Meet the Team

OUR FOUNDERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Renee Bernhard

Renee Bernhard

Co-Founder/Executive Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hobbies:​
Running, Puzzles, Reminiscing

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. Within hours of becoming certified to be foster parents, Renee and Brian received their first placement, 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.

 

Brian Bernhard

Brian Bernhard

Co-Founder/Board of Directors - President

Pronouns: he/him/his

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.

 

Maria Avila

Maria Avila

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hobbies:​
Travel, Gardening, Photography.

Maria Avila is the 360 Team Foster Care and Adoption Supervisor at Boulder County Human Services. She has 20 years of experience working with families that provide care for children in out-of-home placements. Maria has a BA in psycology, a BS in international marketing and a MSW. Maria is also a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the State of Colorado. Maria is a married mother of two children. Maria and her husband were foster parents with Boulder County for two years, and they were foster parents for their daughter whom they adopted in 2006.

 

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. 

 

Adrienne Parrott

Adrienne Parrott

Board of Directors - Director

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Adrienne grew up as an only child and always wanted a large family. She fostered as a single parent from 1990 through 2005 when she met her husband. He grew up in foster care in Oklahoma and totally understood the need for positive foster families and the journey of these children.

Over the years of fostering until 2012, her family has gained so many positive strengths, knowledge, patience, an invaluable sense of humor, how to keep going when you wanted to give up and the value of commitment. They grew as a family from 4 boys initially to a total of 5 boys and 5 girls. Her youngest adopted son came to them as a foster child at the age of 4 with a host of special needs. He is now 17.

Adrienne no longer actively fosters, but her heart desires to participate in anything she can to encourage families to foster and to continue fostering.

 

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

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 (3 biological, 2 adopted, 1 kinship). She began her pursuit of a Social Work degree at MSU Denver in the fall of 2017. Jody has been a community advocate for foster care and adoption since 2008, organizing support groups and educational events. She became a kinship foster mother in 2017. Jody is passionate about supporting foster and adoptive parents and advocating for vulnerable youth.

 

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

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.

 

Ashley Hart

Ashley Hart

Administrative Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hobbies:
Playing/watching sports, traveling, reading

Ashley is a North Carolina native with over 15 years of non-profit and small business experience. She graduated from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Religion, and was fortunate to spend time afterward living abroad and learning other cultures. Ashley plays flag football and hopes to learn pickleball this year – and is the proud aunt of three.

 

Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin

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.