The people running our programs every day
Our managers and supervisors run the programs people count on every day, from the day program, work services, and Perdita’s Coffee to therapeutic foster care, family time, and our group center. Many came up through direct support and case management roles here before leading teams of their own. Others keep the offices, finances, technology, and people operations behind that work running in every region we serve.
Managers
John Sullivan
Reyna Vigil
Reyna (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2009, serving as the Office Manager for the Colorado Springs and Wheat Ridge offices since 2010. Reyna has a wealth of experience in her field. She was a clothing store manager for seven years and worked for The Resource Exchange (TRE), which is a Community Centered Board (CCB), for eight years before coming to Ariel. Her experience there gave her a solid foundation working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and with office management. In her free time, Reyna enjoys staying fit through various activities such as hiking, yoga, Pilates and strength-training, reading, crafting, learning new things, and traveling.
Mackenzie Brannon, LPT
Michelle Powner, MSW
Michelle (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2008, serving as the Program Manager since 2019, where she oversees the Foster Care and Adult Services Case Management teams for our Wheat Ridge office. Michelle holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Metropolitan State University. Her skills and experience comes from her service industry experience, being a Peace Corp volunteer and traveling around Europe. Michelle’s career has grown at Ariel as she has held positions here as a Case Manager, Coordinator, Supervisor and now as the Regional Manager. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and relaxing with puzzles.
Jesse Padilla-Goryl, MA, BCBA
Jesse has been with Ariel since 2019, serving as the Behavioral Services Program Manager on the Western Slope since 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Special Education and Family Studies from Central Michigan University and a Master’s degree (MA) in Special Education, with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado. Jesse’s skills and experience come from working with children with special needs as a teacher, a position he held for over six years prior to joining our team. Jesse’s professional focus is on providing a person-centered and trauma-informed behavioral approach. In his free time, Jesse enjoys outdoor activities such as rafting, kayaking, biking, and SAR (Search and Rescue).
Ricia Sawtelle Golder, MA
Ricia (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2026, serving as our Adult Services Program Manager for our Colorado Springs and Pueblo offices since her hiring. Ricia holds an undergraduate degree in Special Education from the University of Maine and a Master of Psychology from Purdue University. Her skills and experience come from working in Special Education and the Social Services field for the past 20 years. Her goal at Ariel is to continue to foster a culture where all individuals feel welcomed and valued. In her free time, she enjoys painting and traveling.
Sarah Knight
Sarah (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2012, serving as the Vocational Program Manager since 2024. Sarah has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Her personal investment in creating a community where everyone feels included and valued is rooted in her experience as a mother of an adult child with I/DD. At Ariel, she is responsible for creating opportunities for meaningful engagement and for supporting Members in developing connections and relationships within our community. In her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her four children and three grandchildren, as well as camping and fishing.
Debra Spence, BGS
Deb (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2020, serving as an Adult Residential Program Manager on the Western Slope since 2025. Deb holds a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) with an emphasis in Psychology and Education from the University of Indiana. Deb gained most of her expertise and experience conducting investigations for cases involving children, adolescents, and adults in the State of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health, and Family Services (CHFS). Deb also provided case management for children with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED) through a mental health organization in Kentucky. She was introduced to the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver in Wyoming, where she worked as a case manager, provider, and patient support specialist for individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), prior to joining Ariel. In her free time, Deb enjoys gardening, music, and spending time with her family.
Audrey Gill
Audrey has been with Ariel since 2017, serving as the Auxiliary Child and Family Services Program Manager since 2026. She brings extensive knowledge of child development and family systems, gained through her experience working in school districts, daycare settings, and directly supporting families as a private nanny. Throughout her time at Ariel, Audrey has held a variety of roles, including Parenting Time Coach, Life Skills Coach, Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS) Assessor, Parenting Time Lead, and Family Time Supervisor. These experiences have given her a comprehensive understanding of fee-for-service programs and strengthened her commitment to providing exceptional support and services to children and families. Audrey enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, camping, traveling on a motorcycle, crocheting, cooking, drawing, reading, crafting, and watching movies and true crime documentaries.
Supervisors
Spencer Hoffman, MA, LPC-S
Spencer (he/him) has been with Ariel since 2014 and has served as Mental and Behavioral Health Supervisor since 2023. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University. Spencer specializes in trauma treatment, with certifications in both Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—an approach that works directly with how the nervous system processes and stores painful experiences. He began his career doing social work in Chicago’s inner-city communities before moving to Colorado, where he worked in child welfare at Mesa County Department of Human Services prior to joining Ariel. Outside the office, Spencer loves getting outdoors—whether biking, hiking, or exploring desert canyons—and spending time with his wife, two sons, and their fearless dog, Toby.
