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The way you do anything…In 1981, Susan Mizen moved to Steamboat

Springs with a Master’s degree in education from Indiana University. During her first winter in the Rocky Mountains, she volunteered with Horizons’ cross-country ski program. Susan soon became the Day Program Coordinator, then a Case Manager, a Case Management Director, and since 1995, the Executive Director.

Susan’s authentic commitment to serving children and adults with IDD and their families has been prominent in every role. It was a critical part of Horizons’ evolution from a grassroots initiative to a comprehensive, highly regarded Community Centered Board. Susan’s genuine desire to help others, ambition to succeed, and solution-oriented perspective helped Horizons grow.

Michael Toothaker, who recently retired from Horizons after 27 years, emphasized that Horizons’ existence was never guaranteed. “In the early 1980s, we had to overcome substantial financial obstacles,” Michael explained. “We had a handful of local adults to serve, but there weren’t enough people in our service area to be sustainable.” The Division for Developmental Disabilities advised Horizons to become a Medicaid provider. With the help of Medicaid funding, Horizons moved people from the Grand

Junction Regional Center to Craig, planting the seed of what we now know as our Residential Program.

With connections, collaborations, and positive energy, Horizons began to establish itself as a reputable nonprofit with Residential, Recreational, Day, and Vocational Programs as well as Case Management. Susan was integral in purchasing and renting group homes and offices in Steamboat, Craig, Meeker, and Granby. In 2005, Susan managed the campaign to pass a Routt County property tax. In 2011, Horizons was awarded a $1.27m HUD grant to build Soda Creek Apartments, an eight-unit independent, transitional living complex in downtown Steamboat. Horizons had unsuccessfully pursued the grant twice before, and Susan’s tenacity persuaded the board to try a third time.

Under Susan’s direction, Horizons administered more Medicaid Waivers, opened host homes, implemented work crews, and launched county and agency-wide fundraising campaigns. In 2001, Horizons won the El Pomar Award for Excellence in the area of Self Sufficiency for a second time. Susan effectively managed the ebbs and flows of Colorado’s waitlist for disability services and compelled hundreds of volunteers to lend an eager hand. Diligent in her work with Alliance Colorado, Susan helped set

Enhancing the lives of those we help by empowering them to achieve rewarding lives full of new possibilities

FALL 2019

Putting People First, Susan Mizen Retires

HORIZONS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Terry N. Jost President

Robert L. Grover Vice President

Dennis Kuntz Treasurer

Beth Davison Secretary

Susan Baird Member

Debbie Beckett Member

Annette Dellacroce Member

Jeff Dockstader Member

Julie Pearce Member

Ron Schaeffer Member

Tom Soos Member

Michael Turner Member

Fred Wolf Member

public policy, affect state legislation, promote IDD initiatives, and demonstrate best practices. In June 2019, Alliance honored Susan with the Jane Covode Award, their highest recognition celebrating exemplary effort, integrity, passion, and long-term commitment to the IDD system and the people it serves.

For Susan, though, it’s always been people first. Empowering people is one of her stealthiest qualities. She makes people feel good and she helps them achieve their goals. She’s quiet and relentless in seeking answers. She sees the big picture and the tiniest of details.

Bob Grover, long time board president, praises Susan for her tireless energy, her absolute humility, and her dedication to putting others first. As an Executive Director, she understands the power and constraints of both human resources and budgetary issues. “Combine that with her knowledge of the IDD world,” Bob says, “and Horizons runs like a well-oiled machine.” She has such high expectations that the result is an extremely high level of performance. “Susan’s not here for personal glory. She’s here to sustain an organization that helps people with disabilities. Being responsible for others to this level of care is serious work, and I’ve never seen her relish in accomplishment.”…is the way you do everything.

