Leadership
Team

ERIN PORTEOUS

Chief Executive Officer

Erin Porteous joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver in 2006 and has been a vital part of the organization’s leadership, improving the scale and quality of its programs while exceeding its revenue goals. She was named CEO in October 2016. She brings a deep experience and commitment to serving low-income youth and developing strong community partnerships to the organization. Prior to being named CEO, Erin served as the Chief Development Officer leading all fundraising, marketing and communication efforts, and special events for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Under her leadership, Boys & Girls Clubs has continued to improve both the scale and quality of the special events and marketing programs while exceeding revenue goals annually. Prior to working at Boys & Girls Clubs, Erin had an established tenure in the non-profit sector working for the University of Colorado, and also Frederik Meijer Gardens, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Erin has a deep passion for serving those in need both here in Denver and also globally, including her participation in long-term volunteer projects in Brazil and South Africa.

Visit our CEO blog for the latest updates from Erin Porteous

JENNIFER ANDREWS

Chief Operating Officer

Jennifer Andrews is a people-first executive with over 25 years in business and non-profit leadership. Most recently she spent six years at Teach for America Colorado as Vice President of Program Continuum, where she led teams in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.

Her career began with the Red Robin restaurant company where she spent 16 years as they grew from 44 restaurants to 450, working on multiple facets of the business. While at Red Robin, she served for five years on the Board of Directors for Denver Kids, a non-profit that provides wrap-around support to youth. It became clear that mission-driven work was her calling, so she jumped off the corporate ladder to join the non-profit world full time, as the Chief Operating Officer and then as Interim CEO.

Jen believes that every child deserves the opportunity to stretch and reach their potential. And, being clear-eyed about the inequities and barriers that currently exist, she is deeply devoted to a brighter tomorrow for our kids and our communities. Joining the team at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver is a dream come true for Jen.

MICHELLE HOULIHAN

Chief Development Officer

Michelle joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver in March 2022. An integral member of our executive leadership team, she has more than twenty years of experience in complex fundraising and growing collaborative, high-performing teams.

Michelle began her career with Boys & Girls Clubs of Alaska in 1996, where she helped to secure critical funding for expansion efforts throughout the state. She then moved on to become the Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross of Alaska, where she successfully merged six independent Chapters into one statewide organization. In 2012 she took on the role of Senior Divisional Philanthropy Officer for the National American Red Cross, where she secured one of the first $5 million partnerships for the organization and was instrumental in developing donation programs with high-level corporate partners. Michelle then became Regional Chief Development Officer of the Colorado and Wyoming Chapter of the Red Cross in 2020.

Michelle grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Denver. In her spare time, she enjoys hockey, hiking, biking, paddle sports, and running agility courses with her dog. She and her husband Kevin live in Roxborough and are proud parents of three adult children.

ANGELO FERNANDEZ

Chief Human Resources Officer

Angelo brings extensive experience from his executive roles in local and state government across Colorado. He recently served as the Director of Human Resources at the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. As Chief Human Resources Officer, Angelo will be pivotal in fostering a workplace culture in alignment with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver's core values. He is dedicated to supporting an inclusive workplace, promoting employee engagement, and is focused on attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. Angelo's leadership will be instrumental in ensuring Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver continues to be a great place to work, where employees feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered to make a positive impact in the community.

HEATHER INTRES

Associate Chief Impact Officer

As Associate Chief Impact Officer, Heather is responsible for the design, implementation, and management of our impact strategy including curriculum assessment and selection, program design, research and evaluation, and data analytics.

Heather brings both depth of experience and passion to this role. A proud native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, the common thread throughout Heather’s career has been serving youth and families. Her early career included roles in the pediatric physical therapy field as well as the visual and performing arts. Upon moving to Colorado, Heather served as the Education Program Manager for the Children’s Museum of Denver. During this time, Heather created the “How We Play” initiative that was the foundation for inclusion of youth with special needs throughout the city’s cultural institutions.

She transitioned to Denver Public Schools in 2013 to manage community partnerships for the district and support the work of the Denver Afterschool Alliance and the Denver Quality Afterschool Connection. She then became the Executive Director of Extended Learning and Community Schools and helped lead the district through the pandemic, standing up the first remote learning centers in DPS.

Heather is thrilled to be a part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and to continue her focus on ensuring that “afterschool is not an afterthought” in the story of a child’s education. Heather, her husband Brad, and her daughter Quinn enjoy hiking, theatre, and all things Denver Broncos.

PAUL PIERCE

Associate Chief of Club Operations

Paul joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver in April 2024 and brings a wealth of experience to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, having previously served as the Associate Athletics Director at the University of Kansas. His extensive athletics administration background and passion for community enrichment make him a valuable addition to the organization's Leadership Team. As the Associate Chief of Club Operations, Paul is responsible for developing the infrastructure behind Club operations while developing strategic initiatives supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver’s mission to create a safe, supportive, fun, and enriching Club experience for Denver kids.

Paul is committed to enhancing the positive influence of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver throughout our community and believes supporting youth development is an integral part of fostering community prosperity. Paul, his wife Carolina, and son Cameron enjoy playing and watching sports, hosting cookouts, and exploring hiking trails with their family dog.

CARRIE ZWANZIG

Vice President of Grants & Contracts

Carrie Zwanzig began her role with BGCMD in early 2022 and comes with 12 years of fundraising experience, most predominantly in the realm of grants and contracts. Her love of the fundraising process started with a side project supporting faculty in funding research on Colorado's Japanese internment camps. Since then, Carrie has worked in higher education, non-profit human services, and international development organizations where she most recently led all sponsored project activities for Arapahoe Community College, growing the portfolio to nearly 50 grants/contracts and over $30 million.

As the Vice President of Grants & Contracts, Carrie maintains oversight on external funding, ensuring mission-alignment on the pre-award side and funder compliance and sustainability on the post-award side. She holds an acute focus on deepening impact and identifying ways to enhance the programming experience for all Club kids.

Carrie is a 4th generation Colorado native and an MBA graduate of the University of Denver. When not at work, Carrie loves spending time with her husband and three young children hiking, cooking, and of course, doing mountains of laundry.