Deena Hartje
Board Chair
dhartje@tre.org
Deena Hartje grew up in Colorado Springs in an Air Force military family. After twelve years of working in advertising, marketing, and arts & entertainment, she decided to focus full time as a mom, military spouse and volunteer. In 2009, the family returned to the local area when after 25 years of service in the Air Force, her husband Tim retired at the Air Force Academy. In addition to TRE, Deena volunteers as the Vice President of Village Center Metro District and as a Docent at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. Tim and Deena have two sons, Carson, and Jack. At age three, Jack was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Delay and is currently a client of TRE. “Knowing we can help families with children like Jack, and other individuals with a variety of disabilities who change our lives and our hearts makes me proud to serve with TRE.” Deena is a graduate of CU, Boulder (Journalism & Mass Communications) and University of LaVerne (Masters, Business Organizational Management.)
Dan Mirer
Vice Chair
dmirer@tre.org
Dan Mirer is a Senior Manager overseeing Program Governance and Controls at a Colorado Springs aerospace and semiconductor company. Dan has been very active in nonprofit leadership roles, serving as a board member, treasurer, and president of his synagogue, and most recently as treasurer for Rocky Mountain Options for Long Term Care (RMOLTC).
Dan’s aptitude toward financial management and fundraising have served him well over the years in leadership roles. He is especially proud of the creation of a long-term sustainability fund that grew large enough to become its own separate foundation and 501(c)(3), of which he currently serves as Treasurer.
Dan has been in Colorado Springs since 2001, and enjoys time with his family, enjoying such activities as running, skiing, and theatre. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, a Master’s in Engineering Management, and a Project Management Professional Certification from PMI.
While he has known for many years about The Resource Exchange and the services it provides, his formal connection developed during the recent transition of RMOLTC services to TRE. He is excited about the opportunity to help this great organization continue to grow and provide the support to such a wonderful and special community!
Jordan Weimar
Treasurer
jweimar@tre.org
Jordan Weimar is the Controller at Vanguard Skin Specialists in Colorado Springs, overseeing finances and budgeting. He also plays an active role in strategic planning and development. Prior to Vanguard, Jordan held a similar position at Community Health Partnership where he managed the administration departments of finance, human resources, payroll, information technology, and compliance. Jordan started his career as an auditor at BKD, focusing on healthcare non-profit organizations.
Jordan received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Colorado State University and master’s in business administration from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Jordan has been involved in many local non-profit efforts including most recently as a member of the BKD Foundation Committee.
Laurie Huisingh
Secretary
lhuisingh@tre.org
Laurie Huisingh is a Certified Nursing Assistant and has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Western Washington University. Laurie was born and raised in the Seattle area and married an Army officer, which took them overseas and to different cities all over the country.
She and her husband now live in Colorado Springs with their three children and their youngest was diagnosed with Rett syndrome at 19 months old. Laurie coordinates the medical and therapeutic care of her daughter and has been active in fundraising and community projects through the Rett syndrome Research Association and the Rocky Mountain Rett syndrome Association.
Diane Loschen
Board Member
dloschen@tre.org
Diane, Operations Coordinator at Kidpower Colorado, is a graduate of Drake University where she earned her BA in Business Administration. In addition to industry accreditations and awards, she was recognized as a Colorado Springs Business Journal Woman of Influence in 2008. With over twenty-five years of professional experience in both for-profit and non-profit arenas to include marketing, management, event planning, public relations, media, sponsorship and development, Diane has been actively involved in the community through planning committees and board service.
While not a native, Diane considers Colorado Springs home. Her family lived in the community on two separate occasions, making Colorado Springs home as she was entering fifth grade. Marrying her college sweetheart, Diane and husband Rae have lived in Colorado Springs since 1990.
“I was first introduced to the work of TRE by attending a fundraising luncheon in 2011. I became a donor that day. The services offered by TRE are vital to our community and our family believes strongly in investing in organizations which build inclusion and independence.”
Julia Sands de Melendez
Board Member
jmelendez@tre.org
Julia is the principal at Julia J. Melendez, LLC, and is recently retired from the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute (CSLI). With a degree in Technical Management, emphasis in Project Management, Julia has over 30 years of corporate and nonprofit experience in the areas of project, customer and event management. Currently she is working and training in the performing arts, writing and production spaces. She is originally from Bellevue, Nebraska, and has lived in Colorado Springs for 34 years.
Julia’s community involvement includes board service with the Colorado Springs Public Arts Commission, Ivywild Improvement Society and The Resource Exchange. She also enjoys mentoring with the Karen Possehl Women’s Endowment (KPWE).
Along with her husband, Julia enjoys spending time with their three grown sons and their growing families. They also like to take advantage of the great variety of arts, entertainment and outdoor activities that come with living in our beautiful city and incredible state.
Amy Yutzy
Board Member
ayutzy@tre.org
Amy is the Director of Medicaid programs at Physician Health Partners. She comes to the new role with 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit world primarily in the child welfare sector. Most recently, Amy served as chief operating officer with Community Health Partnership where she oversaw a collaborative care program serving 170,000 Health First Colorado members.
Heidi Brandon
Self Advocate
hbrandon@tre.org
Heidi has received services from The Resource Exchange since 1990 and now serves on the Board of Directors as a self-advocate. Heidi was born in Big Spring, Texas and graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs.
