team
Our dedicated team is here to make a difference
our
team
Stephanie Engels
Additional roles: Co-Founder & Board Member
Stephanie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with a Master’s of Education (M.Ed.), specializing in autism. Stephanie has worked with individuals with disabilities of all ages for over 20 years in a variety of settings. REVEL was developed because Stephanie had the desire to create an environment for young adults on the autism spectrum, where they could feel comfortable, accepted for who they are, and have the opportunity for self-growth. She wants the impact of REVEL’s mission to promote and support a better quality of life for neurodiverse individuals.
Gabby Lorge
Gabby grew up in Wisconsin and went to UW-Milwaukee where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a focus in child and adolescent development. While going to college, she took a class called an introduction to applied behavior analysis. This class led to her passion for working with people with autism spectrum disorder. She has been working in the ABA field for the past two and a half years and has been involved with the developmental disability field for 5 years. Throughout her time in the ABA field, she’s worked with adolescents and provided early intervention with kiddos between the ages of 2-6 years old. With these two experiences she found that working with teens and young adults is her calling! She is passionate about helping others master skills that are vital for communicating, self advocacy and achieving their best quality of life!
Stacey Owsiany
Stacey graduated with her bachelors degree in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011. Following graduation, she started her career working as a high school special education teacher teaching students with significant support and behavior needs. She received her masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2015. Stacey worked as district level behavior support in Colorado and North Carolina before leaving public schools to fine tune her skills in the clinical setting. During this time, she worked with autistic people throughout the lifespan, and found her calling in working with adults. Stacey is passionate about client advocacy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and clinical leadership. Her goal is to help clients and staff alike in identifying their values and making committed actions toward those values. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and Boston Terrier named Dwight, thrifting, and listening to Stevie Nicks.
Fred Bernard
Fred is a pre-licensed clinical psychologist who received his Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2022. He has worked with individuals with autism and IDDs of all ages and in a variety of capacities, including as a psychotherapist, paraprofessional, and counselor. From these experiences, he has seen firsthand that such individuals can thrive in distinctive and often unexpected ways given the right opportunities, along with the understanding of those around them. When not working, he enjoys exploring all of Denver has to offer as a new arrival to the city.
Dakota Yeck-Petty, CTRS
Dakota is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) with a long history of working with individuals with disabilities. Coming from a family background of Special Education administrators, and social workers Dakota was exposed to autism awareness and advocacy at a very early age. While still in high school he began working at a Summer Camp for children who had autism. This work inspired him to pursue a career in working with individuals with disabilities, specifically individuals on the autism spectrum. Dakota then went on to attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he began his studies in Special Education, and in 2018 received his bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. During his time in college he worked jobs in adaptive recreation, and post secondary education helping young adults with autism learn independent living skills, and practice appropriate social behaviors. Dakota moved from Illinois to Colorado in 2018, and first interacted with REVEL through his previous position as the Program Coordinator for the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s (NSCD) Denver programs. Dakota is excited to bring his skills and experience to this amazing organization at REVEL! When not working at REVEL, Dakota can be found playing music with his bluegrass band the “Dakota Gray Band’ all over the Colorado front range.
Brooke Robillard
Brooke is originally from Sisters, Oregon and moved to Denver, Colorado to attend the University of Denver. She recently graduated from DU with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her experience attending school has sparked her passion for increasing the quality and access to mental health education. She has experience working as an swim instructor for neurodiverse individuals and her work creating adapted learning materials for individuals with ASD lead her to pursue further opportunities working with the ASD community at REVEL. Brooke is looking forward to supporting individuals with ASD feel fulfilled and enriched in their lives!
Melissa Boik
Melissa Boik grew up in South Dakota and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development with a teaching license in Early Childhood Education from Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has played several roles in her career implementing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities. Her passion is to help those with ASD reach their fullest potential while treating them with dignity and respect. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys playing ice hockey, snowboarding, traveling, and cooking in her spare time.
Brian Cohn, M.Ed.
Brian Cohn is a passionate Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who aims to help his child, adolescent and adult clients live a rewarding and meaningful life, full of rich experiences. He utilizes applied behavioral analysis and other evidenced based practices (ACT, PRT) to help clients increase prosocial behaviors that move them closer to their values and goals.
Brian Cohn received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas with a Minor in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2009. In 2014, Brian received his Masters in Education with an emphasis in Autism from the University of Massachusetts. Brian has been a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2014. Brian is currently pursuing certification in the Early Start Denver Model.
When he is not working you can find him exploring the wonders of Colorado with his wife, two children, and pug. Brian also loves to play and listen to music.
