Staff and Board of Directors

STAFF

Dr. Terry P. Collinson, Executive Director

Terry started serving on the Festival of Lights Board of Directors in 1991. In 2001 he became the parade chairman and was the board member in charge of making up the parade from the parade applications as well as starting the parade on parade night. In 2005 he accepted the position of Executive Director. He is now in his fifth year as the Executive Director and has over 18 years experience with the Festival.

Steve Ducoff, Fundraiser

Steve joined the Festival of Lights Board of Directors in 1998 and was Chairman for the parades in 2000, 2001 and 2002. He is retired but continues to be involved with many area non-profits, sports, civic and charitable organizations.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Huy Tran, Chairman

Huy joined the Festival of Lights in 2008 and is currently employed with Comcast Spotlight as a Regional IT Manager. He also volunteers with the El Paso County Citizen’s Outreach Group (COG), NAMIC and The Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center.

Deven Knuckles, Vice Chairman

Shelli Rosenquist, Treasurer

Shelli joined the Festival of Lights in 2005. She is currently employed with Stockman Kast Ryan + Co as a Tax Manager with over 19 years of experience in public accounting. Shelli is a licensed CPA in Colorado and a member of the AICPA and the Colorado Society of CPAs.

Liz Denson, Secretary

Liz Denson joined the Festival of Lights in 2010. She works on The Gazette marketing team as Community Relations Specialist, managing the daily operations of Gazette Charities and The Gazette’s sponsor and trade partnerships with area organizations. She relocated to Colorado Springs in 2009 from Albuquerque, New Mexico where she worked as Marketing and Alumni Program Director for Leadership New Mexico. Before joining LNM, Liz was an Account Executive for Cooney, Watson and Associates, an Albuquerque public relations and advertising firm. Liz was born and raised in Texas, where she earned her BA in advertising from Texas Tech University. She and her husband, John, are frequently found on the slopes, at the lake or on horseback with their Boston Terrier, Spur, in tow.

Geno Romero, Past Chairman

David Bullock, Board Member

Rod Hicks (Lt. Col, USAF and Lockheed Martin, retired), Past Chairman

Rod has 6 years of experience with the Festival of Lights organization serving on the Board of Directors, Board Chairman 2006-2008. He is also a member the Steering Committee and assists the Executive Director to secure parade applications and coordinate with parade support personnel to form the parade on parade night.

Liz Haltiwanger, Media Member

Kimberly Hessler, Board Member

Kimberly Hessler joined the Festival of Lights in 2009 and is currently the CEO of Homeland Security Careers, LLC. Kimberly is passionate about the local Colorado Springs community. She also volunteers with Women In Defense, Wings for Women, Military Spouse Career Committee and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Amanda Quail, Band Chair

Amanda Quail joined the Festival of Lights in 2009 and is currently the director of bands at Sabin Middle School. In addition to her duties with Sabin, she has also been a private clarinet instructor in Colorado Springs for 9 years, is the drum major/ woodwinds instructor for Palmer High School, and is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Music Education for the Colorado State University in Pueblo, CO.

Katrina Au-Yong, Webmaster

Katrina Au-Yong joined the Festival of Lights in 2010, shortly after moving to Colorado Springs. She currently teaches Astronomy for Pikes Peak Community College and University of Phoenix. Her spare time is spent playing music and enjoying the Colorado outdoors.