Creating and maintaining a culture of high conduct and altruism is part of Susan’s legacy and it’s evident in her succession plan. In January 2020, Tatum Heath will step into the role of Executive Director. Tatum’s first exposure to the agency was in the 1990s when his older brother received services from Horizons. In 2002, Tatum was hired as a Case Manager and in 2008 accepted the position of Adult Program Director. Tatum is a natural advocate who truly cares for other people. He credits Susan with helping him navigate the complexities of the IDD system while prioritizing each and every

person we’re here to serve.Current board president Terry Jost said the

support for Tatum to succeed Susan as Executive Director was strong and overwhelming. Deciding how to move forward after Susan’s departure wasn’t a decision board members took lightly. “It was a very involved process,” Terry acknowledged. “We’re accountable for managing people’s lives as well as public dollars. We had countless conversations about how to choose Susan’s successor. It was important for us to be responsible and do our due diligence.”

In their conscientious undertaking, the board realized Horizons already had what they were looking for. “Tatum has given so much, worn so many hats, and knows the system and the organization inside and out,” Terry noted. “It was an obvious and unanimous decision.” By attracting compassionate employees, fostering a culture of proficiency, and normalizing humble commitment to service, Susan’s well-oiled machine produced the board’s solution.

Heading into the last months of Susan’s tenure, the infrastructure at Horizons is primed and ready to go. With mentorship and training of the right people in the right positions, Susan has enabled internal advancement and she has assured collective confidence. She feels fortunate for the opportunity to have worked with an amazing Leadership Team, great employees, and supportive Board of Directors over the years. “I now realize how important the board is to the success of a non-profit and its Executive Director,” Susan admits. “I’m glad our board had the foresight to select my successor early and provide for an overlap in our responsibilities.” Considering Tatum has been at Horizons for 17 years and on the Leadership Team for 11 years, Susan is pleased with the board’s choice. “I’m confident our programs will continue to grow and improve under Tatum’s leadership.”

Putting People First, Susan Mizen Retires continued...

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Living in China in 2003, Sarah Mann was using her undergraduate degree in History, Political Science, and Chinese from the University of Colorado and Master’s degree in International Business from the University of Denver. She was doing economic analysis at the state department but quickly realized her job wasn’t personally rewarding.

Back in the US, Sarah was able to turn her love of bodybuilding and weightlifting into a job and then a meaningful career. She was working as a personal trainer when the parents of a 40-year-old man with Down syndrome asked if she would train their son. She said yes. Sarah had so much fun and her client was so successful that other parents asked her to train their children with Down syndrome too.

Professionals within the physical therapy industry cautioned Sarah that limiting her clientele to people with Down syndrome might be too narrow a niche. Regardless, Sarah pursued her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and completed physical therapy training at the Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

After establishing Mann Method PT and Fitness in 2017, Sarah’s business now serves the entire Denver metro area, treats thousands of patients, and works with all of Colorado’s CCBs. To reach and help more people with Down syndrome, Sarah and her colleague Jamie McGraw travel from their home base in Arvada to more rural areas throughout the state. They come to Steamboat for quarterly weekend clinics sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Foundation, the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation, Mountain Valley Bank, Yampa Valley Medical Center, Yampa Valley Autism Program, and Horizons.

Mann Method’s success is based on acknowledging that a typical person with Down syndrome has different joint structures than a person without Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome can be at a higher risk for hip dislocation, hip pain, early hip replacement, patellar dislocation, poor posture, scoliosis, poor walking patterns, and foot pain. Sarah provides orthopedic condition assessments and tailors instruction to the learning style of each individual. She focuses on visual learning in a positive environment. She offers supervised and structured weight

management programs designed specifically for individuals with Down syndrome.

Jamie’s passion is helping people who have disabilities with self-regulation skills, enabling them to work through things that are difficult or frustrating. A small percentage of her patients don’t have Down syndrome, but they do have sensory processing, anxiety, and/or vestibular issues (there’s a 30-50% incidence of dual diagnosis of autism and Down syndrome). Jamie relies on interventions that use the power of relationships and human connections to promote engagement, communication, positive behaviors,

and thinking, and she helps clients with relationship issues, social engagement, anxiety, daily tasks, and transitions. “Jamie’s second language is love,” Sarah says. “She’s an expert in emotional communication.”

