Sharon Starkey
Sharon Starkey graduated in 1985 with a degree in Human Relations, now called Nonprofit Leadership and Management from High Point University, and holds an American Humanics Nonprofit Management Certification. Sharon has worked in the field with children and adults in the nonprofit sector and the corporate settings since graduating. Her son was officially diagnosed on the autism spectrum at the age of 6 and she began becoming active in the Autism community. She was on the board of directors for Autism and Asperger Connections from 2014 to 2018. Her husband is also on the spectrum.
Chris Wingate
Christopher Wingate is a graduate of UCCS and has a bachelors degree in Communications. He writes about autism and has served as the secretary of Autism Vision of Colorado since its founding. He was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success after graduating from college in 2020. He is on the autism spectrum.
William Kramer
Prior to working at Your Choice, William’s dedication to the people he serves was sparked 15 years ago while providing behavioral intervention focused work in Romania for children. He continued his work in Nebraska, as a Behavioral Support Coordinator and later as a Forensic Interviewer. He has 15 years of leadership experience and has worked in nearly every facet of waiver program systems. William has managed a day program, coordinated residential services, and has developed Behavioral Plans for over 200 developmentally/intellectually disabled adults, with a goal of reducing or eliminating their levels of psychotropic medication and other restrictions they faced. William was also a member of the Quality Enhancement Team, and has a strong understanding of regulatory statues and standards for people in services. He loves the work and the fact that he is able to serve this population, and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
Meet the Board of Directors
Heather Vesel
Heather Vesel is the co-founder of Peak Autism Services. She has been a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) since 2011 and has worked with children with autism using behavior analysis since 2003. She hopes that the passion she has for her job shows in everything she does.
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Heather got her master’s degree from St. Cloud State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
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In her free time, Heather loves to travel, camp, hike, and generally anything outdoors. She also enjoys playing the piano, going to concerts, going to sporting events, and shopping.
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Her philosophy for living is best expressed by E.B. White who says, “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.”
Tara Blanchard
Tara Blanchard moved to Colorado Springs in 2020 to is attend the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and is majoring in Social Work. After graduation, Tara plans to get her master’s degree in social work and aims to get certified as a Dance Movement Therapist. Since being in the Springs, she has worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children on the Autism Spectrum.
Prior, Tara worked as a Treatment Supervisor at a residential treatment center for at-risk youth, providing evidence-based treatment modalities. In her free time, Tara likes to dance, spend time outdoors, and watch anime. Tara also spends time with friends and family when she is not busy with school.
Tara lives by Brené Brown’s philosophy of "having the courage to show up when you can't control the outcome."
Katie Wagner
Katie graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and German. Soon after, she returned for an additional bachelor's in nursing to start her career as a registered nurse. Her RN career has spanned from newborns and children to currently working with women and families to achieve their goal of becoming parents as a fertility nurse coach.
After becoming a mom to a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and navigating everyday life on the spectrum, Katie has decided to switch her career focus to neurodivergence and autism. She has been accepted into a doctorate program at UCCS to pursue this goal. She hopes to expand her knowledge and expertise and become an asset to a community near and dear to her heart.
She enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, exploring new places, learning new things, and meeting new people. She seeks to find the humor in things and can't think of anything better than sharing a laugh!
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