Board of Directors

Currently Tony is the owner and president of SPIRE Manufacturing Solutions, LLC, specializing in machining and manufacturing innovative precision components of multiple industries. Tony started his career in the water purification industry as a product design engineer. Taking an application engineering concept through design and build was something Tony excelled in early in his professional career. Tony followed his passion of manufacturing and joined the team at ITT Corp Advanced Engineering & Sciences in the remote control division. After developing and designing multiple products he found a niche at a manufacturing and machining facility. Following that challenge, he was responsible for a seven million dollar annual operation as the manufacturing manager. Tony credits his success to a hard work ethic he learned at a very early age being raised on a farm and working residential construction. Tony has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Dakota. Since starting SPIRE MS, Tony has been very active in Southern Colorado’s innovation clusters and manufacturing forums. His participation has shed light on building this economy and giving people opportunities in high end manufacturing products.

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 Hartjes returned to the local area and after 25 years of service in the Air Force, her husband Tim retired at the Air Force Academy. In addition to TRE, Deena volunteers her time as the Secretary of Village Center Metro District and a Docent at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.

Tim and Deena have two sons, Carson (17) and Jack (14). At age three, Jack was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Delay. “Knowing we can help other families who have children like Jack, and all the IDD individuals 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.)

Sarah Brittain Jack is the principal of Sarah B. Jack & Associates primarily a political and government relations firm focusing on relationships between the private sector and their government. Sarah has been very active in the community for more than 30 years both in the political and government relations’ arena as well as being a volunteer in the non-profit sector. Sarah’s involvement with The Resource Exchange (TRE) began in early 2000 and has continued as a volunteer for the organization including since its inception The Building the Dream event as a table host. “I have a niece with an intellectual disability and because of the caring, committed people, including her family, teaching, mentoring, and nurturing her she has made a very successful life for herself.” said Sarah “That commitment to people who need a bit more of a hand up is what I see the amazing people who work for this organization do everyday and I want to support that endeavor in any way that I can.”

Jonathan A. Liebert is currently the CEO and Executive Director of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Jonathan is a Colorado Springs Native, is a recognized Leader in Colorado by the Beanstalk Foundation, and was presented with the 2016 Rising Star award by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. As the CEO of the BBB since June 2015, Jonathan has sought to increase awareness in the community of the importance of integrity and trust in business, revitalizing the BBB brand that has played a crucial role in our community for more than 30 years.

Previously Jonathan served as Vice President of AspenPointe Enterprises, where he spent 14 years building a stronger community through social enterprise, solving prevalent social issues, and serving disadvantaged populations. Well respected as a Social Enterprise expert in our community, he is often sought out for his expertise in this emerging fourth sector of the economy, using business strategies to improve the health and welfare of our community. Jonathan is also one of the co-creators of the Peer Navigator Model, an innovative model for the military that was presented to the White House Joining Forces Committee and has been featured in the New York Times and Time Magazine.

Jonathan currently serves on the Board of the Colorado Chapter of the Social Enterprise Alliance, Pikes Peak Workforce Investment Board, Junior Achievement Board, The Resource Exchange Board, Silver Key Social Enterprise Committee, PPCC Business Advisory Committee, and the SHIFT Thrift Store Board. Jonathan has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Counselor Education from the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center.

Judith Light is a Certified Management Consultant whose clients include public and private sector organizations Her focus is to increase personal, team and organizational effectiveness, using Appreciative Inquiry approach. Specific expertise includes organizational transformation, planning, customer service, leadership development, increasing quality of relationships and work environment, ethics awareness, communications training and coaching. The philosophy and approach are inclusive of all stakeholders to increase strategic capacity.

She served three terms on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association and served as Board President. She also served in several positions during two terms on the national Board of Directors of the Institute of Management Consultants. She was selected to represent IMC on the ClubCorp Women’s Board of Advisors. Judith has consulted with local non-profits including Palmer Land Trust and Leadership Pikes Peak.

Diane, CEO at Council of Neighbors and Organizations, 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.”

Ron has worked in the development arena for 14 years, first as a Major Gifts Officer at Colorado College and currently at The Memorial Hospital Foundation as the Development Director for Major Gifts. This work emerged from Ron’s career as a stock broker that spanned 22 years previously. Other boards Ron has served on include Children’s Literacy Center, Downtown Rotary Club, The Arc of the Pikes Peak Region, Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, Nutrition Camp School Foundation, Colorado College, Memorial Hospital Foundation, and City of Colorado Springs advisory groups including The Trails, Open Space and Parks Working Committee and Utility Policy Advisory Committee. Ron has participated in hundred million dollar campaigns and also smaller but significant fundraising projects. He finds each of these challenges rewarding for each organization and in each goal that is reached. Ron is married to Karen for 39 years and has two grown children. Jill is married and lives in Colorado Springs and Daniel lives in Jerusalem, Israel with his family.

Julia Sands de Melendez is the Organizational Director of the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute (CSLI).

With a degree in Technical Management, emphasis in Project Management, Julia has over 28 years of corporate and nonprofit experience in the areas of project, customer and event management. She is originally from Omaha, and has lived in Colorado Springs for 30 years.

Julia’s community involvement includes board service with Day2 International, El Paso County Parks Advisory Board, Ivywild Improvement Society and The Resource Exchange. She also volunteers on committees such as the Rising Professionals Mentorship Committee, Special Kids Special Families, Innovations in Aging iVillages, and the CONO Active Living Coalition. She is a mentor with both the Karen Possehl Women’s Endowment (KPWE) and the Rising Professionals.

Along with her husband, Julia enjoys spending time with their 3 grown sons and 2 lovely daughters-in-law. They also like to take advantage of the variety of entertainment and outdoor activities that come with living in our great city and this beautiful state.