Lauren Wilson – Chair

Since graduating from University of Colorado – Boulder’s Leeds School of Business in 2004, I’ve spent my career in project and product management and leadership for software technology companies serving the financial services and healthcare industries. I love solving hard problems with great teams that deliver outstanding solutions which empower users.

Fun Fact: I am a Packers shareholder.
My Why: While serving as a parent liaison on the board’s Strategy Committee I’ve come to appreciate even more the uniqueness of our community, faculty, students, and the importance of our vision. What Mackintosh does and how it does it sets the bar! My goal for joining the board is to contribute my skills and invest my time to support the faculty, staff, and initiatives required to ensure Mack’s continued success and ultimately raise the bar even higher!

Jenny McGuire – Vice Chair

I have been a Mack parent since my elder daughter began Kindergarten in 2017. She is now a fifth grader who shares the campus with her little sister who is in first grade. I work part time running a non-profit, Myspeech. Myspeech provides scholarships for specialized speech therapy for people who stutter, and also does advocacy and peer support initiatives. Before parenthood, I was an art therapist, working with pediatric hematology and oncology patients at a large hospital in Washington, DC. I love the Mack community, and previously volunteered on MPC (Mack Parent Council). I am committed to good governance for the health of the school and all in the community. It is an honor to serve on the Board of Trustees. 

Fun fact: I love living in Colorado but prefer water-skiing to snow-skiing.
My why: Mack students can “be kids in their bodies,” meaning that the teaching style brings the whole child along, not just their brains. Fostering embodied kids looks like: ample outdoor time, flexible classroom spaces, project-based learning, and SEL woven into the fabric of the school.  My kids have benefited greatly from this progressive educational environment, and I take pride in giving back by serving as a Trustee. I have come to view independent schools as being akin to  “group projects.” As such, the more that parents can lean-in and help in a variety of ways, the more sustainable the whole system becomes. My goal in serving on the board is to help Mack thrive in the present, grow in the near term, and ultimately, continue to serve children for generations to come.

Emily Lindner – Secretary and Past Chair

I’m an entrepreneur who believes there’s always a better way. I enjoy bringing order to chaos, and helping individuals become their very best selves. My company, TruNorth, delivers sanity + savings to large corporations by helping them be exceptional stewards of their technology assets and expenses.

Midwest born, and mountains by choice. I moved to Boulder with my husband Rick, boys George and Fred, from Chicago in 2014 in hopes of sunshine, safety and good schools. Colorado has delivered all three for our family. I can be found on the Sanitas trail with my 2 dogs and a smile of gratitude every morning.

Fun Fact: I am an avid roller skater (and still shooting the duck at 50!).
My Why: After watching our bright and inquisitive kid’s flame dim in a traditional school setting, our entire family was transformed by finding Mack. I believe the Mack magic stems from merely being seen and known – our two sons have thrived at Mack (collectively 13 years!) and now entering their high school chapter with a solid foundation, both academically and emotionally.

Because I know what it’s like to find the school of your dreams without initially having the budget to support it, I devote my time and energy to the Mack Board to ensure Mack remains accessible to all students, regardless of their income. And above all I’m here to ensure Mack endures for generations to come.

Tara Hefty – Treasurer

I am the Managing Partner and a Wealth Advisor at Peak Asset Management, LLC providing comprehensive wealth management and financial planning services to help our clients simplify their often complex financial lives. Our approach to investments and financial planning allows our clients to feel secure and cared for so they can focus on the things that are truly important to them. My passion is to help clients identify their financial goals, create a strategy to achieve them and provide thoughtful counsel along the way. Outside of work, I enjoy skiing, swimming, traveling, and playing outdoors with my three kids. Cozying up with a good book and a cup of tea is one of my favorite things to do when I have some downtime.

Fun Fact:  Colorado native – born in Steamboat
My why: All three of my children have attended, or are attending, Mackintosh Academy. I credit their love of learning and high level of engagement to the amazing teaching staff and the inquiry-based learning curriculum. I serve on the Board of Trustees because I want students far into the future to have the opportunity to feel supported emotionally and challenged intellectually in an environment that allows them the freedom to develop into the best version of themselves.

Jennifer Barr Hann – Trustee

I am a lifelong public educator currently serving as an Assistant Principal at Broomfield High School in the Boulder Valley School District.  Past President of the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT).

