Paul Christenson
Executive Director
pchristenson@aspirenoco.org
Paul holds a B.A. in Kinesiology and an M.A. in Education from the University of Northern Colorado. In graduate school, Paul started working with at-risk youth at a Greeley area alternative school and found his calling. Upon graduating from UNC, Paul took a job at a Northern Colorado non-profit working with at-risk youth and families and found his passion for serving others in his community. Paul turned that passion into a 27 -year career in the non-profit sector in Northern Colorado. Paul is an experienced leader with expertise in a broad range of non-profit management. Paul is skilled at leading teams that focus on the agency’s mission and vision while delivering strong outcomes for clients served and the community.
Northern Colorado has been my home for over 30 years and has been an awesome place to live, work, and raise a family. I have seen Northern Colorado grow so much over the past 30 years, and with that growth has come an affordable housing crisis. That is why I am so excited to have the opportunity to lead the Aspire program for the Loveland Housing Authority. Since 1971, the Loveland Housing Authority (LHA) has provided low and moderate income residents of Loveland with opportunities for home and community through affordable housing. To truly thrive, however, people need more than housing. They also need access to quality education, healthcare, jobs, financial services, and more. As the service partner of LHA, the mission of Aspire is to provide residents of Loveland Housing authority individualized support that promotes increased well-being, independence, and economic security. I am proud to support this mission and the Loveland community.
Star Lapoehn
Resident Service Coordinator, Orchard Place
slapoehn@aspirenoco.org
With a B.S. in Human Rehabilitative Services, Star aspires to be a beacon of hope for those served at Aspire. Star’s role is to partner with families to help connect them to the resources they want and need and to provide assistance with questions they may have about community programs and services.
I am passionate about working with families because I believe in the capability of human beings. Families are powerful in our lives and it’s important to me to link arms with them to elevate their quality of life.
Learn more about the Aspire Kids Club Program at Orchard Place Community
GeriAnna Echelberger
Resident Service Coordinator, VIP Program at The Edge Community
gechelberger@aspirenoco.org
GeriAnna has a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. She is currently 2 classes away from receiving her CAC (Certified Addictions Counselor) II. In her role at Aspire, GeriAnna aspires to foster meaningful relationships with her clients which allows them to work together to maximize their potential, gain a better understanding of themselves and empower them to obtain future goals.
The individuals I serve, for the most part, have given up a lot in their lives (no matter when their time of services was), and they deserve to be taken care of now. I feel very honored to work with the Veteran population at The Edge and in the community. Accessing resources can be a confusing system, I am thankful they trust me enough to help them walk through it.
Learn more about the Veterans Program at The Edge Community.
I have lived in Loveland for the past six years and enjoy raising my children here (originally from Colorado Springs). I have been working with the older adult population for over nine years. It is a passion of mine to organize and implement fun and exciting social opportunities to help enrich their daily lives.
I am a Colorado native. I grew up in the Denver area and moved to Fort Collins for school. I graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science with a Sport Medicine concentration. Since graduating from school, I have always had a job that interacted with the senior population. Since the beginning, I’ve come to find an admiration for that specific population. They carry so much wisdom and heart, and yet are sometimes the most forgotten. I have a heart to advocate for our elderly population and connect them with community resources that will further their wellbeing; in which they deserve.