Team Members
Founded in 1974 by the YWCA of Metropolitan Denver, in cooperation with Gart Brothers Sporting Goods Co., Sportswomen of Colorado is recognized as the first community-based organization in the nation to solely honor female athletes, celebrate their achievements and recognize those whose efforts have advanced girls’ and women’s individual and team sports endeavors.
Executive Director
Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich
Executive Director
Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich
Executive Director
Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich joins Sportswomen of Colorado (SWOC) from the fitness industry, where she established herself as a successful businesswoman, personal trainer, and Pilates instructor. Over the years, she designed and marketed numerous specialized workshops, including “Pilates for Golfers,” “Active Aging and Balance at Home,” and “Pilates for Tennis.” Her expertise in these areas not only highlights her understanding of the importance of staying active but also her commitment to improving the quality of life for her clients through targeted exercise programs.
A former collegiate athlete, Anderson-Ehrlich played basketball for Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her passion for sports continued as she transitioned into coaching at the college level. She later pursued teaching credentials, which she utilized while educating young minds at a Montessori school in northwest Denver.
“Two years ago, after attending my first Sportswomen of Colorado awards ceremony I left feeling inspired by the work of the organization. Their commitment to honoring and awarding the women and young female athletes of Colorado left me full of gratitude and I was so honored to be able to sit in a room full of such greatness. Upon leaving, I could not help but wonder to myself “How else might I get involved?” When this opportunity arose, I could not pass it up!”
In her new position, Anderson-Ehrlich aims to further the mission of Sportswomen of Colorado. Her multifaceted background and proven leadership in business, fitness and education make her uniquely qualified to lead the organization into its next chapter.
“Deep down I’m still a little girl cartwheeling down the court and cheering for all the female athletes out there – young and old breaking records, knocking down barriers and changing the landscape for all of us out there. I love all celebrations of all female athletes in all realms. I love the stories and I believe in the mission of the Sportswomen of Colorado.” “Jennifer’s diverse experience and passion for empowering women through sports and fitness make her an ideal fit for our organization,” said SWOC Board of Directors President Laura Fischer. “We are confident that under her leadership, Sportswomen of Colorado will continue to thrive and expand its impact.”
As she steps into her role as Executive Director, Anderson-Ehrlich is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to enhance the programs and initiatives of Sportswomen of Colorado. Her vision includes expanding outreach efforts, creating new partnerships, and continuing to build on the success of the annual celebration which honors the state’s top female athletes, coaches, and contributors each March.
“I am excited to mesh my teaching, coaching, love of fitness and sports to continue the work SWOC has achieved over the past 50 years and continue to elevate our statewide focus. I expect to maintain the current relationships with supporters and strive to create new opportunities with new community members with whom I have established relationships. I look forward to expanding the work currently in elementary schools between college teams and Physical Education teachers and aspire to create more opportunities for our youth statewide.”
Board Members
Linda Lappe
President
Linda Lappe
President
Prior to joining the staff at USF, she worked in the non-profit sector as the Senior Vice President of Competition and Regional Services at Special Olympics Colorado. Using sports as a vehicle to promote inclusion and acceptance, she supervised all areas of community programming in 22 sports for 13,000 athletes during 4 seasons throughout the state of Colorado.
Linda also spent fourteen years as a collegiate basketball coach with nine of those being as a head coach in the state of Colorado, first at Metropolitan State University of Denver and then at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Linda received a B.S. in Business from the University of Colorado. She was a two-time captain of the women’s basketball team and participated in three NCAA Tournaments. In her free time, Linda enjoys biking, camping, and spending time with her dog.
Tanya Haave
Vice President
Tanya Haave
Vice President
A member of the Sportswomen Hall of Fame along with being named the 1980 Sportswoman of the Year, Tanya joined the Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors for a number of reasons. She loves what this unique organization stands for in promoting, honoring and empowering female athletes. Also, as a former athlete she recognizes that she had the help of many people and would like to be able to give back and “pay it forward” to help athletes now thrive and succeed.
