Co-Creating Recovery for All
Jason DeaBueno, President
Jason DeaBueno, MBA, LCSW is the President and CEO of Silver Key Senior Services, responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of the Silver Key organization. His experience includes more than 20 years in leadership and managing operational requirements of social service agencies with a strong affinity for senior services, including as Vice President for AspenPointe, Executive Director at Mosaic, Executive Director at Respite, Research for Alzheimer’s Disease, and Executive Director at the Villas in Southgate. Board Member, NAMI; Board Member, CASA.
Ryan Cole, Vice President
Dr. Ryan Cole, PsyD is the owner and President of Brain and Body Integration and Achieve Whole Recovery, responsible for leadership and oversight of all aspects of the operations of both businesses.Dr. Cole has spent more than 10 years in private practice and has developed both of his businesses into organizations with multiple locations and more than 30 employees at each business. He has worked as a Clinical Psychologist for 10 years and is passionate about connecting individuals and organizationswith shared purpose to create a large network of resources for individuals that struggle with addiction and mental health.
Harley Ferguson, Treasurer
Harley has lived in the Colorado Springs area for 50 years. For 25 years he worked in the sales and service arm of companies providing Information Technology to financial institutions. For the past 20 years real estate investment has been his focus. Harley served for 8 years as Board President for the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale and 8 years as Board President for the New Horizons Band of Colorado Springs. As a person in long term recovery, Harley believes that healthy life choices and passion for individual pursuits of choice are imperative for recovery.
Stephanie Abeyta
Member at Large
Stephanie is a native to Colorado. Born in Pueblo, Colorado and raised in Colorado Springs, and has 25 years of experience in organizational development within nonprofits and government entities in the state of Colorado. She is currently the Manager of Policy and Procedure at Ent Credit Union within the Legal and Regulatory Compliance department. She is civically engaged throughout the community and loves philanthropy, the youth and helping others become successful.
Bart Holaday
Member at Large
Bart is retired but spent most of his business career in the Venture Capital business, running the UBS Private Markets Group and managing $19 billion dollars in venture capital, buyouts, timber, oil and gas and real estate investments. He has served on a number of public, private and non profit boards. He is currently Chairman of the Dakota Foundation, a small foundation that focuses on helping people help themselves become more economically sufficient. He is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and served in the Air Force and the Federal government. He has graduate degrees from Oxford University, George Washington Law School, and the University of North Dakota. Bart and his wife Cathy live in the Broadmoor area.
Nate Nugin
Member at Large
Nate Nugin is a retired Army Veteran and retired Government Service. Nate holds an EdM in Human Services and has spent entire adult life working in behavioral health and adult education in a variety of settings. Together with his wife of 35 years, Jill, they have parented 7 children who have blessed them with 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Their youngest daughter is in long-term recovery after being told she might not survive. They are eternally grateful for the hope they received through members of SRC. Nate also serves as volunteer program manager at Ft. Caron Army Community Service and was newly selected to the Patient Advocacy Committee as an “advisor.”
Joel Ernster
Member at Large
Joel was raised in Colorado Springs, attending both grade school and high school there. He brought his young family back to Colorado Springs in 1986, having trained as an ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon at the University of Colorado. Along with several partners, he grew the practice into what is now called Colorado ENT and Allergy. In addition, he served on a number of committees at Centura Health and UCHealth, most notably the credentials committees, peer review committees, medical executive committees and oncology committees. He was Chief of the Medical Staff at Penrose-St. Francis (Centura Health) from 2012-14. He retired from active practice in late 2022. He and his wife, Jan, currently split time between Colorado Springs and Arizona. Joel now spends his time with family as well as developing his skills as an artist mostly as a sculptor. He and his wife raised three boys who are now in their 30’s. Their eldest son, Nick, became dependent on alcohol and struggled with access to appropriate care for many years. Fortunately, Nick has been able to remain sober for nearly 3 years and currently serves as a housing navigator for the downtown Denver Salvation Army homeless shelter.
Robin Johnson
Member at Large
Robin Johnson, MD, MPH, FACEP. Dr. Johnson has 30 years of medical practice and health care advocacy in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado. She received her doctorate in medicine from the University of Colorado and completed an emergency medicine residency with Denver Affiliated Residency. She also holds a Certificate of Medical Ethics from Catholic Health Initiatives and a Master Public Health from The George Washington University. She practiced Emergency Medicine at University of Colorado Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs for 24 years, served as Medical Director for one of the local safety net clinics, Mission Medical Center, and has served as Deputy Medical Director for the Colorado Springs Fire Department Community and Public Health Division. Dr. Johnson served as Medical Director for El Paso County Public Health, 2018 through December of 2021, helping our community to navigate through several outbreaks and the first 2 years of the COVID Pandemic. She continues her community advocacy through consulting to address emerging issues in health. Additionally, she is the Director for Community Engagement, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado Springs Branch. Dr. Johnson has and continues to serve on many local boards in the Pikes Peak Region and the state of Colorado.
Randy Romanchek
Member At Large
Born into an Air Force family and married into same, Randy has spent 47 years traveling the US, Europe, and Australia before settling in Colorado Springs. During those moves she was able to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Counseling and a Masters Degree in Counseling. She’s worked in a home health agency in Iowa, in a general counseling practice in Florida, counseled abused and neglected children in St. Louis, and worked with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence in Colorado Springs. She went on to become the Executive Director of the Center for Prevention of Domestic Violence, now TESSA. While at TESSA, she collaborated with other community social resource agencies such as CASA and Silver Key, and with the Colorado Springs Police Department and the DA’s office to further establish a more coordinated response to Family Violence in Colorado Springs. She wrapped up her career working as a Military Family Life Counselor in Colorado Springs, Germany and Japan. She is now retired and loving it. She is widowed but in a long-term relationship with a man who is also a psychotherapist and between them, they have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. They love to travel. Of note, she has 37 years of sobriety and is passionate about Serenity Recovery Connection.
Elton Kirkwood Jr.
Member at Large
Elton Kirkwood is a man in long-term recovery. Elton was fortunate enough to retire from Lockheed Martin at an early age. Since then, Elton went on to enjoy a rewarding teaching career. Elton believes he has been successful simply because he wanted to give back to students who grew up from the same humble beginnings as himself. Elton possesses more than 15 years of progressive experience in the education, nonprofit and the training field. Elton’s professional history includes positions such as Facilities manager at IBM and Lockheed Martin as well as a two-time nonprofit business owner and starter. Elton has also been president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Iota Omicron Lambda where they raised over $80k to support students who were matriculating from high school to college. Also, Elton has been active on the Harrison School District (DAC) District Accountability Committee as well as other boards in this city.