Board Of Directors

Allison Biever, AuD., Secretary

Worked in the field of cochlear implants since 1992 and sees both pediatric and adult cochlear implant candidates and recipients. Participates in cochlear implant research studies and has published numerous articles. Teaches for the Institute for Cochlear Implant Training and the University of Colorado. Served as President and currently serves as secretary for the LISTEN Foundation. Enjoys hiking, running, and traveling with friends and family.

Marti Bleidt

Marti is a teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing in Denver Public Schools and provides early intervention for families of young children with hearing loss. She is also the current president of the Colorado Chapter of AG Bell. Marti is a mother of four; two of her daughters have hearing loss, one has bilateral hearing aids, and the other has bilateral cochlear implants. Most importantly, a grandmother of four!

Grant Bugner, President

Financial consultant and Certified Financial Planner. Baylor University graduate and collegiate track athlete. Passionate about advocacy for children with hearing loss learning to listen and talk. Has progressive conductive deafness requiring a BAHA device.

Naomi Cohen

Retired Physician Associate, daughter of Doreen Pollack whose pioneering work led to the founding of the Listen Foundation. Lifelong volunteer and long standing member of the Listen Board. Wife, mother and grandmother whose hobbies include hiking, skiing, reading, traveling, photography and spending time with family and friends.

Sue Klaus

Retired, results-driven leader with extensive financial, operational and information technology experience. Parent of a 38-year-old deaf son, who wears bilateral cochlear implants and was formerly a client of The Listen Foundation. Heavily engaged in teaching my son to listen, lip-read and self-advocate with medical professionals. Excited to give back to the organization that made a strong impact on my family!

Ian Myers

Energy executive and entrepreneur with 15+ years of experience in oil and gas operations, strategy, and analytics. Northwestern University MBA and Penn State engineering graduate. Passionate about advancing opportunities for children with hearing loss to learn to listen and talk. Has otosclerosis in both ears requiring hearing aids.

Doug Pollack, Secretary

A Colorado native, Doug Pollack is the son of Doreen Pollack and grew up hearing about the Listen Foundation. Doug became involved with the Listen Board in 2012. He worked for the State of Colorado for many years but for the last several years has been self employed involved in accounting work. Doug enjoys hiking and skiing with his wife Debbie and daughter Maylin and has always been a Broncos fan.

Listen Foundation board member Andrea Warner Czyz

Andrea D. Warner-Czyz, Ph.D., CCC-A

Associate Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas. She worked as a clinical audiologist before returning to school to begin her research career 25 years ago. Her research explores how children who are deaf or hard of hearing learn to communicate and if having hearing differences affects their quality of life. Her latest studies focus on social skills and emotion recognition in school-aged children and adolescents. Andrea likes to paint, travel, and train for triathlons. She is an avid football fan, rooting for multiple college teams (Illinois, Florida, Texas) and her beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers every fall.

Advisory Board

Michelle Sandt-Wade, CFP –

Wealth Manager, Transitions Wealth Management. Active volunteer including PTO President, Fundraising Chair, teen mentor, community civic association.

David Kelsall, M.D. –

Dr. Kelsall practices Otolaryngology and is the Medical Director at Rocky Mountain Ear Center in Englewood, CO. Graduate of Stanford University and CU Medical School, specializes in cochlear implantation and research. Founder of Cochlear Kids Camp in 2001.

Spencer Kontnik, Esq. –

Lawyer with Kontnik & Cohen, LLC, member of Colorado Defense Lawyers Assoc., member of Denver Active 20-30 Children’s Foundation, Founder of Smile & Nod Project. Deaf adult.

Rhonda Sheya –

President of Creative Marketing Solutions with vast experience spanning over 30 years in management, marketing and communications. Also has extensive expertise working with non-profits on marketing, PR and fundraising.

There have been many times when she has announced how thankful she is that she can hear and speak. She truly appreciates the gift.

–Becky, Mother of a Listen Graduate

Help Make a Difference!

Help us fulfill our mission of getting more Colorado children listening and talking. Your contribution is used primarily to fund Listening and Spoken Language Therapy from our amazing network of therapists, helping children desperatly in need across the state.