Board of Directors

Ryan has nearly 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, spending much of his career in sales and marketing before transitioning into data analytics in recent years. He was part of the founding team that launched Kramerica Gives and has been passionate about the organization’s mission since the beginning. With many years of experience mentoring youth, Ryan is deeply committed to creating opportunities that help young people grow, succeed, and reach their full potential. He currently serves as Board President and is excited to continue advancing the impact of Kramerica Gives. Outside of his professional and nonprofit work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and is an avid sports fan.

Cat Portillo brings a diverse background in youth development services to her role as Board Vice President at Kramerica Gives, an organization she has been passionate about since its founding. Having served as a mentor from the very beginning, Cat has seen firsthand the difference that dedicated support can make in a young person’s life — and has pioneered programs to expand access to post-secondary opportunities for underserved populations, reflecting her deep commitment to equity and justice. By day, she serves as the Development and Communications Manager at Early Milestones Colorado, where she works to make meaningful changes that better support children and families across Colorado. Outside of her professional and nonprofit work, Cat finds solace in nature through hiking, indulges in thrilling travel experiences, and cherishes her role as an aunt — all while showering affection on her beloved rescue dog Luigi and cat Pepper.

Bridgette is a Finance & Strategy leader with a background in Economics, driven by a deep belief in building systems that create lasting impact. She’s passionate about mentorship and expanding access to opportunity, with a focus on helping shift socio-economic outcomes for others. Outside of her work, she’s a mother of two boys and a mountain climber who finds clarity and strength both in the boardroom and above the tree line.

Mario is a Marketing and Community Development leader with a background in Business Marketing. He is driven by meaningful customer interactions and creating lasting relationships that strengthen organizations. Mario’s passionate about supporting youth, as they are the foundation of our future and is committed to driving growth within non-profits. He brings over 15 years of non-profit board service across organizations focused on education, mental health, and child abuse. In his spare time, Mario enjoys traveling as much as possible with his husband, attending live music and theater performances, and running.

Stephanie currently works as a Project Manager in the financial technology startup space, where she focuses on improving operational procedures and technical system processes.Before transitioning into business operations, she spent several years as an elementary school teacher with Denver Public Schools and Englewood Public Schools. Although she eventually transitioned out of teaching, her commitment to supporting students and expanding access to opportunity remains a central part of her life and volunteer work.A Colorado native, Stephanie enjoys spending time outside of work and volunteering with Kramerica alongside her husband and their two dogs. She especially loves traveling and spending time outdoors whenever the sun is shining.

As a trained social worker, Lauren started working with refugees at Lutheran Family Services. She transitioned to working with youth at Goodwill Industries of Denver Youth Services in 2008. For seven years she taught post secondary, career education, and mentoring classes around the Denver Metro area. Lauren also served as a facilitator for the Goodwill Youth Leadership Council. She has since moved into the medical field working first for a medical non-profit focused on rare melanoma, and now working in the clinical research field focusing on advocacy and patient recruitment. Lauren has continued to stay active in volunteering in her community through various programs, and is excited to be back supporting youth through Kramerica Gives. When not working, Lauren, her husband, and two teenagers are outdoors doing anything and everything from snowshoeing on hut trips to soccer, mountain biking, and climbing. Her summers are usually full of camper van trips to national parks, camping, and finding opportunities for new adventures.

Yvette Redwood is a nonprofit professional with five years of experience supporting organizations that serve children and teens across Colorado. She currently works as the Development & Grants Specialist at Clayton Early Learning, where she helps secure resources which provide services and support for children ages 0 – 5 and their families, empowering them towards lifelong success.

Yvette is passionate about creating opportunities for young people and believes that investing in children at every stage of life creates stronger families, communities, and futures. She is especially drawn to organizations like Kramerica Gives that are committed to helping youth reach their full potential.

Outside of her professional work, Yvette is a trivia host who loves bringing people together through fun and friendly competition. She is also an enthusiastic fan of the Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos and enjoys cheering on her hometown teams.