Fun fact:  I am a twin.
My why: I serve on the board because I am interested in strengthening the relationship and collaboration between public and independent schools. 

Daphanie Burnham – Trustee

I’m a Mom of two girls. My career started as a 911 Dispatcher as I put myself through University and then moved into client services and project/program management across multiple industries: financial services, hospitality, and telecommunications. Nestled within my career, I managed a digital marketing agency which served all industries for local small to medium businesses in Singapore.

Fun fact: I tried out for American Idol in the early 2000s

My why: I lived in Singapore for 7 years and after marrying a Singaporean and giving birth to my first daughter in Singapore, we chose to move to the US solely on the basis of raising our children and the opportunity for individual and whole human focused learning vs. strictly academic and grades focused. We found Mack through a referral from Lauren Wilson and fell in love with the whole human based approach on the day we first stepped foot on the campus. My kindergartner has found her home and my toddler already knows Mack is her future home.

 

Adam Dembowitz – Trustee

I am a “Mack Dad” of two kids, and am Managing Director of Valuation Advisory for JLL. I provide valuation expertise and consulting, client care, and business development services across the country. I have more than 19 years of experience as a commercial real estate professional and have extensive knowledge of the Southern California, Denver, Philadelphia, and Chicago markets. As for Board experience–I am the President of the Country Meadows HOA, was formerly a member of the board of the Southern California Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, and am President/Executive Director of The 243 Foundation, a family non-profit I founded after my brother died in 2008.

Fun Fact: I’m the third generation of my family to attend the University of Chicago.
My Why: I’m interested in serving on the Board so I can continue to give back to the Mack community, and hopefully leave it in a better place than when I got here.

Mary Lou Faddick – Trustee

I am retired, but was a proud educator for 45 years. Mom of six, educator since 1964, Pre-K to college. I started Foothills Academy (PreK thru 12), and was instrumental in Mack Boulder’s beginning. I even hired one of Mack’s former HOS.  I am a writer and poet. I love hanging out with young people–they are wise, filled with energy to do things differently.

Fun Fact:  If having six kids isn’t fun enough: hiked the Milford Trek in New Zealand, the Great Wall in China, the Cornish Coastal Walk, parts of the Appalachian Trail and loved every minute of all of them.
My why: My why is very clear. I believe in the school, its mission, its vision, and the incredible community. I am committed to ensuring that Mack Boulder endures for generations.

Laura Farrelly – Trustee

I am the former co-founder & COO of Couragion (STEM educational technology firm). My passion at Couragion was helping individuals be better informed about career options, have improved access to diverse role models outside of their friends and family, and make healthier career selections that are in line with their values and interests.

Fun Fact: I’ve run eight marathons and even qualified for Boston!
My why: I have seen the transformative and positive impact that a Mack education has had for my own daughters. I serve on the board because I want to help ensure that Mack’s innovative program is available and accessible to children for generations to come.

Joe Liggett – Trustee

I am a proud husband and father of two young boys, the older of which is a second-grade student at Mack. I am passionate about creating strong relationships, while also helping others reach their full self and discover their “why” in life. My perfect day is spent snowboarding with my older son, laughing with friends until we drop, and spending time with our family…wherever the wind blows us.

Fun Fact:
My wife, Marie, and I are both Boulder natives…a nearly extinct species.
My Why:
Mack has been nothing short of a miracle for our older son and our family. We truly believe in its mission and approach and have seen the results firsthand. In my time spent on a subcommittee for the Mack board, I was truly awestruck by the passion that our board, faculty, and families share in Mack’s success. I believe that Mack is at a pivotal point in its evolution and is setup for an incredibly bright future and am hopeful that I can be a small part of its ability to thrive long after our son has graduated.

Svein Groem – Trustee

Business Owner, Real Estate Broker, Investor, Educator, Inventor. Co-owner of Open Real Estate. I live and work in beautiful Boulder, Colorado.

Erin Stadler – Trustee

I am the COO and a Co-founder of Boomtown Accelerators, where she leads business strategy and oversees client services. I have advised companies of all sizes from startups to Fortune 500 firms on how to improve the quality of their products, culture, and innovating and creating systems that solve real problems for people in and outside of businesses that are focused on positive impact for everyone involved.

