Our Team: Experienced, Proven, and Committed

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For the past 2.5 years, our team has worked together closely and successfully, combining complementary expertise and a shared commitment to delivering results. Collectively, we bring decades of leadership across healthcare, business, finance, housing, and government. Key strengths include:

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• Entrepreneurial Leadership – A serial startup founder with a proven track record of launching and scaling businesses from concept to operation.

• Healthcare Expertise – Two clinicians deeply rooted in patient care: one is currently serving her second term as an elected hospital board member; the other is the former Director of Public Health in Chaffee County, with a distinguished career in nursing education and workforce development.

• Senior Housing Development – A former CEO and developer with direct industry experience creating successful housing solutions for older adults.

• Economic Development Vision – The former Chair of Chaffee County Economic Development, who spearheaded the countywide broadband expansion in the 1990s and has been a long-time advocate for senior housing.

• Government & Civic Partnerships – A former Salida City Council member and City Treasurer with deep expertise in structuring agreements between local governments and complex development projects.

• Financial Stewardship – A seasoned banker specializing in organizational financial fitness, combined with strong community engagement.

• Strategic Management Expertise – A former technology executive with extensive financial and operational experience, in addition to significant family experience in caring for senior family members.

• Communications and Strong Community Involvement - A very involved community member with development background who has a superb background in getting community projects delivered.

 

Together, this team combines strategic vision, clinical insight, financial acumen, and community leadership — a unique blend suited to deliver on this transformative project.

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Marilyn Bouldin, Director 

Marilyn Bouldin holds a master’s degree in Community Health Nursing and has been a resident of Salida since 2007. Following a long and distinguished career in the healthcare field, she has dedicated her time to volunteering and advocating for public health and healthy aging initiatives within the community.

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Marilyn is the former Director of Chaffee County Public Health and a past member of the Board of Directors for Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center. She is also the co-founder of Ark Valley Helping Hands, an organization committed to supporting local residents in need. In addition, Marilyn has served as chair of Chaffee County Women Who Care, is an active member of the Age Strong Chaffee Coalition, and enjoys staying active as an avid walker.

 

Cheryl Brown-Kovacic, Vice Chair and Director of Partnerships

Cheryl has been a proud resident of Salida for over 20 years, dedicating much of that time to community service and local leadership. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Chaffee County Heritage Board, the County Roundtable, the League of Women Voters, Salida Parks, Open Space & Trails (SPOT), and the Salida Planning & Zoning Commission. In addition, Cheryl has held key roles as Salida’s City Treasurer and as a City Council member.

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Passionate about supporting the needs of the community, Cheryl is particularly committed to addressing the growing demand for senior housing and resources. She believes that creating solutions for Aging in Place is vital for Salida’s future and is proud to serve on the Board of Directors, working to make this vision a reality.​​​​​

 

Jeff Eaton, Director

Jeff and his wife relocated to Buena Vista in 2021 from Pennsylvania to be closer to their sons and to enjoy the abundant outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer.

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Jeff brings more than 45 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, with a career focused primarily on social services and housing program development and delivery. For the last 21 years of his career, he served as CEO and President of a regional New York–based 501(c)(3) corporation, where his work centered on affordable housing development and management. His leadership played a key role in advancing family and senior multi-family housing projects, including developments utilizing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

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Jeff’s extensive experience and passion for supporting community housing needs make him a valuable advocate for addressing the challenges and opportunities surrounding senior living in Chaffee County.

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Amy Fell, Director

Originally from just outside of Chicago, Amy attended the University of Montana and later returned to Chicago in 2001 to earn a degree in Veterinary Medical Technology.​  Her passion for supporting the older generation began in 1999 when she started working at Sunrise Assisted Living in Denver, followed by her role with Home Watch, a private business providing around-the-clock care for senior citizens. These early experiences deeply shaped her commitment to serving the senior community.

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From 2013 to 2018, Amy owned and operated Mountain Kids Childcare on First Street in Salida, where she created a welcoming and nurturing environment for children and their families. In 2020, she joined High Country Bank as a Loan Processor and has since advanced to become the Vice President of Mortgage Loans in the lending department.​

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With a deep love and compassion for the senior community, Amy strongly believes that an assisted living facility is an essential need in the area. She recognizes the growing aging population, the increasing strain on family support systems, and the importance of providing resources that allow seniors to live with dignity and a high quality of life.

