About Us
Staff
Carlton Mason
Chief Executive Officer
Carlton Mason joined CASA January of 2013 and brings 26 years of experience in successful small business development. The businesses have been both retail and service-related ventures serving clients in an economic range from near poverty to the wealthiest 1%. During these years Carlton spent a significant amount of time organizing volunteer groups to address needs in under-served areas of Colorado, New Mexico, and Mexico. Carlton has demonstrated an ability to mitigate organizational threats and identify opportunities for growth and sustainability.
Karin Slater
Chief Financial Officer
Karin joined CASA February 2017. She has over 40 years’ experience as an accountant including over 20 years’ experience as operations manager. Karin has a BS in Accounting, and a Master’s in Business Administration. She has experience working with governmental and private grants, budget management, audit oversight, financial statement preparation and analysis and all accounting duties.
Dr. Aixa Powell
Chief Research Officer
Dr. Aixa Powell joined CASA in the fall of 2019. Dr. Powell is a clinical psychologist from Puerto Rico specializing in in higher education. She has been a senior consultant in organizational development for over 25 years.
Dr. Powell holds a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Clinical Psychology, a PhD in Private International Law, and a PhD in Education. Her areas of expertise are child protection services. As CASA’s Chief Research Officer, she believes that both knowledge and work are honorable and can improve self and others. She encourages and supports organizational change efforts, development of high-performance teams, and the pursuit of personal empowerment of both women and men with social commitments.
As an instructor for our parenting programs (in both Spanish and English) Dr. Powell teaches parents the basics of child development, appropriate, non-aggressive discipline, managing and correcting misbehavior, and recognizing strengths and weaknesses, allowing parents to utilize these tools when parenting and to have realistic and appropriate expectations of their children.
Stacy Harbaugh
CASA Supervisor (Gunnison)
Stacy Harbaugh joined CASA in 2019. She has 20 years experience as a special education teacher. Stacy has her Colorado teaching license in elementary and special education and a Master's degree in School Counseling. She has experience working with youth in both academic and behavioral support needs. Stacy supervises the CASA volunteers in the Gunnison Valley and works cooperatively with the Montrose CASA office to support families with the various program's offered locally and through the Montrose office.
Kaycee Maurer
Therapist
Kaycee Maurer is provisionally licensed as an LCSW in Montrose, CO. Kaycee received her Masters Degree in Social Work at University of Missouri, St. Louis in 2017. Kaycee has experience providing mental health services in settings such as early childhood center, crisis center, non-profit organizations, residential mental health treatment, and hospitals. Kaycee is trained in various therapeutic treatment modalities including CBT, Group Counseling, EMDR and working towards her LAC, Licensed Addiction’s Counselor certification to help youth and young adults who struggle with substance use.
Open Position
Service Coordinator
Bio coming soon
Board of Directors
Larry Dupper
President
Larry is a father, grandfather, husband and gentleman rancher who lives in Olathe, CO.
Larry is retired from 42 years of service in healthcare administration. He is a Fellow in the Healthcare
Financial Management Association. He currently serves on four boards, and has held positions such
Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer in numerous non-profit organizations throughout his career.
Heidi Weissner
Vice President
Heidi and her husband Rick moved to the western slope in 2018 for the outdoor activities it provides. She and her husband enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, skiing, and more. Since moving to Cedaredge, Heidi has been involved with several community programs, projects, and non-profit organizations. She joined the CASA board at the beginning of 2022. Heidi has a background in Youth Services, serving on a board for the startup of a Child Advocacy Center in Illinois and eventually becoming its interim director, working for a Youth Service Center, and mentoring teen moms and at-risk youth. Heidi currently mentors the youth residing CASA’s supportive housing. Though she has retired from a career in law, Heidi owns a website design business geared toward non-profits and small businesses.
Katie Albia
Treasurer
Katie Albia was born and raised in Dillon, CO, but has called the Montrose area home for the last 3 years. Katie works for Alpine Bank as the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the Delta location. Katie enjoys spending time with her husband, Nick and their dog and cat, Chaco and Sicily. Katie likes hiking, skiing, gardening and cooking and has enjoyed getting to know and serve the Delta and Montrose communities over the last three years.
Valerie Hill
Secretary
Valerie has sat on the CASA board since 2013. She has served 5 families (with a total of 9 children) as a CASA volunteer, and has dedicated hundreds of hours conducting supervised visits for the SEPT program. Valerie has loved her time spent with the families and children served through CASA and firmly believes in the CASA mission: "Helping to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect through prevention, advocacy, and interaction".
Valerie has lived in Ridgway for 23 years and operates several small businesses. She holds a dual Master's degree in Psychology and Mediation/Conflict Resolution. Valerie has three children and four grandchildren and loves spending any available time with her family.
Pat Blackwelder
Member
Bio coming soon
Mary Gnandt
Member
Bio coming soon
Blaine Hall
Member
Bio coming soon
Jim Haugness
Jim has served as both President and as a member of the Finance Committee, and has been an integral part of CASA’s expanding mission. Since moving to Montrose in 2009 with his wife, Trudy, Jim has been involved in numerous boards and commissions -- always with the goal of improving the safety and the security of the community. Jim really enjoys his time with CASA!
Gail McFarlane-Sosa
Member
Bio coming soon
Don Varey
Member
Don and his wife Diana moved to Montrose in 2016 after spending 26 years raising their family on the Front Range of Colorado. Don has a passion for the Western Slope Community, is an active community member and is a dedicated advocate for assisting those who need a little help or have been marginalized. Don is currently the IT Director at Montrose County. He is active in various low income and affordable housing related initiatives in Montrose County and serves as a board member on the Montrose County Housing Authority. Don and Diana have been married 42 years and enjoy the many outdoor activities that living on the Western Slope offer such as jeeping, camping and fly fishing.