She now lives in a host home where she enjoys sewing, knitting, and adult coloring. She has attended New Life Church and Springs Church since 1989. Heidi is an accomplished swimmer, competing in Special Olympics for many years, including the Special Olympics International World Games in Minnesota in 1991, where she won a Gold and Silver medal and two Bronze medals.
Heidi’s son was born in 1998, and she made the decision to give him up in an open adoption so he could have a better life and she is able to visit him often. A proud Mom, Heidi traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas to see her son graduate from North Little Rock High School in May 2016.
Dave Paul
Board Member
dpaul@tre.org
Dave Paul has an extensive background in not only the mortgage profession, but also public service. He is the CEO of Town & Country Residential Lending and was also elected as Teller County Commissioner, serving in that role from 2011 to 2019. He is a Judicial Performance Commissioner on the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance and previously served on the Colorado Limited Gaming Impact Grant Advisory Committee. Dave graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and has been a member of Rotary International since 1999. He also enjoys being a member of the Denver Broncos Football Club, participating from the south stands at all home regular season and playoff games including Super Bowl 50.
Tina Swonger
Board Member
tswonger@tre.org
Tina Swonger grew up In St. Louis, Missouri with two younger brothers, one with special needs who currently lives with her. She has lived in Colorado since 1984 and has called Colorado Springs home since 1994. Tina is an active member of the community, having been involved in organizations such as Partners in Housing, Mosaic, Mary’s Home, and Springs Rescue Mission. She and her husband own three businesses and Tina has been a successful full-time residential realtor for 30 years. They have been married over 22 years and have five sons and nine grandchildren.
Tina’s passion is helping older adults and the elderly as well as difficult family and estate situations that require sensitivity, in–depth knowledge, patience and compassion. She loves spending time with her family enjoying anything from scuba diving to traveling and staying fit and healthy. 
George Mentz
Board Member
gmentz@tre.org
Commissioner George Mentz JD MBA CILS is a global educator, tax-economist, international lawyer and CEO of the International Board of Standards. George is also an award-winning author and graduate law professor of wealth management in the United States for a top US law school. George has an earned Doctor of Jurisprudence, an MBA, a graduate international law certificate/diploma and is a licensed attorney (LA) admitted to the US Colorado Federal Courts. He has worked as an investment banker and management consultant, and he is a professor teaching over 250 law, business, and ethics courses. An economic advisor for various organizations, he has also written and published over 50 books and audio books. George has volunteered for several administrations including Obama, Bush, and Trump, writing and consulting for the US Department of Labor, and is also a member of the White House Commission for Presidential Scholars (2019-2021). He and his companies have been featured or quoted in radio, TV and press.
George enjoys tennis, travel, raising his three children, and serving as a founder of the Aspen Commission. He was introduced to TRE by various leaders in Colorado over a decade ago, and years later TRE was able to help his family.
Lois Landgraf
Board Member
llandgraf@tre.org
Before moving to Colorado in 2002, Lois Landgraf lived in Seattle, WA where she worked at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine. While there, she played an integral role in starting the Cardiovascular Health Research Unit. Lois has her MBA from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland.
While in Germany, Lois worked with the German Jugendamt to establish a Foster Care program for the children of Americans living in Europe. After moving to Colorado, she became active in the political arena holding offices within the County Republican Party, serving on the City of Fountain’s economic development committee and on City Council. She has held many civic positions including Coordinator of the Red Cross Program in a US Army community of 10,000, zoo volunteer, PTA treasurer, and 4-H leader. In 2012 she was elected to the Colorado State House of Representatives, where she was ranking member of the Public Health and Environment Committee. She was also a member of the Energy and Environment Committee and sat on the Heath Benefit Exchange and the Governor’s Behavioral Health Task Force.
She is currently the Executive Director of the nonprofit organizations Friends for the Future and Friends for Colorado. She and her husband, Jim, who is retired from the Army, have five children and six grandkids.
Jessie Martinez
Board Member
jmartinez@tre.org
Jessie Martinez is an Audit Manager at BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm in the Colorado Springs office. He provides audit services for a variety of public sector and nonprofit clients. As an audit in-charge, Jessie leads the client engagement process, including the supervision and training of the audit team, review of audit workpapers, and communication with the client and lead audit executive. He also provides Single Audit compliance testing, which allows nonprofit and governmental organizations to conform with federal funding requirements.
Jessie is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Colorado Society of CPAs. He graduated from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, with an M.S. degree in accounting and a B.S. degree in business with an emphasis in accounting. He likes to hike, watch movies, play video games, travel and is the proud uncle to five nieces.
Colleen Head Batchelor
Chief Executive Officer
Colleen Head Batchelor, long-time Child and Family Services Director at The Resource Exchange (TRE), was voted in as permanent CEO by the TRE Board of Directors in their June 17, 2020 Board meeting. Colleen joined The Resource Exchange in 2009 and has over 30 years of experience working in the field of early child development, disability and intervention.
Colleen has worked in multiple-state systems, including Texas, New Jersey, and Colorado where her roles have included service provider, program administrator, state personnel development coordinator, and state procedural safeguards coordinator. She has also been Executive Director for Colorado Springs-based nonprofit, Resources for Young Children and Families, providing oversight and supervision of the implementation and delivery of early intervention services in El Paso County.
In addition to serving as Director of Child and Family Services at TRE, Colleen is also adjunct professor for University of Northern Colorado’s (UNC) Early Childhood Special Education Master’s Program. Colleen received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Austin College and her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Texas. She also graduated from the Leadership Consortium on Developmental Disabilities at the University of Delaware and is an ACES Master Trainer.
