Meet Our Board of Directors

Nothing happens without the right people.
Let us introduce you to the team making Gratitude Village a reality.

Gratitude Village officially incorporated on January 24, 2025, with a committed board of seven founding members who bring not only deep expertise but also deep heart. Together, they represent a powerful blend of lived experience and professional skill — including a retired agriculturist, a functional medicine doctor, a disabilities advocate, a business attorney, a community land trust specialist, a construction company owner and a retired teacher/business owner.

In December 2025, we grew our board by adding six strong new members (per our bylaws we can have up to 15 members). Our new members bring expertise in the following areas: housing development, architecture, community & development finance, community building, sustainability, disabilities including IDD, permaculture, landscape architecture and community governance. This gives us a robust team with staggered terms to ensure continuity and strong leadership as we grow and evolve.

Each of our board members believes in the transformative power of community, the urgency of sustainability, and the necessity of equity. They’re here because they know — as we do — that when people come together with shared purpose, real change is possible.

Our Team

Suzie Shride

Founder / Executive Director

I’m an explorer at heart — and that spirit has guided every chapter of my life. I’ve been a teacher, writer, entrepreneur, and adventurer. I grew up in Colorado but have also called Massachusetts, Santa Fe, and Peru home. My early career took me to the San Juan Mountains with Colorado Outward Bound, and later to Nepal and across South America, where I co-owned a specialty travel company for nearly 20 years. After becoming a single mom, I shifted careers, earned a master’s degree in elementary education, and spent over a decade in the classroom — all while publishing my award-winning young adult novel, Lucy Dakota: Adventures of a Modern Explorer.

In recent years, I co-owned a thriving math tutoring business in Littleton, Colorado, which sold in March 2024. I live with my 24-year-old daughter, two lovable doodles (Ollie and Nova), and Mr. Pickles, our chatty green parakeet.

I’ve always dreamed of living in a place where I feel a deep sense of connection — something I experienced growing up on my grandparents' Oklahoma farm, while traveling abroad, and in the early years of raising my daughter. But in the years since the pandemic, that connection has felt harder to come by. So, I started searching for new ways to live and discovered cohousing. After visiting nearly two dozen communities, I realized what I was looking for didn’t yet exist — so I decided to build it.

As a proud founding member and future resident, Gratitude Village Colorado is the result of that vision. It’s my next great adventure — and hopefully yours, too.

Dr. Wanda Bedinghaus

board member (2025-2026)

Dr. Wanda Bedinghaus is a visionary in the world of holistic health. After earning her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and becoming a board-certified pediatrician, she began to question the limitations of traditional medicine in addressing the root causes of illness. Her journey led her to study homeopathy at the Northwestern Academy of Homeopathy and later, to earn certification in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

For more than two decades, Dr. Bedinghaus has helped patients heal by treating the whole person — mind, body, and spirit. She co-founded Healing Unleashed, a thriving integrative medical clinic in Denver, where she practices a systems-based, root-cause approach to care. She believes strongly in the interconnectedness of all life and the sacredness of the healing journey. Wanda's deep spiritual commitment also led her to become an ordained minister of the Unity Church. Years ago, she moved to Denver to found the Lakewood Unity Church, where she helped nurture a community rooted in healing, compassion, and personal growth.

Dr. B lives with her beloved dog, Shiloh, and two vibrant parrots who bring daily joy and a reminder of life’s beauty. She is also a founding member of Gratitude Village and brings to the community a deep passion for wellness, community and creating environments where all beings can thrive.

Ron Jepson

BOARD MEMBER (2025-2026)

Ron Jepson brings a lifetime of experience in agriculture, natural resources, and community service to the board of Gratitude Village. A Denver native, Ron earned his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and a master’s in Range Science from Colorado State University. He served in the Peace Corps in West Africa and spent much of his professional life working in agriculture and land stewardship. After retiring in 2010, Ron embarked on a six-year chapter as a full-time house and pet sitter, traveling across the western U.S.

Ron is a widower and proud father to one beloved son. He’s an avid reader, adventurous eater, and alpine hiker who finds joy in gardening—especially growing his annual crop of potatoes—and walking dogs at the local animal shelter. He has studied animal communication and explored a wide range of spiritual and mystical traditions, cultivating a deep respect for life in all its forms.

