OUR STAFF & Board

Since 1989, the Alliance for Suicide Prevention has provided suicide prevention educational programs and grief support services to youth and adults. Our Mission is to prevent suicide in Larimer County through training and education, providing outreach, and offering support.

STAFF

Scott Smith, MSW

Executive Director
executivedirector@suicideprevent.org

Scott Smith, MSW, has been serving as the Executive Director of the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County since March of 2019. Scott has been working in the field of mental health and suicide prevention since 2012 and has been a life-long advocate for social justice. When Scott isn’t working, he is skiing, gardening or cooking food for family and friends. Scott’s super power is identifying gaps in communities and leveraging resources to fill them.

Kiera Butler

Grief Services Specialist
kiera@suicideprevent.org

Kiera has had a strong passion for mental health after losing her best friend to suicide in middle school. She enjoys coaching cheerleading as a UCA staff member and connecting with adolescents. In her free time, she loves to meditate, hike, workout, study holistic medicine, cook vegan meals for her blog, and spend time with her friends and family. Kiera’s super power is being a Phoenix, because she helps people rise from the ashes and bring light to the darkness.

Kimberly Pratt, MA, LPC

Program Director
kim@suicideprevent.org

Kimberly Pratt, MA, LPC has been working in suicide prevention since 2013. She is a Mater QPR Trainer and has trained over 45,000 people in suicide prevention trainings. She is passionate about crisis response, postvention work, and community building. During her off time, Kimberly spends time backpacking, playing with her dog, Maverick or cooking. Kimberly’s super power is her ability to remain calm and clear headed in a crisis.

Rachel Olsen

CNC Program Director
rachel@imaginezerosuicide.org

Before becoming the Imagine Zero Coalition Coordinator for the Alliance for Suicide Prevention of Larimer County, Rachel ran her own photography business for over a decade. Before that, she was a Professional Healthcare Representative for Pfizer as well as a Vail Ski Patroller and Backroads Bike Guide. When Rachel is not bringing her most adorable dog Ansel in for staff meetings, she can be found galavanting in the mountains with her family. Rachel’s super power is bringing people together and creating connection.

Jordyn Pearson

Administrative Assistant
admin@suicideprevent.org

Jordyn Pearson has a background in Psychology as well as many years in the food and beverage industry. She is often referred to as "the glue" of ASP because she holds all of the hullabaloo together. In her spare time she enjoys being outdoorsy aka spending time on patios. You can find her with a smile on her face and a dad joke ready to brighten your day!

Traci Sandoval

Youth Program Coordinator
traci@suicideprevent.org

Traci Sandoval has a B.A. in Psychology and was a middle school science teacher and a researcher and mentor in a neuroscience lab. Her focus has always been teaching both content and character, but also understanding the neurological changes of the maturing brain and working to incorporate positive habits during this challenging transition. Traci loves cooking, gardening, learning, camping, hiking and kayaking with her pup. Traci's super powers are her often infectious positive attitude and her ability to find the good in difficult experiences.

Silen Wellington

LGBTQ+ Outreach Coordinator
silen@suicideprevent.org

Silen Wellington is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and strives to make the world a better place, especially as the Alliance’s LGBTQ+ Youth Outreach Coordinator. Silen believes every young person needs a space to explore who they are and be witnessed for their unique gifts. Silen’s background is in psychology and music composition, and they are passionate about mental health, advocacy, and community building. Outside of work, they enjoy world-building through performance art, harvesting stories, continual transformation, and unhinged-unfettered-unapologetic dance. Silen’s superpower is creating spaces where people feel safe to come closer to their authentic selves.

Dawn Kirk

Youth Program Coordinator
dawn@suicideprevent.org

Dawn Kirk is a learning and development professional with 18 years of saving lives in the public safety industry. When she’s not working she serves on local, regional, and national boards and committees with a focus on efforts that improves lives of youth in our community. Dawn loves spending time with her family and their 11 pets including chickens and a leopard gecko. Her super power is honesty, she advocates for those of us who historically haven’t had a seat at tables where decisions are being made about us.

