Our Staff

Lesley Mumford

Lesley Mumford

Executive Director
970-455-8425
Director@SummitAdvocates.Org
Lesley was named the Executive Director of Advocates for Victims of Assault in June 2018. She was drawn to advocacy after experiencing the powerful impact of advocacy and how it changed her life. Lesley’s personal experience has given her an unwavering commitment to advocacy. Prior to serving as the Executive Director at AVA, Lesley was a public safety professional for 18 years. Lesley most recently served as the Operations Division Commander at the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, leading a division of 33 law enforcement officers. She worked in the Investigations Section for nearly a decade. In that position, Lesley worked closely with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. During her career, Lesley served on several multidisciplinary teams and helped create cooperative agreements improving survivor services.
Mandi Kennedy

Mandi Kennedy

Development Director
Development@SummitAdvocates.Org
Mandi joined the Summit Advocates team in February 2022 with a passion to improve community health outcomes through prevention, advocacy, and effective programming. Mandi earned a Master of Public Health degree in Behavioral and Community Health from the University of Maryland prior to moving to Colorado in 2018. Mandi comes to Advocates with experience in public health, outreach, and education. Prior to working at Summit Advocates, Mandi worked at an adolescent health center in Baltimore, MD, served as an AmeriCorps member in Denver, CO, and worked for the Summit County Public Health Department as a community-mobilizer working to improve youth health outcomes in Summit. Mandi believes in the power of community and collaboration to effect long-lasting change within communities. Mandi is excited to be working at an organization that believes strongly in advocacy, empowerment, and client-centered services.
Torey Ivanic

Torey Ivanic

Outreach and Education Coordinator
Outreach@summitadvocates.org
Torey Ivanic joined Summit Advocates as the Outreach and Education Coordinator in August of 2023. She brings a passion for the prevention of sexual assault and violence that stems from her own childhood story of which she wrote a memoir. She attended the Ohio State University for her Bachelor of Science in Biology and then lived in Summit County for three years before getting her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from Arizona School of Health Sciences. She worked as a family practice Physician Assistant in rural California while getting certified in classical homeopathy from Homeopathy School International. With more than ten years of experience in family practice as well as running Homeopathy First, she has a holistic view of care and wants to make an impact “upstream.” Torey is focused on building bridges and collaborations to support survivors as effectively as possible while focusing on education about and prevention of assault. Her self-care routine includes yoga, rock climbing, telemark skiing, biking, hiking, hot baths, long conversations, and Netflix.
Ana Castro

Ana Castro

Victim Services Program Manager
Housing@summitadvocates.org
Ana Ruth Castro, a Nicaraguan citizen, joined Summit Advocates on June 5, 2023 as the Victim Services Program Manager. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her role. Ana graduated from law school in 2004 and began her career in the administration of justice in 2006, within the Nicaraguan Judiciary. Her passion for advocating for justice and supporting vulnerable victims led her to work as a Public Defender from 2012 to 2018. During her time as a public defender, Ana dedicated herself to gaining specialized knowledge to better serve victims. She earned a postgraduate degree in domestic violence, which gave her a deeper understanding of the complexities and sensitivities surrounding this issue. This specialization allowed her to provide comprehensive and compassionate support to people affected by domestic violence. With her extensive experience in the Administration of Justice and her specialization in domestic violence, Ana is well prepared to fulfill her role as Victim Services Program Manager at Summit Advocates. Without a doubt, her dedication and experience will have a significant impact on the organization and the people we serve. Ana's commitment to justice and support for victims of violence will contribute to creating a safer and more inclusive community.
Savannah Grace Putnam

Savannah Grace Putnam

Legal Program Coordinator
Legal@SummitAdvocates.Org
Savannah was born in Nashville, Tennessee but spent most of her young life growing up with her brother and three sisters in Memphis. Following her graduation from high school, Savannah attended Christian Brothers University after which she began working as a legal assistant in a boutique family law firm in Memphis. During her two years working in family law Savannah gained invaluable experience working with clients from all different backgrounds who were facing some of life’s greatest challenges. Whether working to protect a client from domestic violence, assisting clients who were struggling with addiction, or serving as an assistant to attorneys who were appointed by the Court to protect young children from sexual and physical abuse or neglect, Savannah’s compassion and empathy only grew. In 2021, Savannah was unexpectedly recruited by a large retail chain to join their management team in Silverthorne, Colorado. While hesitant about making such a drastic career change, the idea of living in beautiful Summit County was an opportunity she could not pass up. After moving to Silverthorne in 2021, it did not take long for Savannah to realize that she needed to return to the work that she had found such a natural passion for while working in the family law firm in Memphis. Fortunately, Savannah found a perfect fit with the Summit County Advocate group where her experience and empathy are put to good use every day in advocating and assisting the most vulnerable members of the Summit County community.
Merida Lazareno

Merida Lazareno

Victim Services Program Navigator
advocate@summitadvocates.org
Merida, originally from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, joined Summit Advocates in February 2024. With a background in social work and administrative assistance, she attended The Jalisco University Network in CUCSUR. Her experience in the nonprofit sector reflects her dedication to working with people of different backgrounds and needs.
Merida envisions a caring and thriving community, emphasizing the importance of providing individuals, parents, and community members with the proper tools for success to create a violence-free community in our county. She values strong families as the foundation for robust communities and believes diversity contributes to a richer community experience. Her commitment aligns well with Summit Advocates' mission and goals.
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