Jamie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from Midwestern University in Illinois. Her certifications include:

Sensory Integration and Praxis (Ayers SIPT Practitioner), Neurodevelopmental Treatment, Floor-time/DIR treatment, Yoga/Meditation for Special Needs, Therapeutic Listening Treatment. Her previous experience includes working at Developmental FX Outpatient Clinic and Colorado Children’s Hospital Outpatient Clinics where she was part of a team that diagnosed kids with autism.

At Mann Method, continuity of relationships is important. Sarah and Jamie have the same philosophy of care, asking more of the patients and the world. Their personal and professional synergy makes you feel valued and optimistic. Sarah loves honest feedback from clients as well as the joy of routine. “I feel strong when they feel strong,” Sarah explains.

Sarah and Jamie believe the clinical model works well for now, but they hope to increase the frequency to monthly visits. When not working directly with patients, they regularly attend national conferences delivering lectures to providers from all over the country and staying current on best practices.

Mann Method PT and Fitness is taking new patients and accepts a variety of insurances including Medicare and Medicaid. Learn more at mannmethodpt.com.

Mann Method Physical Therapy and FitnessWorking to feel good

Jamie McGraw, Keith Fortune, and Sarah Mann like to get moving and be awesome.

MOFFAT

RIO BLANCO

ROUTT

JACKSON

GRAND

COUNTIES UP CLOSEGRAND

Grand County’s new Child and Family Service Coordinator is Lauran Anderson. Lauran has been a local preschool teacher for eight years working with toddlers 18 months to three years. Her teaching philosophy centers on the theory of conscious discipline, which teaches skills that may be lacking and sets age appropriate boundaries to build self-confidence and self-regulation. She pairs this with the pyramid program, which focuses on developing an environment that builds on each child’s strengths to reduce challenging behaviors in the classroom. Lauran is passionate about Early Intervention because of the remarkable development that can happen during these years.

Tonya French is organizing Family Fun Days on the third Friday of each month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for specific times and events.

MOFFATAfter 24 years of service, Michael

Toothaker retired on August 30th. Michael will be remembered for his ability to connect with people and his tireless commitment to disability advocacy. Jes McMillan is the new Adult Community Coordinator, Tiffany Taylor is the Office Coordinator, and Sarah Grimes is the SLS Case Manager.

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Pick a Dish so successful that we were voted Best of Moffat County Best Fundraising Event Runner Up! We’re grateful to Presenting Sponsors Victory Vision and Yampa Valley Bank, Contributing Sponsors Flint Personnel Services, Bank of Colorado, and Trapper Mine as well as Supporting Sponsors Cook Chevrolet and Bank of the San Juans. Many thanks to Carelli’s, Gino’s, Hatten Enterprises, Hiway 40 Grill & Lodge, KS Kreations, Ocean Pearl, Sizzling Pickle, and Vallarta’s for the delicious cuisine. Congratulations to our top three People’s Choice winners: Hatten Enterprise, Sizzling Pickle, and Vallarta’s and to our top four Judges’ Choice winners: KS Kreations, Hiway 40 Grill & Lodge, Vallarta’s, and Ocean Pearl (Honorable Mention).

Pick a Dish 2019 People’s Choice Winners

Pick a Dish 2019 Judges’ Choice Winners

Lauran Anderson is our new Grand County Child and Family Service Coordinator.

Michael Toothaker celebrated his retirement Beatles-style.

RIO BLANCOOur Little Points of Light Home Tour

in December helped us launch a happy holiday season. Thank you to Gerald and Twila Morris, Victor and Zulma Villalpando, Rich and Beth Ford, and John and Connie Kelley for opening your beautifully decorated homes to our community friends. Many thanks to Meeker Co-Working Community, Blanco Cellars, and Ma Famiglia for donating space, drinks, and desserts for the post-tour gathering.