Tanya believes it is important to increase the profile of Sportswomen of Colorado particularly on the collegiate level. Tanya’s goal is to increase Sportswomen of Colorado’s exposure to Colorado’s collegiate institutions through an increase in nominations and ultimately award winners from those institutions.
Tanya enjoys hiking, biking, and golf.
Terri Ward
Vice President
Terri Ward
Vice President
“It’s about being a teacher, teaching the game, teaching kids the love of the game and teaching them about life more than anything,” Ward said. “You’re more than just a basketball coach. During the season, you spend more time with them than their parents do. You’re responsible for making sure they’re good people and realizing there are other things outside of athletics like being a good student and a good member of your community.”
Terri joined the Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors because she had the utmost respect for Joan Birkland and Joy Burns because of their insight into how important it was/is to have an organization for and about girls and women in sports in the State of Colorado.
Lynn Barczuk
Treasurer
Lynn Barczuk
Treasurer
“The annual Awards Celebration is a marvelous tribute to the hard work and dedication of girls and women of all ages and never ceases to inspire”. Expanding the visibility, preserving the history and ensuring the future of the organization for subsequent generations is her continuing goal as a member of the Board.
Lynn enjoys spending the time with her family, participating in and following a variety of sports, travel and enjoying life in Colorado.
Laura Fischer
Secretary
Laura Fischer
Secretary
Laura received the Sportswomen of Colorado’s Contribution to Sport Award in 1983 for her work with the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports leading them through the first six years of their Annual All-State Games. She has experienced and seen the attributes that athletic opportunities offer and wants to be a part of supporting girls and women in their athletic endeavors. She is honored to be an intricate part of Sportswomen of Colorado.
Niceta Bradburn
Board Member
Niceta Bradburn
Board Member
Niceta received her bachelor’s from the University of Dayton, where she played Division I basketball, volleyball, and ran cross-country. After spending years working with children in wilderness therapeutic programs and educational experience programs, she moved to Colorado to earn her Juris Doctorate from Sturm College at the University of Denver. During her time at law school, she interned for the Attorney General. In this time, she also completed her clinic work with the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, establishing her focus on children early on.
“Sports was such an important and huge part of my own life and gave me so much purpose while I was growing up. I want all girls/women to have that same opportunity and I want it to be celebrated and championed. I realized I needed to do more and to show up more. I came upon Sportswomen of Colorado and was thrilled to see how long this organization had been around and the ways it was championing women in sports.”
In her free time, Ms. Bradburn loves spending time with her four children and cheering them on from the sidelines! As a family they love to volunteer and hike, enjoying the beauty of Colorado.
Jennie Wray
Board Member
Jennie Wray
Board Member
For someone to be a Rising Star, they must either be under 40 years old or have been practicing for less than a decade, while fulfilling the Super Lawyer requirements. The list has confirmed that Ms. Wray is among the top 2.5% of attorneys in her state, as rated by her colleagues. She also has a BV® rating on Martindale-Hubbell® and was nominated for Denver Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list for 2016 and 2017.
However, her awards, though impressive, do not fully express the excellence and passion that Ms. Wray brings to her practice. Her law career began at the Vermont Law School, where she externed for New Jersey’s Presiding Judge in the Civil Division, as well as for the Hudson County Superior Court, Family Division. In both positions, she gained valuable insight into family law and court proceedings. After graduation she became a law clerk for the Superior Court Judge in Family Law, further deepening her knowledge of divorce, child custody, and spousal/child support. Her extensive knowledge of inner court workings serves her today as a family law attorney at The Harris Law Firm. Attorney Jennie Wray’s accomplishments and career are rooted in one thing: her unrelenting determination to provide a voice to the voiceless, to make the law clear and accessible to those that need it most.
