ALC’s team provides services for survivors of violence, services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and community education and outreach, as well as administrative functions. Scroll down to learn more about the dedicated individuals who make up our ALC team.

Want to join us? Find current job openings here.

MEET ALC’S STAFF

Please note that certain identifying details about some of our staff, such as last name or photo, have been redacted for their privacy due to the sensitive nature of our work as advocates. Our staff’s safety and comfort are paramount at ALC.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Beginning in March 2025, ALC shifted to a co-leadership structure. In co-leadership, guidance and responsibility for an organization are shared among multiple individuals instead of centralized in a single person. Our co–executive directors report to and are supervised by ALC’s Board. Contact ALC’s Co-EDs at exec@advocatesoflakecounty.org.

Tim Best, Co–Executive Director & Client Services Director

A former professional concert pianist, college professor, and business owner, Tim moved to Leadville in 2016 to pursue his dream of living in the mountains. Tim oversees ALC’s long-standing victim and survivor services program, known as Stream of Hope, and leads ALC’s emerging homelessness services program, known as The Bridge-Leadville. He participates in rotating coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline. He also contributes to overall organizational strategy as Co–Executive Director.

Tim loves his role as an advocate for our many community members experiencing violence and homelessness. He has many years of experience building community-based programs, most recently with Get Outdoors Leadville, where he was Out-of-School Programs Director and Camp Director for Rockies Rock. He also spent many years working with Leadville kiddos in the school district and for Project Dream. 

Tim previously Ward 2 on Leadville City Council and spends his spare time romping around in the mountains and trying to master high-altitude baking.

His favorite movie is the Netflix original film Hot Frosty.

Kristen King, Co–Executive Director & Operations Director

Kristen joined the ALC team in Fall 2023, bringing 15 years of experience in public health and human services including housing/homelessness, behavioral health, criminal justice, and trauma. At ALC, Kristen ensures smooth internal operations including overseeing our Finance Manager and Administrative Assistant, providing day-to-day human resources support, and contributing to overall organizational strategy as Co–Executive Director. 

Her background includes serving as lead writer for the National Center on Trauma-Informed Care and Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion, directing virtual training for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Housing and Homelessness Resource Network, providing subject matter expertise and strategic project management for a mental health publishing company, and delivering technical assistance to more than 100 federally qualified health centers to support primary and behavioral healthcare integration. Kristen loves participating in rotating coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline because her heart is in direct service (even though her career is in training, technical assistance, and operations).

Kristen has an MBA from the Isenberg School of Business at University of Massachusetts–Amherst, a master’s in publishing from The George Washington University, and multiple certifications in coaching, hypnosis, and a variety of evidence-based practices for mental health, wellness, and behavior change. She lives in Leadville, CO, where she runs a private integrative coaching and consulting practice as part of her passion for helping others not just survive but thrive. Kristen is currently working on dual PhDs in Holistic Life Coaching and Transpersonal Counseling. Her work is informed by her own lived experience of complex trauma, neurodivergence, and housing instability, and is driven by the conviction that wellness isn’t a luxury but a necessity.

CLIENT SERVICES

ALC’s client services team spans two programs: Stream of Hope victim and survivor services and Bridge–Leadville homelessness services. Staff from both programs work together collaboratively to provide whole-person, wraparound support to help our clients get safe and stay safe.

Lori Patton, Services Manager – Stream of Hope

Lori is a Colorado native, coming from Pueblo originally and moved to Leadville 6 years ago. She has an associate’s degree as a Medical Assistant and worked in the medical field for 30 years. With many years of experience in the health care industry, she is well-versed in providing trauma-informed care during crisis.

Lori joined ALC in December 2023. She runs the day-to-day operations of ALC’s victim and survivor services program. This includes training and supervising all in-house and part-time staff covering our 24/7 crisis hotline; providing direct support to clients including safety planning, attending court, legal information and attorney referrals, financial assistance, and more. She is essential to supporting clients’ personal empowerment as they work through challenging times.

Lori enjoys spending time with family, reading, music, and movies.

Todd VanderWeit, Services Manager – Bridge 

Todd joined ALC’s Bridge-Leadville homelessness services program in April 2024. As the Services Manager for the Bridge program, he works with clients experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness to connect them with resources, as well as oversees our Street Outreach team. He also collaborates with other ALC’s Stream of Hope program and service providers in Lake County to ensure services are streamlined and not duplicated. He is currently training to be able to participate in coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline.

Todd moved to Leadville 4 years ago from the Denver area, but was born and raised in the Midwest in both Ohio and Michigan. He also spent some time living in the Portland, Oregon, area. Todd graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. Besides working in the criminal justice field, Todd has also worked in the sales, sporting goods retail and entertainment industries. He has also worked with Get Outdoors Leadville and Project Dream.

Outside of work, Todd enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, skiing, basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, football, and any other sport that he can be involved with.

Samantha Montes, Case Manager – Bridge

Samantha joined the ALC team in May 2024, as the street outreach coordinator for ALC’s Bridge-Leadville homelessness services program. Her role has expanded to include not only street outreach but also case management and managing ALC’s transitional housing Apartment. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Samantha is currently training to be able to participate in coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline.

A Leadville local, Samantha also spent some time living in the Oak Grove, Kentucky, area. Besides working in the army as a cannon crew member, Samantha has also worked in at the Lake County schools as a substitute teacher, as well as with Get Outdoors Leadville and Project Dream.

Outside of work, Samantha enjoys camping, fishing, hiking and most outdoor adventures. She is currently a student at Colorado Mountain College pursuing two bachelor’s degrees.

