Meet Our Leadership Team

  • Interim Executive Director

    Adrienne Tafilowski has served on the Mile High WorkShop Board for the past four years and is deeply committed to our mission. Her approach at the WorkShop is enriched by the experiences she’s had in social work, community navigating, and adolescent mental health support roles over the past decade, both locally and abroad. In addition to deep nonprofit and ministry experience, Adrienne worked in a manufacturing facility as a senior leader at L&R Pallet, focused on developing a robust culture of employee care among those facing barriers to employment.

  • Operations Director

    Rochelle joined the Mile High WorkShop staff in October 2019 after spending some time volunteering here. Since then, she’s held almost every position at the WorkShop so she knows A LOT about how we operate! Rochelle says she was drawn here for a couple of reasons: “I was so impressed with the amazing work environment. I felt so loved and accepted, and more importantly, the work we do for the community is outstanding. Every day presents a new opportunity to learn and grow. I wanted to be somewhere I felt I was living my purpose. MHW has provided that for me.”

    A Colorado native, Rochelle loves the four seasons here and the spectacular view of the mountains we enjoy every day. Outside of the WorkShop, she enjoys reading, making jewelry, and spending time with her kids, husband, and extended family.

  • Business Development Director

    Carmen joined Mile High WorkShop in April 2022 and brings a wealth of experience in business development to our team. She’s focused on strengthening our relationships with current business partners, developing new partnerships, and growing EverPillow.

    Carmen said she’s always wanted to work for a non-profit and she’s excited about helping the WorkShop grow and make an impact on more lives. She moved to the Denver area from Texas, and she enjoys being outdoors in Colorado: hiking, camping, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

  • Program Director

    Katie joined the WorkShop in December 2022 and brings a wealth of experience from her background working in child and family advocacy and in the non-profit sector. Her work as a policy advocate for fair chance employment and family economic security contributed to her interest in the WorkShop’s innovative and practical mission. And after advocating for change at a systems level, she’s happy to be working more directly with people again. She enjoys the daily, close-up journey with individuals who are working so hard toward health and thriving in their lives and is excited about contributing her time and skill set here.

    Originally from Nebraska, Katie has lived in the Denver area since 2005. She loves hiking with her husband and two girls, doing messy baking projects at home, and trying to turn her kids into lifelong readers. Stop by and say hi to her the next time you’re at the WorkShop!

  • Production Director

    Bill started at the WorkShop in 2017 as a program participant, became a Project Mentor in the sew shop, and then supervised EverPillow production and other projects as a Skills Trainer. Today as the Production Director, he says that he loves the opportunity to pass on the skills he’s learned over the years here. According to Bill, “The WorkShop helped me move forward from a very difficult time, and it's always exciting to see other people experience the same thing.”

    Outside of work, Bill is involved in Denver's music and art scenes (and thinks The Beatles are highly underrated!), and he enjoys playing basketball at Washington Park and Glenarm Rec Center.

Meet Our Amazing Support Team

  • Resource Coordinator

    Molly joined the WorkShop’s Program Team in February 2022. She came to us with several years of non-profit experience in Denver, primarily with youth. Molly spends most of her time at the WorkShop assisting our Program Participants and alumni with navigating resources in the community. She also recently launched an employment social enterprise of her own under the WorkShop’s financial umbrella. Arise Baking Co.’s aim is to sell high quality baked goods and build a supportive, transitional employment experience for youth and young adults. Molly says that working at MHW is providing her with valuable experience and knowledge, and the culture and values at the WorkShop are what inspire her about this place.

    Outside of work, Molly loves spending time with her husband and daughter soaking up all that Colorado has to offer, especially the sunshine, mountains and vibrancy of the city

  • Program Coordinator

    Graham is a graduate of the George Washington University where he studied English and participated in the university's college radio program WRGW. In his home state of North Carolina, Graham was employed by the Autism Society of NC, working as a Life Coach with adults on the autism spectrum in a supported employment role.

    At Mile High WorkShop since 2019, Graham coaches program participants throughout their entire job training experience (from onboarding until graduation!), as they identify and tackle barriers and work toward career and educational goals. This includes crafting professional portfolios, holding career conversations, developing soft skills, facilitating our program group, and aiding participants with resource navigation.

    Outside of the WorkShop, Graham is an avid improv comedy performer at Denver's Rise Comedy, podcast producer, cat-lover, and tabletop gaming enthusiast.