Justin Engels
Justin grew up in Wisconsin and attended the University of Minnesota to study sociology and political science. His love of nature led him to Colorado in 2010. Justin has worked as a ski guide, adaptive sports instructor and summer camp supervisor. Justin has over 12 years of experience in the autism field. In 2018, Justin moved to Denver to continue his work in the field at REVEL. He lives in Denver with his wife Stephanie and son Finley and their 2 cats.
Tanner Jones
Tanner grew up in Colorado, after The Marine Corps he attended Metropolitan State University of Denver where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy with a minor in mental health. Tanner has worked in adaptive sports for over two years guiding rock climbing and white water rafting. He is stoked to be at REVEL. You can find Tanner outside on the weekends climbing, hiking or paddling with his wife Tyler Jane, two kids Bode and Hadley and their pup Cora.
Amanda Pruess
Amanda was born in and raised in Lafayette, CO and moved to Denver in 2012. After working at a coffee shop that offered vocational opportunities for young adults with support needs, she knew she wanted to work for this population. In 2019, she found ABA and hasn’t looked back. She received her M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA from Ball State University and has since received her BCBA credential. Her passion lies in facilitating a high quality of life for adults with support needs in a client-driven way. In her free time, she likes to read, jog/wog, play video games and hang out with her orange tabby cat, dachshund, and fiancé.
Dianna Rodriguez
Dianna Rodriguez is a Registered Behavior Technician at REVEL. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA and with the end goal of becoming a BCBA. Dianna has previously worked as a CNA for adults with disabilities as well as supporting people on the autism spectrum. In her free time, Dianna likes to watch netflix and spend time with her family and friends.
Jared Allen
Zach Adams
Karly Pound
Karly Pound grew up in Columbus, Georgia, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Kennesaw State University. From an early age, she looked up to her mother, who worked for the District Attorney, and knew she wanted to be a part of positive change. Karly volunteered with equine therapy programs and quickly fell in love with the community we serve. After working as a full-time job coach at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and throughout her community, she followed her passion and moved to Colorado. Outside of work, Karly loves to hike in the mountains with her dog, Ozzy.
Carsen Kurth
In the last six years, I have obtained a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation and a M.S. in Child Development from the renowned University of Iowa College of Health and Human Physiology. Post graduation, I began my professional work as a Program Director overseeing individuals of all abilities build increasingly rich, independent lives in the communities they call home. Since transitioning to Colorado, I have become involved in the amazing work of organizations like REVEL. Beyond my professional career, I enjoy nature-inspired activities such as sailing, backpacking, and whitewater rafting. These activities have provided routine self care and social relationships.
Hunter Groboksy
Tiffany Rep
Forrest Guthrie
Forrest moved to Colorado at the age of 4 and hasn’t thought about leaving ever since! He has a deep connection to our state and a passion for working with the people who make our community so special. Growing up in Louisville, he moved to Denver to attend the University of Colorado Denver where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in business management and human resource management. Forrest began working with children in a 1:1 ABA therapy setting where he found his passion for helping others live meaningful and fulfilling lives. In his free time, you can catch Forrest skiing powder on the slopes or baking tasty treats in the kitchen with his daughter!
Jack Wilhelmi
Jack Wilhelmi is an Oregon native who moved to Denver in 2020 and is a current Senior at Metropolitan State University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduation, he plans to work toward obtaining a Master’s degree in ABA with the long-term goal of becoming a BCBA. A lifelong passion for supporting young adults on the autism spectrum led Jack to start his journey at REVEL as a mentor and he is thrilled to be part of the team. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the beautiful Colorado outdoors with his wife, Amy, and dog, Quill. He is also passionate about music, movies, and gym time, which definitely helps him keep up with our REVELers!
Beky Winkler
Beky began working in therapeutic recreation as a high school summer job. That summer turned into eight years, eventually serving as the program’s assistant director. She received her BA in psychology from American University and, driven to spotlight diverse populations, she went on to receive an MFA in screenwriting from Depaul University. She works independently, writing screenplays focused on representation. A Colorado native who is all about fun, Beky is thrilled to be a part of the REVEL team. Outside of REVEL and writing, any time spent with or learning about animals is a good time.
Sarah Miner
Sarah is an Upstate New York native who moved to Colorado in the Fall of 2020. She received her AAS in Early Childhood Education in 2016. While volunteering at a homeless shelter, she found her passion for working with severe needs populations. Sarah began her work in the special education field when she moved to Colorado. She is excited to share her love and commitment to high-quality care with the REVELers. She also pursues passions in writing and yoga instruction. In her free time Sarah can be found outdoors, rock climbing, doing yoga, reading, or hanging with her two cats, Cheesman and Chowder.
board of
directors
Our board is comprised of a group of highly accomplished and dedicated individuals committed to guiding and shaping the direction of our organization to ensure that we are making a meaningful impact in the lives of our REVELers.
