About
At Remerg, we believe in the human potential of everyone.
People face many barriers when starting over from incarceration.
With Remerg.com we connect people to hundreds of resources and empower them with advice and examples of success.
Check out our other programs–we’re positioning our expanding portfolio at the intersection of systemic gaps and innovative opportunities.
To learn more, please follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. You may also contact us at info@remerg.com or call 303.955.7372.
Our Team
Leadership
Carol Peeples
Founder & Executive Director
At one time a teacher in public and private schools, executive director and founder Carol Peeples became interested in mass incarceration after teaching in a prison and developing the first two editions of Getting On After Getting Out: A Reentry Guide for Colorado, which was the first written statewide re-entry guide for Colorado. Both experiences inspired the passion Carol has for the field of re-entry from jail and prison, specifically in fostering success and creating connections to the community. Carol founded Remerg in 2015 in order to create remerg.com, a re-entry specific website for people coming out of jail and prison in Colorado, which is the nonprofit’s first project. Carol is a mayoral-appointed commissioner on Denver's Crime Prevention and Control Commission and also serves on the Advisory Board for CU Denver's Smart Corrections Education Project.
Jeff Wise
Director of Grants & Operations
Prior to joining Remerg, Jeff spent the majority of his career working for large nonprofit organizations and serving in a consultant role for emerging NGOs through his own grant writing company. Jeff also has first-hand experience with addiction and navigating the criminal justice system as a result. He has seen the barriers formerly incarcerated populations face and understands the need for sweeping change in how we help those individuals return to the community. He is subsequently thrilled to be a part of the Remerg team and able to use his experience to further the organization’s impactful mission. Jeff studied Business Communications and Political Science at the University of Northern Colorado. He enjoys golfing, hiking with his dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel Vickers
Program Manager
Rachel is the program manager for our HOUSE program, which Remerg is piloting in 2023 with the Colorado Department of Corrections. Rachel brings a wealth of experience in recovery, both as a peer coach, sober living house manager, and as someone who has overcome addiction herself. She is excited to use this experience to help clients utilize re-entry resources, especially treatment/recovery options, and ultimately guide them toward a better, healthier life. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys hanging out with friends, exploring new things, and staying involved with The Other Side Academy.
Sophie Smith
Reintegration Care Specialist
Sophie is a senior at the University of Denver studying Criminology and Psychology. She has dedicated her academic journey to understanding the complexities of the criminal justice system and its impact on communities, and is now looking to move on to getting her masters in Forensic Psychology in the Professional Psychology program at the University of Denver. Through previous experience working with incarcerated populations and reintegration she has honed her skills in providing guidance and support to those seeking a fresh start. She has also collaborated in quantitative research studies on policing in societies and recent police reforms. Sophie is looking forward to continuing her journey toward making a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by criminal justice systems. Outside of work and her studies, Sophie enjoys playing Mahjong, hanging with her cat, and spending time with her family.
Bryn Robertson
Capstone Researcher
Bryn Robertson is a graduate student in the Master of Criminal Justice program at the University of Colorado Denver. She is a research assistant for the University currently working on sexual assault prevention on the Pine Ridge Reservation and other projects. Bryn is also involved in researching the Remerg HOUSE program. She earned her B.A.s in Journalism and Studio Art from Humboldt State University while working the crime beat at a local newspaper. Following her journalism work, Bryn was employed as an associate investigator at a small private investigation firm. Bryn is also a visual artist and supports nurturing art making for youth as a crime prevention model and art programming for incarcerated populations as a form of self-development and healing.
Emma Tilton
Capstone Researcher
Emma Tilton is a graduate student in the dual Master of Criminal Justice and Public Administration program at the University of Colorado Denver. She assists on several research projects for the university and Remerg, focusing on corrections reentry and policy, pre-booking diversion, and the Remerg HOUSE program. She earned B.A.s in Criminology and Psychology from Penn State University, after which she worked in reentry services and gang violence prevention for Delaware Probation and Parole. Her experiences in academia and practice have given her a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by justice-involved individuals and in the administration of the criminal justice system.
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Ojeda
Board Chair
Liz has led efforts for a variety of workforce programs under the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity Workforce Services for more than thirteen years. She most recently administered the successful completion of the Technology Employment in Colorado-Partnership, a $6.18 million US Department of Labor HIB Ready to Work grant. Prior to her work with Denver, Liz was a business owner of several small local businesses and spent seventeen years with the Xerox Corporation. Liz has been a member/volunteer for Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council since 1999 and volunteer facilitator for local high school and intern programs over the past decade. Liz has a passion for connecting businesses and individuals to the resources and services they need to be economically successful--a perfect fit for the vision of Remerg!
