Board Members

Heather Otter is a Project Manager at Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado, where she works on regional initiatives. Heather has a BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Education with a concentration on technology. She has professional experience as an educator, small business owner, corporate training manager, school board governance consultant and economic development planner. Heather is also a facilitator for the Southwest Opioid Response District (SWORD), a regional group that aims to address opioid and other substance misuse strategies in the region.

Heather is passionate about improving the economic prosperity and quality of life of the communities she serves. She believes that education is the key to empowering people to have more agency and opportunities in their lives. She enjoys learning new things and sharing her knowledge with others, especially in the areas of leadership, technology, and process improvement. Heather is a proud alumni of Fort Lewis College.

Shara Brice has three decades of community building experience, in the States and in the United Kingdom. Her community development work earned her the title of MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2005, when she was just 36 years old. This honor from Her Majesty the Queen is rarely bestowed upon non-Nationals, and certainly not before their 40th birthdays. Shara was named 2009 “Citizen of the Year” by the London Borough of Newham, and the 2010 “Woman of the Year” for the United Kingdom. She was selected as an Olympic Torch Bearer for the London 2012 Games.

She currently serves as Executive Director for Gift of Life, a nonprofit that promotes organ, eye and tissue awareness through education and mentorship.

Shara earned her undergraduate degrees from William Jewell College in Public Relations and Psychology. She earned her Master of Public Administration, with an emphasis in Gerontology at University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Della co-facilitates a La Plata County coalition, ROAR (Recognizing Opportunities Around Resilience) that promotes social connectedness in our community and empowering youth as a means for substance use prevention. ⁠

Prior to her current role, Della worked in regional opioid misuse and overdose prevention education with San Juan Basin Public Health. Della is passionate about community-led solutions, harm reduction, substance use education, policy reform and health equity. ⁠

In her spare time, she loves exploring the outdoors, connecting with friends, and probably consuming too much news.

I have worked as a licensed professional counselor for over a decade providing individualized treatment for diverse clients and their families in a positive, accepting, trauma-informed, and strengths-based manner.

Using my strong problem-solving skills I will take initiative to implement new programs and ideas for the benefit of clients, families, and staff members alike. I am consistently focused on establishing and maintaining professional rapport with clients and colleagues. I hope to serve as a source of support and encouragement for other professionals as well who frequently seek counsel with me. Working in hospitals, residential treatment facilities, community mental health centers, recovery centers and private practice has provided me with a variety of experiences and opened my eyes to the desperate need for compassionate mental health care in this world which drives my desire to serve others.