In August, we said goodbye to speech therapist Notasha Clatterbaugh. We’ll miss her genuine compassion and keen expertise. Until we fill this position, we’ll be contracting teletherapy services for kids who need speech therapy.

ROUTTTatum Heath is Horizons’

Associate Director through 2019. Madeline Landgren, our Adult Program Director, was selected as one of 2019’s 20 Under 40. In August, Madeline was honored for her outstanding business and community leadership. Lindsey Garey is our Director of Service Coordination. Reid Duval is our SLS Case Manager. Meghan McNamara is our Residential Coordinator. Shanda Sullins is our SLS/CES Program Coordinator. Yvonne Truelove is our Quality Assurance and SLS Team Coordinator. Abigail Boutin is Milestones Team Coordinator. Michelle Hoza is the Routt County Child and Family Service Coordinator.

Michelle has a wealth of knowledge about the range of development for children ages birth to three. As a Parent Educator for Newborn Network, Michelle has worked with families throughout Routt County for the past 10 years. Michelle also spent four years as a sign language interpreter for the Hayden School District.

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Madeline Landgren was honored as one of Steamboat’s 2019 20 Under 40.

SAVE THE DATE!• Susan Mizen’s Retirement Party and Horizons 45th Anniversary Party

You’re invited! Join us on Friday January 24th at Olympian Hall in Steamboat.

• Colorado Gives Day CGD is Tuesday December 10th, 2019. This annual statewide movement celebrates and increases philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.

• Little Points of Light Campaign Support our Early Intervention and Family Support programs. Watch for our LPOL annual appeal in December 2019 and make a difference in the life of a child and family.

Program Approved Agencies in Horizons’ Five County Service Area:

ABC Behavioral Services • ACTAlternative Choice Residential

Assisted Cycling Tours • Behavior Services of the RockiesClear Creek Behavior Services

Colorado Residential Solutions • Consultants for ChildrenContinuum Autism Spectrum Alliance

Cottonwood Community Alternatives • Eagles Nest Group CenterEmpowering Independence • Insight Behavior Partnership

Maura Stack Oden • Overture • Sample Supports

Our Rio Blanco team gathered after the LPOL Home Tour.

Planned Giving allows you to distribute assets to family

members and organizations. You can leave a legacy

through wills, gift annuities, charitable trusts, pooled

income trusts, and life insurance. Your legacy can

support Horizons and those who depend on us for care

long into the future. For more information on planned

giving, please contact Horizons at 970.879.4466 x 108

to speak to Susan Mizen, Executive Director, or talk to

your accountant or attorney.

Planned Giving

Edwin & Ann AndersonDarrell AndrewsPres & Patti AskewDon & Susan BairdMartha Martinez & Isis BeckettStanley & Debbie BeckettCheryl BellBig Valley Construction Karen BrownRobert & Carol BrownAllie BruchBTN Communications Phillip BurnettBy The Numbers Sheila Cannon Pam CurranSonya DamoreCharlie Dresen &

Carol Davidson Nancy DevoreBarbara DoddridgeBernadette Lopez DonahueRenee DupreJohn Ewing

Phaedra FegleyAnnabelle FisherDave & Barb FixFlint Personnel Services Forbes Certified Welding Susan ForrestRobert & Debra FrazierMichelle FreckletonDarrin & Shari FryerPat GallagherGary Meyer Construction Frank & Susan GeeslinJJ & MA GingrichDebbie GoodingCassie HeldMark & Cari HermacinskiHigh Country Ranches Troy & Rhonda HilkeyPaul & Cindie HillSteven IngebritsonRuby IrickWayne & Vicky JohnsonTerry & Sharon JostDr. Jennifer Kugar

Dennis & Charlotte KuntzGerald & Karen LaBonteTommy & Sarah LarsonLitterman Family Foundation James & Nancy LoughranRoger MarkhamCara & Dave MarrsMark McStayCameron & LJ McVeyJeff Troeger & Susan MizenTodd & Tiffany MooreRichard & Lindsey MorrowKaren NannNCCPH Norman OlsenTimothy & Kathryn OsbornBrian PaulPatricia PearceDavid & Deirdre PepinJoseph RodenburghBruce & Sally RogersMarjorie RogersZach RossettiDonald Roth

