Meet Our Staff
Executive Team
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Micheal Bertram
Executive Director [email protected] Mike was born and raised in Hayden, CO, and grew up as a family member of a person who is blind. His personal connection to disability and accessibility has shaped his commitment to independent living and self-determination. After serving in the United States Marine Corps from 2000–2005 as an Aviation Electrician, Mike earned his Bachelor of Arts in Social Services in 2012. He joined NWCCI in 2013 as an Independent Living Coordinator, working directly with people with disabilities to develop goals, build independent living skills, access assistive technology, navigate community resources, and identify the supports needed to live independently. As Executive Director, Mike brings this firsthand experience into organizational leadership. He is committed to strengthening NWCCI’s mission, building strong community partnerships, and ensuring that people with disabilities remain at the center of the organization’s work. His leadership is grounded in self-determination, accessibility, choice, and the belief that people with disabilities are the experts in their own lives. |
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Evan Shockley
Assistant Director
[email protected] Evan Shockley is a native of Colorado and grew up in the Foothills west of Fort Collins and has lived with epilepsy since he was 15 years old. His IL journey began after becoming a consumer of the CIL in that area and attending the state’s inaugural Youth Leadership Forum. Since that introduction into the IL World, he has worked at two Colorado Centers for Independent Living under various titles including, Loan Closet Technician, Youth Program Coordinator and Independent Living Coordinator all spanning just shy of a decade. Evan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience through his previous standing on the Colorado Statewide Independent Living Council, during which he held the chairperson role for two years before terming off of the council. While in the chairperson role, he helped lead the statewide collaboration in creating the State’s Plan for Independent Living. Through all of his work, Evan exemplifies charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity from being a 7 year member, and previous officer at his home Elks Lodge in Fort Collins. |
Community Team
Routt County:
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James Higgins
Independent Living Coordinator
[email protected] James has proudly been serving Routt County for the past nine years, supporting individuals and families through advocacy, resource coordination, and practical problem-solving. He values building genuine relationships with the people he works with and helping them find solutions that support greater independence and quality of life. |
Moffat/Rio Blanco County:
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Staci Nichols
Independent Living Coordinator
[email protected] Staci Nichols has been with NWCCI since 2016 as an Independent Living Coordinator. She is deaf and originally from Collbran/Grand Junction, graduating from Colorado Mesa University in 2005 with a BA in psychology and just recently finished a Masters in Teaching American Sign Language from University of Northern Colorado in 2019. She specializes in early language intervention with families and their Deaf children when given an opportunity. She has a strong belief of a basic right for people of all disabilities living where they want, knowing how to get resources that they need to thrive. She enjoys learning new things, restoring old vehicle projects, art, ice hockey, hunting, and visiting coffee shops all over the place while cracking terrible puns here and there. |
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Shannon Buchanan
Lead Transition Coordinator
[email protected] Shannon has been with NWCCI since 2019. After many years of serving her community in different ways from law enforcement to caring for the youth. She brings this passion, experience and her M.Ed to NWCCI where she works with our consumers to help them transition back to the community. |
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Wendy Taylor
Independent Living Coordinator
[email protected] Wendy began adult life in the Denver Metro area, moving to Craig with her family in 2001. Wendy has worked for humane societies and animal shelters on the Front Range, as well as six years as an Animal Control and Code Enforcement Officer and some time as a 911 Dispatcher in Weld County. In Craig, she worked at Moffat County High School, in the Special Education Department for a large portion of her 18 years there, with some time running classrooms such as In-School Detention and Guided Study Hall where she facilitated active communication and guided success strategies for students, families and teachers. She learned about trauma and resiliency through the Youth Resiliency Team at Northwest Colorado Health, teaching small and large groups at schools and the Boys & Girls Club for a couple years just prior to starting her work at Northwest Colorado Center for Independence in 2024. Wendy feels very fortunate to have loved every job she has had and feels that all the experience gained over the years has given her a well-rounded basis from which to begin as an Independent Living Coordinator, as well as a Transition Coordinator. A lifelong learner, she is ready for the challenge. In her spare time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Rottweiler, her four cats and two miniature goats. Her adult son is living at home currently and has a German Shepherd that she spends a lot of time with as well. She and her husband Ted, an Army Veteran having served in Iraq, enjoy taking care of her 35-acre farm and gardening. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, dog training, beginning horse training and travel when possible. |
