CDE will be closed on Monday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday.
STAY INFORMED: Visit CDE’s COVID-19 Resources for Schools page
You are here
School Nutrition Contact Information
Contact Our Team
Contact your point person for program related questions and support with applications, reviews and training and technical assistance needs. View the Point Person Assignments (PDF) or your renewal application in the Colorado Nutrition Portal to see your point of contact.
You can also contact our team using the emails below and we'll be in touch shortly.
Phone: 303-866-6661; Mail: 1525 Sherman St. Suite 309 Denver, CO 80203-1942
Meet Our Leadership Team
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
Krista Garand, SNS
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.
garand_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-413-6310
Lyza Shaw, MS
Supervisor
- Oversees financial management for the unit and child nutrition programs.
- Oversees and coordinates financial reporting.
- Oversees strategies for child nutrition program reviews and operations.
- 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 the unit's strategy for training, communications and marketing/outreach 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.
moen_a@cde.state.co.us; 303-868-7192
Meet Our Program Managers
Barbara Grebowich
Technology Project Manager
Provides oversight, project management and strategic direction for:
- Unit technology infrastructure
- Technology contract management
grebowich_b@cde.state.co.us; 720-788-9685
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
Nutrition Programs Manager
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
johnson_m@cde.state.co.us; 303-653-6138
Rachael Burnham, BA, SNS
Review and Operations Manager
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
Meet Our Subject Matter Experts
Erin Opgenorth, RD
Senior Consultant
Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:
- Child Nutrition Program meal patterns 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
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program assist
Conducts training and technical assistance for sponsors
pullen_m@cde.state.co.us; 720-644-7259
Vacant
Senior Consultant
Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:
- Financial Management
- Meal counting and claiming
- Resource Management
- allowable costs, non-program revenue, paid lunch equity and unpaid meal charges
Conducts training and technical assistance for sponsors
Vacant
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
Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors
Vivien Skrupskis, BA
Senior Consultant
Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:
- Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
- New director onboarding
- Professional Standards
Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors
skrupskis_v@cde.state.co.us; 720-672-4243
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:
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
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program assist
Conducts training, technical assistance and monitoring for sponsors
grove_a@cde.state.co.us; 720-795-2038
Christian Francisco
Consultant
Provides subject matter expertise and support for:
Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors
francisco_c@cde.state.co.us; 720-595-0707
Shali King
P-EBT Support
Provides subject matter expertise and support for:
Vacant
Program Support
Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:
Provides program support and oversees administrative duties
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
State Agency Partners
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
- For more information on the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) within child care centers/family child care, adult day care programs, afterschool programs and the supper program
- Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) - USDA Foods
- The Food Distribution Programs unit facilitates the ordering and distribution of USDA Foods (formerly "commodities") to decrease school nutrition and summer food service program costs.
Connect With Us
