Lived Experience: Former Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent
Hobbies:​ Golf, Community Theater, Legal Mgmt Associations

Brian is a former foster parent and Foster Parent of the Year award recipient for Adams County. He has dedicated his career to the field of immigration. In addition to having worked for the government, he has also spent the last 15 years managing immigration law firms. Brian is passionate about foster care and providing the children in foster care resources they need, particularly those aging out of the system. Brian is a parent to three children, one of whom was adopted out of foster care. He’s a very active member of his church and associations focused on legal management.

Hobbies:​ 

Sean Camacho is a dedicated public servant, attorney, and military officer with a strong focus on building stronger communities and expanding opportunities for Colorado’s children and families. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Sean served on deployments around the world and continues to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

Sean also brings deep legal expertise to his work, serving as a senior attorney at a global law firm where he focuses on complex litigation, government contracts, and public policy. His experience navigating the intersection of law, policy, and service shapes his community-first approach to leadership.

In the Colorado House of Representatives, Sean proudly represents District 6 in east and central Denver. He is a strong advocate for policies that support children, families, and underserved communities, both through legislation and hands-on service. He serves on the boards of two Colorado nonprofits, where he works to expand educational access and strengthen foster care systems across the state.

Amy has had a heart for children in foster care since the age of 15, when she was recruited as a counselor for Camp Horizon of Georgia, a summer camp for children in care. What started as a week-long commitment turned into a passion that spanned more than twenty years. Amy also served as a foster care counselor in a residential treatment home and as a CASA. Her work as a School Psychologist and life coach for teenagers gave her a front row seat to the ups and downs of school life children encounter including the joys, the scrapes, the disappointments, and the victories. 

Amy is currently earning her master’s degree in counseling at Adams State University and plans to practice from an attachment based lens, incorporating Internal Family Systems (IFS). Her goal is to walk alongside those she works with, supporting their healing while encouraging empowerment and agency. She is grateful to be at Be the Source as part of her graduate training, and considers it a privilege to contribute to such a vital mission.

Her entire extended family lives in the South, which makes her family a bit of a tumbleweed out here in Colorado. For the past 11 years she has lived in Colorado with her husband who has an affinity for endurance races and their tiny white dog, Gizmo, who unashamedly runs the household. Their two wonderful adult daughters, ages 21 and 24, have stretched her heart and mind in countless ways.

When she is not studying or working, Amy loves all things outdoors (except snakes!) and dreams of living in eternal summer weather one day. She finds joy in gardens of every kind, loves belly laughing with friends, and treasures time with animals. She also speaks a little French and is fairly fluent in sarcasm.

Lived Experience: Treatment Foster Parent
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, and Genealogy Research​

Kristen is a mother of three and a professional foster parent, specializing in care for teenagers with disabilities. With a strong commitment to creating stable and supportive environments, she brings experience, structure, and compassion to her work with youth.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University, and spent 10 years as a high school Spanish teacher- an experience that shaped her approach to communication, patience, and advocacy.

Kristen is also a dog owner, sharing her home with Ernie, a bull terrier with a big personality and a knack for mischief. Outside of her professional and caregiving roles, she’s an avid reader and is currently writing her first novel, which she hopes to publish this year.

Lived Experience:​ Former Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent
Hobbies: Hiking with her Dog, Reading, Early Morning Workouts

Sarah has lived in Colorado for the past 22 years. She has a Masters Degree of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University and has spent her career in sales, marketing, accounting, and owning a small business with her husband.  Sarah and her husband Chris have been foster parents for 7 years and counting. They have four wonderful children who keep them on their toes. 

Lived Experience: Former Foster Parent, Adult Adoptee
Hobbies: Art, Writing, Traveling

Tonya is a third generation native of Colorado and Weld County. Tonya received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Social Sciences/Psychology.  Tonya is the Executive Director of  Wave of Hope Learning Centers, a unique educational initiative partnering with homeschool and private school families in northern Colorado. In 2024 she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Foster Parent Association. Tonya was a Colorado House Representative (House District 48) after several decades in education and publishing. As a former foster parent, advocacy for foster care and adoption has been a focal point outside of the classroom. 

