
Ruth graduated years ago from Smith College with a major in Psychology and minor in English. She worked for many years as a Development Director for non-profits, before discovering her love of teaching youth and children. This led to work as a Youth Mentor for several Boulder non-profits and to volunteer for Blue Sky Bridge. She is dedicated to empowering child and youth voices and teaching kids the skills they need to thrive. Ruth is honored to be part of the Prevention Education Team at Blue Sky Bridge and looks forward to helping kids stay safe.

Madison Wilmeth, MSW, LSW

THERAPIST
Madison joined Blue Sky Bridge in 2024 as a therapist. Prior to this role, she was a Masters level intern on the intervention team where she learned firsthand about advocacy and supporting children and their families. Madison holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Massachusetts Global and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University Channel Islands. She is a Licensed Social Worker and works with children and their families through traumatic experiences utilizing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Madison focuses on promoting growth and well-being by empowering her clients and providing them with the necessary skills and support to navigate life’s multifaceted challenges.

CONSULTANTS

Mercedes A. Bransfield

COLORADO CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETER

Silvina Madga

COLORADO CERTIFIED COURT INTERPRETER