In addition, she donates her spare time to volunteering for the Colorado Lawyers Committee where she advocates on behalf of children in her community.
Leslii Lewis
Board Member
Leslii Lewis
Board Member
Leslii graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University and a M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. Leslii and her family have a passion for sports, which have been woven into the fabric of their lives. Raising daughters increased Leslii’s passion for sports. Her daughters are trained in martial arts, played basketball at the collegiate level, participated in track and field, and her oldest daughter even tried flag football. Leslii appreciates women sports because it develops and boosts self-esteem, teaches leadership, fosters positive relationships, and develops social skills; to list a few qualities.
“I am honored to be a part of an organization that raises awareness about the value of sports for girls and women. I want to raise awareness about the importance of providing equal opportunity and access to girls and women athletics. My motivation is to be a part of an organization that supports healthy development girls and women and celebrates their successes.”
Nazrawit Medhanie
Board Member
Nazrawit Medhanie
Board Member
Medhanie’s career in international development began with Right To Play in Accra, Ghana, where she led initiatives focused on play-based child development, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and local stakeholder engagement. In Washington, DC, she furthered her career by managing and monitoring USAID-supported economic and trade development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nas has also served as a mentor and youth basketball coach across Sweden, Ghana, and the U.S.
“I have been involved in sports since I was 6 years old and have gained so much in life as a result! Thanks to sports, I learned to compete, developed important life sills, was afforded opportunities to travel and see the world, made connections with people from different walks of life, and gained greater understanding of and respect for others. I’m passionate about girls and women’s participation, competition, and ability to excel in sports; learn life skills; lead healthy lives; and thrive in their personal and professional lives.”
Originally from Eritrea and raised in Sweden, Naz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Masters of Arts from the University of Denver. While at Duke, she was a member of the Duke Women’s Basketball Team, helping the team reach the NCAA championship game in 1999.
Rachel Sanford
Board Member
Rachel Sanford
Board Member
“I am blown away by how much potential this organization has and am happy I can be more involved. I coach and officiate lacrosse and have enjoyed competing at all different levels over the years.”
Rachel works as a coach and consultant for RMS Coaching and Consulting LLC in Denver. As a leadership development expert, she led career development and networking workshops for 75 women for the Career Combine, a network of former college athletes in CO, MA and NYC. She also partnered and co-wrote “Compete Confidently: A Workbook for Female Athletes” and facilitated a leadership curriculum for high school athletes and conducted in person workshops and online webinars.
In 2012, she launched girls programming for 3D Lacrosse LLC which up to that point, only offered programming for boys. She recruited, trained, and evaluated all coaches and created a culture of development.
Rachel graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Duke University and with a M.B.A. from the University of Denver.
Elissa Soden
Board Member
Elissa Soden
Board Member
Highlights of her work include the strategy, creation and execution of development and fundraising at Teach For America – Colorado, partnerships, strategy, and fundraising for the Girls Athletic Leadership Schools (G.A.L.S.), and public affairs and advocacy at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In the sporting arena, Elissa managed a charitable foundation for a professional basketball player and worked in community relations with both the Atlanta Falcons and Kroenke Sports Enterprises.
“I am inspired to join the Board of Directors and believe deeply in its mission to promote, honor and empower girls and women. Girls and women in this state are breaking through barriers each and every day and these efforts, accomplishments and successes should be honored and celebrated.”
Elissa holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she competed on the Division I Women’s Tennis Team and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She and her husband live in Denver with their two children.
Jenny Collins
Board Member
Jenny Collins
Board Member
Originally from Colorado, Jenny enjoys cross-country skiing, road biking, and cheering on Colorado’s sports teams with her family reflecting how sports have shaped her life personally.
Interns
Grace Goolsby
Digital Media Intern
Grace Goolsby
Digital Media Intern
Zoe Weir
Broadcast Media Intern
Zoe Weir
Broadcast Media Intern
