Our Board
UpSide Collective is led by a committed Board of Directors who share a deep belief in the dignity, value, and potential of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Our board provides leadership, oversight, and support as we continue to strengthen the organization and expand meaningful opportunities for the individuals and families we serve.
We are grateful for the experience, wisdom, and generosity of the board members who help guide the mission of UpSide Collective.
Leading UpSide Collective is more than a role - it is the fulfillment of a deeply personal mission. As Chairwoman of the Board, Paula helped bring the organization to life out of a desire to create a meaningful, connected, and opportunity-filled future for her daughter with special needs and others in the IDD community.
With a background as a successful small business owner and experience in developing senior living communities, she brings both entrepreneurial vision and practical expertise to the organization. Her work has long centered on building environments where people thrive, and she now channels that experience into creating innovative programs and supportive spaces for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Paula is a graduate of Northwestern College and brings extensive leadership and operations experience across nonprofit, construction, and agricultural industries. She previously served as Executive Director of Redlands Christian Home, where she led the community from groundbreaking through completion of the first phase of construction, developing organizational programs, policies, and operational systems. She also served as General Manager of Outdoor Craftsmen and owner/operator of Daybreak Dairy. Paula has served on the Board of Community Christian College and volunteers at Flatirons Community Church.
Aimee Day
TreasurerAimee Day is a results-driven business leader with extensive experience in sales, marketing strategy, operations, and talent advisory. She brings strong leadership in enterprise sales, strategic development, and high-growth environments to her board service, with particular strength in innovative, investment-driven, and tech-enabled sectors.
She was a co-founder and strategic partner at Pyjama, where she helped lead strategic planning and operational growth. She is also a founding co-partner of willdayART LLC, an award-winning global fine art brand based in Boulder, Colorado, which she has helped build alongside her husband, artist Will Day. Her professional background also includes leadership roles with Oracle Eloqua, Thomson Reuters, and S&P Global.
Aimee holds a bachelor's degree in Business and Economics from Mount St. Mary's University. She previously served on the board of Boulder Valley Young Life and has lived in Boulder since 2007 with her husband, their two children, and their two Boston Terriers, Pablo Picasso and Banksy.
Aimee Day
TreasurerLeading UpSide Collective is more than a role - it is the fulfillment of a deeply personal mission. As Chairwoman of the Board, Paula helped bring the organization to life out of a desire to create a meaningful, connected, and opportunity-filled future for her daughter with special needs and others in the IDD community.
With a background as a successful small business owner and experience in developing senior living communities, she brings both entrepreneurial vision and practical expertise to the organization. Her work has long centered on building environments where people thrive, and she now channels that experience into creating innovative programs and supportive spaces for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Paula is a graduate of Northwestern College and brings extensive leadership and operations experience across nonprofit, construction, and agricultural industries. She previously served as Executive Director of Redlands Christian Home, where she led the community from groundbreaking through completion of the first phase of construction, developing organizational programs, policies, and operational systems. She also served as General Manager of Outdoor Craftsmen and owner/operator of Daybreak Dairy. Paula has served on the Board of Community Christian College and volunteers at Flatirons Community Church.
Adam Micheli
memberAdam Micheli joined UpSide Collective out of a deep belief in the importance of building community and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. His connection to the mission is both personal and deeply rooted in his family's values.
Professionally, Adam has spent his career building businesses, leading teams, and bringing people together around shared goals. He brings an entrepreneurial mindset, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to community-building to his role on the board.
Through his service with UpSide Collective, Adam is honored to support a mission that strengthens lives, creates belonging, and expands opportunity for individuals and families in the IDD community.
Levi Maxwell
memberLevi Maxwell joined UpSide Collective because he believes a strong community is one where everyone has the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive. He is grateful for the opportunity to support an organization that is creating meaningful impact for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
As the owner of Paramount Builders, Levi has spent his career building both teams and spaces that bring people together. He brings leadership, business experience, and a practical understanding of how to turn vision into reality.
