Sam Aster (She/Her)
Sam Aster brings a powerful combination of lived experience and compassionate advocacy to her role at Montrose Lighthouse. Having personally faced housing insecurity in California, Arizona, and Colorado, she understands the realities of homelessness on a deeply personal level. This perspective allows her to connect with shelter guests in a way that is both empathetic and empowering.
At Montrose Lighthouse, Sam plays a vital role in fostering a welcoming, respectful environment where individuals feel safe, supported, and encouraged on their journey toward stability. Her insights have been instrumental in shaping how the organization supports those it serves—ensuring that dignity, trust, and hope are always at the forefront.
Sam’s journey from surviving housing insecurity to helping others navigate similar challenges is a testament to her resilience, leadership, and unwavering belief in second chances. Her work continues to inspire staff, volunteers, and guests alike—reminding us all that everyone deserves the opportunity to be seen, supported, and given the tools to rebuild.
Kellie Snow (She/Her)
Kellie Snow has spent over two decades devoted to caring for others, beginning with raising her four children and serving as a caregiver to multiple family members. Her nurturing spirit has remained a constant throughout her life, extending beyond her family to those in need within the wider community.
Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to service, with experience in youth facilities, caregiving centers, and most recently, working directly with individuals experiencing homelessness. For the past two years, Kellie has been an active and compassionate presence in the lives of the unhoused, offering support, encouragement, and a genuine desire to see others thrive.
In addition to her caregiving roles, Kellie has also supported friends as they cared for loved ones through difficult times—always offering strength and empathy when it was needed most. Her love for creative expression through drawing, music, and poetry is matched only by her belief that the greatest joy comes from witnessing the success and growth of others.
As a dedicated member of Montrose Lighthouse, Kellie is committed to advancing the organization’s mission of providing critical resources and fostering hope for those in crisis. Her lifelong dedication to caring for others continues to shape her role within the community, as she works to build a more compassionate and inclusive future for all.
Kelvin Kent (He/Him)-Advisory Board Member
Kelvin brings a unique global perspective and a lifelong commitment to service and leadership to his role on the Montrose Lighthouse board. Originally from the United Kingdom, Kelvin served as an officer in the British Army’s Special Forces, where he developed exceptional skills in strategic planning, leadership under pressure, and complex logistical coordination. Much of his early career was spent supporting major international expeditions, where he played a key role in organizing and managing logistics in challenging environments around the world.
After immigrating to the United States, Kelvin channeled his entrepreneurial spirit into successfully operating three small businesses. Alongside his professional endeavors, he remained deeply involved in his local community—particularly in the areas of nonprofit governance and fundraising. His experience serving on various boards has given him a solid foundation in organizational development and a passion for mission-driven work.
Kelvin was drawn to Montrose Lighthouse out of a deep sense of purpose and compassion for those experiencing homelessness. Motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact, he joined the board to help address the urgent needs of the unhoused community in Montrose. He brings a pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset to the organization, along with a profound belief in the power of community-based action.
With a background that bridges military service, international operations, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership, Kelvin offers a well-rounded and thoughtful voice to the mission of Montrose Lighthouse. His dedication to service continues to drive his efforts to help create pathways toward stability, dignity, and hope for those most in need.
Miriam Cardenas (She/Her)-Board Member
Miriam, originally from Michoacán, Mexico, has proudly called Montrose, Colorado home for the past 27 years.
As the Executive Director of Shepherd’s Hand, a nonprofit organization serving the unhoused community in Montrose, Miriam plays a critical leadership role in providing compassionate, practical support to those most in need. Her journey into nonprofit work began eight years ago, inspired by a deep personal calling to uplift others and create meaningful change within her community.
Miriam’s leadership is marked by empathy, perseverance, and a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. Under her direction, Shepherd’s Hand has strengthened its outreach, expanded essential services, and built strong partnerships across the region to address both immediate needs and long-term solutions. Whether it’s coordinating access to meals, hygiene supplies, clothing, or guiding individuals toward housing and employment resources, Miriam’s work is centered on restoring dignity and hope.
A proud advocate and trusted voice in the community, Miriam is committed to empowering individuals to overcome barriers and achieve stability. Her approach blends strategic thinking with heartfelt care, making her a respected leader not only within Shepherd’s Hand but across the broader network of organizations working to support Montrose’s most vulnerable populations.
Beyond her professional role, Miriam is an active member of the community who values connection, collaboration, and service. She continues to dedicate her life’s work to ensuring that everyone—regardless of circumstance—has the opportunity to be seen, supported, and given the chance to rebuild.
