MEET THE TEAM

SHELLY RADIC
President

​How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? My parents adopted one of my brothers from foster care, my husband and I were foster parents and led foster support groups. We adopted two of our four kids from foster care. I’ve been at Project 1.27 since January 2013.
What is your professional background? I served for seven years at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International as Director of Ministry Life, Chief of Staff, and Interim CEO. Before that, I was a middle school teacher, speaker and writer.
What is your guilty pleasure? Reading murder mysteries.
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? Beth. She’s spunky, strong, loving AND she gives the people she loves space to try new things. Plus, she insisted on fostering a teenager. I want to clone her!

MARILYN ROBINSON
Family Care Team Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? I started working  in Child Protection in 1984 in Kansas and then moved to Colorado and worked for Arapahoe county. I have been with Project 1.27 since October 2017.   I adopted my oldest son from foster care, my sister and her husband were his foster parents.
What is your professional background? I have been an intake worker in several metro counties, conducting abuse and neglect investigations and then became an Intake supervisor. After leaving Child Protection I worked with disabled adults and children with Developmental Pathways. I have a degree in social work. 
What is your guilty pleasure? Carne Asada fries with cheese and green chile/Chubby’s and only Chubby’s
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? Randall. He has had to deal with the loss of his birth parents, being raised in a totally different ethnic culture. He has experienced a lot of loss and ongoing anxiety issues, yet he continues to love, care for and provide for his children and wife. I enjoyed watching the relationship between he and his birth father, how he took him into his home, provided and cared for him through death.   

KAREN WILLIAMS
Office Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? It is part of my family history: my mother was adopted, and I am an adoptive parent. I had the privilege of working with Project 1.27 a few years ago and am very happy to be back. The act of foster care and adoption is such a beautiful picture of God’s love for us, accepting us at our place of need and welcoming us into His family.
What is your professional background? I have worked in admin support for churches and other non-profits for many years, some of that time with Project 1.27.
What is your guilty pleasure? Taking a day to stay in bed and read a good mystery.
Who is your favorite character in This is Us? It is so hard to say! Jack: such an awesome dad –the Triplets: each kind-hearted and loving, dealing with their loss and brokenness in different ways–Beth:  a strong, independent woman who would do anything for her family...I just love this show!

REGAN HALL
Family Care Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? 
Our family began the foster care journey in 2004 when we moved to Aurora and attended one of Project 1:27’s first info nights.  We went through FACT and PCORE training in 2006 at Colorado Community Church.  We met and began fostering our daughter in 2007 and later went on  to finalize  the adoption of our daughter in 2008.  This process instilled in me a passion for foster care and for my desire to inspire, recruit and train families to foster and adopt children in their own backyards.
What is your professional background?
My early career was in home health and after I married, I worked as a substitute teacher.  I was fortunate to be able to spend the last 20 years as a stay at home mom with my children.  During this time I also had opportunity to volunteer as a lay councilor and participate as a volunteer with Children’s Hospital working to create policy changes for special needs children and their families.  I returned to school for my degree in social work in 2015 and interned as a case manager with Chinese Children Adoption International.
What is your guilty pleasure? 
I’ve learned to be free of guilt through Jesus, but what I enjoy is spending a quiet afternoon reading a good book or eating a Freddie’s burger and fries.  
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us?
My favorite character in This is Us is Randall.  I love his story of integrating into a world that is both his own and not his own. I relate to the way he does his best to hold his family together and do what he feels is right even when it isn’t popular.   

BRI BERENS
​​Family Care Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? I worked in Child Welfare as both an intake and permanency caseworker for four and a half years. The placements I managed during that season allowed me the opportunity to meet a number of children entering the foster care system and the foster parents that care for them. I developed a strong passion for working with this community as a result and am eager to continue my work in foster care and adoption with Project 1.27 families.
What is your professional background? I received my BSW and MSW from MSU Denver. I served victims of domestic violence as a Legal Advocate for four years prior to working in Child Welfare, where I spent the past four and a half years.  I joined Project 1.27 in November 2018.  
What is your guilty pleasure? A good plate of chicken wings with all the ranch dressing. 
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? Beth. She is a strong mama, partner to Randall, and professional force to be reckoned with. She has her flaws but is still unafraid to speak her truth, and supportive to those who need her most. 