Tonya is especially proud of her son Scott, who began singing Motown at age 4 and Toby Keith by 5. After studying at UNC’s school of music, Scott performed back up for Sarah Brightman (Phantom of the Opera) and as a special guest for Opera Theater associations throughout the nation.

Lived Experience: Former Youth in Care
Hobbies: Camping, Four Wheeling, Travel​

Charles “Chaz” Tedesco is a passionate advocate for foster care and adoption, whose life’s work has been centered around protecting children and strengthening families. A former foster youth himself, Chaz has turned his lived experience into a lifelong mission: to ensure every child has a safe, loving place to call home.

Appointed by the Governor of Colorado, Chaz served as Co-Chairman of the Former Foster Care Youth Steering Committee, where he brought firsthand insight and policy innovation to the table—advancing systems that support young people aging out of care and helping counties improve outcomes statewide. In recognition of his tireless advocacy, Chaz received the Charles “Chaz” Tedesco Champion Award, an honor created by Foster Source to celebrate individuals who transform the lives of foster youth and families.

As Chairman of the Adams County Board of Commissioners, Chaz spearheaded the creation of Homes for Hope, a groundbreaking emergency foster care program that provides safe, short-term housing for children from birth to age eighteen. His vision for Homes for Hope was born out of urgency and compassion—a direct response to the need for immediate, trauma-informed support for children in crisis. This program continues to serve as a model for communities across the state.

Chaz has also been appointed to the Child Protection Ombudsman Board, where he continues to help shape child welfare policy with a focus on transparency, accountability, and the best interests of the child. His leadership is rooted in the belief that no child should feel forgotten—and that every child deserves a champion.

Throughout his public service career, Chaz has built strong coalitions across agencies, governments, and nonprofits—fostering relationships that break down silos and bring critical resources to children and families in need. His deep sense of duty, shaped by his service in the U.S. Navy, extends to his work with veterans, though his heart always returns to the cause closest to him: ensuring that foster youth are not only seen and heard, but valued and supported.

With empathy, persistence, and an unshakable belief in the power of second chances, Chaz Tedesco continues to shape a better future for Colorado’s most vulnerable children.

Hobbies: Skiing, Hiking, Pickleball

Daylin is a member of KPMG’s Deal Advisory practice in Denver. As a licensed CPA, Daylin specifically works in Financial Due Diligence assisting corporate clients and private equity firms with their mergers and acquisitions. After attending Boston College, Daylin started her career in Boston for several years before moving to Colorado in September 2018. Daylin was first introduced to foster care during her time in Boston when she volunteered for Camp to Belong which reunites siblings separated in foster care. She immediately felt passionate about foster care, mentoring one of the campers and continuing to volunteer with the camp after moving to Denver. When looking for ways to get involved in the cause locally, Daylin found Be the Source and is looking forward to learning more from the caretakers perspective and how she can make an impact.

Matthew La Crue specializes in state and local government affairs and has over a decade of experience representing clients nationally and locally. Matthew has extensive experience and knowledge crafting and lobbying on policy related to local governments, finance, real estate, judicial, law enforcement, transportation, healthcare, energy, insurance, aerospace and telecommunications. 

Lived Experience:  Former Youth in Care
Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Rewatching the same 10 TV shows.

Nyomi graduated from University of Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in socio-legal studies and public policy with a minor in business ethics and legal studies. Nyomi attended DU on a full ride scholarship from the Daniels Foundation, a Colorado-based organization. In Fall of 2024, Nyomi began attending the University of Colorado Boulder Law School with a special interest in child advocacy while pursuing a J.D. using the funding from FosterEd.

Nyomi is involved with Denver CASA as a volunteer in their Older Youth Program and has Colorado Office of Child Representatives Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP) as a youth with experience in the foster system since 2021.

Nyomi is a resilient, hardworking, and highly motivated individual who is pursuing a law career to help youth in similar situations. With LEAP, Nyomi has helped train GALs and participated in the process for passing legislation to move Colorado to youth-directed representation in D&N and juvenile cases. She recently began working with the Butler Institute on their Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Multidisciplinary and Cross-Jurisdictional Training Project and is a voting board member for Be the Source and the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Reimagining Steering Committee.

