Our Staff
Melissa Hellmuth
Executive Director
Melissa Hellmuth began her professional journey and career with CASA of Jefferson & Gilpin Counties in 2008 as the Recruitment and Training Coordinator. After five years, she became the Marketing and Development Manager until 2018, when she moved to Reno, Nevada. There, she continued her fundraising work with United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras and Renown Health. When she returned to Colorado in 2024, she came back to CASA Jeffco/Gilpin and became the Director of Operations. She was named Executive Director in July 2025.
In addition to her professional role, Melissa served on one case as a CASA volunteer for 3 years. She was a member of Rotary for many years, graduated from the Institute for Leaders in Development, and currently serves on the Capstone committee. She also serves on the Food and Housing Insecurity Committee for Red Rocks Community College.
Melissa has served in almost every position within the organization, which she says gives her a wide understanding of what works, what we can improve and the immense impact our amazing volunteers have on children’s lives. She values collaboration, creative thinking, and continually find ways to strengthen an already exceptional program.
Outside of work she loves spending time with her family and friends, attending live music, events and skiing whenever she gets the chance.
Toni-Anne Nunez
Director of Development
Toni-Anne Nunez joined the CASA team in July 2025 as the Director of Development, where she leads efforts to provide awareness, advocacy, fundraising and support for the region’s most vulnerable children.
A dedicated champion for equity, Toni-Anne previously served as the Director of Access to Justice for the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, including Metro Volunteer Lawyers. Her extensive career in advocacy began after earning her law degree from the University of Windsor and encompasses leadership roles such as current Vice-Chair of the Equal Justice Authority Board and previous member of Senator Bennet and Hickenlooper’s District Court Advisory Committee. Through her work with CASA , Toni-Anne remains a steadfast advocate for ensuring that the legal system and essential support services are accessible to all, regardless of means.
In her free time, Toni-Anne loves spending time with her family, and travelling to Trinidad, West Indies (her home).
Vicki Pyne
Program Director
Vicki Pyne became a CASA Volunteer at the end of 2013. She pursued a social work degree internship for a year, advocated on three cases, and supported software transitioning and volunteer training until 2017, when she became the Program Director.
As part of the CASA State Data Leadership Committee, she has helped CASA programs across the state improve their data collection, optimize their software usage, and find the best ways to support volunteers through research. Additionally, in 2020, she helped launch the Youth Alliance program with a 5-youth pilot program, which has continued to grow.
Vicki is active in her community and has held numerous volunteer positions, including the Apex Park and Recreation District Board of Directors, the Jefferson County Community Services Advisory Board, the Arvada Community Services Advisory Committee and the Public Affairs Director for her Church representing Arvada.
Outside of work, Vicki can be found spending time outdoors, golfing, gardening or going on 20 mile bike rides. She also loves playing with her two border collies and travelling to see her grandkids.
Christine Evans
Lead Advocate Supervisor
Christine Evans joined the CASA team as a volunteer in June 2016 until May 2018, before coming on board as an advocate supervisor. In her role, she has helped to specifically address how CASA can be a support during emergency hearings. She is involved with the best practice groups to make hearings more productive and easier for everyone involved. She builds relationships with the caseworkers and attorneys to make sure a CASA volunteer is a good fit for the case, and prioritizes where volunteers can make the biggest impact.
Christine volunteers at Foothills Animal Shelter and loves to take her cats on walks, tele skiing and working out. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her children, usually thrifting or watching true crime documentaries. She says her children make her proud every day with their accomplishments.
Jill Dalton
Volunteer Onboarding Supervisor
Jill Dalton brings a diverse professional background in education, corporate training, and finance to her role as Volunteer Onboarding Supervisor. Prior to joining CASA in September 2025, she served for more than three years as a CASA Advocate in Tarrant County.
Jill holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design and Adult Education, which she leverages to create engaging, interactive, and effective training experiences for new volunteers. She incorporates innovative tools and case-based learning approaches that better prepare advocates for their work with children. Known for her adaptable and learner-centered style, Jill is passionate about equipping volunteers with the knowledge and confidence they need to make a meaningful impact for the children they serve.
Outside of her professional work, Jill has an extensive history of community involvement, including leadership roles with Highland Park Arts and service on multiple non-profit boards. She is also an avid crafter who enjoys knitting, crochet, and sewing, and has even taught sewing to both children and adults.
Debbie Gabriel
Program Manger
Debbie Gabriel started her journey with CASA as a volunteer in March 2012. After volunteering for 7 years, she joined the professional team as Case Coordinator and now the Peer Coordinator Program Manager. She has an educational background focused on alternative education, special education, and autism. She also worked with foster family agencies, helping to place children who were unable to be placed in county foster homes due to the severity of their abuse.
Debbie is an advocate for the arts as a previous member of the Brighton Public Art Committee. She was also the Commissioner for the Brighton Cultural Arts Commission and helps manage the CASA partnership with Musical Mentors, which supports children navigating the child welfare system by providing music education.
She is the proud grandmother to 4 “fabulously sassy” granddaughters. She also enjoys travelling with her husband and going on girls trips.