Through his service on the board, Levi hopes to help further UpSide Collective's mission and expand its impact in the community by supporting thoughtful growth, strong leadership, and spaces where people feel known and valued.
Scott Deemer
vice chairScott Deemer brings both personal commitment and entrepreneurial experience to his service on the UpSide Collective board. As a longtime owner of Outdoor Craftsmen now entering retirement, Scott brings practical leadership, business experience, and a heart for service to the organization.
Fifteen years ago, he embraced his stepdaughter with special needs as his own, an experience that deepened his dedication to inclusion, belonging, and opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Supporting UpSide Collective brings Scott great fulfillment and joy as he helps advance a mission centered on community, purpose, and meaningful opportunity for people of all abilities. Scott is an active member of Flatirons Community Church and Boulder Country Club, volunteering for various projects and boards.
Matt Eldred
SecretaryMatt Eldred is the Executive Director of TLC Learning Center, where he has served for more than a decade. Throughout his career, he has worked across both nonprofit and for-profit organizations, with a particular focus on early childhood education, human services, and community leadership.
Matt has been actively involved in nearly every major early childhood and nonprofit association in Boulder County. He has served in leadership roles with the Boulder County Association for the Education of Young Children, the St. Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley School District Early Childhood Councils, the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County, Front Range Community College Boulder Campus Early Childhood Council, and the Human Services Alliance for Boulder County. He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the St. Vrain Community Council and is also active with Mile High United and the Longmont Chamber of Commerce.
Matt holds a dual bachelor's degree in Special Education and Physical Education, along with K-12 teaching certificates and a coaching endorsement. He also holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership and is a Leadership Longmont alumnus. He is proudest of his two adult children, considers them his greatest accomplishment, and enjoys outdoor recreation, basketball, and softball.
Elena Ciaravino
memberElena Ciaravino brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in human services, with a strong focus on strengthening programs that support children, families, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently serves as a Program Manager supporting the Office of Head Start, where she contributes to the operational oversight, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement of hundreds of Head Start and Early Head Start programs across six states, supporting federal investments of more than $381 million in early childhood education and family services.
Prior to her current role, Elena spent more than a decade at Imagine!, one of Colorado's leading providers of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During her tenure, she advanced through multiple leadership roles, from direct service to department leadership, ultimately overseeing services for more than 600 individuals, managing a multi-million-dollar program budget, and leading a team of more than 100 staff. Her work included launching innovative therapeutic and community-based programs, integrating behavioral health services, and guiding large-scale organizational restructuring to expand access to high-quality, person-centered supports.
Elena holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder. She remains deeply committed to strengthening community-based systems that empower individuals and families and continues to provide direct support regularly to stay connected to the people and communities at the heart of the work.
Karen Zeid
memberKaren Zeid brings a lifetime of advocacy, community leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit to UpSide Collective. Her professional background includes work in both retail and real estate, with years of experience as a retailer, world traveler in the merchandising industry, and later as a Realtor in Boulder.
Karen's deepest passion has been advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. She has served on the Boulder Valley School District Parent Advisory Council, the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County for nine years, and the local Arc chapter board for six years, where she also launched its Housing Committee. Since 2021, she has participated in the Inclusive Housing Coalition, a statewide effort working across municipalities to expand housing choice for the IDD community. Her advocacy and education efforts have focused especially on Boulder and Broomfield Counties.
Karen believes deeply in bringing the right people together to create meaningful change. Inspired by her own family and lived experience, she is passionate about helping create inclusive community models that can lead the way for future generations of people with disabilities.
Paula Hettinga Deemer
board chairMeet the Team
The work of UpSide Collective is carried forward by people who care deeply about creating meaningful opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Our team is committed to serving with professionalism, compassion, and integrity while creating a culture where every person is treated with dignity and care.