JANET ROWLAND
National Network Director

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? I began working for Mesa County (Grand Junction) DHS in 2005, conducting safety assessments in response to hotline calls. My brother and sister-in-law adopted two girls through foster care in 2006, so it is part of our family.
What is your professional background? I was a Christian Counselor in private practice for 3 years before going to work for the Mesa County Department of Human Services in the Child Welfare Division. In 2004 I was elected as County Commissioner in Mesa County, and was re-elected in 2008. I was term limited in 2013 and that same year I accepted the position of Executive Director of CASA of Mesa County, and I joined Project 1.27 in July of 2016.
What is your guilty pleasure? Pedicures.
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? Randall. He’s my inspiration to keep doing what I’m doing. He is forgiving and focused on giving back. He’s successful and humble.

LISA McGINNETT
Western Slope Director

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? My husband and I began our foster care journey in 2001.  We have had the privilege of adopting our two oldest children as infants in Wisconsin.  In November of 2018 we adopted our 3rd child at the age of 13.  We are still currently fostering babies mostly. You never know, on any given day, how many sweet faces will be living under our roof!
What is your professional background?
I have served as a pastor’s wife for the past 25 years.  My distant past career paths include Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Baptist Bible Theological Seminary as well a National Sales Secretary for Moody Press.  For the past 7 years have had the pleasure of working at our local bariatric surgery center educating preoperative patients, providing support group for post bariatric patients in addition to being the Medical Assistant in the clinic.   As of February 2019, I have been given an opportunity work with Project 1.27 that will enable me to utilize my skills and my passion for fostering.  In my opinion, I have the best of both worlds!
What is your guilty pleasure? Watching NCIS 
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us?​ I must confess.  I have never seen this show.  Let’s assume it’s because it is airs at the baby’s bedtime.

SHARON BOUSE-FERRY
Western Slope Family Care Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? 
My experience with Foster Care and Adoption stared as a personal one in 2012. A kinship placement of a little girl in our home that would become our adopted daughter, provided insight and passion for working with children and families on similar paths. In 2015, I started volunteering as a training consultant for Project 1:27!
What is your professional background? 
My background is in Child Development/Early Childhood Education and Non Profit Management. It's always been about kids for me. After working as a preschool teacher since 2000, I opened my preschool and childcare center in 2012. My personal experiences parenting a child from a hard place led to my professional experiences in the non profit world. In 2016, I began my work with Karis, Inc. a non-profit on the Western Slope of Colorado serving unaccompanied homeless youth. I served as Karis Inc.’s Host Home Manager, Volunteer Manager, Development Manager, Operations Director, and Founder and Chairperson of Night On The Street, and annual fundraiser.
What is your guilty pleasure? 
Sunshine, Fresh Cut Flowers, Candles and Traditions! My hygge! Pronounced “hoo-gah”- the Danish sentiment of taking joy in the little things around you, doing the things you love with the people you love.
Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? 
With four kids I can honestly say that I have only seen this show once! I don’t have a favorite character since I have no clue, ha! If there’s a character that loves Pinterest, is type A with a compassionate side, works hard and plays hard, he or she would hands down be my favorite- as well as my kindred spirit!

JESSE HULLING
Church Relationships Manager

How long have you been involved with foster care or adoption? 
My experience with adoption is very personal due to the fact my siblings and I are all adopted. My parents first became foster parents and took us in their home. Eventually myself and two siblings were all adopted into my family. I love adoption and foster care because my life was forever changed by my adoptive parents. I can't imagine how different my life would look without them. 
What is your professional background? 
This is my first time in a professional background working in a foster care and adoption program. For the last three years since college I have been working full time for churches as a youth pastor. I am currently pursuing an MA in leadership from Denver Seminary. I am excited to begin this next chapter working at Project 1.27.
What is your guilty pleasure? 
My guilty pleasures is definitely Chick-Fil-A. I eat there way too much. 
​Who is your favorite character in This Is Us? 
I have only seen a few episodes, but from what I have seen I really like Jack. He is seems like a loving and caring father for his children.