Speakers

Concrete Couch is a Colorado Springs nonprofit dedicated to building community through creative projects. Our mission is To work with kids and community groups to create public art, to build community, and to create environments and experiences that humanize our world…  During this presentation, attendees will learn how Concrete Couch has transformed an abandoned concrete dump and former homeless encampment into the vibrant Concrete Coyote Community Park, where we now host youth programs, festivals, cultural events, workshops, and community gatherings.

Furthermore, the program will dive into the Sam Dunlap Wall of Inspiration, a community-built mosaic celebrating unsung community heroes in Colorado Springs. This project was made possible in part through the support of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, whose grant helped advance this meaningful community collaboration. Together, we’ll explore how creativity, service, and partnerships can beautify our city, teach valuable skills, foster belonging, and inspire communities to work together toward a shared vision. (Public Art Archive)

Presenter Bio

Thomas Pantoja is a lifelong Colorado Springs resident, raised in the Mill Street neighborhood and now residing in the Hillside neighborhood. A graduate of UCCS, Thomas has dedicated his career to strengthening the local community. Before joining Concrete Couch as Community Integration Manager, he worked with youth experiencing homelessness at Urban Peak Colorado Springs (now The PLACE). At Concrete Couch, Thomas builds partnerships, connects people with programs and volunteer opportunities, and helps advance the organization’s mission of building community through creative projects. Thomas is also an official member of the Men of Influence group in Colorado Springs  whose mission is to bring local gangs together to open the lines of communication between all factions, to help prevent violence in our community, foster open communication, prevent minor issues from escalating into street violence, and to safeguard our children and community from gun violence. Outside of work, he enjoys being a father, hiking, camping, fishing, exploring Colorado’s outdoors, and playing dominoes with his friend Coach T.

With the November 2026 General Election approaching, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, Steve Schleiker will take attendees behind the scenes of Colorado’s largest election jurisdiction.  Learn how voter rolls are maintained, ballots are protected and verified, election equipment is secured, and bipartisan teams oversee each critical step.  Steve will also highlight El Paso County’s nationally and statewide recognized innovations – including air-gapped election systems, livestreamed ballot-box cameras, and new voter-information tools – designed to strengthen election integrity, security, transparency, and public confidence.  Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what happens to their ballot, how election results are verified, and the safeguards protecting every eligible voter’s voice.

Kelly Peterschmidt is the Founder and Executive Director of Porchlight Friends and the Director
of the PEARLS Program of Colorado, two organizations dedicated to helping older adults remain
healthy, connected, and independent throughout the Pikes Peak region.

Kelly has spent more than 17 years serving older adults in a variety of leadership roles. She and
her husband previously founded, operated, and successfully sold a medical home healthcare
agency, where she gained firsthand experience supporting older adults and their families. She
later worked in hospice care before joining Silver Key, where she developed and launched its
companionship program to address the growing challenges of loneliness and social isolation
among older adults.

Inspired by the increasing need for meaningful social connection, Kelly founded Porchlight
Friends in 2023, a nonprofit organization providing companionship, transportation, and
caregiver respite to older adults and their families across El Paso County.

Kelly also leads the PEARLS Program of Colorado, an evidence-based behavioral health program
developed by the University of Washington that helps older adults experiencing mild
depression, anxiety, loneliness.

Kelly is passionate about developing innovative, community-based solutions that promote
healthy aging, emotional wellness, and meaningful human connection.

District Governor 2026–2027 • Rotary District 5470

Some people build successful businesses. Others devote themselves to serving their
communities. A rare few dedicate their lives to doing both while inspiring others
along the way. Donna L. Hood is one of those people.

Raised with a strong work ethic and an unwavering belief that leadership is measured
by service, Donna began her professional journey in the sciences. After graduating
Cum Laude from Harcum College with an Associate Degree in Medical Technology,
she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Villanova University.

In 1982, Donna helped launch Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., helping
grow the company from five employees into an internationally respected
biotechnology leader while serving in positions ranging from laboratory technician to
Chief Financial Officer. Today, her husband Ralph continues to oversee the
laboratory's operations on the East Coast while Donna has devoted herself to new
chapters of leadership and service.

Following a visit to Colorado's Wet Mountain Valley, Donna and Ralph purchased
what became A Painted View Ranch. Since retiring in 2008, Donna has spent
twenty-two years building and managing the ranch into one of Colorado's premier
working horse ranches and event venues.

Her love of Western heritage led her to become a preservation breeder of the
Nokota® horse and a leader within the Nokota Horse Conservancy. As she prepared
to serve as District Governor, Donna made the heartfelt decision to donate her Nokota
horses back to the Conservancy, ensuring their valuable bloodlines would continue to
be preserved for future generations.

Recognizing the demands of leading Rotary District 5470, Donna also made the
difficult decision to place A Painted View Ranch on the market. Over the past nine
months she prepared the ranch for its next chapter, choosing to simplify her
responsibilities so she could devote her full attention, energy, and heart to serving the
clubs and communities of District 5470 during her Governor year.
Donna's Rotary journey has included service as Club President, Assistant Governor,

District Treasurer, Foundation leader, Action Plan Champion, and numerous district
leadership roles. She now has the privilege of serving as District Governor of Rotary
District 5470, where she is committed to strengthening clubs, developing leaders,
expanding Rotary's reach, telling Rotary's story, and creating lasting impact
throughout southern and western Colorado.

She represented Rotary internationally at the 2026 Rotary International Convention in
Taipei, Taiwan, where she experienced firsthand the fellowship that unites more than
one million Rotarians around the world.

Throughout every chapter of her life—from biotechnology executive, to ranch owner,
to preservation breeder, to District Governor—the common thread has remained the
same: building, preserving, and leaving every organization stronger than she found it.

Some leaders are remembered for the offices they held. Others are remembered for
the lives they touched. Donna hopes she will simply be remembered as someone who
cared deeply, led with integrity, welcomed everyone with kindness, and always tried
to leave every person, every organization, and every community just a little better
than she found it.

https://slopestohope.com/