President & CEO
Jarett Hughes is a policy strategist working at the intersection of demography, economics, and systems change. He believes the defining policy challenge of the coming decades is not simply responding to an aging population, but redesigning systems so that longer lives become a source of greater prosperity, innovation, and opportunity. His work helps governments, nonprofits, and business leaders prepare for the demographic realities that will shape the future of work, public finance, housing, caregiving, health care, and community living.
Jarett Hughes most recently served as Director of Policy and Research for Governor Jared Polis, where he led cross-sector policy development focused on Colorado’s shifting demographics. Previously, he was the state’s Senior Policy Advisor on Aging and helped guide major initiatives related to the COVID-19 response, workforce, behavioral health, and housing investments. Before joining the Governor’s Office, Jarett managed Colorado’s Strategic Action Planning Group on Aging at the Department of Local Affairs.
Jarett holds a Master’s in Gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado, is a Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, serves on Colorado's Medical Services Board, and the Aurora Public Library Board. Outside of work, he is usually chasing his two kids, Walter and Jane, around the local park or trying to find time to cook dinner.
Director of Advancement
Erika Bodor is a nonprofit and development leader with over two decades of experience advancing social impact through philanthropy, strategic fundraising, and partnership development. Driven by a deep belief in the power of philanthropy to create lasting change, she is committed to cultivating authentic relationships and ensuring stakeholders understand the meaningful impact of their investment.
Erika has held leadership roles with the European Roma Rights Centre and UNICEF-supported initiatives focused on children's rights, education rights, and strategic litigation. As Managing Director of Project Worthmore, she led the organization's growth from a newly established refugee-serving nonprofit into a thriving organization that significantly expanded services and support for refugee and immigrant communities. Most recently, she served as Director of Partnerships and Growth at Healthier Colorado and Healthier United.
Erika holds a Master of Arts in Human Rights from Hunter College and a BA in French from the University of Colorado Denver. In her free time, Erika can be found in deep conversation with her two children, reading, writing novels, and running.
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Ashley Wheeland, JD is a Colorado-based policy advocate and attorney with over 20 years of experience shaping health care, food security, and reproductive rights policy. As Director of Public Policy at Hunger Free Colorado, she led statewide advocacy on hunger and food insecurity—including her leadership role in the Colorado School Meals for All Public School Students ballot initiative, which ensures that over 880,000 Colorado early childhood and K-12 students have the food they need to learn.
Prior to that, Ashley served as Senior Policy and Political Director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, where she worked on policies to expand and protect access to birth control and abortion care. Earlier in her career, she was a health policy attorney with the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, focusing on health care reform implementation and state and federal lobbying, and directed health policy work at One Colorado, where she helped remove barriers to health care services for transgender Coloradans and co-founded an LGBTQ+ health coalition to improve their health care.
Most recently, Ashley served as District Director for Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), leading his state team in community outreach, advancing the district's policy priorities, and overseeing federal casework services.
Ashley is excited to join Leverage Colorado, where she works to improve public policy for Colorado's aging population and communities. Outside of work, she stays busy with her daughters, Maggie and Yasmine, and her husband, Marcus—concert-going, playing sports, and living life to the fullest.
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Board of Directors
Sydney Byer, Chair
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Dr. Flo Raitano, Vice Chair
Sydney Byer serves as the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at Next50. In this role, she leads Next50’s public policy and strategic partnership agenda. Throughout her career, Sydney has spearheaded innovative projects designed to address complex challenges in aging and public policy, often collaborating across sectors to driv
Sydney Byer serves as the Director of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at Next50. In this role, she leads Next50’s public policy and strategic partnership agenda. Throughout her career, Sydney has spearheaded innovative projects designed to address complex challenges in aging and public policy, often collaborating across sectors to drive impactful solutions. She has held various roles in the nonprofit and public sectors in Denver, gaining experience in direct service, grant management, fundraising, and volunteer management. Sydney holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Colorado – Boulder and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado – Denver.
