Our Staff

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 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.

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 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.

As a survivor of domestic violence, Cuca has a personal connection and believes in the effectiveness of the work AVA can do for people.  She has lived in Summit County for the last 30 years. I have seen great changes, one of them is the growing need of people reaching out for a change in their lives.