Clyde & Lisa SampsonVincent SchneiderSusie SencajTD & Susan SextonHeather SnookTony SpaldingSt. Mark’s Church of Grace Marsha StehleRobert & Jane SteinBeverly SteinmanVoni & Bill StewartBen & Adrienne StroockAshley SwearingenAaron & Lindsay ThompsonSteve & Terry ThorpPeggy TompkinsTown & Country Insurance Truist Maxine TurnerVanguard Charitable Y Lazy S Ranch Katie Zinn

2018 LITTLE POINTS OF LIGHT DONORS

2018 DONORS100 Park Avenue Blake & Charlene Abdella Tatiana Achcar-Szyba Michael & Sansa Allee AmazonSmile Foundation Nanci Andrew B&K Distributing Bank of the San Juans Stanley & Debbie Beckett Bessie Minor Swift Foundation Lynne Bier Joan Boglioli Lee Bollacker Thomas & Pauline Bouchard Cam & Jill Boyd Bright Funds Foundation Michael & Suzanne Brinks Lura Briscoe Robert Brown Bud & Jane Romberg Fund of the YVCF Cattoor Livestock Roundup Tania Coffey Colorado Dept. of Transportation Colorado Garden Foundation Colorado Group Realty Community First Foundation Curtis & Debbie Cook Cook Chevrolet J H Craig Brian & Nancy Daniels Linda A Danter Carolyn Davis John & Beth Davison Jeff Dockstader Ruth Edgerley Jennifer Edgerley Laura Edgerley-Gibb Shirley Ely Flint Personnel Services Gregory Friedman Donna Garth Eva Gibbon Joan Gibbs Gino’s Neighborhood Pizzeria & GrillGo Alpine Grand County Grand Foundation Great Divide Cleaning Service Elissa Greene Bob & Eileen Grover Heart of Steamboat United Methodist

Church Foundation Emily Hines Lynn Hodges Grace Holt Edith Hornik Lauren Jenkins Mary Elaine Jordan

Jan & Nancy Kaminski Pam Duckworth & Stephen Kelton CA Kerste King Soopers/Kroger Knights of Columbus St. Michael the

Archangel Council 4131 Jan Knisley Beth Lambe Keith & Pat Larson Lions Club Foundation of Fraser Valley Lu Etta Loeber Lufkin Family Endowment of the YVCF Michael & Jacque Malley Marilyn Mastoras Mather’s Bar Mark & Marilyn McCaulley Meghan McNamara JL Mieusset Jeff Troeger & Susan Mizen Moffat County Moffat County Festival of Trees

Committee Moffat County HRCMoffat County United WayMoffat County United Way Key ClubShawna Morris Mountain Parks Electric Charitable Trust Anne Mudgett National Philanthropic TrustStephanie & Rob OrozcoRocky & Sparky PappasSonia Patota Brian Paul Julie Pearce Geoffry Peterson Popular BarPrecision Auto Service Judy Querry Jean Ray Teresa Rhodes Ruth Rickerby Rio Blanco County Dylan Roberts JoAnn Roberts Rocky Mountain Automotive Bruce & Sally Rogers Annie Sauer Sheri Sauthoff Ron Schaeffer Shirley Schultz Susan Scott Lonnie & Peggy Shults Alexandra Siegal James & Delores Solace Soroco High School

National Honor SocietyDonita Soucek Rae Sielen & Ken St. Louis St. Mark’s Church of Grace

Patrick Stanko Steamboat Ace Hardware Stockmen’s Liquor Connie Strasheim Tatar Family Foundation The Ability Experience The Colorado Health Foundation The Summit Foundation Michael Toothaker B Torres Alex Fifield & Karen Tratiak Kris Tratiak Michael & Cynthia Turner Pete & Gretchen Van De Carr Vermillion Ranch Victory VisionKimberly Walker WEH2 Foundation White River Electric Association Women’s Giving Circle of the YVCF WZ Giving Circle of the YVCF Yampa Valley Bank Yampa Valley Community Foundation Yampa Valley Funeral Home of

