Board of Directors

Kelsy Maxie

Kelsy has served on the board since November of 2021. She has lived in Leadville with her husband, Kevin, and (now) family since 2013. She has a bachelor's degree in business management from Colorado State University and was the Recreation Guest Service Manager for the Town of Frisco for the past 8 years. Looking for a new career path and a better work/life balance, Kelsy started working with Lake County Public Health Agency as a health inspector in December of 2021. She has two children, Harper (4) and Everett (1.5) who are both students at Bright Start.

Why did you join the Bright Start Board? I was commuting to Summit County with both of my children, 5 days a week, for work and childcare. It was not logistically sustainable and almost my entire paycheck was going towards daycare expenses. Bright Start reopening changed our life; it allowed for my children to go to daycare in the community in which we live, my husband and I were both able to start working in Leadville, and our childcare bill is significantly more manageable. Having a local option for childcare from 7:30am-5:30pm is instrumental for working families to be able to survive and thrive in Leadville. I want to help make sure Bright Start has a bright future for this community, and with my background in business management the role of treasurer was a great place to start.

Megan Vinci

Megan joined the board in January 2024 after experiencing firsthand the challenges of finding quality child care in Leadville. As a new parent, she became passionate about expanding childcare options for local families and became involved in the childcare coalition. Megan has lived in Leadville with her husband, Dan, their son, River, and their dog, Buddy, since 2019. While her background in healthcare system integration is not directly related to Early Childcare Education, she brings decades of business experience to her role as Treasurer of the organization. She is dedicated to ensuring the financial stability of the center and supporting its mission to serve the community.

Francisco Tharp

“Cisco” Tharp has served on the Bright Start Board of Directors since October 2020. His background is in outdoor and experiential education with organizations including Outward Bound and The High Mountain Institute. Most recently he was a Program Director with Get Outdoors Leadville! and ran Rockies Rock, a licensed summer day camp for kids ages 5-12 in Lake County. He is now a full time parent, home school educator, and City Council Member. He lives in Leadville with his partner, Elsa, and their two elementary-aged kids, Robin and Aurelia. Cisco habla español. 

Why did you join the Bright Start Board? “Safe, nurturing childcare is such an essential part of a vibrant community, and healthy families. My kids are older now, but I remember those first days of putting them in someone else’s care - it was scary at first! But when you have great care givers, they become like family. I want all Lake County families to have a childcare option they feel good about, whether it's a full time parent, neighbor, grandparent, or center like Bright Start. And I want Leadville and Lake County to thrive because of that choice and opportunity. I learned a lot about child care licensing with Rockies Rock, and I’m glad to utilize that experience with Bright Start.”

Kelsey Wood

Kelsey Wood is the newest member of the board, bringing a fresh perspective and a strong commitment to the community. As the Marketing and Communications Manager for a local nonprofit, she offers valuable insight into strategic outreach, community engagement, and the power of storytelling to drive meaningful impact.

Leadville has been Kelsey’s home for over a decade, and she is deeply invested in its future. Through volunteer work, professional roles, and local initiatives, she has worked to support the town’s growth and vibrancy. Whether organizing events, collaborating with local businesses, or advocating for community programs, Kelsey is passionate about giving back and strengthening the place she calls home.

As a parent with a child enrolled at Bright Start, Kelsey has experienced firsthand the incredible impact of this program on young learners. She is dedicated to ensuring Bright Start continues to provide exceptional opportunities for all children, helping to build a strong foundation for future generations.

Abbie Rodosh

Abbie has been a board member since 2024. With a background in Healthcare Information Technology, she specializes in leading large-scale technology implementations in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Abbie and her growing family have been part of the Leadville community since 2016, having relocated from Eagle County in search of more family oriented, remote small town living.

Why did you join the Bright Start board?

In a community rich with caregivers, educators, and dedicated professionals specializing in early childhood development, I often feel like I have little to contribute to addressing the childcare challenges we face—not only here in Leadville but across the nation. However, I joined the Bright Start board with the hope that my background in business could make a meaningful impact in providing affordable, exceptional care for our community's children.

Lauren Barrett

Lauren has served on the board since December of 2020. After getting her undergraduate degree in business from University of Oregon, Lauren moved to Nicaragua to serve in the Peace Corps and teach high school entrepreneurship and learn how to serve a unique community with unique challenges. She then worked in the nonprofit sector and as a high school Spanish teacher. Lauren followed her older sister, Taryn, to Leadville where she worked as a family engagement and education manager at Full Circle and in the schools in Lake County. She currently works as a Learning & Development Consultant for OMNI Institute. Lauren is originally from Southern California, where the majority of her family still presides, except for her sister who made her an aunt for the first time and brought about her love of serving families with littles. Lauren habla español. 

Why did you join the Bright Start Board? “After working with families across Lake County, the need for safe and high quality childcare became a clear priority. If parents are not able to find high quality education for their children at an early age, with open spots, and at a price they can afford, then the future of that child and the success of the whole family is at risk. I want to be part of a solution that supports families to be able to work and support themselves and give little ones a place to start their learning journey. It is an honor to be part of this work!”