School Nutrition Contact Information

Brehan Riley, MS, RD, SNS

Director

• Manages all Child Nutrition Programs administered by CDE; determines program goals and objectives.
• Formulates, interprets and implements state and federal statutes, rules and regulations for the Child Nutrition Programs
• Provides leadership and expertise in planning, developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating Child Nutrition Programs
• Oversees budgets related to federal and state funding
• Liaison to Colorado School Nutrition Association (CSNA)

riley_b@cde.state.co.us; P  303-866-6299  C  720-202-3338

Amanda Mercer, MS, RD

Nutrition Programs Supervisor

• Interprets regulations and develops and disseminates written guidance to ensure compliance with federal, state, local policies and rules and regulations for all participating entities
• Plans, develops, implements and evaluates child nutrition programs to meet changing priorities that support the mission of the program
• Oversees the development of outreach activities to expand the scope and effectiveness of child nutrition programs
• Coordinates and oversees child nutrition-related grant activities.

mercer_a@cde.state.co.us; 720-724-3210

Lyza Shaw, MS

Business Operations Supervisor

• Assists with the financial management aspects of the Child Nutrition Program
• Resource Management of the Administrative Review
• Fiscal management and financial reporting
• Meal Counting and Claiming - Claim Reimbursements
• Procurement
• Unpaid Meal Charges

shaw_l@cde.state.co.us; 303-854-4915

Kerri Link, MS, RD, SNS

Nutrition Programs Review Supervisor​

• Coordinates Administrative Review Process
• Lead for nutrient analysis protocols
• New School Food Authorities (SFAs)

link_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-660-5499

Ashley Moen, MS, RD, SNS

Summer Meal Programs Supervisor

• Coordinates and oversees the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), the 
• Seamless Summer Option (SSO), 
• and emergency situations 

summermealprogram@cde.state.co.us; 303-866-6653

Vacant

Grants Fiscal Analyst for Nutrition

• Meal Counting and Claiming - Claim Reimbursements
  • Claim processing questions

Allison Butler, MPH, RD

Principal Consultant

• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Meal quality and culinary initiatives 
• Grant administration
• Strategic partnerships

butler_a@cde.state.co.us; 303-242-6830

Megan Johnson, RD, SNS

Procurement Principal Consultant

• Capital Equipment Purchases
• Equipment Grants
• Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) 
  • Vended Meals
• Procurement
• Procurement Reviews

johnson_m@cde.state.co.us; 303-653-6138

Rachael Burnham, BA, SNS

Principal Consultant

• Direct Certification
• Meal Counting and Claiming
• School Meal Eligibility
• Verification

burnham_r@cde.state.co.us; 303-503-2353

Sarah McKasson, MPH

Data and Evaluation Manager

• Oversee development and implementation of unit evaluaiton plans 
• Oversee unit data infrastructure, analysis, and visualization

mckasson_s@cde.state.co.us; 303-916-4437

Sharon Murray, MHSE

Training and Communications Manager

• Oversee unit wide trainings and communications

murray_s@cde.state.co.us; 720-584-1962

Erin Opgenorth, RD

Senior Consultant

• Breakfast after the Bell
• Civil Rights
• Meal Patterns - Lunch and Breakfast
• Menu Planning
• Offer versus Serve
• School Breakfast Program (SBP)
• Special Dietary Needs
• Wellness Policy

opgenorth_e@cde.state.co.us; 720-822-1883

McKenna Pullen, MPH, SNS

Senior Consultant​

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (assist)
• Coordinates and oversees Farm to School
• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Meal Quality and Culinary Initiatives

pullen_m@cde.state.co.us; 720-644-7259

Kristi Brennan, MS, RD, SNS

Senior Consultant

• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Coordinates and oversees Farm to School
• Meal quality and culinary initiatives
• Dietetic Interns
• Smarter Lunchrooms

brennan_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-450-0926

Benjamin Wetherbee

Senior Consultant

• Alternate Point of Sale (POS)
• Direct Certification
• Meal Counting and Claiming
• Provisional Programs

wetherbee_b@cde.state.co.us; 720-607-3434

Erica Boyd, RD

Senior Consultant

• Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
• Competitive Foods
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program 
• Pre-K Meal Pattern
• Smart Snacks
• Special Milk Program (SMP)

boyd_e@cde.state.co.us; 720-693-3232

Donna Kolkman

Consultant

• Administrative Reviews
• Summer Food Service Program Reviews
• Technical Assistance

kolkman_d@cde.state.co.us; 720-202-8794

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Becca Boone, MA

Consultant

• Procurement
• Procurement Reviews
• Administrative Reviews
• Summer Food Service Program Reviews
• Farm to School (assist)

boone_r@cde.state.co.us; 720-450-4357

Alicia Grove, MS, RD, SNS

Consultant

• Administrative Reviews
• Charter Schools
• Food Safety & Recovery
• Professional Standards
• Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs)
• Summer Food Service Program Reviews
• Trainings

grove_a@cde.state.co.us; 720-795-2038

Vivien Skrupskis, BA

Program Support

• Advisory Council for School Nutrition (ACSN)
• Colorado Nutrition Portal
• Program Support and Administrative Duties
• Website Content Coordinator

skrupskis_v@cde.state.co.us; 720-672-4243

Christian Francisco

P-EBT Support

• Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer

francisco_c@cde.state.co.us; 720-595-0702