Dr. Flo Raitano, Vice Chair
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Dr. Flo Raitano, Vice Chair
Dr. Raitano serves as the Director of Partnership Development and Innovation for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). She has been with DRCOG since 2013 and has held four different positions while at DRCOG, including a 6-month stint as acting Executive Director. In August 2024, she was recognized as one of the 25 Most Powe
Dr. Raitano serves as the Director of Partnership Development and Innovation for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). She has been with DRCOG since 2013 and has held four different positions while at DRCOG, including a 6-month stint as acting Executive Director. In August 2024, she was recognized as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She was the founding Executive Director for the Colorado Rural Development Council, served as a Senior Fellow for the Center for the New West, and was twice elected Mayor of Dillon, Colorado. She received her BA cum laude in Psychology from CU-Boulder and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from CSU.
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Jody Schimmel Hyde is a nationally recognized researcher and policy expert whose work focuses on disability, employment, income security, and the systems that shape economic opportunity. During her career, Jody has led and contributed to studies on Social Security disability, workforce participation, and access to health care and supports
Jody Schimmel Hyde is a nationally recognized researcher and policy expert whose work focuses on disability, employment, income security, and the systems that shape economic opportunity. During her career, Jody has led and contributed to studies on Social Security disability, workforce participation, and access to health care and supports for community living. Prior to her current role as a Research Scientist for the University of Michigan and Associate Director of the Health and Retirement Study, Jody spent two decades conducting federal and state policy research and evaluation at Mathematica. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan and a BA in Economics from the University of California, San Diego..
Michele Girard, Treasurer
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Jody Schimmel Hyde, Secretary
Michele is the founder of Ivanhoe Development, a philanthropic finance firm that specializes in securing, designing, and stewarding major investments, grants, Mission-Related Investments, Program-Related Investments, Venture Capital, etc. She previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Legislative Aide and for the U.S. St
Michele is the founder of Ivanhoe Development, a philanthropic finance firm that specializes in securing, designing, and stewarding major investments, grants, Mission-Related Investments, Program-Related Investments, Venture Capital, etc. She previously worked for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Legislative Aide and for the U.S. State Department as a contractor designing educational programming for foreign delegations. Michele attended the University of Maine for a B.A. in Public Policy and the University of Minnesota, earning her Master's in Development from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. In her free time, you can find her trying to fly a plane, falling off a horse, choosing bad lines on a ski slope, or trying to fulfill her baking dreams of one day making Sourdough.
Shepard Nevel
Angeles Ortega
Shepard Nevel
Shepard Nevel is the founder and CEO of the Institute of Evidence-based Policymaking, a nonpartisan organization that delivers timely, actionable research to executive decision makers. He served previously as Director of Policy and Research for Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Shepard is the former VP of Policy, Evaluation, and Communicati
Shepard Nevel is the founder and CEO of the Institute of Evidence-based Policymaking, a nonpartisan organization that delivers timely, actionable research to executive decision makers. He served previously as Director of Policy and Research for Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Shepard is the former VP of Policy, Evaluation, and Communications for the Colorado Health Foundation. Earlier in his career, he served as director of policy for Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and as an assistant county attorney in Miami-Dade County. Shepard is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia Law School. He and his wife, Anna Alejo, are the proud parents of three daughters.
Edwin Walker
Angeles Ortega
Shepard Nevel
Edwin L. Walker is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, leading the Administration on Aging within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He guided the development of home and community-based long-term care and elder justice programs, enabling older adults and their caregivers to age with dignity and independence a
Edwin L. Walker is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, leading the Administration on Aging within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He guided the development of home and community-based long-term care and elder justice programs, enabling older adults and their caregivers to age with dignity and independence and be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Prior to his federal service, Walker directed the Missouri Division of Aging, overseeing comprehensive services for older adults and individuals with disabilities. In March 2024, Walker retired from federal service, leaving a legacy of leadership in aging policy and program development.
He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University.
Angeles Ortega
Angeles Ortega
Angeles Ortega
Angeles Ortega is a nonprofit executive and community leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing economic mobility and building cross-sector partnerships. She serves as CEO of Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver, where she leads strategic planning, fundraising, board engagement, and program impact for a leading workforce and sm
Angeles Ortega is a nonprofit executive and community leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing economic mobility and building cross-sector partnerships. She serves as CEO of Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver, where she leads strategic planning, fundraising, board engagement, and program impact for a leading workforce and small business development organization. Previously, she was Director of Advancement at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, overseeing $2–4 million in annual fundraising. She studied at Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro and the University of Nevada, Reno, and holds an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte.