Instructors and Facilitators 

Shannon Randall, BSN
Shannon Randall’s career has given her the pleasure of connecting with individuals in many different capacities. She started out a registered nurse on a coronary care unit, in home care and in a dermatology office. These jobs required teaching patients vital information about their health and lives going forward. Shannon was also an executive coach for Pinsight. This work focused more on the business and career side of life. Gaining clients’ trust and helping them see where they can improve can be a delicate balance. Connecting, creating trust and sharing knowledge was at the center of each of these positions. This trust made the difference between success and buy-in of the client and their potential success and relationship with the healthcare system or organization.  The need for communication was paramount in speaking with physicians, insurance companies, co-workers, her team, and the client. This work was about connecting to the values and what was important to the individuals she was serving or working beside. Now she is connecting to future health navigators that will connect and create trust with their clients. Shannon was the Training Manager at Boomers Leading Change from 2015- 2022. Shannon became a certified True Colors facilitator in July 2018 and a certified MHFA facilitator in August 2019.

David Kaye, JD
David Kaye is a self-employed health educator, health navigator trainer, and consultant in Colorado.  As a trainer, David has delivered courses on health navigation, health literacy, health navigator supervision, and COVID-19 resource coordination.  David has trained hundreds of navigators, both volunteers and professionals.  David has also trained nurses and social workers  in the use of the Patient Activation Measure developed by Insignia Health. As a health educator, David is a Lifestyle Coach for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). He is also a certified Leader (trainer) in the following self-management programs developed at Stanford University and now implemented at the Self-Management Resource Center: (1) Chronic Disease Self-Management Program; (2) Diabetes Self-Management Program; and (3) Chronic Pain Self-Management Program. David spent his first career of 22 years as an attorney and senior human resources executive for the State of Colorado (1987-2009). Following a health-related early retirement, David served six years as a hospital care transition coach helping patients navigate post-discharge barriers and avoid unnecessary readmission to the hospital. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western State College of Colorado (1981) and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado (1984). 

Ron Blidar, M.Ed., CHES
Ron has been involved with facilitation, coaching, consulting, training, and teaching for over 35 years because of his passion for creating conditions where adult participants may connect their own life experiences and perceptions with relevant content with a cognitive and emotional response. He has applied his knowledge, skills, experiences, and compassion primarily in the healthcare realm working for Kaiser Permanente, the American Red Cross, and adjunct faculty at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and Cuyahoga Community College. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Community Health Education. He is a Certified Health Education Specialist, a certified facilitator, and a Leader and Master Trainer in the chronic disease self-management program and diabetes self- management through the Self-Management Resource Center and affiliated organizations. He has created/ co-created and delivered curriculum and presentations including health prevention, health promotion, health care consumerism to managing cultural diversity and health literacy. He loves nature and is a kayaker, hiker backpacker, and is a percussionist.

Kathy Crusan-Ford. BA

Kathy Crusan-Ford is an Agency Trainer for the Denver Department of Human Services, which focuses on providing wrap around holistic services for the community. In her current role her primary focus is to provide training to community based organizations around the primary eligibility programs that DDHS has to offer. In addition to this she serves as a liaison to community organizations for the Community Impact Division She has worked for Denver Human Services since January 2007 in many capacities (Agency Trainer, Case Management Coordinator for PEAK, Customer Service Agent). She provides over 40 years’ experience in training.  Kathy has trained over 400 organizations and 7,000 individuals since the launch of Snap into Health Initiative in 2013 (through the Colorado Health Foundation).

JR Kuo
JR is a national speaker, trainer, and coach. He is also the founder of CoffeeWithJR (coffeewithjr.com), a company that specializes in providing culturally competent mental health and diversity/inclusion trainings. JR has over 10 years of experience in professional speaking. He has trained college students and professionals on mental health at over 50 universities and dozens of organizations across the country. JR is also an instructor for Mental Health First Aid. As a diversity/inclusion trainer, JR has facilitated numerous Diversity, Equity, Inclusion workshops for Fortune 500 companies, as well as locally for companies in Denver, Colorado. He also teaches at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Denver on leadership, cultural competency, and mental health. In addition to being a professional speaker, JR has 10 years of experience managing and running nonprofit organizations and small businesses. As an immigrant who has struggled with the immigration system, JR is passionate about advocating for immigration reform and supporting immigrants in the United States. JR’s mental health journey as an immigrant is featured in a short documentary called “Coffee Talking Out of Mental Coffins,” and in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Asian American Policy Review. 

Katie Langland, MA
Katie Langland has fifteen years of experience as a Motivational Interviewing (MI) interventionist, trainer, and coach. She directed Denver Health CHOICES, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MI effective intervention for women at risk for alcohol exposed pregnancies. She became a national CHOICES trainer and helped manage the intervention adaptation for tribal communities. Katie currently serves as a coach for a research project using a trained MI linkage navigator to help increase prevention goals for people with substance use disorders. Katie served as a Community Development and Health Educator in six rural indigenous communities in Guatemala and Panama. Throughout her career, Katie has developed and delivered numerous health education programs, professional trainings, counseling sessions, and community-based programs focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. For several years, she has dedicated her time as a literacy volunteer at bilingual schools and community-based organizations. She has earned degrees in Spanish, International Studies, Elementary Education, and an Anthropology masters with a focus on Political Ecology and Sustainability.

Lorenzo Ramírez
Lorenzo Ramírez has worked as a Community Research Liaison in the various Latino communities of metro Denver with the University of Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) for the past 13 years and is currently working on the CCTSI Colorado COVID-19 Community Engagement Alliance (CO-CEAL) data collection team. Lorenzo serves on the newly formed Near Northwest Area Plan Steering Committee, sponsored by the City and County of Denver, addressing the impact of gentrification and development in the neighborhoods of Northwest Denver that he has called home for the past 40 years. Lorenzo is also the Founder/ Artistic Director of the award winning Grupo Folklórico Sabor Latino, Inc. which will be celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, and a new member of the Arts Alliance for Health Equity.