Having known the quiet of solitude, Ron understands the profound value of community. His wit, wisdom, and grounded presence enrich every conversation. Ron has also served in leadership roles throughout his career, including as president of the Colorado County Agricultural Agents Association, a board member of the Colorado Weed Management Association, and a commissioner on the Thornton Parks & Open Space Advisory Commission.

Ron is also a founding member of Gratitude Village and brings invaluable insight and a heartfelt commitment to cultivating connection—with the land, with one another, and with something greater.

Akshay Pradhan Esq., LL.M.

BOARD MEMBER (2025-2026)

Akshay Pradhan is a seasoned attorney, strategic advisor, and compassionate leader whose career bridges law, business, and social impact. With degrees from the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law — including a Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws in Taxation — and a business degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Akshay brings both intellectual rigor and entrepreneurial insight to every endeavor.

His legal practice spans estate planning, business formation, governance, and compliance, informed by years of experience at top law firms, global consulting agencies, and a Fortune 500 company. As a dedicated board leader for organizations like Kids First Health Care and a former COO and General Counsel for Join the Journey, Akshay has consistently used his expertise to advance equity and opportunity for underserved communities.

Akshay’s commitment to public safety and innovation also led to the co-creation of Brella, a real-time emergency response app designed to help police and victims during school shootings. He frequently educates families on estate planning and empowers businesses with the tools to grow sustainably and ethically.

Beyond the boardroom, Akshay is a motivational speaker and spiritual guide, known for inspiring others with his wisdom and heart. He enjoys time with his family, supporting his children’s dance and soccer pursuits, diving into DIY projects, and deepening his personal and philanthropic path. At Gratitude Village, he contributes his legal expertise and unwavering belief in building systems — and communities — rooted in justice, compassion and care.

Alala Wakelin

Board member (2025-2026)

Alala brings a rare blend of creative vision and practical know-how to Gratitude Village. She moved to Boulder in 1996 to study film at the University of Colorado, where she trained under renowned filmmakers Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon. After earning her BFA in Film Studies, she spent a decade climbing the ranks at a major media company — from Editor to Executive Producer — mastering the art of storytelling, leadership, and production.

When a corporate acquisition brought that chapter to a close, Alala embarked on a journey of self-discovery that took her through a Vipassana retreat and to Hawaii, where she connected with the deeper meaning of her name. Returning to Colorado with renewed clarity, she transitioned into the world of residential construction, gaining hands-on experience in design, operations, and customer service.

As a long-time yogi and entrepreneur, Alala founded her own remodeling company to bring intentionality and heart to the often-overlooked world of exterior home renovation. Her work is rooted in deep listening, thoughtful design, and a commitment to evolving how we live in and care for our homes — values she brings wholeheartedly to Gratitude Village.

Kathryn Wallisch

BOARD MEMBER (2025-2026)

Kathryn Wallisch brings a unique blend of technical expertise, educational insight, and community-centered passion to Gratitude Village. Originally from Indiana, Kathryn holds a degree in Computer Science with a specialization in robotics and educational research. She is now back in school earning her masters degree in Urban Development from CU Denver. Her career has spanned financial services, informal education, and workforce development — always with a focus on building bridges between people and opportunity.

Kathryn currently serves as Operations Associate at Elevation Community Land Trust, where she supports both the operations and executive teams and serves as a welcoming first point of contact for future homeowners. Prior to joining ECLT, she taught at a Colorado nonprofit focused on workforce development, helping learners grow their skills and confidence.

An avid cyclist and transit advocate, Kathryn is actively engaged in efforts to improve bike and transit access across Denver. She is also passionate about cohousing and attended the Cohousing US national conference in Denver in August 2024, deepening her commitment to creating inclusive, connected communities. She brings to Gratitude Village her adaptability, creative problem-solving, and a deep belief in equity, sustainability, and the transformative power of community.

Curtis "Curt" Garrett

BOARD MEMBER (2025-2026)

Curtis Garrett is a passionate advocate for disability justice, disaster preparedness and inclusive communities. A third-generation native of Colorado, Curt grew up in Lakewood, where he was one of the first students with disabilities to be mainstreamed into the Jefferson County school system. He graduated from Green Mountain High School in 1979 and went on to earn his B.A. in Recreation Administration from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Curt currently serves as the Disaster Preparedness Coordinator at Atlantis Community, Inc., a Center for Independent Living that advocates for people with disabilities to live fully integrated lives in the communities of their choosing. Prior to that, he worked for Denver Parks & Recreation for 27 years, where he focused on youth development and community inclusion.