Steamboat Isabelle Yurevitch YVEA Operation Roundup David & Judith Zehner

2018IN-KIND DONORSAll Weather ServicesB. East ConstructionBackdoor SportsBank of San JuansBar-S RanchBlanco CellarsBrother’s Custom ProcessingLinda ByrdCarelli’s Pizzeria Cassidy’s Bar & LoungeChristie Sports Clarion Inn & Suites Cloud9 Socks Computer Support Gal Cook Chevrolet Creative Bearings Mark Darlington David A. Lindahl & Associates Direct Contractors Resource Lynn Dubinski Flint Personnel Services Food Recovery Network Rich & Beth Ford Lindsey Garey Joan Gibbs Gino’s Neighborhood Pizzeria & Grill Great Divide Cleaning Mark & Diane Halverson

Hatten EnterprisesHayden MercantileTatum HeathHP Cattle CompanyIntegrated CommunityJohn Wayne BandTerry & Sharon JostJohn & Connie KelleyKS KreationsCaroline LaliveLast Time ‘Round Thrift Shop Ma Famiglia Deanna Manthei McRoberts Farm Meeker Coworking Community Susan Mizen Morning Light Photography Matt Morrill Gerald & Twila Morris Mountain Café Mountain Valley Bank Native Ecosystems Old Town Hot Springs One Steamboat Place Julie Page John Ponikvar PostNet Powder Tools Scott & Heidi Powell Precision Auto Lorraine Robinson Rocky Mountain Auto Carrie Sabin Ron Schaeffer Sidney Peak Ranch Snow Country Construction Stantec Steamboat Grand Steamboat Ski & Bike Kare Steamboat STARS Stockmen’s Liquor Strings Music Festival Sydney Peak Ranch T & H Auto The Seasoned Brisket The Sizzling Pickle Top Shelf Entertainment Jeff Troeger Twenty Mile Mine Vallarta’s Vectra Bank Victor & Zulma Villalpando Walmart Bill & Maria Watkins Amy Wharton William Whittemore Yampa Valley Bank Yampa Valley Sustainability Council

GRANT SUPPORT

Specialized Services

P.O. Box 774867 (Mail)405 Oak Street

Steamboat Springs, CO 80477www.horizonsnwc.org

970.879.4466

O U R M I S S I O NHorizons works in partnership with families and communities

to expand opportunities for individuals with, or at risk of,

developmental disabilities.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSTMBT SPRGS, CO

PERMIT #58

H O R I Z O N S O F F I C E S

Central Administration Office

P.O. Box 774867 (Mail) 405 Oak Street Steamboat Springs, CO 80477970.879.4466 Phone 970.870.0334 Fax

Routt Family ServicesP.O. Box 774867 (Mail)430 Yampa AvenueSteamboat Springs, CO 80477970.871.8558 Phone970.870.8568 Fax

Routt County Adult Day ProgramP.O. Box 774867 (Mail)100 Park AvenueSteamboat Springs, CO 80477970.871.4800 Phone970.871.6013 Fax

Moffat Adult & Family ServicesP.O. Box 1483 (Mail)439 Breeze, Suite 100Craig, CO 81626970.824.7804 Phone970.824.2643 Fax

Rio Blanco ServicesP.O. Box 2114 (Mail)685 Main Street, Suite #1Meeker, CO 81641970.878.3196 Phone970.878.3196 Fax

Grand & Jackson ServicesP.O. Box 186 (Mail)81 West JasperGranby, CO 80446970.887.1141 Phone970.887.1141 Fax

How You Can Support Horizons

Make an online contribution at horizonsnwc.org or coloradogives.org

Donate on Colorado Gives Day.

Support our Little Points of Light Campaign.

Contact your county office to volunteer.

Follow Friends of Horizons on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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