Leadership

Kim Higgins

Board President

Kim Higgins is a CPA firm partner with Eide Bailly LLP, a top 25 CPA firm in the nation, directing Colorado’s governmental practice. Kim’s son was diagnosed with T1D at 7years old in 2000 and she was immersed in how to care for and learn about Juvenile Diabetes. Her first brush with volunteering for T1D was through the Barbara Davis Center and the JDRF walk back in early 2000’s. Kim has spent most of her adult life volunteering for the underserved through her individual volunteer efforts as well as activism through her CPA firm philanthropy committee. Eide Bailly LLP generously supports her give and get with JDRF and she has been involved with JDRF through participation with the Nominating Committee, 3 years ago and now chairs that committee, recently titled Nominating and Board Development Committee (NBDC). Her goals are to meet the expectations of National and provide for more active participation on the NBDC so that the desires and needs of the current Board are met with new and qualified Board and committee members to help us raise awareness, monies and find a cure for T1D.

Antoinette Taranto

Outreach Chair

Antoinette Taranto is the Chief Customer Officer for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.  Antoinette leads the customer experience and engagement strategy for Colorado’s publicly funded health insurance programs, Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).  Antoinette’s 8-year-old son, Luciano was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 1.  Antoinette and her husband, Bryan Berkowitz, lead a top JDRF OneWalk team, Infinity and Beyond, and host a Gala table at the yearly JDRF Dream Gala.  Antoinette is currently the Outreach Chair for the JDRF Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Marshall Garner

Advocacy Team Chair

Since Lindsay’s diagnosis in Jan of 2010, we have spent countless hours teaching others about T1D and differentiating it from type 2 diabetes.  Lindsay has been in a half dozen clinical trials and continues to be a champion for research.  I believe JDRF is a champion of patients living with T1D and the best foundation to support in finding a cure for T1D.

As a family, we love the outdoors and enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking and biking in the summer.  One of our latest endeavors includes climbing 14ers in our beautiful state.  (To date we have summited 8)

Dick Cohen

Major Gifts & Donor Stewardship Chair

Member and board member of JDRF (JDF) since Brian was diagnosed.  Served in various roles over the past 30 years.  Started the JDRF Bike Ride in Death Valley with a group of Board Members in Cincinnati.  Participated in Death Valley Ride 5 times over the years.  Currently Chairman of Major Gifts Committee and Auction Co-Chair for the Gala.

Dan Lyons

Research Information Volunteer

My interest in T1D stems from my family connections-my brother, uncle, and cousin all have it. Early on in my education I was interested in doing medical research, which gave me exposure both to the potential and the challenges of research.  This experience highlighted to me the importance of supporting groups like JDRF that help fund basic research in T1D, but in addition also focus on improving the day to day lives of people with T1D while scientific research moves forward. In my career I have the opportunity to learn about innovation in medicine-both devices and pharmaceuticals; and I’m happy to try to help apply my scientific background in immunology along with this current industry exposure to help distill down research advances at JDRF as a RIV.

Blake Bennett

Blake Bennett moved to Colorado in April 2017 and has made a home here in Denver.  Previously Blake and his wife Candice lived in New York City and they are both originally from Arkansas.  They are expecting their first child in September of this year.  Blake works in private equity at Revelstoke Capital Partners located in Cherry Creek.  He has been active with the JDRF YLC since moving to Colorado.

David Cooper

David Cooper is a limited partner and Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Denver. David partners with individual investors and small business owners to create customized plans to help them achieve their financial goals. David has been involved with JDRF since 2013 and joined the board in 2015. His favorite JDRF event is the yearly walk held each fall. He has two daughters, Rachel and Lauren, and is married to Allison. David was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1986.

Eric Hobbs

A type-1 diabetic of over 20 years, Eric’s commitment to JDRF’s mission is personal. Eric supports JDRF because it is committed to making a real, tangible difference in the lives of diabetics. Eric has seen the impact of JDRF’s research dollars first-hand, and he has A1C’s to prove it. He dreams of the day T1D is no longer a 24/7/365 burden to millions of people around the world, and believes every dollar raised is a step closer to that goal.  Meanwhile, Eric hopes to prove diabetes does not have to limit one’s potential to live a meaningful and successful life.

Meredith Coors

Meredith Coors is the mother of four busy children including Peter, age 15, who was diagnosed with T1D at age 11.  After Peter’s diagnosis, Meredith and her husband Peter became involved with JDRF and have since that time been dedicated to raising funds for research and a cure.  Meredith is actively involved in the Denver community, previously sitting on the boards for Safehouse Denver, Denver Kids, and the Denver Zoo. She is currently co-chairing the new Denver Zoo Leadership Council and joined the board of JDRF Rocky Mountain in 2017.