Staff
Each staff member has been trained to implement the initiative. The executive director and staff oversee contracted personnel with specialized skills as well as the site coordinators at each site location.

Gina Solazzi - Executive Director: Leads all projects and provides overall program planning, direction for fundraising, and program outreach for the organization. Gina owned a successful local business for 23 years before joining CLC. She served on the Quality of Life Indicator's Project as a member of the education panel and was a board member of TESSA. She is an adjunct staff member at the Center for Creative Leadership and holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in comparative religion from Carleton College. gina@peakreader.org

Sheri Kaufman - Director of Marketing: Provides fundraising support and community outreach for CLC as well as grant writing and event planning. Sheri is director of CLC's Youth Council and previously worked for the Child Nursery Centers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UCCS. sheri@peakreader.org

Pamela Polke - Program Director: Ensures the sustainability of tutoring sites through student and tutor recruitment and retention. Pam has 22 years of experience in the financial arena. She volunteered for CLC for seven years as a tutor and site coordinator before joining the staff. Pam has also volunteered for several other local non-profit agencies throughout her 10 years in Colorado Springs. Her educational background includes training in graphic arts, and business administration. She is currently pursuing her degree in marketing at Regis University.  pamela@peakreader.org

Nancy Hobbs - Operations Director: Provides organizational support and management for the office and assists staff on the many programs within CLC. Nancy has more than 20 years of event management experience to include sponsorship procurement, marketing, and volunteer coordination. She is co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running, published in 2001, and serves on numerous boards and committees to include the Colorado Springs Parks Advisory Board, chair of the USATF Mountain Ultra Trail Council, and treasurer of the World Mountain Running Association. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology and communications from UCCS and a master's degree in public administration from Lehigh University. nancy@peakreader.org

Sandra Hutchins - Education Specialist: Sandra works with principals and teachers to activate and reactivate the Peak Reader program in schools where the program has been purchased or where the schools are anticipating purchasing the program. She trains volunteers to tutor students who are enrolled in the program and helps to assess results of the students' progress. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of New Hampshire and has additional credits in education (more than 32 hours) from UCCS, Chapman University, University of Utah, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For 19 1/2 years, Sandra taught elementary school in New Hampshire, Colorado, and Nevada. She currently holds a teaching certificate in Colorado. sandra@peakreader.org

Susan Kana - Coordinator: Sue has been hired to start up the newest site in Monument. She has worked for the Pikes Peak Library District for six years and has always considered literacy one of the most important building blocks to a child's future achievements. She holds a bachelor's degree in Family and Community Development, and an master's degree in School Guidance Counseling. She is all for the TEAM Literacy approach and feels that she can be an asset to the success of CLC's newest site. sue@peakreader.org

Penelope Hyland - Site Coordinator: Penelope serves as a site coordinator in Pueblo, Colorado. She has over 20 years experience working with volunteers in a variety of capacities and is currently pursuing a certificate in Volunteer Administration. She has a background in counseling and teaching with a MA in Counseling Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Therapy. Her greatest love is reading and she strongly believes that every child should be able to read in order to pursue their life dreams. penelope@peakreader.org

Cara Bledsoe - Site Coordinator: Cara recently received her bachelors' degree in Psychology; child development from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She is pursuing her master's degree in speech pathology. She has many years of experience and enjoyment working with children of all ages. cara@peakreader.org

Sarah Davis - Site Coordinator: Sarah received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin. She was a teaching assistant with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Houston. In her previous work experience and in her work as a freelance artist, Sarah has proven her ability to effectively organize events and projects. She enjoys working with children and helping to cultivate the great learning environment at the Ruth Holley Site. sarah@peakreader.org

Susan Howlett - Site Coordinator: Susan will be our site coordinator for Bates Elementary. She also works full time for District 11. Susan moved to Colorado via California and Arizona. She was employed by Motorola for 30 years, Junior Achievement for five years, and has worked with children throughout her career. She has also taught wheelchair tennis. Susan enjoyed tutoring two children last year and says of her experience, "I often wondered who benefited the most from our time together!" susan@peakreader.org

Theresa Neuroth - Site Coordinator: In addition to her site coordinator role, Theresa works full time at Regis University as the assistant to the Dean at Regis College. She holds an M.N.M., from Regis University and a B.B.B. from Chaminade University, Honolulu. In the mid-90s Theresa served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. She has a passion for reading and loves working with children. theresa@peakreader.org