Our Team

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Our team is a diverse collective of passionate professionals, united by a shared commitment to empowering premature babies and their families. We bring together expertise from various fields to innovate, educate, and inspire positive change to the premature community in Colorado.

Leading the Team 


The Board of Directors of Newborn Hope are delighted to announce Lindsay Pechek as the organization’s new Executive Director. Lindsay has been an invaluable asset to Newborn Hope for over 10 years as a dedicated volunteer and, most recently, as a staff member, serving as Development Associate. Now, as Executive Director, Lindsay will lead efforts to further strengthen Newborn Hope’s commitment to improving the lives of premature babies and their families across Colorado.

  • Read Lindsay’s full Executive Director message here.

  • director@newbornhope.org

  • Valerie Beascochea, NNP-BC

    BOARD PRESIDENT

  • Carey Stark, Esq

    VP OF GOVERNANCE

  • J.J. Kaelin

    EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

  • Sharon Enoch, RN

    EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

  • Yvonne Conrad board member headshot

    Yvonne Conrad, RN

    BOARD MEMBER

  • Newborn Hope Board President. Valerie is a dedicated board-certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in neonatal care.

    Throughout her career, Valerie has been an advocate for family-centered care, parental education, neonatal care and patent safety. She has a strong background in evidence-based practice, continuously integrating the latest research and advancements in neonatal medicine into clinical practice.

    Her profound commitment to providing exceptional care for the most vulnerable patients is what lead her to become involved with Newborn Hope as a member of the NICU Partnership in 2021 and an active board member in 2023. Valerie also leads the Communications Committee for Newborn Hope.

  • Carey Stark has served on the NH board from 2015-2020 and 2023 – present as the VP of Governance. 

    Carey’s heart is tied to Newborn Hope’s mission since her second child was born prematurely and she spent the better part of her third pregnancy on bedrest.  The work Newborn Hope does throughout the state of Colorado to prevent and assist those families impacted by prematurity is phenomenal, and Carey feels so fortunate to be a part of the Newborn Hope board. 

    Carey is an attorney and owns and manages her own firm in Colorado Springs.

  • J.J. Kaelin is the President of the St. Peter Catholic Church Parish Council in Monument, CO. She was Newborn Hope Board President from 2016 to 2017, and in 2014 was the Newborn Hope Luncheon Co-chair. Former radio broadcasting sales, management, and voice talent. She is also a Vocalist and community volunteer

    She is an Ohio native, graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder and resides in Monument, Colorado.

    “There is nothing more beautiful than the gift of a life." Her son, Adam, was born nine weeks premature at 31 weeks while she was working in radio broadcasting in Colorado Springs.

    Her and her family were so fortunate that Adam was in the NICU for only a month, but so many other premature babies are in the hospital for much longer or have health complications beyond their hospital stays. This can take a toll on families’ finances, work schedules, sibling childcare, as well as their own health and well-being.

    J.J. is passionate about the work we do and the commitment we have in Newborn Hope; to strive to offer hope for our preemie families, medical teams, and other related sources.

  • Executive Advisor

  • Yvonne has been involved with Newborn Hope for well over a decade in many different roles and capacities. She can't imagine her life without it.

    She grew up listening to her mom and dad every year on her birthday reliving her birth as a preemie and the fears they shared for over a month of not knowing if she would live or die. It became a part of them and lives within them to this day.

    She loves her work with Newborn Hope and how it allows her to help families on this unexpected and unwanted journey, so feel they are not alone and that they have someone to turn to outside of the NICU for support.

  • Dr. Vickie Bailey is a Neonatologist at St. Francis Medical Center, with a passion for caring for premature infants and supporting their families. With over 35 years of experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she has dedicated her career to serving this vulnerable population.

    In 2017, Dr. Bailey moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to her adult children and soon became an advocate for the Newborn Hope mission. She joined Newborn Hope in 2024 as a member of the Development Committee and in January of 2025 became a member of the executive board.

    Dr. Bailey is committed to extending the care of premature infants and their families beyond hospital discharge, driven by her belief in the importance of education and awareness to improve their lives.

    Outside of her professional work, Dr. Bailey and her husband cherish time spent with their grown children and three wonderful grandchildren.

