School Nutrition Contact Information

Brehan Riley, MS, RD, SNS

Director

• Oversees the management of all child nutrition programs administered by CDE; oversees the coordination of program goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership and expertise in planning, developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating child nutrition programs.
• Oversees the management of program budgets related to federal, state, and grant funding. 
• Liaison to Colorado School Nutrition Association (CSNA)

riley_b@cde.state.co.us; 720-202-3338

Krista Garand, SNS

Supervisor

• Oversees and coordinates child nutrition-related grant activities.
• Oversees and coordinates strategic planning and quality improvements to meet changing priorities that support the mission of the unit. 
• Member of School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members.

garand_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-413-6310

Lyza Shaw, MS

Supervisor

• Oversees financial management for the unit and child nutrition programs. 
• Oversees and coordinates financial reporting. 
• Oversees strategies for child nutrition program reviews and operations. 
• Member of the School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members. 

shaw_l@cde.state.co.us; 303-854-4915

Kerri Link, MS, RD, SNS

Supervisor​

• Oversees strategic priorities of child nutrition programs for the unit. 
• Oversees the interpretation and implementation of state and federal statutes, rules and regulations for child nutrition programs. 
• Liaison to USDA federal and regional offices. 
• Member of the School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members. 

link_k@cde.state.co.us; 720-660-5499

Ashley Moen, MS, RD, SNS

Supervisor

• Oversees the unit's strategy for training, communications and marketing/outreach to expand the reach and effectiveness of child nutrition programs.
• Oversees personnel management and dietetic interns.
• Member of School Nutrition Unit leadership team; supervises and coaches staff members.

moen_a@cde.state.co.us; 303-868-7192

Allison Butler, MPH, RD

Grant Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for:

• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Grant
• Meal quality and culinary initiatives 
• Strategic partnerships

butler_a@cde.state.co.us; 303-242-6830

Megan Johnson, RD, SNS

Nutrition Programs Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for: 

• National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and the Seamless Summer Option
• New sponsor onboarding
• Emergency situations

johnson_m@cde.state.co.us; 303-653-6138

Rachael Burnham, BA, SNS

Review and Operations Manager

Provides oversight, program management, and strategic direction for:

• The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program
• NSLP & SFSP Administrative reviews, including resource management and procurement 

burnham_r@cde.state.co.us; 303-503-2353

Sharon Murray, MHSE

Training and Communications Manager

Provides oversight, program management and strategic direction for: 

• Unit training plan for child nutrition programs 
• Professional development for the unit
• Unit communication

murray_s@cde.state.co.us; 720-584-1962

Erin Opgenorth, RD

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Child Nutrition Program meal patterns and menu planning, including offer versus Serve, pre-K meal pattern, and breakfast after the bell
• Civil Rights
• Special Dietary Needs
• Wellness Policy
• New sponsor onboarding

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

opgenorth_e@cde.state.co.us; 720-822-1883

McKenna Pullen, MPH, SNS

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: ​

• Farm to School and Summer
• Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger Initiatives 
• Meal Quality and Culinary Initiatives
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program assist

Conducts training and technical assistance for sponsors 

pullen_m@cde.state.co.us; 720-644-7259

Vivien Skrupskis, BA

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Afterschool Snack Program (ASP)
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
• New director onboarding
• Professional Standards

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

skrupskis_v@cde.state.co.us; 720-672-4243

Jenny Herman

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Food Service Management Companies 
• Procurement, including procurement reviews
• Equipment Grants
• Capital Equipment Purchases

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

herman_j@cde.state.co.us; 720-812-3119

Nell Dochez, MPA

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• School meal eligibility programs, including free and reduced-price meal eligibility, direct certification, and verification
• Summer Food Service Program site eligibility 
• Provisional Programs

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

dochez_n@cde.state.co.us , 720-948-5145

Amanda Gersabeck, RD

Senior Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Financial management for child nutrition programs
• Meal counting and claiming
• Resource Management 
  • allowable costs, non-program revenue, paid lunch equity and unpaid meal charges

Conducts training, technical assistance and monitoring for sponsors 

gersabeck_a@cde.state.co.us

Becca Boone, MA

Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Local Food Purchasing Program

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors 

boone_r@cde.state.co.us; 720-450-4357

Alicia Grove, MS, RD, SNS

Consultant

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for: 

• Charter Schools and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs)
• Food Safety & Recovery
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program assist 

​Conducts training, technical assistance and monitoring for sponsors 

grove_a@cde.state.co.us; 720-795-2038

Christian Francisco

Consultant

Provides subject matter expertise and support for:

• Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer program
• Special Milk Program (SMP)

Conducts training, technical assistance, and monitoring for sponsors

francisco_c@cde.state.co.us; 720-595-0702

Kristi LaBriola, MS

Program Support

Provides oversight and subject matter expertise for:

• Advisory Council for School Nutrition (ACSN)
• Colorado Nutrition Portal
• Website Content

Provides program support and oversees administrative duties

LaBriola_k@cde.state.co.us; 303-552-6227

Shali King

P-EBT Support

Provides subject matter expertise and support for:

• Pandemic-Electronic Benefits Transfer program

king_s@cde.state.co.us; 303-947-3707

Patrick Mueller

Grants Fiscal Analyst for Nutrition

• Processes child nutrition claims for reimbursement 
• Supports meal counting and claiming for child nutrition programs.

mueller_p@cde.state.co.us; 303-656-9341