Board of Directors

Dawn Reed, MS, CPA

President of the Board
Certified Public Accountant

Dawn Reed, MS, CPA is an Accountant who has worked for almost 20 years as an accountant leading the financial function at various organizations in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She holds a BS in Business Administration from Western New England University, a MS in Accounting from the University of Connecticut and is currently pursuing her PhD in Business at the University of Denver. Dawn joined the Board in December 2019 and will be working to use her experience to help the organization continue to grow and thrive. Her passion for the mission of the organization comes from a family history of mental illness and suicide.

Jim Haselmaier

Secretary of the Board
Retired

Jim has been volunteering with the Alliance for Suicide Prevention since August 2016. He became a member of the board in January 2017. Jim has worked in the high technology field for over 30 years. In addition to having expertise in the software industry, he also has considerable experience in organization effectiveness and operations. Jim is excited to have this background be used for the benefit of the Alliance. Jim has lived in Ft. Collins for the majority of his life. He and his wife Kathy have two grown children. In his spare time he enjoys cycling and the outdoors.

Jo Ellen McCracken

Board Member
Retired
Jo Ellen McCracken has been serving the Alliance in various capacities for many years. Jo Ellen became a Volunteer for the Alliance in 2012. She joined the Board of Directors in 2015. Jo Ellen is a presenter for the Alliance's Adult Education program (Hope For Today) and has delivered the program to a wide range of companies, college classes and other organizations. Jo Ellen is a suicide loss survivor. She is retired following a 36 year career at Poudre Valley Hospital.

Kelsey Lyon

Board Member
Public Health Planning Supervisor

Kelsey Lyon is the Public Health Planning Supervisor for Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. Her strengths include strategic planning/visioning, monitoring and evaluation, work plan development, facilitation, and partnership development. In her free time Kelsey enjoys hiking, biking, running, and dogs.

Nikki Lucas, PMP

Vice President of the Board
Event Planner and Project Manager

Nikki has been on the Board of Directors for the Alliance since 2016 and currently serves as the Secretary. Nikki enjoys volunteering for the Alliance by organizing the logistics and details for fundraising, education, and remembrance events. She is inspired by music, joy, smiles, random adventures and a good book or movie. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, crafting and traveling. Nikki is a mother of 2 and married to Ben.

Alex Dutton

Treasurer of the Board
Regional Manager

Alex Dutton is the Regional Manager for Elevations Credit Union in Fort Collins. His strengths include budgeting, employee training and coaching. Alex moved to Colorado from New Hampshire in 2011 and quickly fell in love with Fort Collins. In his free time, Alex can be found watching his Boston Bruins, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, hiking with his dogs and his wife Tiffany or reading Batman graphic novels.

Jess Russell, MA, LAC

Board Member
Chief Operations Officer

Jess Russell, MA, LAC is a Licensed Addictions Counselor and holds a CO certificate as a Child and Family Investigator. She has more than 25 years in leadership roles in for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. She has a BS in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Upper Iowa University; and holds a MA in Counseling from Regis University. Jess has extensive experience in managing substance use disorder programs. Jess has enjoyed volunteering for the Alliance and is also an appointed Member of the Colorado Supreme Court Lawyer Well-Being Task Force. More recently Jess was also appointed to the Behavioral Health Entity Implementation and Advisory Committee (BHE-IAC) for the State of Colorado. Finally, Jess previously served as a member on CO’s Opioid Consortium. Jess enjoys camping with family and hosting gatherings with friends.

Ryan Bunn

Board Member
Retail Buyer

Ryan has worked in the outdoor retail industry for over 15 years and is currently a buyer for Sierra/TJX. He takes pride in his relationship building and business development skills. In his free time, Ryan can be found hunting, fishing and exploring the mountains with his wife, Caroline and their son, Warren.