School Nutrition Contact Information

Brehan Riley, MS, RD, SNS

Director

• Oversees the management of all child nutrition programs administered by CDE; oversees the coordination of program goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership and expertise in planning, developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating child nutrition programs.
• Oversees the management of program budgets related to federal, state, and grant funding. 
• Liaison to Colorado School Nutrition Association (CSNA)

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

Vacant

Supervisor

• Oversees and coordinates child nutrition-related grant activities.
• Oversees and coordinates strategic planning and quality improvements to meet changing priorities that support the mission of the unit. 
• Member of School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members.

Lyza Shaw, MS

Supervisor

• Oversees financial management for the unit and child nutrition programs. 
• Oversees and coordinates financial reporting. 
• Oversees child nutrition program meal counting and claiming. 
• Member of the School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members. 

shaw_l@cde.state.co.us; 303-854-4915

Kerri Link, MS, RD, SNS

Supervisor​

• Oversees strategic priorities of child nutrition programs for the unit. 
• Oversees the interpretation and implementation of state and federal statutes, rules and regulations for child nutrition programs. 
• Liaison to USDA federal and regional offices. 
• Member of the School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members. 

link_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-660-5499

Ashley Moen, MS, RD, SNS

Supervisor

• Oversees training, communications, and marketing/outreach for the unit to expand the reach and effectiveness of child nutrition programs.
• Oversees personnel management and dietetic interns.
• Member of School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members.

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

Patrick Mueller

Grants Fiscal Analyst for Nutrition

• Processes child nutrition claims for reimbursement 
• Supports meal counting and claiming for child nutrition programs.

mueller_p@cde.state.co.us; 303-866-6879

Allison Butler, MPH, RD

Grant Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for:

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

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

Megan Johnson, RD, SNS

Principal Consultant

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for: 

• National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option
• New sponsor onboarding
• Emergency situations
• Technology contract management

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

Rachael Burnham, BA, SNS

Principal Consultant

Provides oversight, program management, and strategic direction for:

• The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program
• School Meal Eligibility programs, including free and reduced-price meal eligibility, direct certification, and verification
• Meal counting and claiming
• NSLP & SFSP Administrative reviews, including resource management and procurement 
• Financial management for child nutrition programs

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

Sarah McKasson, MPH

Data and Evaluation Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for: 

• Unit evaluation plans
• Unit data infrastructure, analysis, and visualization

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

Sharon Murray, MHSE

Training and Communications Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for: 

• Unit training plan for child nutrition programs 
• Professional development for the unit
• Unit communication

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

Erin Opgenorth, RD

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Child Nutrition Program meal patters and menu planning, including offer versus Serve, pre-K meal pattern, and breakfast after the bell
• Civil Rights
• Special Dietary Needs
• Wellness Policy
• New sponsor onboarding

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

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

McKenna Pullen, MPH, SNS

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: ​

• Farm to School and Summer
• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Meal Quality and Culinary Initiatives

Conducts training and technical assistance for sponsors 

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

Kristi Brennan, MS, RD, SNS

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Meal quality and culinary initiatives
• Farm to School and Summer
• Dietetic Interns

Conducts training and technical assistance for sponsors 

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

Benjamin Wetherbee

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• School meal eligibility programs, including free and reduced-price meal eligibility, direct certification, and verification
• Provisional Programs

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

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

Erica Boyd, RD

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
• Special Milk Program (SMP)
• Smart Snacks and Competitive Foods

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

boyd_e@cde.state.co.us; 720-693-3232

Jenny Herman

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Food Service Management Companies 
• Procurement, including procurement reviews
• Equipment Grants
• Capital Equipment Purchases

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

herman_j@cde.state.co.us; 720-812-3119

​

Becca Boone, MA

Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Local Food Purchasing Program

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors 

boone_r@cde.state.co.us; 720-450-4357

Donna Kolkman

Consultant

Provides subject matter expertise and support for: 

• Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program
• Meal counting and claiming
• Procurement
• Financial Management

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

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

Alicia Grove, MS, RD, SNS

Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Charter Schools and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs)
• Food Safety & Recovery
• Professional Standards

​Conducts training, technical assistance and monitoring for sponsors 

grove_a@cde.state.co.us; 720-795-2038

Vivien Skrupskis, BA

Program Support

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Advisory Council for School Nutrition (ACSN)
• Colorado Nutrition Portal
• Website Content

Provides program support and oversees administrative duties 

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

Christian Francisco

P-EBT Support

• Provides support for the Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer program

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