Margot Plotz-Rodriguez
Board Secretary
Margot is a Senior Director for Basis Policy Research, an independent research firm specializing in applied research in K-12 education, where she specializes in project management and business development. Margot wants to break the cycle of incarceration from the perspective of a parent and knows that successful parents have children with a better chance to succeed in the world.
William Lennon
Board Treasurer
Bill is a computer engineer with Revacomm, an IT firm based in Honolulu, currently supporting Medicare/Medicaid. While competing in a computer programming contest hosted by the state of Colorado, Bill researched the problems faced by those currently and formerly incarcerated, an eye-opening moment for Bill about this societal issue. Bill brings his tech skills to the remerg.com goal of providing re-entry information for free to tens of thousands of people whenever they need it.
Dianne Tramutola-Lawson
Board Member
Dianne is the founder and chair of the Colorado chapter of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CO-CURE) and the chair of National-CURE, headquartered in Washington, DC. Her late husband, Curtis "Habe" Lawson was a formerly-incarcerated lifer in CO prisons and was released after many years in 2001. For 22 years Dianne was a citizen member of the Denver Community Corrections Board. Dianne serves as a citizen member on the Denver Sheriff Department Advisory Board. In addition, Dianne has been an active member of the American Correctional Association since 1999, serving on several committees. Because of her extensive experience, Dianne appreciates the need for a free online re-entry website and is one of the nonprofit’s most ardent supporters.
Tammy Bellofatto
Board Member
A staunch advocate of those who are disadvantaged, Tammy Bellofatto is the Executive Director of Bayaud Enterprises, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides hope, opportunity and choice to thousands of people through its employment programs. Prior to joining Bayaud, Tammy served as the Director of Vocational Services at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. She co-founded the Denver Homeless Taskforce and from 2014-2019 Tammy served as Chair of The Denver’s Road Home Employment Subcommittee. In addition, Tammy was a 10-year member of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Community Advisory Panel for Denver Health and sat on the Veteran's Administration's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans since 2018 - 2022.
Chris Meeks
Board Member
Chris Meeks is the President and Founder of Hope Homes, a real estate company that gives back a minimum of 10% to the community with every project. Appointed by Mayor Hancock in 2020 to be on the Denver Community Corrections Board as well as the newly appointed Secretary for the Colorado Association of Community Corrections Board, Chris is an advocate for criminal justice reform and regularly visits Colorado Prisons to provide hope and mentorship for others that are incarcerated, as he was once in their shoes. Chris’ inspiring story includes obtaining his civil engineering degree upon release from incarceration and going on to start his own company to provide affordable housing for people in need.
Cordelia Randall
Board Member
Cordelia Randall is an experienced relationship builder and workforce development expert with a proven track record of creating alliances and partnerships between social service providers and individuals. She leverages resources including grant funding, WIOA, TANF and other programs with career and education-development provisions to help provider organizations serve communities in need, approaches relationship-building opportunities with tact and compassion, and exemplifies out-of-the-box thinking to help achieve desired outcomes. Cordelia is trusted by prominent community leaders as an expert in workforce development and advocacy for career training. Her service on numerous boards and committees has included Project Life, Community College of Denver, business advisory, Academy of Charter Schools, and I-70/WorkNow. She is known as a noted diversity and inclusion advocate supporting educational and job programs for minority populations, the formerly incarcerated, and systemic poverty victims.
Jhil Marquantte
Remerg Honorary Board of Directors
Jhil is a property manager for SWAN Enterprises and Consulting and an active volunteer in the community. Jhil brings over 25 years of personal experience in Colorado’s state prisons, lending insight into what is needed for successful re-entry and bridging the distance between those who have been incarcerated and organizations like Remerg that want to reach and help justice-involved members of our society. Jhil’s experience since his release from prison is an inspiration to all who meet him. After serving several years as the co-chair of our board of directors, Jhil recently became the founding member of the Remerg Honorary Board.
James Schultz
Remerg Honorary Board of Directors
Jim retired as division vice-president of Performance Development for Walgreens Corporation and now specializes in human capital strategy development. He was President of the Illinois Occupational Skills Standards and Credentialing Committee and teaches graduate courses for the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois. Tikkun olam, a signature theme of Jewish tradition, refers to repair of the world. Jim served on the board of Remerg since its inception because the work struck him as “the perfect route to that end,” and in late 2022 moved from active status to the Remerg Honorary Board.
Join the Remerg Cause--Become a Monthly Donor!
Your monthly support of $10, $25, $50 or more helps us provide Remerg.com for FREE to over 6,500 visitors every month. Every dollar of your donation to our 501c3 nonprofit is tax-deductible and greatly valued. Click on the Make a Donation button or you may send a check payable to Remerg at PO Box 18463, Denver CO 80218. Thank you for your support!
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