Executive Director

Karen grew up in both California and Germany, giving her a unique cultural perspective. She has made Colorado her home for much of her adult life.

Karen received her BA in German from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MA in Special Education from the University of Colorado Denver. Her varied career includes 8 years as a diet clerk at Longmont United Hospital and 25 years teaching special education within St Vrain Valley School District, in both the traditional and charter school worlds.

Karen is a true visionary and Community Connections Project of Longmont is her dream, coming to fruition after her retirement from education. She is consumed by the question - How can we transition away from an oil economy and what does that mean for the average person? She loves to engage others as she ponders the best ways to joyfully support active participants and leaders in the transition rather than create passive "victims" who feel dread rather than agency in the shift. She seeks to build a community that is both innovative and supportive, bringing together folks from diverse backgrounds who might never have otherwise met.

Karen's interests include gardening, dog training, history and literature. She lives in Longmont with her husband, John and loyal companion, Elsa, the dog. She has four grown children.

Project Coordinator and

Board Liasion

Nancy was born and raised in upstate NY and lived in Montreal, Boston, Europe, Georgia, Texas, Maine, and Alabama before settling in Longmont, Colorado for the past 20 years.

Nancy earned a BS in Psychology from McGill University, MS in Elementary Education from College of St. Rose, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University. Her career began at Bethesda School and Home for Boys in Savannah, GA. She also taught at Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont and Palo Alto Middle School in Killeen, TX and was in leadership positions at both Twin Peaks and the Imagine Schools in Colorado. Retired from education, she works part-time with CCPLongmont, BEST Security, and Soul Dog Rescue.

Nancy has partnered with Karen Yegge during her time at both Twin Peaks and Imagine Firestone, where they have been friends, colleagues, and co-creators. She brings to CCPLongmont the ability to focus on mission-driven projects and a passion for sustainability in the broadest sense - from energy to the environment to animals to people. Her interests include animal welfare, photography, the arts, reading and travel.

Nancy lives in Longmont with her husband Kevin, three boys (two of whom are in college) and two dogs.

Community Outreach

Michelle grew up in both California and Colorado.

She began her career in the computer industry with IBM, where she developed a strong foundation in innovation, customer service, and business operations. Building on that experience, Michelle held positions with Fujitsu and General Electric, gaining extensive expertise across diverse industries and corporate environments. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to build relationships, lead with integrity, and help individuals and organizations achieve meaningful results.

Michelle met both Karen and Nancy as a parent and volunteer at Twin Peaks Charter Academy before joining the Wispy and CCPLongmont journey. As an entrepreneur, coach, and experienced business professional with a distinguished career spanning technology, corporate leadership, and personal development, she brings her business acumen to CPPLongmont, with a particular passion for Wispy Greens.

Michelle's interests include community volunteering, traveling and health education. She lives in Longmont with her high school sweet heart to whom she has been married for 27 years. They have five children and four grandchildren.