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Our Staff & Board
Meet the HOPE LIVES! team.
The Hope Lives! Staff and Board is made up of caring and dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to provide support and resources to those affected by breast cancer. It is our goal to provide HOPE above all else.
OUR STAFF
Elise Carver
Executive Director
Elise is thrilled to be a part of the staff and mission of Hope Lives! Not only does she have a passion for helping people and giving back, but unfortunately like most, she too, has had various family members and friends affected by breast cancer. Elise brings more than 20 years of managerial, training, and customer service experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Most recently, she held the position of Volunteer Coordinator in Weld county for Pathways Hospice.
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According to Elise, “I enjoy companioning with clients and the community providing much needed support, especially during these challenging times when world events can often overshadow everyday needs. Since moving back to Northern Colorado, I have been reminded about what a generous and special place this is and I’m excited to see what our future holds!”
Debbi Potts
Program Manager
Debbi holds a bachelor’s in education and a master’s degree in counseling. She has had over 30 years in a leadership position. She was the Founder and Executive Director of a nonprofit child development center serving low-income children in Larimer County and the Executive Director of a nonprofit center in Weld County.
As a life coach for families, she worked with families in an agency that supported them as they navigated the child protection agency for human services. She developed a medical assisting school for Salud Community Health Center which was approved by the state of Colorado to train medical assistants. Teaching preschool through college age was a passion as she believes in education and the power it has to change lives.
She has trained extensively as a Stephens Minister walking beside women going through crisis. As a visitation minister she also visits shut ins who are suffering from dementia. Debbi says that she is happy to be a part of such an amazing agency that cares so deeply for their clients and finds it an honor to be part of their lives.
Lana moved to Fort Collins in 1982 to attend Colorado State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1986. Since then, she’s been the assistant controller of a local grocery chain before starting her own Accounting and Bookkeeping business in Fort Collins. She married a local guy and has two daughters and one very active puppy.
Lana says: “I am deeply moved by the struggle those with cancer go through and am so honored to be a part of Hope Lives!. The compassion and care given the participants is truly heartwarming. It is so inspiring to see those in the community helping through their donations of time and money and I look forward to all the upcoming fundraising opportunities. Northern Colorado is a wonderful, generous place to live!”
Lana Schueler
Bookkeeper
Our Board of Directors
Starting a new organization was my creative vision but making it a reality took a village. While fighting an arduous battle with breast cancer in 2001, my experiences and struggles during treatment led me to reach out to many complementary care providers to ease my Chemotherapy side effects and help me endure my treatments physically, psychologically and emotionally. These services improved my recovery and quality of life so much that it moved me to start The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Foundation non-profit to help other women in treatment.
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My mission was to support and strengthen those affected by breast cancer by providing care, guidance and education. We serve as a partner as they heal in mind, body and spirit.​​
The need for services continues as statistically 400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Weld and Larimer Counties each year. According to Lydia, “We want to provide free post diagnosis services to all women in northern Colorado. We are committed to continuing our important work with the supportive help of our professional providers, generous donors, committed board members, staff and volunteers.”
Lydia Dody
Founder & Board Member
Mark is the owner/operator of Xanadu Med Spa in Fort Collins which he purchased in 2015. He takes great pride in managing a team that is client focused with phenomenal results. Prior to that, Mark was the CEO of a non-profit management company with offices in Fort Collins and St. Paul, MN. He and his staff provided overall leadership, board, financial, marketing, and event management for 18 different national and regional non-profit organizations. Mark began his career in Higher Education. It was a position at Colorado State University that brought him to Fort Collins from Saint Louis University in Missouri. Mark received his bachelor's degree at Carroll University in Wisconsin and a master's degree in educational psychology and counseling from Eastern Illinois University. He is the father to two beautiful college aged daughters.
Mark says, “I am proud to have this opportunity to serve on the Hope Lives Board of Directors. I am inspired to do this work on behalf of the important women in my life. Hope Lives! plays such an important role in our community and I am pleased to be able to play a small part in its success!”
