SASO

Board of Directors

Amber Cox- Chair

Amber graduated from Fort Lewis College with a double major in Political Science and Psychology in 2007. While receiving her BA she interned at the US Attorney’s Office for 3 years.  In June 2010 Amber received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver. Amber has volunteered with SASO since 2000. In addition, she has also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Volunteers of America Homeless Shelter, and as a hotline advocate for Alternative Horizons in the past.  As well as being the Southwest Regional Representative for Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance (COVA) from 2008-2009.
Amber is blessed to be married to her best friend Dan Cox with whom she share’s an amazing daughter Danika.  In her spare time Amber enjoys camping, four wheeling, wakeboarding, reading non-textbooks, and cooking. 

Laura Lewis Marchino-Treasurer/Financial Officer 

Married to John Marchino, two sons, Drew and Devin. Laura’s first volunteer position upon moving to Durango in 1990 was being an advocate on the SASO Hotline, a position she kept for 10 years. She also worked as a volunteer and then a staff member for the Child Assault Prevention program for seven years, and now is in her 2nd term on the Board of Directors. Professionally, Laura is the Assistant Director of the Region 9 Economic Development District. 

Laura is most proud of being a Fellow for the German Marshall Fund in 2005 where she spent a month in Europe experiencing the European Union's efforts of economic and social collaboration between countries.  Laura has a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communications and an M.B.A. in Business Administration.  When not working, she is an avid runner, chauffer, and house cleaner.

Kim Johancen-Walt-Secretary

Kim received her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Colorado at Denver in 2000 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  In addition to her position as Counselor and Assistant Training Director at Fort Lewis College, she also owns her own therapy and consulting business in Durango, where she works with clients to resolve crisis and deepen their understanding of how past hurts and traumas influence current self-destructive behaviors.
 Kim has presented her work on self-harming and suicidal clients at numerous conferences around the country and has multiple articles published in Counseling Today by the American Counseling Association.  Kim’s work is also seen in Matthew Selekman’s most recent book, The Adolescent and Young Adult Self-Harming Treatment Manual (March 2009) that includes information about an innovative outpatient treatment program for self-harming and suicidal adolescents that she helped create in La Plata County.

 

John Baranski-Member

John Baranski teaches U.S. history at Fort Lewis College. He values the work of SASO because of its commitment to make our community and world a safer and more just world.

Pam Irwin-Member

Worked for the District Attorney from 1986-1990 (Court Coordinator) and 1996-2005 (Office Administrator).  Owned and operated Mai Thai Restaurant (1996-2008).  Lived, worked (law & international investment offices) and traveled extensively in the Pacific Rim (1992-1995).  Grew up in southern Wisconsin and am married with three children, Chaco, Bella & Teddy Bear...  Love to garden and be outside when it’s warm, not so much when it’s cold...

Michael Martin-Member

Michael has his PhD from Western Michigan University in Medieval History. He is an Assistant Professor of History (Medieval and Ancient) at Fort Lewis College where he teaches courses on medieval Europe, medieval women’s lives, ancient Rome and Greece, and the History of Gay Culture through the Media 1955-2005. He also has a joint appointment in Gender and Women’s Studies, where he has taught courses on Queer Theory, Transgenderism, and Female Masculinity. He is currently the coordinator of the John F. Reed Honors Program in which he has taught a course on Kenji Yoshino’s book Covering: The Hidden Assault on our Civil Rights, the History of Gay American through AIDS, as well as classes on Tolkien and the Da Vinci Code.

Michael began his association with SASO through trainings for SASO volunteers on domestic violence and sexual assault within the GLBTQ community. He has also co-presented in 2005 a workshop on Women’s Sexuality with Dr. Malach (English) and Dr. Brandt (Sociology) at Durango’s Women’s Fest. He helped advise PRISM, the GLBTQ student group at Fort Lewis, from 2005-2007. Some of his own academic research has looked at issues of social justice (and injustice) within medieval society, especially focusing on the lower-classes of society. He examines how they lived and survived in a time period that is often viewed as quite turbulent, and compares/contrasts that period with today’s when we still seem to maintain some of the same, or very similar, problematic issues of tolerance and persecution.

