leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Anne received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University and her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Colorado. Before becoming CEO in 2019, she served for 8 years on the TESSA Board of Directors, including two years as the President of the Board. Anne is an active member of the non-profit community in Colorado Springs and has a passion for the mission of TESSA. Prior to committing herself to the work of TESSA, Anne worked in marketing and advertising, specifically focused on non-profits.

Chief Legal Services Officer

Darryl joins TESSA after serving in public office as an El Paso County Commissioner and Colorado Springs City Councilmember for over 15 years. Darryl brings his background as an attorney with a focus on family law and protection orders. Darryl is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with over 21 years of combined active and reserve service. Darryl earned a law degree from New England School, an MBA from Western New England College, and a Bachelor’s in Science from the United States Air Force Academy. Darryl has also been a resident of Colorado Springs since early childhood.

Finance and Human Services Director

Tammi received her Associates in Accounting from Pikes Peak Community College and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado State University. She has worked with Non-Profits, Legal Administration, Public Accounting and Government Contracting in the Colorado Springs area. Tammi brings over 20 years combined experience in Accounting and Bookkeeping. She began her time at TESSA as a Staff Accountant and moved her way up to the Director of Finance and Human Resources. Tammi has found her passion working with TESSA’s administration, supporting our staff to best serve our clients.

Clinical Director

Andrea (Denise), LCSW received her bachelor’s in Social Work from Texas Christian University and her master’s degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She then was able to obtain her LCSW and her certification as a clinical supervisor. Over the last several decades, Denise has worked in various capacities with most of her work focusing on on mental health, grief and trauma in both direct service, middle management, and executive management roles. Throughout her career, she has carried a passion for helping clients and staff reach their full potential. Denise came to Tessa in January of 2022 as a therapist then quickly started doing clinical supervision and most recently stepped into the Clinical Director’s role. Denise loves Tessa’s mission and looks forward to being a part of further developing a full array of trauma informed individual and group clinical services.

Director of Development

Marissa holds a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with concentrations in Women’s and Ethnic Studies from the University of Colorado. With a strong foundation in academic research on gender, sexuality, and diversity, she has leveraged her knowledge to serve as a dedicated supporter of organizations serving at-risk populations in Colorado Springs. Marissa’s commitment to non-profit leadership and her extensive experience in business development and event planning converge to support fund growth, grant-writing, and success of TESSA’s vital programs and advancing the organization’s internal and external community agendas. