Meet the Team

OUR FOUNDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Renee Bernhard

Renee Bernhard

Co-Founder/Executive Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lived Experience: Former foster parent, adoptive parent
Hobbies:​ Running, Puzzles, Being a Swiftie

Renee is a former foster parent, a Foster Parent of the Year award recipient for Adams County, and a mother of three. A native of Colorado, Renee spent her early career working in emergency services at the US Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. Upon returning to the US and beginning her life as a parent and later a foster parent, Renee and Brian received their first placement within hours of certification, a baby boy they would adopt 2 years later. After closing their home to further placements, they founded Foster Source in the summer of 2016 with a deep understanding that fostering shouldn’t have to be as hard as it is. With a statewide crisis of foster parent retention, Renee leaned into key pillars that research shows retain foster and kinship parents. She set out to grow an evidence-informed agency, committed to supporting trauma caregivers so that children can heal. Renee has spoken at both National and International conferences, sharing her expertise and passion about vital supports for caregivers. Yet, her commitment to Colorado foster and kinship families is unparalleled. Renee leads the entire Foster Source team with humility and bravery, always willing to learn and grow in response to the ever changing “pendulum swing” in child welfare. Renee is a firm believer that the voices of lived experience should speak the loudest at both the policy and practice level and works every day to ensure Foster Source leads the way.  In her free time, Renee enjoys running, puzzles, reminiscing, playing games with her family, and challenging anyone who dares to beat her Taylor Swift fandom. If you ever have the privilege of seeing Renee at her most fired up, passionate self – be prepared to hear a string of German phrases that hold more power than any English phrase could. . . and just nod as if you understand. 

 

Brian Bernhard

Brian Bernhard

Co-Founder/Board of Directors - President

Pronouns: he/him/his
Lived Experience: Former foster parent, adoptive parent
Hobbies:​ Golf, Community Theater, Legal Mgmt Associations

Brian is a former foster parent and Foster Parent of the Year award recipient for Adams County. He has dedicated his career to the field of immigration. In addition to having worked for the government, he has also spent the last 15 years managing immigration law firms. Brian is passionate about foster care and providing the children in foster care resources they need, particularly those aging out of the system. Brian is a parent to three children, one of whom was adopted out of foster care. He’s a very active member of his church and associations focused on legal management.

 

Sean Camacho

Sean Camacho

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: he/his

Sean is a member of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group in the Denver office, where he focuses on commercial and government contracts litigation, consumer products law, and helping clients navigate the intersection of law, politics, and public policy. He has represented clients in arbitrations and before state and federal courts. Sean has also worked closely with Dentons’ Public Policy and Regulation group to represent clients’ interests at the state level. He received his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, magna cum laude. Before law school, he served as an Air Force officer at duty stations in the United States and overseas.

 

Matt La Crue

Matt La Crue

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: he/his

Matthew La Crue specializes in state and local government affairs and has over a decade of experience representing clients nationally and locally. Matthew has extensive experience and knowledge crafting and lobbying on policy related to local governments, finance, real estate, judicial, law enforcement, transportation, healthcare, energy, insurance, aerospace and telecommunications. 

 

Daylin Short

Daylin Short

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Daylin is a member of KPMG’s Deal Advisory practice in Denver. As a licensed CPA, Daylin specifically works in Financial Due Diligence assisting corporate clients and private equity firms with their mergers and acquisitions. After attending Boston College, Daylin started her career in Boston for several years before moving to Colorado in September 2018. Daylin was first introduced to foster care during her time in Boston when she volunteered for Camp to Belong which reunites siblings separated in foster care. She immediately felt passionate about foster care, mentoring one of the campers and continuing to volunteer with the camp after moving to Denver. When looking for ways to get involved in the cause locally, Daylin found Foster Source and is looking forward to learning more from the caretakers perspective and how she can make an impact.

 

Tonya Van Beber

Tonya Van Beber

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Tonya is a third generation native of Colorado and Weld County. Tonya received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Social Sciences/Psychology.  Tonya is the Executive Director of  Wave of Hope Learning Centers, a unique educational initiative partnering with homeschool and private school families in northern Colorado. In 2024 she was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Foster Parent Association. Tonya was a Colorado House Representative (House District 48) after several decades in education and publishing. As a former foster parent, advocacy for foster care and adoption has been a focal point outside of the classroom. 

OUR TEAM

Jody Britton

Jody Britton

Director of Family Services

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lived Experience: Former kinship caregiver, adoptive parent
Hobbies:​ Relaxing in her hot tub, playing games, and playing with her dogs

Jody spent 18 years as a stay-at-home mom to six children – through birth, international adoption, and foster kinship care. In 2018, a fire was ignited in Jody to pursue a degree in Social Work in order to gain the necessary skills to support others who were navigating foster/kinship care, adoption, trauma, and attachment. She graduated from MSU Denver with a  Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Jody is a fierce advocate for justice, children, families, and community – believing wholeheartedly that in this life, none of us are meant to go at any of it alone. Currently, she serves as the Director of Family Services at Foster Source where she oversees Family Advocacy, Education, Respite and Relief Services. She also provides therapy to caregivers and leads the agency’s policy efforts. During the 2024 legislative session, Jody helped draft groundbreaking legislation that upon passing, allowed for kinship caregivers to access vital supports and more equitable experiences.  In her free time, Jody’s absolute favorite thing to do is to laugh. She enjoys biking, hiking, singing, cooking, sunsets, and playing with her quirky dogs. She’s a personality test junkie (Enneagram 8, ESTP, Di, etc.) She has done a lot of crazy things in her life . . . the two that tie for first place are, 1) skydiving and, 2) going to grad school full-time while raising six children and working full-time. One she would do again, the other, probably not (you guess which one).

 

Hazel Carrillo

Hazel Carrillo

Executive Assistant

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hobbies:​
Painting, Gaming, Swimming, Traveling, and Loving her Kitties

Hazel is a mom to a toddler and 3 cats.  In 2004, she graduated from University of South Carolina with a Bachelors of Science in Criminology.  Afterwards, she went to Manchester, UK, to study Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).  After teaching in China and Ukraine for 6 years, Hazel moved to Colorado and became a Montessori-certified guide for toddlers. She currently moonlights as a TEFL teacher to immigrants and is eager to help foster and kinship families across Colorado.

 

Vincen Collins

Vincen Collins

Information Technology Advisor

Pronouns: he/him/his
Lived Experience: Former foster parent
Hobbies:​ Ice Hockey, Classic Cars

Vincen was born and raised in Colorado with over 15 years of experience as a technical agile coach and IT manager with a wealth of knowledge in collaborating with various stakeholders to define and deliver value streams through the use of technology.  Vincen and his wife Doreen are former foster parents and through the use of technology want to help other foster parents successfully navigate their journey as well.  Vincen plays ice hockey in an adult league and has a 1957 Chevy that he occasionally takes to car shows.

 

Trina Gregory

Trina Gregory

Family Advocate

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lived Experience:​ Former case worker
Hobbies: Crafts, Gardening, Family Time

Trina has worked with children for over 20 years.  She has her bachelors and masters degree in criminal justice. Through her career she has worked in various positions advocating for children and their families, from counseling and mentoring the youth, to working as a behavioral specialist, to helping to make sure every kid has a loving and safe environment despite any hardships.  She cannot wait to continue to use her expertise to continue to spread the love and empathy to Foster Source.  Trina is also a mother of four and a very proud grandmother to four little ones. 

 

Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin

Assistant to the Executive Director/Manager - The Ambassador Project

Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lived Experience:​ Former foster parent, adoptive parent

Sarah has lived in Colorado for the past 22 years. She has a Masters Degree of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University and has spent her career in sales, marketing, accounting, and owning a small business with her husband.  Sarah and her husband Chris have been foster parents for 7 years and counting. They have four wonderful children who keep them on their toes. 

 

Katie  Smith

Katie Smith

Director of Therapeutic Services

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Lived Experience:​ Adopted as an infant, former case worker in child welfare, therapist in child welfare

Katie was adopted from India as an infant. Her life experiences led her to Social Work. She has dedicated the last twenty-six years to working in the child welfare field. She has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Social Work and is a  Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado. Katie has worked as a Caseworker for Boulder County, a CASA Advocate Supervisor, a Social Worker for The Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center,  and as a Private Practice Therapist specializing in trauma, foster and adoption challenges. Katie is a mother of two children and a proud grandmother.