JENNIFER SUTTON
For more than 20 years, Jennifer has advocated on behalf of special needs individuals and families to identify, secure, and implement government supports, private insurance, and community resources. Jennifer leverages her regulatory compliance expertise to successfully maneuver the labyrinth of local, state, and federal programs on behalf of her son Connor, a young man who was diagnosed with autism as a preschooler, and a family member with a traumatic brain injury. Jennifer’s experience includes coordinating residential supports, designing therapeutic care programs, and negotiating individualized education plans through private and government resource programs in Denver and Jefferson County Public Schools. Jennifer Chairs REVEL’s Board of Directors.
Annie Baccary
Annie Konegni is an assistant vice president in the office of advancement at the University of Colorado. She oversees the offices of marketing and communications, finance and budget, gift administration and gift planning for the CU system office and supports fundraising and alumni engagement efforts for all four CU campuses: Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and the Anschutz Medical Campus. As a member of the leadership team, Annie plays a significant role in all personnel and operational decisions. CU raises more than $350 million annually across the CU system to advance the economy, health and culture of the entire state of Colorado.
Annie previously worked at the Colorado School of Mines Foundation where she was an associate director in the donor relations and communications department overseeing all stewardship and gift administration activities. Annie started her career in the finance industry in the Private Fund Group at Credit Suisse, Wall Street’s premier third party marketing organization focused on raising capital for private equity and hedge funds. During her time at Credit Suisee, she helped raise more than $35 billion on behalf of clients worldwide. Before changing career paths to focus on higher education, Annie also worked at Mountain Pacific Partners, a start-up private equity firm where she helped acquire and operate businesses with a significant real estate component.
Meryl Duguay
Robin Koncilja
Robin Koncilja is a real estate professional with a focus on the acquisition, restoration, and management of historic apartment buildings in central Denver. She is currently working towards developing inclusive co-housing solutions for the IDD/DD community, providing much-needed supported living options. Robin’s previous experience includes over 15 years of sales and business management, having successfully led sales and strategy efforts for institutions such as the Denver Art Museum and luxury brands including Michael Kors and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Her journey took a profound turn when her son was diagnosed with autism at age two. This transformative experience fueled her advocacy efforts, leading her to become a passionate voice for policy changes and support for families dealing with autism. Her advocacy focuses on areas such as medicaid, insurance, and community resources.
In addition to serving on REVEL’s board, Robin holds a position on the board of Metro State University’s Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Department. She also serves on the Denver Art Museums fundraising committee.
diane osaki
Additional roles: Co-Founder and REVEL Consultant
Diane is an occupational therapist, who has specialized in autism intervention for over twenty years. Her approach is grounded in merging principles of applied behavior analysis and a developmental framework to promote social relatedness, self-regulation, communication, independence, play/work, motor development, and problem solving. She works with individuals of all ages and functioning levels in a variety of settings. Beginning her career at the JFK Partners Autism and Developmental Disorders Clinic, Diane worked with Dr. Sally Rogers on early versions of the Denver Model program and is now certified as a trainer in direct delivery in the Early Start Denver Model. She founded and directed the Aspen Center for Autism treatment center providing developmentally-focused, behavioral intervention for children with autism. Diane provides direct intervention, program development, training, supervision and mentoring to families, schools, and outdoor recreation programs. She regularly consults with school districts and other agencies, nationally and internationally, to assist in developing new programs, training staff and collaborative problem solving.
Paula Frisina
I bring 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, PR, and business development, and have served in a variety of mid-to-senior leadership roles in medical device, telecommunications, and architecture/engineering/construction industries. I am extremely committed to my profession and the idea that these functions are essential for any strong business. I currently collaborate and manage a team of outstanding professionals to ensure our brand and key messages resonate with our target markets. In this position, I help coordinate efforts to keep our brand consistent and assist my team and internal clients in their efforts to effectively and successfully promote our strategic intents and current project efforts to gain better visibility for our firm in the marketplace. I firmly believe marketing and communications should inform, empower, motivate, educate, engage with, and support the members of the organizational team.
I have a rock-solid reputation as a collaborator, communicator, and creative storyteller. I enjoy work environments that allow me to try new things and challenge the status quo. Cultivating strong relationships and friendships, establishing and refining processes, working on teams to turn challenges into opportunities, and stretching my creative muscles are what fuel me day-to-day.
I am especially passionate about advocating for and supporting more equitable, safe, and diverse learning, work, and personal environments, and opportunities for all.
