Staff

Barbara H. Boyer, Executive Director

Barbara has over twenty years of experience in achieving organizational and project specific goals and objectives while maintaining and developing critical partnerships and a full spectrum of public relations endeavors. She holds a Masters Degree from the University of Colorado, Denver (Public Policy/Administration) and a B.S. in Psychology from S.U.N.Y. Barbara has served as the inaugural executive director in several developing non-profit organizations after as successful career as a municipal government manager.

Barbara was invited to serve as ACBCO’s first Executive Director in October 2005 and has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer. She oversees all operational functions of the organization. She has developed and is implementing our program/organization strategic plan, organizational policies and procedures, supervises personnel, and serves as a legislative advocate. She has also developed a strategic fund raising plan to provide for the solicitation of funds from a variety of sources to develop ACBCO programs and services as well as provide for long term sustainability.

Barbara has been appointed by Governor Ritter as a Commissioner serving on the State Commission for Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals. She also serves on the Secretary of State' Voter Accessibility, Independence and Privacy Task Force and CDOT's Transportation and Mobility Council.  In 2009 Barbara also joined the Board of Directors of the Center for People with Disabilities in Boulder, Colorado and now serves as the Board President.

Sue Fenniman-Resource Specialist

Sue has been on staff as the Lead Resource Specialist for the past four years with her expertise in working with seniors with low vision. She spent the last seven plus years at Health S.E.T. as a low vision counselor for seniors. She has spent a great deal of time developing appropriate curriculum relative to eye disease and maintaining eye health and educating those with vision loss throughout Denver. She serves on numerous boards/groups that help to American Council of the Blind of Colorado improve health for seniors. Sue holds a masters degree (MSW) and is an active part of the Denver Metro area community, especially within those agencies and organizations that serve seniors and low vision individuals.

Paulette Foss, Ph.D.-Area Resource Coordinator

Paulette has been working with the blind/visually impaired for many years. Since 2000 she has specialized in consulting with seniors and their families to assist in their adjustment to vision loss. She continues this important work with ACBCO in the Boulder and north metro Denver area. Paulette is legally blind.

Martina Torres-Volunteer & Community Coordinator

Martina has been on the ACBCO staff for the past two years and manages our volunteer program. She recruits and trains new volunteers and serves as our liaison to the community at large.   She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 17 years in the area of Volunteer Management, Program Management and Community Outreach.   Martina’s most recent position was the Director of Agency Relations and Volunteer Manager at Metro Volunteers  She has had 3 years of extensive training from the Rose Community Foundation and Denver Foundation on Inclusiveness in the workplace and within the nonprofit sector.  She also sat on the leadership committee with Metro Volunteers to engage people of color and who have a disability.  Martina currently sits on two Board of Directors. She is the past president and current Board Member (6 years) of the Bienvenidos Food Bank and Denver DOVIA  (Director of Volunteers in Agencies). 

Linda Yacks-Administrative Assistant (on leave personal leave until September 2012)

Linda Fleharty Yacks is the Administrative Assistant at the American Council of the Blind of Colorado office and a long-time ACBCO member.  Prior to coming to work for ACBCO, Linda was employed by the Department of Energy for several years.  Linda is married to her sweetheart, Dennis.  They are the parents of two, and grandparents of six.  Linda has been blind since birth and has the distinction of being the first blind student to graduate from Jefferson County Schools back in the dark ages about the time man first stepped on the moon.

Linda says, “It was at DOE that I gained the skills and administrative experience that I bring to ACBCO.  It is the years of living as a successful person who is blind that give me the understanding and compassion for the many people I come in contact with daily on the phone and in person.  It is my sincere desire that I can bring a smile to their faces and give them hope for the future."