Sarah Jones
Advocate Supervisor
Sarah Jones began her professional career at CASA as an Advocate Supervisor and volunteer in June 2025. She graduated from CSU in May 2025 with her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. During her time at CSU, she held an internship with the Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy (SAVA) Center in Northern Colorado. The SAVA center works with survivors of interpersonal violence of all identities, through direct advocacy and education. She has also volunteered with a crisis hotline for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors.
At CASA she is dedicated to expanding services, which involves creating a presence in the courtroom and chatting directly with the parents and children about what CASA can do. She is passionate about her career in advocacy and loves being able to amplify someone’s voice, and be another person in their corner.
Outside of work, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, snowboarding, spending time outdoors and snuggling with her three dachshund puppies!
Audrey Miklitsch
Engagement and Communications Manager
Audrey Miklitsch started her journey with CASA in 2022 as the Community Engagement Coordinator, focused on recruiting and community partnerships. In 2025, she transitioned to the Engagement and Communications Manager, planning fundraisers and events, and leading our marketing initiatives. She always says there is a place for everyone at CASA and enjoys finding how someone can fit in, whether as a volunteer, donor, or community partner.
Audrey is passionate about supporting her community and is a current CASA volunteer. She has volunteered as a teaching artist at Access Gallery, an art gallery that supports young adults with IDD, and encourages them to engage in creative pursuits and then learn how to transition their passion into job skills. She also volunteers with Catchafire, an online community for skill-based volunteering, focusing on graphic design and marketing for nonprofits around the world.
Outside of work, Audrey enjoys playing frisbee and volleyball, reading, going to concerts and making art. She also loves to travel! She has been to 31 countries, lived in Italy and Honduras, and is a certified scuba divemaster.
Tracy Naviaux
Youth Alliance Program Supervisor
Tracy Naviaux joined CASA in March 2025 as the Youth Alliance Program Supervisor. Before that, she was a foster care home supervisor and SAFE study evaluator for 12 years.
In her time at CASA, she has focused on ensuring that the YA program fits the participants, and not the other way around. She has expanded partnerships to find additional resources for the youth, so they can have access to in-kind items/programs/etc. that were not previously available to them. She is passionate about finding the motivation behind each participant and encouraging them to get the most out of the program.
Tracy is also an animal-lover. She has been a volunteer at the Denver Aquarium and a docent at the Denver Zoo. Outside of work, she enjoys playing pickleball with her husband, son and daughter-in-law. She is involved in a book club for over 10 years. She is an avid movie-goer and has a movie pass to go to a movie every week, and she is an incredible baker!
Diane Nichols
Office Manager
Diane’s Nichols became a CASA Volunteer in Fall 2020. She then joined the team professionally in May 2021. Before CASA, she started working at King Soopers at age 15, and worked her way up from courtesy clerk to both the District Manager and Director Level. After leaving King Soopers, she was both the National Corporate Director and a Regional Merchandising Manager for Club Foods. Once she exited the corporate world, she owned her own small business for 8 years, followed by a second tenure at King Soopers and Kroger for 11 years.
In her role as CASA Office Manager, she supports and expands partnerships, especially those partners with activities for CASA volunteers and their youth to attend. When she was a volunteer, she learned that her 17-year old CASA mom had never been to the zoo or the museum. It was such a gratifying experience for her when they went together, and she wanted to make sure other volunteers had that same opportunity!
Diane is passionate about giving back to her community. She has held many different volunteer roles through her church, and goes on at least one mission trip each year. Some of her favorite places are the Philippines, Kenya and Peru! She loves to golf, garden, read and ski with her daughters. She also loves to watch Colorado sports teams, especially the Denver Broncos!
Emily Thomas
Grants Manager
Emily Thomas’ journey with CASA started at Denver CASA in 2008 where she served as a Case Supervisor and advocate. During her time there, her role was expanded to include volunteer recruitment, training, and retention. After 8 years at the organization, she left following the birth of her first child to focus on life as a new mom. In 2017, Emily came to CASA Jeffco/Gilpin to serve as the Grants Manager.
Emily has a strong passion for supporting children. In college, she interned with the Boys & Girls Club in Wellington, Colorado. At that club, she was able to see the stark differences between an underfunded program and the program she originally interacted with in Fort Collins. This is what inspired her to launch her career in the nonprofit sector. Emily is always looking for creative ways to approach funding. She found and secured a grant to implement a small library of children’s books at the Youth Alliance Program, bringing together her work and personal passion for child/parent literacy.
Outside of work, Emily loves spending time outdoors, hiking, biking and exploring with her husband, their two kiddos and their golden retriever, Graham Cracker. She also has a passion for gardening, reading, journaling with a cup of coffee, and going to concerts whenever she can.
Charlie Wentz
Youth Alliance Coach Supervisor
Charlie Wentz started his professional career at CASA in 2022, right after graduating from college. Before CASA, he worked as a lifeguard and fitness instructor. He has been vital in developing the Youth Alliance program, making sure it fits each youth that comes in, and that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Empowering the participants is important to him, and he is a big advocate for making feedback less judgmental and more constructive.
Charlie is passionate about finding new ways to motivate the youth in the program, and make sure that the guidelines and expectations are solidified. He works diligently on data collection for the YA program to find insights to better improve the program. He said his favorite part of his role is that he can see a the difference the program makes in a participants’ life.
In his free time, Charlie enjoys playing tennis, hosting game nights and spending time with Mochi, his mini-dachshund.