Rita Warfield–Member

Rita Warfield has lived in the Durango area for over 30 years. Rita currently is a Patrol Sergeant with the Durango Police Department and before that was the Chief Investigator/Sergeant over Investigations. Rita specialized in investigating sexual assault and domestic violence crimes. She is a Hostage Negotiator for the department, a Crisis Intervention Team member, and a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  She is also a Terrorist Liaison Officer trained through Homeland Security/Colorado Information Analysis Center and a member of the International Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Investigators Association.  She was named Employee of the Year in 2005 for her work on several high profile criminal cases.
 When not fighting crime, Rita enjoys gardening, traveling, camping, cooking, enjoying the Colorado outdoors, spending time with her family, and actively offering support and services to victims of violent crimes.

 

Chris Bettin-Member

Chris first moved to Durango in 1988 to attend Fort Lewis College, where he ultimately collected degrees in Business Administration, English Literature and Philosophy.  He has been on the SASO board and its fundraising committee since October of 2009.  Chris is an owner of The Wells Group Mountain Resort Real Estate Brokerage.  Additionally, Chris teaches the real estate education course for La Plata County’s Regional Housing Alliance, and serves as the chair of the Legislative Committee for the Durango Area Association of Realtors.  Chris is an amateur enthusiast of skiing, snowboarding, cycling, running, kayaking, fishing and guitar, but his favorite passion in life is spending time with his five-year-old son Dylan. 

Tonya Golbricht-Member

Tonya Golbricht went to college at the University of Northern Colorado and Fort Lewis College.  In April of 2002, Tonya graduated from the SWRLEAD Police Academy and was hired as a Detention Deputy at La Plata County Sheriff's Office in May of 2002.  After approximately 18 months, Tonya was reassigned to the Patrol Division.  she work as a patrol deputy for approximately six years. In June of 2009, Tonya was promoted to the Criminal Investigations Unit and works as an investigator.

Tom Harms-Member

Born in Tennessee, Tom moved to Durango in 1986.  At Fort Lewis College, he received a BA after studying Psychology and Education.  Tom started his career in the judicial field in 1999 where he has had many different roles working with both juveniles and adults through supervision and investigations, and is currently a supervisor at the 6th Judicial Probation Department.  He has been deeply involved with La Plata County Search and Rescue since 1995 and is an avid partaker in all that the southwest has to offer such as climbing, skiing, biking, running and boating.  On his time off you would most likely see him out on family excursions in the backcountry with his lovely wife Robin and two wonderful children.

DeeDee deHaro-Brown-Member

DeeDee deHaro-Brown retired in 2006 after careers in teaching, social justice work, and managing non-profits.  Her most recent job was as Executive Director of the Durango Latino Education Coalition, a non-profit dedicated to improving achievement of minority students and increasing minority leadership in the community. She has experience working on civil rights issues, and in family literacy programs, and has a special interest in understanding and eliminating oppression which led her to SASO. She currently sits on the board of the San Juan Citizens Alliance, an organization dedicated to social, economic, and environmental justice in the San Juan Basin.  She enjoys camping, swimming, riding her hand cycle, spending time with her family, and raising as many vegetables as possible.  

Ashley Geyer-Member

Ashley graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in political science before attending Texas Tech University School of Law where she earned a doctorate of jurisprudence.  Ashley practiced complex commercial litigation for Yates Law Firm, LLC, in Denver, Colorado, for more than three years before moving to Durango.  Ashley now owns her own law firm in Durango where she specializes in estate planning for families and individuals.  Prior to joining the SASO Board, Ashley served as the vice chair for The Chanda Plan Foundation, a non-profit for which Ashley helped secure 501(c)3 charitable status.