Hobbies:​ Painting, Gaming, Swimming, Traveling, and Loving her Kitties

Hazel brings spirit, creativity, and organizational wizardry to Be the Source, focusing her energy on relief services, the Rockies tickets program, coordinating volunteers, and item donations. After watching one of her closest friends navigate the challenges and complexities of kinship foster care, Hazel was compelled to use her gifts and talents to be a part of the solution. As a result, she has grown deeply connected to the mission and values of supporting foster and kinship families.

Hazel earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of South Carolina and holds a TEFL certification from Manchester, UK. Hazel’s passion for teaching took her around the globe, with adventures teaching English in China and Ukraine for six exciting years. Upon returning to the U.S., she became a Montessori-certified guide, nurturing young minds with patience and creativity. Currently, Hazel also contributes to her community as a board member for the Coal Creek Adult Education Center.

When she’s not expertly managing chaos, Hazel loves diving into her hobbies—painting, gaming, swimming, and meticulously planning her next travel adventure. Hazel cherishes spending quality time with her spirited 5-year-old and humorously tolerates the antics of her feline trio.

Oftentimes the frontline worker at Be the Source, Hazel is thrilled to continue making a positive impact for foster and kinship families throughout Colorado, bringing enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and plenty of playful humor to everything she does.

Lived Experience:​ Former Case Worker
Hobbies: Crafts, Gardening, Family Time

Trina has worked with children for over 20 years.  She has her bachelors and masters degree in criminal justice. Through her career she has worked in various positions advocating for children and their families, from counseling and mentoring the youth, to working as a behavioral specialist, to helping to make sure every kid has a loving and safe environment despite any hardships.  She cannot wait to continue to use her expertise to continue to spread the love and empathy to Be the Source.  Trina is also a mother of four and a very proud grandmother to four little ones. 

Lived Experience: Former Foster Parent
Hobbies:​ Ice Hockey, Classic Cars

Vincen was born and raised in Colorado with over 15 years of experience as a technical agile coach and IT manager with a wealth of knowledge in collaborating with various stakeholders to define and deliver value streams through the use of technology.  Vincen and his wife Doreen are former foster parents and through the use of technology want to help other foster parents successfully navigate their journey as well.  Vincen plays ice hockey in an adult league and has a 1957 Chevy that he occasionally takes to car shows.

Lived Experience: Former Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent
Hobbies:​ Running, Puzzles, Denver Nuggets, Being a Swiftie

Renee is a former foster parent, a Foster Parent of the Year award recipient for Adams County, and a mother of three. A native of Colorado, Renee spent her early career working in emergency services at the US Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon returning to the US and beginning her life as a parent and later a foster parent, Renee and Brian received their first placement within hours of certification, a baby boy they would adopt 2 years later. After closing their home to further placements, they founded Foster Source in the summer of 2016 with a deep understanding that fostering shouldn’t have to be as hard as it is. With a statewide crisis of foster parent retention, Renee leaned into key pillars that research shows retain foster and kinship parents. She set out to grow an evidence-informed agency, committed to supporting trauma caregivers so that children can heal.

Renee has spoken at both National and International conferences, sharing her expertise and passion about vital supports for caregivers. Her commitment to Colorado foster and kinship families is unparalleled. Renee leads the entire Be the Source team with humility and bravery, always willing to learn and grow in response to the ever changing “pendulum swing” in child welfare. Renee is a firm believer that the voices of lived experience should speak the loudest at both the policy and practice level and works every day to ensure Be the Source leads the way.  

In her free time, Renee enjoys running, puzzles, reminiscing, playing games with her family, cheering on her beloved Denver Nuggets, and challenging anyone who dares to beat her Taylor Swift fandom. If you ever have the privilege of seeing Renee at her most fired up, passionate self – be prepared to hear a string of German phrases that hold more power than any English phrase could. . . and just nod as if you understand.