Mark Koepsell
Board President
Jahna Eichel
Board Vice President
Jahna Eichel is a visionary media CEO and branding expert, known for her strategic approach to personal and professional storytelling. As the founder of The Creative Agency and publisher of Fort Collins City Lifestyle, she brings a dynamic blend of creativity and business acumen to every project. Jahna specializes in elevating brands through innovative marketing, impactful narratives, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Her passion for community and non-profit organizations like Hope Lives drives her to create meaningful partnerships and initiatives that amplify voices, inspire change, and foster a sense of connection. Whether collaborating with high-growth businesses, supporting charitable organizations, or curating local luxury content, Jahna is dedicated to transforming ideas into influence and building authentic relationships that leave a lasting impact.
Collis’s early experiences in aeronautical engineering (BSEE from UCLA in 1967) and later as a CPA (California 1974) with a Big 8 accounting firm were useful in developing his passion to grow early-stage companies, create new jobs and develop new and innovative products and services. These products included medical devices, ultraviolet light products, and water utilization products. Service companies included encryption software and water testing labs.
In his role as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Collis focused much of his attention to the operations of the companies, particularly to strategic and tactical planning, policies and procedures, human resource development as well as financial planning and controls. He was instrumental in numerous financings (private equity and public offerings) and corporate acquisitions, and has served on numerous corporate boards of directors.
In addition to his corporate activities, Collis has spent numerous years volunteering; a church counsel (President), a homeowner association (President), and a volunteer for Partners of Larimer County and Fort Collins Country Club finance committee.
Collis Woodward
Board Treasurer
Barry Eastman
Board Secretary
Barry Eastman is a Financial Advisor with High Point Financial Group since 2011. He was an executive with Front Range Internet (FRII) from 1996 to 2010.
Barry holds a B.S. In Computer Science from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, but otherwise has lived in Loveland and Greeley, CO his entire life. He is also involved with United Soccer Club as coach, volunteer and referee. And is the chair of the Greeley Budget Advisory Committee. He used to be involved with Bounce Animal Rescue and Boy Scouts of America. Barry is an Eagle Scout.
Barry is married to Tammy; has three children: Sam, Katy and Zachary; and 5 dogs. He enjoys spending time with family, friends, and dogs; anything technology related; the outdoors; playing sports; traveling at every opportunity; and enjoys whiskey and beer.
Carol Lacert
Board Member
Carol retired in 2001 from a hospital and clinic. She was the Director of Resource Management and Patient advocate. Carol says, "Was a great experience."
After she retired, she became an ambassador of a nonprofit in 2014, Inheritance of Hope. She did this to send Northern Colorado families to a retreat to help families handle the changes in their lives with one parent that had a terminal illness. She did this for 7 years and sent 19 families to the retreats. Every family that went, let her know how great the retreat was. She has since retired from Inheritance of Hope and has now joined Hope Lives! Her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 33 years old. In 2006, she helped Hope Lives! with fundraising.
Carol says, "Hope Lives! helped Marci deal with the challenges and she was happy to have some of the services to help her. Marci was excited to help Lydia raise funds too. I am excited to be part of the board".
Carole Crane
Board Member
After obtaining an MA in Clinical Social Work, Carole was a therapist in Psychiatry at a general hospital. She then completed an MBA in Marketing and Management which led to a position in sales of telecommunications and data systems. Subsequently Carole took an international position as VP, Operations at an English language institute in Mexico. Upon returning to the States, she became a consultant to large corporations. Counseling executives, she helped them adjust to big changes in company cultures. Currently she teaches classes in Mental Health First Aid.
During her free time, Carole started up a nonprofit career renewal program, was state director of an international HR association, director of a junior college foundation and Chicago area president of several professional organizations.
Carole recognizes that everyone has a story to tell and a need to know that they are being heard. People want to be treated with respect and dignity - none more than women with breast cancer. Her own cancer journey involved wonderful support from Hope Lives! She is passionate about its mission and support of women going through breast cancer.
Exciting Changes to the Hope Lives! Board and Staff
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Hope Lives! The Lydia Dody Breast Cancer Support Center is excited to announce recent changes to the organization that will position Hope Lives! for growth and success in 2025. If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, please reach out to us today!