Terri McDermott (She/Her)- Secretary
Terri’s lifelong commitment to community service and professional excellence is rooted in her small-town New Hampshire upbringing, where she was the seventh of eight children raised with strong values of volunteerism and civic duty.
Her career began in banking in Connecticut, where she met her husband and started a family, continuing her tradition of community involvement through church and scouting. When her children reached school age, Terri pursued a new path in education, earning her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education magna cum laude from the University of South Florida. Over the next 25 years, she taught in Alabama and Florida, specializing in ESOL and learning disabilities, while actively organizing events, fundraisers, and service projects that supported both her schools and her children’s activities.
After her children were grown, Terri transitioned back into the financial sector, joining Chase Retirement Services in Tampa as a Retirement Distribution Specialist. There, she combined her teaching and analytical skills to train new employees and help shape departmental policies and procedures.
In 2017, Terri and her late husband moved to Montrose to be closer to family. She joined Dialysis Clinic, Inc. as an administrative assistant, where she brought efficiency and compassion to her work—streamlining systems, supporting patients, and leading policy updates across offices.
Now retired, Terri continues to give back as a volunteer at Shepard’s Hand food pantry and as an active member of Solutions for the Unhoused. As a board member of the Montrose Lighthouse, she offers a unique blend of financial acumen, educational expertise, and heartfelt service, grounded in decades of hands-on experience and a deep love for her community.
Sylva Hamilton (She/Her)-President/Treasurer
A Montrose resident for over 30 years, Sylva brings a deep commitment to the well-being of her neighbors and the future of the region she proudly calls home. She has an extensive background in business operations, particularly within the manufacturing sector, and currently holds the position of Director of Operations at TheraTogs, Inc.—a Montrose-based medical device manufacturer—where she has contributed her expertise for the past nine years.
In addition to her professional and volunteer commitments, Sylva enjoys spending time outdoors, knitting, and working with her horses through clicker training. She and her husband, Shane, have been married for 18 years and are the proud parents of two wonderful children.
Sylva’s leadership at Montrose Lighthouse is guided by her strong operational insight, her compassion for others, and her unwavering dedication to building a stronger, more supportive community.
Kirsten Atkins (She/Her)-Executive Director
Kirsten brings over three decades of passion-driven leadership to her work, shaped by a life immersed in community, inclusivity, and the outdoors. After growing up in New England, she moved to Colorado to attend the University of Denver and eventually made her home in Crested Butte, where she spent 35 years deeply engaged in adaptive recreation. Her tenure at the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) allowed her to blend her love of skiing with her personal connection to disability advocacy. She played a key role in developing instructor training programs and served in leadership roles with the Professional Ski Instructors of America – Rocky Mountain Division (PSIA-RM), helping grow adaptive sports initiatives around the globe.
Kirsten’s commitment to equity and justice extends beyond the slopes. She has contributed to a wide range of social and environmental causes, including the Move Mountains Project for Youth Leaders, the Colorado Navajo Resiliency Project, and currently serves on the board of Movement in Refuge, an organization empowering refugees through sport. Now living in Montrose with her husband and their horses, Kirsten continues to cultivate community impact. She served as Lead Community Organizer with the Community Resource Center, collaborating with Western Slope organizations supporting underserved populations. In early 2025, she became Executive Director of The Lighthouse Shelter, where she is already bringing her experience and energy to advancing the organization’s mission of serving the unhoused community.
Rachel Zelazny (She/Her)-Administrative Assistant
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Business Development, bringing strategic insight and adaptability to her work in both business and social services. Her professional background includes case management and social work roles with Montrose County and behavioral health organizations, where she discovered a passion for supporting individuals impacted by homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.
Her work with Delta County Jail and the pilot program Impact House—which focused on competency restoration and reducing recidivism—further deepened her commitment to breaking down systemic barriers within the criminal justice and behavioral health systems. Rachel approaches her work with empathy and determination, always striving to meet people where they are and connect them to the resources they need to move forward.
Rachel’s dedication is shaped by her own lived experience with homelessness following a medical emergency. Her personal journey through recovery and healing led her to explore the intersection of brain chemistry and behavioral health, and she now advocates for integrated, holistic care that addresses both.
As an employee of Montrose Lighthouse, Rachel is focused on building a more inclusive, coordinated support system that promotes rehabilitation, reintegration, and long-term well-being for vulnerable community members.