Coalition Staff

Megan Wilson- Executive Director
Megan has dedicated her career to non-profit work with increasing responsibilities from direct service to non-profit management. She has over ten years experience working with healthcare and children's issues. Her favorite children's book is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz.

Melissa Elgersma- ROR CO Program Coordinator
Melissa has been active with non-profits and libraries since 1998. In addition to her work with ROR CO, one of her proudest accomplishments was serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Sidney, Montana. While there, she developed an early literacy program with local childcare providers through the public library. She also serves as a read aloud volunteer. Her favorite children's books authors/illustrators are Eric Carle, Leo Lionni and David Shannon. She counts The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Swimmy and Pirates Don't Change Diapers among her favorites.

Carol Federman, MS, M.Ed., APRN, BC- Northwest Regional Program Coordinator
received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Boston University and graduate degrees in Health Education from Boston University and Science in Nursing from Simmons College. She is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and a recognized expert in holistic nursing and caring for the caring self about which she has given numerous talks and workshops. Her two most cherished childhood memories are when her grandmother read Uncle Wiggly (over and over!) to her as a toddler and then, when she was older, reading Heidi to her grandmother.

Alexandra Smith, MLIS- Southwest Regional Program Coordinator
Alexandra Smith grew up in Texas and quickly left. Her childhood friends included a cat and many books. “My favorites were fairytales. I couldn’t get enough of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White. I’m such a romantic at heart.” For Alexandra, books have always been central to her life. The first time she ever saw her husband, he was reading Moby Dick. “I knew he was the one.” Books later lead her to obtain a Masters in Philosophy, and a Masters of Information and Library Science. “I have always loved books. That’s why I like working for Reach Out and Read; it’s a way for me to share the love.” Alexandra and her husband currently live in Alamosa with their dog, two cats, and a plethora of books. Alexandra was the recipient of the 2007 Magdalena Aguyao Literacy Champion Award.

Governing Board

Ann Logan, MLS- Board Chair
Ann has been active with Reach Out and Read Colorado since its inception in 1997. In partnership with Dr. Steve Vogler, she was a principal organizer in forming Reach Out and Read Colorado. Currently, Ann serves on the Reach Out and Read National Center's Board of Directors. Her favorite book to read to her children and now her grandchildren is Caps for Sale by by Esphyr Slobodkina.

Steve Vogler, MD, MPH- Medical Director, ROR Colorado
Steve has served as pediatrician at the Sandos Westside Family Health Center for nearly sixteen years and founded ROR at Denver Health in 1997. As Medical Director of ROR at Denver Health and subsequently the ROR Colorado coalition, he has enthusiastically embraced the ROR intervention as a critical part of routine child health maintenance. His favorite children's book is How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Janet Yolen and Mark Teague.

Peter Konrad, Ph.D., CPA-Vice Chair
Peter serves as advisor and consultant to foundations in setting strategic direction, managing operations, developing programs, establishing financial discipline and investing endowments. As Adjunct Professor of Nonprofit Management at Regis University, he received recognition as Teacher of the Year for his excellence in teaching. His favorite children's book is Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown.

Carolyn Shepherd, MD- Secretary
Carolyn has been the Medical Director at Clinica Campesina since 1988 and has worked with Community Health Centers for over 20 years. She is also on the clinical faculty for the Department of Preventative Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Sarah Worth, MPH
Sarah learned about Reach Out and Read through her work with Rocky Mountain Youth Clinics as the Director of Development. She was part of the original group that volunteered to set up a coalition of Reach Out and Read clinics in Colorado and has been involved with the coalition ever since. Her favorite children's book is Fox in Socks. She says, "One summer when I was a kid, we stayed at a cabin on a lake for a couple of weeks. There was an old and moldy copy of Fox in Socks at the cabin and I made it my mission to be able to read it aloud, quickly with no mistakes. However many years later, I can still do it (much to the delight of my 2 year old)."

Elaine Grossman, M.Ed.
Elaine has 25 years of broad based executive management and development in the nonprofit, corporate, and education sectors. She is currently both founder and pricipal at ERG Consulting where she provides support to non-profit organizations in program an dresource development. Prior to starting ERG Consulting, Ms. Grossman was the Director of Development for Reach Out and Read National Office. Her favorite children's books are the Madeline series by Ludwig Bemelmans and Eloise at the Plaza by Kay Thompson.

Rachel Hutson, MSN, RN, CPNP
Rachel Hutson has been with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment since 2001, first as the Director of Early Childhood Initiatives and now as the Director of the Child, Adolescent, and School Health Unit. In her current role, she provides supervision and oversight for Smart Start Colorado, the Coordinated School Health Program, the School-Based Health Center Program, the Child Health Program, Adolescent Health Program, and the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program. Her favorite children's book is Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman.

Heather Duncan
Heather began working at the Tattered Cover Book Store in the fall of 1989 as a holiday bookseller. After the holidays she remained at the bookstore, first in the Ordering Department, and then in Outside Corporate Sales. She left the store briefly in 1995 and then returned to the Tattered Cover to fill the position of Director of Marketing and Community Relations. Heather, her husband John and their five-year-old son, Jack live in Lakewood, Colorado. Her favorite children's book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle.

Karmen Carter
Karmen has over twenty years experience in non-profit agencies and is currently the Executive Director of Judi's House. Past employment includes serving as Director of Programs for Colorado Nonprofit Development Center and Executive Director of Rape Assistance and Awareness Program. Karmen has an impressive career background in program management, development, community outreach and executive level positions. Her favorite children's book is The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

Advisory Committee

Susan Berson
Susan is the ROR Coordinator for Denver Health across metro Denver.

Cathie Clark, RN, MSA
Cathie is the ROR Site Coordinator for Western Colorado Pediatric Associates in Grand Junction.

Cathryn Haskins, MD
Cathryn is the ROR Site Coordinator and a provider at Pediatric Associates of Montrose.

Sharon Palmer
Sharon is the ROR Site Coordinator for Children's Medical Center in Denver.

Chris Rael
Chris is the ROR Coordinator for Sunrise Community Health in the Greeley/Loveland area.

Maggie Ramirez
Maggie is the ROR Coordinator for Clinica Family Health Centers (formerly Clinica Campesina) in Lafayette, Thornton, and Denver. Maggie was the recipient of the 2008 Magdalena Aguyao Literacy Champion Award.

Alexandra Smith
Alexandra is the ROR Coordinator for Valley-Wide Health Systems in southern Colorado as well as the Southwest Regional Coordinator for ROR CO.