Co-founders

Lottie Grimes, MA, Eds, LPC

Lottie’s professional and personal dreams came together in 2010, when she began offering equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning to a wide variety of clients. Her passion for the work has only increased as she’s continually witnessed people make tremendous progress in their confidence, relationship skills, and sense of empowerment after interacting with horses. She brings to her work deep beliefs in every person’s inner wisdom and ability to overcome challenges. Before offering equine-assisted services, Lottie spent years working with abused and neglected children and adolescents in a variety of settings. She received her Masters and Educational Specialist degrees in counseling psychology from James Madison University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. In addition to her role as executive director of Groundwork Ranch, she operates a private counseling practice where she helps people navigate difficult life transitions and reclaim their personal power. In her free time, Lottie enjoys playing Frisbee golf with her family, gardening, and taking care of her horses. 

dave wyner, Ma, LPC, NCC

Dave Wyner, M.A., LPC, NCC received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Regis University. He’s a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Certified Grief Counseling Specialist. Dave co-facilitates all of Groundwork Ranch’s programs and workshops as well as helps lead program development, investor relations, and volunteer management. In addition to his work at Groundwork Ranch, Dave has a private counseling practice, called A Path Forward Counseling, where he offers office-based and equine-assisted counseling, specializing in helping people turn post-traumatic distress into post-traumatic success. He and his dog have also a certified pet therapy team. Until his dog’s retirement in 2019, they visited patients at a local hospital and strolled the concourses of Denver International Airport, helping make travelers, airline personnel, and airport employees smile.   

Board of Directors

Sandra VÁsconez

Sandra Vásconez is a senior instructor in Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She teaches lighting courses with an emphasis on lighting application and design to Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design students. Sandra has been at the helm of the Lighting Program at CU for fifteen years, is co-creator and co-director of the Rocky Mountain Lighting Academy, manages the Lighting Design Certificate offered to non-engineering students, and is faculty co-advisor of the CU Boulder IES Student Chapter. Sandra obtained her Masters of Science in Lighting from the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She worked at the LRC as adjunct faculty, teaching graduate-level lighting courses and working as program manager. She later earned a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Denver in art history and museum studies. Besides her work and interests in lighting, she also has worked in museum exhibition design.

leslie schmalz

Bio coming soon

erica feyock

Bio coming soon

Shelly Colwell

Bio coming soon