Chair

Jennifer Daniels grew up in Western Colorado and has called Mesa County home for 27 years. She is the Coordinator of the Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Colorado-National Collaborative (CNC) for Mesa County. Her undergraduate education is in human biology with a master’s in social work. Jennifer has volunteered with the Grand Junction Police Department as a Victim Advocate since 2012 with a special heart for suicide loss response. She is a master trainer in ASIST, a certified trainer in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid, QPR, NAMI Ending the Silence, and Soul Shop.

Treasurer
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In 2007 I lost my best friend, Luke, to suicide.  In the years surrounding his death 10+ other people that I knew in Eagle County also died by suicide. I joined SpeakUp ReachOut in 2012 and became the Executive Director in 2014.  In 2015 I joined the Bridging the Divide Planning Committee for SPCC, followed by joining the Board.  In 2017 I was elected co-chair of SPCC and currently serve as the treasurer. I do this work to show people that there is HOPE! And that no one is alone in this journey whether they are struggling with mental health, suicidal ideation or the loss of a loved one to suicide.

Secretary
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Joining SPCC in 2015, he’s been involved in the advocacy and education committees. Since coming to Colorado, Paul’s volunteer work also included: mental health support groups at the Samaritan House and Aurora Mental Health; City of Aurora Human Relations Commission adviser; Aurora NAACP as 2nd VP and represents the organization at Hate Free Colorado, Aurora Key Community Response team and Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Paul’s volunteer work in Massachusetts included Aurora United Way board, ADL’s No Place For Hate program and League of Women Voters. A retired attorney, Paul primarily worked at Digital Equipment, Compaq Computer and Hewlett Packard as a business, employment and privacy counsel.

Advocacy Committee Chair
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Ms. Miller is the Prevention Services Program Manager for Centennial Mental Health Center and has over fifteen years of experience providing suicide prevention trainings in the communities of Northeast Colorado. She is a certified trainer in the following evidence based curriculums: Mental Health First Aid (adult and youth version), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (Master Trainer), Yellow Ribbon Youth Suicide Prevention, More Than Sad; Suicide Prevention for Youth and Educators, Question Persuade and Refer Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, Working Minds; Suicide Prevention for the Workplace, Bridges out of Poverty and Psychological First Aid. Ms. Miller is responsible for conducting Behavioral Healthcare Cultural Competency Trainings for Centennial staff and partner agencies. She is currently a board member of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado and a member of the Bridging the Divide Suicide Prevention Conference Planning Committee.

Member At Large
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Dale Emme is a founding member and former Vice Chair of SPCC. He and his wife Dar founded Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program/The Light for Light Foundation International after the loss of their son, Michael Emme by suicide in 1994. Dale was involved in creating the CO Office of Suicide Prevention and National Council for Suicide Prevention, and is part of the CO Suicide Prevention Commission. Through Yellow Ribbon, Dale has created a comprehensive program which is offered worldwide through seminars, workshops, in-services and presentations. He has addressed and worked with over 550,000 youth. Dale is a strong advocate, speaking out for survivors and youth by raising awareness and empowering communities to help save lives. You can learn more about the Emmes here.

Member At Large
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Nanci Gonzalez is a compassionate mental health professional with over nine years of experience in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and community mental health advocacy. As a bilingual leader fluent in English and Spanish, she has helped coordinate community initiatives and facilitated training to promote recovery. Nanci holds a Master’s in Social Work and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Spanish. She serves as a board member of Mental Health America-Pueblo and is dedicated to fostering resilience and equitable mental health resources for underserved communities.

Member At Large
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Shannon Harrison has a Ph.D. in Social Work, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and is the Director of Evidence Based Solutions. She has served for twenty four years in acute care mental health settings, assessing and treating suicidal patients on a daily basis. Her valuable experience has inspired her to focus her clinical research in the area of suicide prevention. Dr. Harrison is accredited as a School Suicide Prevention Specialist from the American Association of Suicidology .  She sits on the Board of the American Board of Examiners in Clinical Social Work. She is a Board Certified Diplomat, an Accredited School Suicide Prevention Specialist, a Certified Psychological Autopsy Investigator, a Certified Advanced-Child, Youth, and Family Social Worker, and a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor.

Member At Large
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Susan Marine came to Colorado, with her new graduate degree (family and medical sociology), to join the faculty of the CU Health Sciences Center. She later worked for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, where she became interested in legislative advocacy. Thereafter she worked as a consultant doing research and policy analysis related to health and mental health. Her life changed dramatically in 2003 when her son, Kevin, died by suicide. Before that she knew little about suicide. In 2007 her daughter, Alice, took her own life – using the same means as Kevin did. These extraordinary losses resulted in Susan’s vow to do whatever she could to spare other parents this experience. She has found her voice advocating for suicide prevention legislation. Susan is the former chair of the Advocacy Committee.