Curt’s commitment to emergency preparedness was galvanized at FEMA’s “Get Real Conference” in 2011, where he heard devastating accounts of how a lack of planning during disasters dispro-portionately harmed people with disabilities. Since then, he’s made it his mission to ensure Colorado’s disabled communities are never left behind. His vision is for Atlantis — and communities like Gratitude Village — to become national models for equitable, inclusive disaster planning.

A music lover, Broncos fan, and classic car enthusiast, Curt also finds joy in spending time with his wife, Cherlyn, working in the yard, traveling, and attending concerts and sporting events. He brings to Gratitude Village a powerful voice, grounded perspective, and unwavering dedication to building communities that truly include everyone.

Makena Roeswood

BOARD MEMBER (2026-2027)

Makena brings deep experience in cohousing, design and collaborative community building. Raised in the wilderness of Alaska, she learned early to trust the wisdom of nature, find creative solutions, and balance individual freedom with interdependence.

Since 2010, she has been researching and pursuing community living in Colorado, developing a strong belief that connection and cooperation are essential to thriving in a changing world. While WWOOFing on a tropical fruit farm in Thailand, she discovered parallel passions for permaculture and architecture that led her to earn a master’s degree in landscape architecture. Her thesis, Building Belonging, explored how cohousing-inspired design principles foster connection in high-functioning neighborhoods.

Makena has built a tiny house using natural and reclaimed materials, developed a suburban food forest with nearly 20 drought-resistant fruit trees, and created Forever Foods, a free curriculum that teaches people how to grow perennial food—now offered at her local library. For the past four years, she has worked as a project manager for an artificial turf company, overseeing commercial playground surfacing and multifamily amenity projects throughout Colorado.

Makena and her family of four are proud founding members of Gratitude Village, eager to build a neighborhood where their kids can play safely and where neighbors meet the future together.

Kody Cronan

Board member (2026-2027)

I am a Denver native and second-generation architect who found my way into this profession through craft, curiosity, and a deep desire to do meaningful work. Before I ever drew a building, I built them—spending nearly a decade as a carpenter. That hands-on experience still shapes everything I do. It taught me to value craft, understand materials, and design with both beauty and constructability in mind. I’ve always believed architecture should serve people, and that belief has guided my entire career.

For more than 25 years, I’ve focused on housing—affordable, workforce, and inclusive communities throughout Colorado and the Mountain West. I’ve had the privilege of working with LIHTC, HUD, and USDA programs and have specialized in accessible and cross-disability design. My goal in every project is simple: to create places where people of all abilities can live with dignity, independence, and belonging. Housing should make life easier, safer, and healthier, and I strive to design environments that truly support the people who call them home.

I also spent over a decade leading an architectural practice, managing projects, mentoring staff, coordinating consultants, and stewarding financial and operational responsibilities. That leadership experience, combined with my construction background, helps me bridge the worlds of design and building—ensuring that the spaces I envision are not only inspiring but practical and achievable.

Gratitude Village reflects everything I believe good housing should be. Its focus on connection, health, sustainability, and equity mirrors the values that have driven my career. I see this project as both attainable and deeply needed, and I’m honored to help make this vision real. I look forward to helping this community grow, thrive, and become a place where every resident feels at home.

Anita Halcyon

BOARD MEMBER (2026-2027)

In my 70s, I feel clearer than ever that I still have purpose and the ability to make a meaningful difference. My professional path has taken me through many roles—Director of Training for Hospice of Larimer County, Executive Director of The Time Exchange (a Denver/Boulder Time Bank), marketing national speakers, running Pillow Pet retail stores, and working in online marketing. Each experience strengthened my commitment to community and connection.

Today, my heart is invested in hAppenings Community C.I.C., where I support the emerging Holochain ecosystem through early hosting, alpha testing, a biweekly Substack newsletter and co-developing a peer-to-peer Requests & Offers app. I’m also a long-time advocate for intentional community, sociocracy and mutual aid, and continue learning through Sociocracy for All and the Foundation for Intentional Communities. I’ve always been a natural connector—linking people with projects, ideas, and opportunities.