Brittany Lauer
Brittany (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2016, serving as the Behavior Program Supervisor since 2026. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Utah and a Master of Arts (MA) in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Arizona State University. Brittany started at Ariel in 2016 as an administrative assistant and fell in love with the world of Human Services. While completing her bachelor’s in social work, she spent her internship in both the counseling and ABA departments within Ariel. Now, as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Ariel, she is able to blend both her love for social work and behavior analysis to improve the lives of those we serve with individualized services and trauma-informed support. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with friends and family, camping, reading, kayaking, paddleboarding, and gaming.
Brandon Weaver
Brandon has been with Ariel since 2022, serving as the Adult Services Agency (ASA) Case Manager Supervisor for the Wheat Ridge office since 2023. Brandon has served in the healthcare industry on the Front Range since 2017. His professional experience includes working with the memory impaired, medically fragile, and quadriplegic individuals requiring high intensity care, which helped him realize his passion for serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and wanted to make a difference for the whole community. This led him to Ariel, where he started as a case manager and eventually was promoted to supervisor. In his free time, Brandon enjoys listening and producing various types of music, spending time in the mountains, cycling, kayaking, and enjoying nature with his family.
Sarah Suazo, BA
Jane Harrison
Jane has been with Ariel since 2020 and has served as the Sprite House Supervisor since 2026. Jane began her career at Ariel as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), quickly transitioned into a Lead role, and achieved her goal of becoming a Supervisor through her passion and dedication to supporting children and families. Throughout her time at Ariel, she has completed numerous professional development trainings, including CPR, First Aid, CPI, QMAP, BSIT, and Informed Supervision. She also has a Food Handler certification, among many others. Prior to joining Ariel, Jane worked as a Site Leader for after-school programs and summer camps in California. After moving to Colorado, she was looking for an opportunity to return to working with children and found her dream job at Sprite House. Jane credits Ariel’s commitment to training and employee growth for helping her succeed and advance within the organization. In her free time, Jane enjoys spending time with her nephew, traveling to Disneyland, attending concerts with her mom, and watching Christmas movies year-round with her sister.
Michele Fletcher
Michele has been with Ariel since 2018, serving as the Administrative Supervisor for the Wheat Ridge office since 2021. Michele joined our workforce with over ten years of customer service experience, and over five in a leadership role. Michele started as an administrative assistant for the Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) program at Ariel before moving to our adult program. Michele was then promoted to Administrative Supervisor where she is responsible for supervising staff, communicating effectively, collaborating, organizing, and monitoring work progress to ensure department goals are accomplished successfully. Michele loves to volunteer by practicing good deeds through the WeLoveU Foundation and taking care of personal wellbeing.
Emily Kallina, BA
Daniela Martinez
Orion Chamberlain, BS
Orion Chamberlain (he/him) has been with Ariel since 2019, serving as the Information Technology Supervisor since 2025. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science–Software Engineering from Colorado Technical University Online and is Certified in Cybersecurity by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2). Orion began his journey at Ariel in 2019 as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), providing individuals with compassionate care, patience, and a strong sense of responsibility. His dedication to service and proactive approach to challenges highlighted his aptitude for technology. In 2022, he advanced to the position of IT Support Specialist, contributing significantly to the enhancement of Ariel’s digital infrastructure. Now serving as IT Supervisor, Orion is committed to optimizing end-user experiences while ensuring robust data security for Ariel and its Members. His comprehensive knowledge of the organization allows him to proactively identify potential issues, implement effective solutions, and deliver training that empowers colleagues. In his free time, Orion enjoys walking his dogs, going to the gym, and playing both video games and board games.
Krista Watson, BA
Krista (she/her) has been with Ariel since 2022, serving as one of the Adult Services Case Manager Supervisors since 2025. Krista holds a Bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a Level One Certification for Conducting Serious Investigations. Krista has previously served as an Adult Services Case Manager at Ariel for three years, where she demonstrated her commitment and passion working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Before her tenure at Ariel, Krista worked as a case manager for The House and Laurel House for a combined six years. She began her career as a youth advocate, supporting person-centered goals and residential transitions. Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion, where she supervised youth advocates and Colorado Mesa University interns, fostering professional growth, self-efficacy, quality assurance, and adherence to core missions and values. Krista’s goal at Ariel is to support Ariel case managers in practicing the Ariel Difference by providing excellent care and customer service to Members and providers while fostering the professional growth and wellness of case managers. In her free time, Krista enjoys painting, listening to podcasts or music, and baking.
Becky Helgesen
Rosie Hilger
Stacie Herlyn, BS
Robyn Hoyt
Eric Ernst, MSN, BSN, RN
Carolyn Pierce, BS
Amy McGregor
Peggy Espinoza, BA
Peggy has been with Ariel since 2014, serving as People Operations Supervisor since 2026. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Human Resources (HR) from Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and is credentialed with the SHRM-CP and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certifications. Her professional background includes HR experience at a national hotel chain’s call center, expertise in the hospitality industry, and entrepreneurial leadership as the owner of her own business. Peggy’s career progression at Ariel encompasses roles such as HR Specialist, HR Generalist, and Lead People Operations Generalist. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, enjoying outdoor activities, and engaging in crafting.
