has served as the Executive Director since March 2010. Her personal mission statement shapes her approach to her role at TLC: It is the ultimate self-fulfillment to combine passion and contribution, leaving a lasting impression on society. She works toward TLC’s greater success through active engagement with the community, growing programs, and improving organizational structure to allow staff and volunteers to deliver services in a more effective way.

Under Haley’s leadership, TLC has achieved Nonprofit of the Year twice (2010 & 2012) in the Tri-Lakes region. Haley has been employed in the non-profit sector since 2007, developing a strong sense of dedication to helping those in need. Her efforts have been recognized by Colorado Springs Business Journal, awarding her the prestigious Rising Star award in 2016. She has also been nominated for the regional Athena Award, which honors women leaders. Among the many avenues that she invests in the community, Haley serves as the Treasurer of the Colorado Community Action Association, board member and previous board chair, for FEMA allocations board for El Paso and Teller counties, and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Haley’s passion for horseback riding led her to become a certified instructor through the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship and the Certified Horsemanship Association, equipping her to teach able-bodied and riders with special needs. She and her husband Seth enjoy camping, fishing, travel, and time with family and friends

Laura Severn is the Grant Strategy Team Manager for L Professional Writing, a professional grant writing agency in Colorado Springs. With an MA in Counseling/Student Affairs in Higher Education from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), over 25 years of experience working and volunteering with nonprofit organizations, and over 15 years of writing, editing and project mangement work, Laura loves bringing these backgrouds together to lead grant writing and grant strategy management for nonprofit organizations.

Amanda Wilson, Director of Development, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

Inspired to create a more compassionate world, Amanda has dedicated her career to advancing animal welfare. She joined Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in 2014, holding various roles before discovering her passion for philanthropy. She led the annual giving program for over six years, executing impactful campaigns, generating essential funds, and building strong relationships with donors, and is now serving as the Director of Development.

A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Amanda also brings her expertise to the broader nonprofit community as Secretary and Education & Membership Committee Chair for the AFP Southern Colorado Chapter. Originally from Georgia, Amanda has made Colorado home for over a decade with her husband, Tyler, and their HSPPR adopted cat, Penny, a three-year-old torbie with plenty of personality.



Tiyana Hardney Vela, Alumni & Donor Engagement Director

Tiyana’s passion for writing led her to pursue a degree in Journalism from Colorado State University. She graduated with a bachelor's in Journalism and Technical Communication and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She also holds a master's degree in Organizational and Professional Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and Marketing from the University of Denver.

Tiyana brings over 13 years of experience working within communications and a community relations department. Her knowledge extends from writing newsletter articles, designing collateral, social media content, crafting compelling impact stories, fundraising appeals, video interviewing, community outreach, and engagement. Today, she serves as the Alumni and Donor Engagement Director at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs where she oversees alumni relations, donor relations, and donor communications. Tiyana believes strongly in creating meaningful human connections. And through the various initiatives of the engagement team, those connections happen with students, alumni, and donors of the university. 

Lizz Helmsen, Managing Director, CARTER

Lizz Helmsen, MAT, CFRE combines more than 25 years of fundraising and nonprofit management experience with a background in the arts, education, and community service. She is known as a creative and energetic professional with a proven ability to build relationships with, and create connections among, multiple constituencies.

Lizz is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and holds a certificate in governance consulting from BoardSource. She provides expertise in the areas of campaign counsel, major gifts, development planning, governance practices, board development, organizational culture, annual giving, and strategic communications. She is also a frequent speaker for groups such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University, and the Colorado Planned Giving Roundtable.

Lizz currently serves as the President-Elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Colorado Chapter’s Board of Directors and as a member of the Girls on the Run of the Rockies’ Board of Directors. A Denver native, Lizz and her husband, Eric, moved back to the Mile High City in 2022. They have one son who recently graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, one son at the Colorado School of Mines, and one crazy dog named Odin.

A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holder of a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, Amanda also brings her expertise to the broader nonprofit community as Secretary and Education & Membership Committee Chair for the AFP Southern Colorado Chapter. Originally from Georgia, Amanda has made Colorado home for over a decade with her husband, Tyler, and their HSPPR adopted cat, Penny, a three-year-old torbie with plenty of personality.