When I discovered Gratitude Village, its mission immediately resonated with me. The vision of a flagship, affordable, Net Zero, fully accessible cohousing community aligns perfectly with what I believe is possible—and deeply needed. I appreciate that accessibility and aging in place are prioritized from the start, and that "flagship" signals a model that can inspire other communities.

I’ve long sought a neighborhood rooted in connection, support, and shared purpose. Gratitude Village feels like that long-awaited home, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute my experience and energy to this beautiful vision.

Heidi Majerik

BOARD MEMBER (2026-2027)

Heidi is a seasoned real estate development professional and President of Gauge Land Development (GLD), where she leads land acquisitions, entitlements and strategic consulting for residential communities across Colorado. At GLD, she works with landowners, equity partners and builders through every stage of the development process, including underwriting, market strategy, product positioning, homebuilder programming, contract negotiation, entitlement and special district formation.

Before founding GLD, Heidi served as Vice President and General Manager of Southern Land Company’s Denver office, overseeing regional land acquisitions and the development of Westerly, an 800-acre master-planned community in Erie, Colorado. Her earlier leadership roles include positions with Wonderland Homes, Forest City Enterprises (Central Park redevelopment) and Intrawest US Holdings.

Heidi’s expertise spans community development, strategic planning, market analysis, public finance—including metro district formation, tax increment financing, and bond issuance—HOA formation, infrastructure oversight, and team leadership. Her deep industry knowledge is matched by her commitment to creating well-planned, inclusive, and attainable communities.

She currently serves on the Denver Planning Board, is a past President of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, serves on the Metro Housing Coalition Board, participates in the Colorado Association of Home Builders Government Affairs Committee and previously chaired the Urban Land Institute Community Development Council and Silverthorne’s Economic Development Task Force.

Michelle Dumay

BOARD MEMBER (2026-2027)

Michelle brings a powerful combination of scientific expertise, sustainability leadership, and heartfelt advocacy to the Gratitude Village Board. A bench-trained chemist and internationally recognized speaker, she serves as a Business Development Executive for Energy Glass Solar, where she helps developers, cities, and organizations design greener, safer, energy-producing buildings. Her work includes guiding projects through federal incentives such as ITCs, PACE financing, and accelerated depreciation while supporting the integration of more than 200 types of high-performance architectural glass, including impact-resistant and security-focused products.

Michelle’s personal journey as the mother of a medically fragile child has made her a fierce advocate for disability rights, caregiving and integrative medicine. Her lived experience navigating cerebral palsy, blindness, quadriplegia and complex seizures led her to serve on patient advisory councils for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Mercy Care. She has spoken widely—including on TEDx stages—about medical equity, compassionate care and the realities of long-term caregiving.

Her passion for accessibility, sustainability, and community deeply aligns with Gratitude Village’s mission to build a flagship, affordable, Net Zero, fully accessible cohousing community. Michelle offers not only technical insight into green building and innovation, but also a profound lived understanding of what true accessibility and supportive community really mean.

Tim Morzel

Board member (2026-2027)

I bring more than a decade of experience in development finance, land use economics, and real estate strategy to the Gratitude Village Board. Today, I serve as a Vice President in the Development Finance Group at D.A. Davidson, where I help public and private partners structure financially sound, community-centered development projects.

Before D.A. Davidson, I spent eight years at Economic & Planning Systems (EPS), where I managed market studies, development feasibility work, fiscal and economic impact modeling, TIF analysis, and public-private partnership formation. I’ve always enjoyed translating complex data into tools that help communities bring meaningful projects to life.

My passion for good planning started early. I grew up in Boulder with parents who were interested in more connected, cooperative ways of living — alternatives to the suburban developments quickly filling the Front Range. Several of my friends lived in some of the country’s earliest cohousing communities, which gave me an early appreciation for what intentional design and shared values can create.

I hold a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Cornell University, focused on real estate development, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado Boulder.

I’m excited to support Gratitude Village as we build an affordable, sustainable, fully accessible cohousing community. It feels like coming full circle — bringing together my professional expertise and the values I grew up with to help create a community that prioritizes connection, sustainability, and belonging.