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Katy Grether, Secretary 

Katy spent 25 years working in college administration at the University of California, where she awarded financial aid to students and later served as an administrative analyst in the Systemwide Office supporting all nine University of California campuses. She holds a B.A. in English, which has been invaluable in her volunteer work in Salida, particularly in writing grants for the preservation of the Hutchinson Homestead and the Valley View School—two early historic landmarks in Chaffee County.

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Over the past 25 years in Salida, Katy has been deeply engaged in community service, serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Historic Salida Inc., Salida Area Parks, Open Space & Trails (SPOT), Guidestone Colorado—which manages the Hutchinson Homestead and Learning Center—the Chaffee County Heritage Area Board, and Starpoint, which provides services for individuals with disabilities.

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Katy’s passion for preserving history and supporting community needs has naturally led her to advocate for expanded senior housing options in Chaffee County. Motivated by the growing demand for quality housing and care for the aging population, she is an active participant in the Places to Age initiative.

 

Katy lives in Salida with her husband, where they enjoy hiking and fishing in the high Rockies and exploring the natural beauty of the region.

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Judy Staby Hoch, Treasurer​

In 2007, Judy and her husband, Randy, purchased land in Salida and built their dream home, serving as their own general contractors throughout the process. Soon after, her daughter and granddaughter relocated to the community, followed by her sister and brother-in-law. At the time, Judy’s mother was living independently several hours away at Loveland at Good Samaritan, a large senior living facility.

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As her mother entered her 90s, she wished to be closer to family. However, determined to maintain her independence, she refused to move in with relatives. Unfortunately, there were limited local housing options that met her needs, leaving her living alone. She passed away at the remarkable age of 106. This experience deeply shaped Judy’s commitment to ensuring that others never face such an isolating situation.

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Judy holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She began her career as an engineer at IBM before founding a venture-financed software company. She later served as a director at US West, where she led efforts to acquire technology firms. After transitioning out of the technology sector, she earned her Graduate Gemologist certification and went on to sell her artwork nationwide, exhibiting her creative work from coast to coast.

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Wendell Pryor, Director 

Wendell is a semi-retired social entrepreneur with a strong passion for senior living and community development. He taught at the University of Colorado School of Public Affairs for over 20 years and has an extensive background in public service, having worked at the state, city, and local levels of government. Most recently, he retired after 12 years as the Director of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation, where he focused on fostering growth and opportunity within the region.

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Wendell holds both a law degree and a master’s degree in Public Administration. He also served as Board Chair for the InnovAge Foundation, which later evolved into Next 50, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of older adults. Throughout his career, Wendell has brought his expertise as a trainer, consultant, mediator, and facilitator to a variety of community initiatives, and he now contributes his leadership and experience to the Places to Age project.

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Lydia Segal, Director 

Lydia is a retired family physician with a master’s degree in Public Health and a lifelong passion for community wellness. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) and volunteers her time teaching wellness classes at the hospital.

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In addition to her medical background, Lydia is a former print journalist and frequently contributes articles on healthcare and medical issues to the local press. Her deep commitment to improving community health and supporting the aging population has fueled her dedication to the goal of establishing an assisted living and memory care facility in Chaffee County.

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Andi Ohmart Bruno Young, Chair

Andi is a Colorado native who grew up along the Front Range and built a successful career in entrepreneurship and business. She served as Director of Business Planning for a Silicon Valley company that grew from $15 million to $7.5 billion during her tenure, where she led and managed an extended planning team through a period of rapid expansion.

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Following that role, Andi helped launch a software company that secured $6 million in funding and, within just 18 months, successfully sold the business for $40 million. In 2003, after experiencing Silicon Valley’s age and gender ceiling, she shifted her focus and founded a small local business, which she managed for 14 years, growing the team to 40 employees. She sold that business in 2014, marking another chapter in her entrepreneurial journey.

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Andi has extensive, first-hand experience in managing growth, building strong teams, and leading organizations through growth and rapid change. In 2015, she happily returned home to Colorado, where she continues to enjoy being part of the community she loves.

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