Specialties: Corporate Communication Strategies, Organizational Strategies, Corporate Planning, Marketing, Public Relations and PR Writing, Website Management, Special Event Planning, Branding, Client Acquisition and Retention, Preparation of Marketing Materials and Proposals, Strategic Planning and Decision-making
Software: Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, Unanet | Cosential CRM, OpenAsset, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, SurveyMonkey, MailChimp, Loomly, HootSuite
Anna Costello
Anna Costello is the founder of Ship Sunshine, a company that creates corporate gift box experiences and provides branded merchandise and paper printing services.
Ship Sunshine was awarded Best for Colorado’s Inspirational Leader and was a finalist for Denver Chamber of Commerce’s Startup of the Year. Anna was named a Top 25 GenXYZ by Colorado Biz Magazine and nominated for the Start-up Person of the Year for the Small Business Administration.
Anna is active in several community organizations including serving on the Denver Leadership Foundation/B:CIVIC Advisory Board and Vice Chair of the Programs & Content Committee, serves as a Board member for The Action Center, Longer Tables, and REVEL.
Anna’s background is in media and software, working for her hometown newspaper the Tampa Bay Times and then the New York Times group and went on to lead the product development for a new platform for her company Adpay, which resulted in a multimillion-dollar acquisition by Ancestry.
Anna grew up in the sunshine state, St. Petersburg, FL and currently lives in the sunshine city, Denver, with her husband, Marty, and pup, Maddie.
Kaylyn Fern
Kaylyn Fern is a dedicated professional committed to philanthropy, sustainability, and social change. With extensive experience in environmental and social governance, nonprofit management, and community engagement, she has successfully led initiatives that create meaningful impact across various sectors.
A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder, Kaylyn holds certifications in Environmental and Social Governance and Climate Action for Business from the Leeds School of Business.
Kaylyn currently serves as the Senior Community Impact Manager at Wana Brands, where she spearheads the company’s climate action initiatives and helps oversee the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Culture and Wellness Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). She collaborates with nonprofit organizations to amplify the company’s social impact, working tirelessly to elevate the brand while fostering a culture of community engagement. Additionally, Kaylyn focuses on minimizing the company’s environmental footprint in day-to-day operations and developing long-term sustainability goals. As a member of the Cannabis Sustainability Work Group, she partners with industry leaders to promote sustainable practices across the cannabis sector.
In her role with the Wana Brands Foundation, Kaylyn has helped shape the philanthropic strategy, facilitating over $6 million in gifts to nonprofit partners across the country.
Prior to her current role, Kaylyn held various positions in the nonprofit sector, including Director of Philanthropy for The Blue Bench and Development Officer at the Women’s Foundation of Colorado. In these roles, she honed her skills to support initiatives aimed at advancing economic security and leadership opportunities for women, alongside extensive work addressing domestic and sexual violence.
Active in her community, Kaylyn is a board member of REVEL and serves on the BCIVIC Programs & Content Committee, where she contributes her expertise to enhance outreach and impact. Her earlier experience includes an internship with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council, focusing on domestic violence research, as well as advocacy work with the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) in Boulder County.
Passionate about climate action and social equity, Kaylyn continues to leverage her skills in philanthropy and community service to foster positive change and promote sustainable practices in business.
LLOYD LEWIS
Lloyd Lewis is the CEO of the Arc Thrift Stores of Colorado, one of Colorado’s largest nonprofits, employers of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and relief organizations. Under Lewis’ tenure, Arc Thrift has funded over $250 million to nonprofit causes and charities since 2005.
Lewis is a passionate champion on a crusade to promote a new way to think about inclusion and diversity.
Lewis the recipient of a Civil Rights Award and received the World Citizenship Award from the International Civitans, an honor that has included such noted past winners as England’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Eunice Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics. In May of 2024, Lewis was given the Distinguished Alumni Award in Public Service by his alma mater, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
Lewis sits on the board of The Arc of the United States Foundation and is treasurer of Inclusion International, a worldwide organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with members in over 100 countries.
Lewis has a 19-year-old son with Down syndrome.
He is the author of Why Not Them? a book about how his life was transformed by the birth of his son. In it, Lewis hopes to change the way our communities think about, connect with, and employee people with disabilities.
Why Not Them? is about a purpose-driven organization, arc Thrift Stores, whose mission is the success and inclusion of all its employees, regardless of their abilities. It’s about opening doors, challenging the way we do business, and touching hearts and minds.
Written from the perspective of a father and a businessman, it asks us all to join in the fight for inclusion and understanding. It is educational and moving and challenges us – as individuals and as a community – to perhaps look at the world just a little bit differently.