  • Chris happily joined the Newborn Hope Board in 2021 after attending the virtual fundraising November Noel Gala (impacted by COVID). He was moved by stories of the struggles of families of premature babies and the resources that Newborn Hope was able to provide.  As a father of 4, one of whom was born 6 weeks prematurely (now 16!),he has a direct understanding of the challenges faced by families with a premature infant. 

    Professionally, Chris is a speech-language pathologist, which affords him additional insight into the medical challenges encountered by the infants and families Newborn Hope supports. Chris is currently the lead for the Preemie Family Assistance Fund (PFAF) team and has the blessing of reading the stories of courage and perseverance for hundreds of infants and families plus distributing thousands of dollars per month to the families.

    Unfortunately, there are many children and families every month to whom we are unable to provide assistance.  Chris is hopeful that as Newborn Hope continues to grow and fundraise, they will reach a point where all deserving families in need are able to be funded.

  • I am a nurse with the Maternal and Child Health Program at El Paso County Public Health. Specializing in maternal and child health, I am committed to enhancing the well-being of families in El Paso County and believe that every child deserves a healthy start.

    With a focus on prenatal care, postpartum support, and early childhood development, I provide compassionate care through resource navigation, health education, and community outreach.

    With 10 years of experience in community nursing, I have extensive expertise working with children who have a special health care need and understand the complexities they face.

    I am a wife and mother of four children. In my free time I like to hike, read, garden, and spend time with my family. It is an honor to serve on the Newborn Hope Board with a talented and dedicated group of individuals. I am proud to work alongside community members who are equally passionate about supporting families impacted by prematurity.

  • As the Vice President and Financial Center Manager for UMB Bank in Colorado Springs, Tarah King brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for making a difference.  

    Growing up in Manitou Springs, Tarah's journey into community service began early, as she volunteered with premature babies at Memorial Hospital during her high school years. This initial experience sparked her lifelong dedication to supporting children and her community, and is also what led her to serve and support Newborn Hope.

    Family is at the core of her values, driving her to prioritize quality time and meaningful connections. Despite her busy schedule, Tarah remains deeply committed to giving back to her community. She serves on multiple boards and dedicates countless hours to volunteering, making a tangible impact on the lives of those around her.

  • Renee Maisel is originally from New York but has called Colorado Springs home since 1997.  She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with her BS focusing on marketing and earned her MBA with Georgia Southern. 

    Renee had a fifteen-year career at The Gazette in Colorado Springs and held numerous roles such as Pikes Peak Parent Sales Manager, Key Accounts Manager, Special Sections Supervisor.  She has been in television media for over ten years beginning at KOAA and now she is the Local Sales Manager at KRDO. 

    Renee is passionate about serving on boards and held numerous positions on the Gazette Charities and the Pikes Peak Advertising Federation Boards and was the Marketing and Public Relations Chair for Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. 

    Renee has two children and three grandchildren.  Two of her three grandchildren spent time in the NICU for arriving early and for other health issues.  All are thriving and healthy and she wants to help other families going through similar challenges.

  • Alicia became involved with Newborn Hope 25 years ago while seeking a worthy and heart-filling organization. Although she has never had a premature infant, she knows many women who have. After serving for many years, Alicia left Newborn Hope to raise her daughters and support their philanthropic efforts.

    However, her heart was always with Newborn Hope and their mission. Alicia returned to the organization four years ago as a Board member. She is thrilled to be a part of Newborn Hope once again and has since become immersed in the Preemie Family Assistance Fund committee, where they review grant applications monthly from families in dire need of assistance as they face the obstacles of having a preemie infant. The prematurity rates in Colorado are increasing exponentially; she is so proud to serve and be a small part of the solution.

  • Stephanie Shaver has been involved with Newborn Hope since 2012, attending events, serving on committees, and now serving on the board. Newborn Hope is special to her for many reasons. She is a NICU nurse by trade and is passionate about caring for preemie babies and their families. Newborn Hope has touched her life personally twice, with two of her children being born prematurely. She will be eternally grateful for what Newborn Hope has done for her babies and babies throughout Colorado.

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Become a part of our mission to empower communities through education, resources, and funding by joining our dedicated team. Your skills and passion can contribute to making a lasting impact in the lives of premature babies and their families.