Grand County:
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Joy McCoy
Lead Independent Living Coordinator
[email protected] Joy McCoy is the Independent Living Coordinator (ILC), covering East Grand County (GC). She joined the NorthWest Colorado Center for Independence (NWCCI) team in 2018, becoming Lead ILC in 2024. She works to help people with disabilities empower themselves, supporting them to increase their quality of life, connect with resources, and reach personal goals of independent living. Along with facilitating a summer Life Skills Camp for youth in transition, Joy partners with many local care providers to foster collaborative support and increase disability awareness for all ages and walks of life. These caring partnerships support individuals to become involved in their communities while strengthening their ability to become their own best self-advocate. Also on the Town of Fraser’s Planning Commission since 2022, Joy is gaining ground throughout Grand County promoting disability access, equitability, large system change, and civil rights. |
Summit County:
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Leo Santos
Independent Living Coordinator
[email protected] Hello I'm Leo. I've lived in summit county most of my life and have only been in the IL world for a couple of years. Before I became an amputee I liked to hike, bike, play soccer and anything fun during winter, but my life changed when I turned 26 and I lost my foot. That's when I was introduced to the IL world and I knew I was where I belonged. Since my introduction to independent living I have been to national conferences and even spoken at one. Gotten introduced to YLF which helped me get out of my comfort zone and helped me get back out into the world. I started working with NWCCI and have loved working every minute of it helping anyone with a disability has brought great joy to my life and wouldn't change it for anything. |
Transportation Team
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Hope Hunt
Transportation Coordinator [email protected] Hope has lived in Baggs Wyoming almost all her life. Growing up in a small town with an indivisible disability came with challenges especially as a teenager. Hope is dedicated to help people with disabilities be more independent. On Hope’s off time you will find her spending time with her family outdoors. |
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Michelle Hubert
Driver Cat lover, video game lover, loved by my other half and his family, and most of all, I love to treat others the way I want to be treated. |
Support Team
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Rachelle Adrian-DicksonDevelopment Coordinator
[email protected] Rachelle first joined NWCCI in 2016 as our Operations Manager. Since 2019 she has been our Development Coordinator, writing grants and working with foundations who partner with NWCCI, so that we may reach all individuals with disabilities who are on their quest for living independently. Rachelle's background in business operations, accounting, software training, project management and banking makes for a threateningly long resume, but allows Rachelle to bring all her experiences along with her passion to NWCCI so that she can work with people who have disabilities to live their best life possible, and this helps her to live her best life possible as well. She has raised two children in Steamboat Springs and they are now off in the world fulfilling their dreams. Rachelle spends every minute of her free time with her loved ones, including her cat Dandelion. |
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Jessica Bertram
Operations Manager
[email protected] She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Human Resources and brings extensive experience working with county, state, and federal programs. As Operations Manager, she helps ensure the organization’s day-to-day operations run effectively while supporting staff, programs, and the people we serve. Her diverse experience has given her a strong understanding of working with people from all walks of life and across a wide range of abilities. She is committed to creating an organized, supportive environment that helps both staff and the people we serve succeed. |
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Beverly CharlesworthOffice Assistant
Beverly joined the NWCCI team in January 2014 with extensive experience providing clerical support. Her primary duties, tasks and responsibilities revolve around our organization’s goal to be environmentally conscious. This includes, but is not limited to, shredding, recycling, and working to assure that NWCCI is a clean and healthy work environment. |