Teaching Tree Board of Director's

Brian Joyce, President: Brian works in town as a Certified Public Accountant and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(r). He has been serving on local and national Boards for various non-profits since 2004. He volunteers for many organizations and was a big brother for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. In addition, he has run the Boston Marathon on behalf of various charities.

Peter J. Meyer, Vice-President: Vice President of Brinkman Partners, a Fort Collins based Development Company and General Contractor. Since 1999, I have been specializing in commercial real estate marketing and development. I moved to Fort Collins from Scottsdale, Arizona in 2009. Active in my community, I have served and volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale, the Phoenix Children's Hospital and the Brokers for Kids organizations. I have one daughter, born in December of 2006.

Rebecca Ward-Smith, Secretary: Becky has lived in Fort Collins since 1991 and has a daughter who attends Teaching Tree. Recent work experience includes teaching at a community college in Early Childhood Education for 14 years and for CCCOnline. In the past she has taught young children at a variety of university early childhood lab schools, as well as private and non-profit programs. She is currently a board member of the Colorado Association for the Education of Young Children.

Leasa Magnuson, CPA, NoCo CPAs, Treasurer: Leasa is a native of Northern Colorado. She has been a CPA since 2003, specializing in small business tax returns. In 2009 she left a large local CPA firm and started her own practice. She serves as the secretary of the High Plains Rotary Club and is an active member in the Fort Collins Chamber's Red Carpet Committee.

Wendy Abbott: My fundraising and marketing career began in 1993. I have been employed with higher education institutions including the University of Nebraska, Colorado State and the University of Northern Colorado. More recently I worked in marketing/development for Crossroads Safehouse of Fort Collins. I am a member/volunteer with various programs of the First United Methodist Church. I hold a masters degree in marketing and am married with two young daughters. In 2007 I joined the board and am sincerely interested in ensuring all infants and preschoolers receive quality childcare.

Fred Ambramowitz: Fred Abramowitz is a graduate of Columbia University (B.A., 1973, M.A., 1975), and the University of New Mexico (J.D., 1982). Mr. Abramowitz is an experienced trial attorney. He has been an adjunct professor of water law at the University of New Mexico, School of Law. He is a former independent counsel for the City of Albuquerque, where he served as the city's civilian police oversight officer. He is licensed in all state and federal courts in New Mexico and Colorado, in the Tenth Circuit, and in the United States Supreme Court. In 2004, Mr. Abramowitz and his wife Dr. Amy Susan Hayes moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. He is an avid fly-fisherman and ultra-marathon runner, and has traveled extensively throughout the world.

Susan Cottingham: Susan has been a resident of Fort Collins since 1974. Her career has been focused on managing software development teams in a variety of industries including telecommunications, biotechnology, public safety and government.  Her business background includes an ex-pat appointment as Managing Director for a mobile software applications subsidiary in Zug, Switzerland for two years.  She is a graduate of Regis University (M.S. Management) and Colorado State University (Bachelor Fine Arts), and enjoys plein air landscape painting in her off-hours.