  • Operations Manager

    Shannon started at the WorkShop in a temporary position at the beginning of 2020 and was really happy to return in September 2021. She said she was so struck by the amazing work culture, community, and social enterprise model that she couldn’t stay away!

    Shannon has worked and volunteered for several non-profits and lived overseas for five years before moving to the Denver area in 2017. She has three kids who keep her on her toes outside of work, and she loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoying Colorado’s beautiful outdoor spaces.

  • Operations Analyst

    Scott worked for us from 2017 to 2021, first as a Participant and finally as a Project Skills Trainer. During that time he designed systems, processes, and procedures for the pillow project and improved production capacity, safety measures, and working conditions. Scott left in 2021 to take some personal time to reflect and decompress. He rejoined the WorkShop at the beginning of 2022 to assist in the management and direction of the pillow business. He recently transitioned to a new role as the Operations Analyst in order to improve systems, safety, and procedures across the WorkShop.

    Scott enjoys hiking, reading, writing, and being out in the wilderness. He believes wholeheartedly that UFOs exist, sasquatch is plausible but unlikely, anyone who thinks they’ve seen Elvis is an idiot, and that crop circles are cool to look at no matter who or what is making them.

  • Office Manager

    Christina started at the WorkShop in December 2019. After spending a few years working in the Sew Shop, she transitioned into an Administrative Assistant role in 2023 and became the Office Manager in 2024. Christina takes care of A LOT behind the scenes and has transformed the office for the better with a well-stocked supply of candy. She still enjoys sewing and continues to work on contract piece work projects to support our banner bag production. Outside of work, Christina loves being a mother and loves animals!

Meet our Talented Production Team

  • Sew Shop Trainer | Supervisor

    Karen joined the WorkShop in June 2023 as the newest Sew Shop Trainer/ Supervisor. She has been sewing professionally for about eight years and graduated from Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2015 with a degree in Fashion Design. After working in costume departments for theme parks and regional theater companies, she was drawn to Mile High Workshop because of our mission to build better lives for members of the community, and to help others find the joy in learning how to sew.

    Karen has lived all over the west coast, but Denver is her absolute favorite! In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her dog, snowboarding, hiking, and finding new restaurants.

  • Sew Shop Trainer

    Kim graduated from our program back in 2017 and moved on to a job at a local sew shop. She rejoined our team as a Production Assistant and has been very glad to be back at the WorkShop (we’re glad too!). Kim was recently promoted to Production Lead within the sew shop, where she helps with training and supporting Participants.

  • Production Trainer | Supervisor

    Dan started working at Mile High Workshop in June of 2022. He began his journey as a Participant, and we were excited to have him quickly join our staff as a Production Assistant. He transitioned to a Production Lead and Maintenance role and is now using his skills and experience to train others and manage projects as a Trainer/ Supervisor. He is thrilled to be part of an organization that has had such a positive impact upon the lives of so many people!

    Dan is a Colorado native, and is a self-proclaimed nerd and strategy board game fanatic, which some might argue is the exact same thing! Additionally, he loves music, art, and preparing and eating food… but mostly the eating part!

  • Production Lead

    Amanda started at the WorkShop in October 2020 and since then has worked on almost every project here. Now as the Production Lead on EverPillow, she is responsible for fulfilling orders and takes pride in making truly great pillows. Amanda loves being a part of the WorkShop and helping us all continue to grow individually and as an organization.

  • Production Lead

    Philicia started at the WorkShop in 2017, at a time when she described herself as a mother of a toddler rebuilding from homelessness. Joshua Station referred her to the WorkShop–she wanted more job experience, a career shift into warehouse/ fulfillment work, and the opportunity to grow in that industry. Philicia rejoined our team in 2021 as a Production Assistant on the KONG project (aka Queen Kong!).

    Now as a Production Lead, you can usually find her trimming, packaging, and quality checking KONG dog toys or blending EverPillow in the pillow lab, as well as showing new Participants how to do it all. And she says that besides her love for the people at MHWS, she loves going to the mountains for a quick escape from the city!


Board of Directors

Chris Horst

Senior Advancement Ambassador, HOPE International

Logan Jordan

Co-Founder, Couture Consulting

Joanna Meyer

Founder, Women, Work, & Calling

Dale Scott

CEO, The Virtue Institute

Jessica Wilson, Board Chair

Program Director, Open Door Ministries

Adrienne Tafilowski, Board Secretary

Founder, Soar Educational Coaching

Patrick Riley, Board Treasurer

CEO, Morrow

Elizabeth Coors

Co-Founder, Unfolding Adoptees