Current Board
Miriam Cardenas – Executive Director
As Executive Director of Shepherd’s Hand (a nonprofit organization, serving the unhoused community in Montrose), Miriam plays a critical role in providing compassionate, practical support to those most in need. She has been doing this for over 8 years, inspired by a personal calling to help uplift others and create meaningful change in their lives. She achieves all of this through and a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding homelessness, and poverty with empathy and perseverance. Miriam’s focus is centered on restoring dignity and hope. Her approach blends strategic thinking with heartfelt care. She values connection, collaboration and service and continues to dedicate her life’s work to ensuring that everyone, regardless of circumstance, has the opportunity to be seen, supported and given an opportunity to rebuild.
Miriam has lived in Montrose for 27 years, after moving to Colorado from Michoacan, Mexico.
Lighthouse feels privileged to have Miriam as a board member because our two organization work very closely together.
Sylva Hamilton – President
Sylva Hamilton has called Montrose home for more than 30 years and is deeply committed to supporting the well-being of her community. She serves as Treasurer on the Shepherd’s Hand board, bringing strong organizational and financial skills to the role.
Sylva attended Fort Lewis College, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in Accounting. Professionally, she is the Director of Operations at TheraTogs, Inc., a Montrose-based medical device manufacturer, where she has contributed her expertise in business operations for nearly a decade. Her background in accounting and operational management has equipped her with the insight to help strengthen both organizations and the people they serve.
Outside of her professional and volunteer work, Sylva enjoys time outdoors, knitting, and training her horses using positive reinforcement. She and her husband, Shane, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two children.
Terri McDermott – Secretary
Theresa, or Terri as she is known to her friends, has a lifelong commitment to community service and professional excellence that is rooted in her small-town New Hampshire upbringing, where a solid foundation for organizational development and a passion for mission-driven work has stayed with her ever since. These values include volunteerism and civic duty through scouting and church activities.
Terri began her career in banking, where she met her husband and started a family. Later, after her children reached school age, she pursued a new path in Early Childhood Education. For 25 years, she taught in Alabama and Florida, specializing in ESOL and learning disabilities, while organizing events, fundraisers, and service projects in the schools and scouting community.
When her children were grown, Terri transitioned back into banking , joining Chase Retirement Services in Tampa as a Retirement Distribution Specialist, teaching new employees to help shape departmental policies and procedures.
In 2017, Terri and her husband moved to Montrose and became an administrative assistant in a Dialysis Clinic. Now retired, Teri works as a volunteer at Shepherd’s Hand and participates actively in the “Solutions for the Unhoused” meetings. In 2025 Terri became a board member of Lighthouse, offering a unique blend of financial acumen, educational experience, service and a deep love for her community.
After retirement, Terri began volunteering at The Shepherd’s Hand, working with the unhoused and assisting in the pantry. In February 2025, Terri became a board member of The Lighthouse, then in June, a board member of The Shepherds Hand, accepting the role of secretary for both boards. Terri continues to volunteer at The Shepherds Hand, overseeing the pantry and encouraging the unhoused.
Terri offers a unique blend of financial acumen, educational experience, service, and a deep love for her community.