Samantha se unió al programa Bridge de ALC el 20 de mayo de 2024 como coordinadora de divulgación. Su función se ha ampliado para incluir no solo el trabajo de asistencia en la calle, sino también la gestión de casos y la administración del apartamento de vivienda de transición de ALC. Ella es es bilingüe, habla español e inglés. Samantha se está capacitando actualmente para poder participar en la atención de la línea telefónica de crisis para víctimas y supervivientes de ALC, que funciona las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana.

Samantha vive en Leadville. También pasó algún tiempo viviendo en el área de Oak Grove, Kentucky. Además de su trabajo, Samantha disfruta, camper, pescar, excursionismo, y casi todas las aventuras de afuera. Samantha es actualmente una estudiante en la universidad de Colorado Mountain College persiguiendo dos licenciaturas.

ADMIN TEAM

Valerie D’Angiolini Landis, Advancement & Impact Director

Val joined ALC in December 2024. She has over 10 years of national and regional experience in the nonprofit sector with a focus on leading work that supports compassionate care and the prevention and alleviation of human suffering.

In her current role with ALC, Val drives ALC’s fundraising and grantseeking strategy, working closely with her co-directors and our Program Sustainability Coordinator. Val also oversees ALC’s Community Impact program, providing evidence-based strategic direction for ALC’s comprehensive community-level response to violence and related public health issues, oversees outreach efforts, and collaborates with community partners while fostering strong relationships. She participates in rotating coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline.

Val brings a background in developing and implementing highly effective informational and marketing campaigns, a strong commitment to program sustainability, and an extensive track record of creating and sustaining long-term partnerships and collaborations.

Outside of the office, you can find Val dancing, as owner, director and instructor at Leadville Dance Collective; hanging with her husband and their two dogs, Ziggy and Odie; and exploring the mountains with friends and family.

Originally from outside Philadelphia, Val moved to Colorado in 2017 and hasn’t looked back. but she does enjoy visiting PA to see loved ones — and for the cheesesteaks, obviously.

Vanessa X, Program Sustainability Coordinator

Vanessa joined ALC in 2024, initially supporting the Bridge-Leadville Homelessness Program before moving into an organization-wide role supporting advancement and fundraising efforts. As Program Sustainability Coordinator, Vanessa sustains agency funding by finding and writing appropriate grant applications, reporting progress to funders, and maintaining donor relationships throughout the year. She also participates in rotating coverage for ALC’s 24/7 victim and survivor crisis hotline.

Vanessa grew up on the front range, visiting Leadville for ski hut trips with her family and hiking 14ers. She has a background in direct services and admin for nonprofits including assistance for low-income individuals living with cancer, counseling services for seniors, respite care for people with special needs, and housing navigation for people experiencing homelessness.

When she’s not working, Vanessa can be found skiing, savoring pho, birding, or dreaming of starting an alpaca farm

Patty Galaviz, Finance Manager & Bilingual Advocate

Patty joined ALC in Fall 2023 as the Transitional Housing Coordinator and has since been promoted to Finance Manager and Bilingual Advocate. In her current role, she oversees ALC’s financial operations while also providing bilingual advocacy and support to clients who speak Spanish and English. Fully bilingual and deeply rooted in the Leadville community since the age of six, Patty brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work. In 2019, she moved to Denver to continue her studies at the University of Colorado Denver, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health. After graduating, she returned to Leadville to dedicate her career to supporting survivors of violence. Outside of her work at ALC, Patty enjoys cheering on the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena, staying active by playing volleyball, soccer, softball, and basketball, spending time at the gym, and enjoying the company of her adorable pup, Zeus.

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Patty se unió a ALC en el otoño de 2023 como Coordinadora de Vivienda de Transición y desde entonces ha sido promovida a Gerente de Finanzas y Defensora Bilingüe. En su rol actual, supervisa las operaciones financieras de ALC y también brinda acompañamiento y apoyo bilingüe a clientes de habla hispana e inglesa. Totalmente bilingüe y con raíces profundas en la comunidad de Leadville desde los seis años, Patty aporta tanto experiencia profesional como vivencias personales a su trabajo. En 2019 se mudó a Denver para continuar sus estudios en la Universidad de Colorado Denver, donde obtuvo una licenciatura en psicología y una licenciatura en salud pública. Después de graduarse, regresó a Leadville para dedicar su carrera a apoyar a sobrevivientes de violencia. Fuera de su trabajo en ALC, a Patty le gusta apoyar a los Denver Nuggets en el Ball Arena, mantenerse activa jugando voleibol, fútbol, sóftbol y básquetbol, pasar tiempo en el gimnasio y disfrutar la compañía de su adorable perrito, Zeus.

Destinee Yudnich, Administrative Assistant

Noelle Yudnich, Official ALC Office Baby

Destinee is new the ALC team but not new to nonprofit work. Her background includes extensive grantwriting and fundraising, community training and activism, and volunteering including a year as an AmeriCorps right here in Leadville.

As a long-time entrepreneur, Destinee is an active member of local business community and the owner and visionary behind Sagebrush Fields Mercantile on Harrison Avenue.

She’s joined at ALC, Sagebrush, and everywhere else by the infinitely adorable Noelle. Noelle’s favorite things are Mommy, Post-It notes, snuggling up with everyone at ALC during our staff meetings, and playing with the ALC office pug, Steve Buscemi.

MEET THE DOGS OF ALC

Our pet policy allows us to bring our doggos to work, which both we and our clients love! Meet our crew.