I am a certified Gallup StrengthsFinder coach and is one of the first coaches to be certified on the organization’s groundbreaking Entrepreneurial Builder Profile. I also trained as a CRR Global Organization Relationship and Systems Coach. I also serve on the advisory board for The Case for Her, a philanthropic investment portfolio addressing the key women’s health issues of menstruation and female sexual health.

I studied Computer Science and Media Arts at Wellesley College. I completed my Masters of Engineering in Engineering Management at CU Boulder.

I enjoy improving–and sometimes competing–in ballroom dancing.

Fun Fact:  Star Wars nerd.
My why: I am honored to serve on the board as an opportunity to bring outside thinking in from a wide range of experience with coaching and advising others around strategy, culture and impact. There is no more important place for this type of work than in education.

John Tribbia – Trustee

Born and raised in Boulder, I have always had a passion for education and community involvement. From an early age, I have actively engaged in various service opportunities, forging deep connections with the Boulder community. After completing my primary and secondary education in BVSD as a Fairview High School graduate, I embarked on my higher education journey at the University of Puget Sound, where I studied Math, and then returned to earn my PhD in sociology/demography from CU-Boulder. My research centered on the intricate relationship between socio-demographic factors and climate change, shedding light on their profound influence on this pressing global issue. I was also fortunate to work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) throughout my studies. Since then, I’ve built a career in data science, now serving as Head of Data Science & Machine Learning at Google.

I am a certified Gallup StrengthsFinder coach and is one of the first coaches to be certified on the organization’s groundbreaking Entrepreneurial Builder Profile. I also trained as a CRR Global Organization Relationship and Systems Coach. I also serve on the advisory board for The Case for Her, a philanthropic investment portfolio addressing the key women’s health issues of menstruation and female sexual health.

I studied Computer Science and Media Arts at Wellesley College. I completed my Masters of Engineering in Engineering Management at CU Boulder.

I enjoy improving–and sometimes competing–in ballroom dancing.

Fun Fact: I’m an avid trail runner whose competitive drive saw me reach national and international championship podiums during my dissertation writing years (gotta get that energy out somehow!). Locally, I also formerly held speed ascent records on four of Boulder’s most iconic peaks: Bear Peak, Green Mountain, Mount Sanitas, and South Boulder Peak.

My why:

Mackintosh Academy – Boulder is the embodiment of a dream come true. Within its walls, a devoted and passionate faculty and staff, alongside vibrant and gifted students, have cultivated an exceptionally nurturing environment that promotes both personal growth and academic achievement. The school’s commitment to educating and inspiring young minds, fostering compassion, and promoting global engagement resonates deeply with me, especially as it aligns perfectly with the International Baccalaureate program. It is a profound privilege to champion this mission and nurture continuous growth within the framework of an IB school. My aspiration is to contribute to Mack’s lasting legacy of empowering students while recognizing the outstanding faculty and staff who serve as the pillars of this remarkable institution.

Ronni McCaffrey – Trustee Emerita

I believe that the single most important element in the education of the student is in the person of the educator and have devoted my career to hiring, training and supporting excellent teachers. I began teaching third grade in my hometown, New York City, at the Convent of the Sacred Heart.  During the next two decades at Sacred Heart, I taught a range of grades through high school, served as the Head of Middle School, and then as the Assistant Head for Academic Affairs.  While working at Sacred Heart, I received a Klingenstein Fellowship and completed two Master’s degrees and my doctoral work in educational leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.  In 1995, I moved to the American School in London as Head of the Middle School where I met my future wife, B.  Together, we made the most of our proximity to Europe and traveled at every opportunity. 

Fun Fact: Amazing golfer, reads everything in sight, tackles massive renovation projects, world traveler.

Ramsay Stabler – Trustee Emeritus

I am retired from 40 years as an educator.  Most recently Head of St. Elizabeth’s School in Denver.  I am the father of four grown sons, and now a proud grandfather to seven grandchildren. I earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Columbia University and held roles as teacher, coach, division principal, development director, and Head spanning four different independent schools over 40 years. Board interests include governance & development (which I simplify as “being a great storyteller”).

Fun fact: I am raising chickens and bees in retirement.
My why: The school is great and different from the ones where I previously worked. I love the independent school world, and when two of the people whom you most respect (Mary Lou and Ronni) ask you to join, you do! I am happy to give some perspective from my years in other independent schools to this young and growing school community.

Katie Christensen – Interim Head of School