Board of Directors

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 Hartje 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.

Carolyn Wharton is a CPA and the President of Carolyn Wharton, PC and has been a resident of El Paso County since 1991. She has assisted small business owners and individuals in building their businesses and planning for their future goals with Carolyn Wharton, PC since 1999. Her devotion to the accounting profession began in the banking industry in the 1980s and continued with her tenures at KPMG and Ernst & Young while in Wichita, Kansas.

Upon return to Colorado in 1991, she began raising her family and developing family businesses before starting Sundahl & Associates, P.C. in 1999, which then became Carolyn Wharton, PC in 2017. Her passion for relationships and assisting others has led her to contribute time and energy to a variety of organizations including the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, and Interfaith Hospitality Network to name a few.

Carolyn was introduced to TRE in recent years through a Board member. After speaking and visiting with family members and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), she committed to join the Board in early 2016. Family stories and struggles, the mission of TRE coupled with integrating individuals with IDD back into our community, and the incredible TRE staff and Board were the motivating factors in being a part of this incredible organization. “The passion of each individual involved with TRE whether it is an employee or volunteer is inspiring. I felt compelled to be a part in making positive changes in the lives of those affected by IDD—families and individuals—along with the impact on our community.”

Carolyn is a graduate from the University of Colorado-Boulder (Economics) and The Wichita State University (Master of Professional Accounting). Her interests include a great love of the outdoors whether on a bike or on a hike, travel, cooking, and gardening.

Sarah Brittain Jack
Board Member
sjack@tre.org

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.”

Tony Feltman
Board Member
tfeltman@tre.org

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.

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.”

Julia Sands de Melendez
Board Member
jmelendez@tre.org

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.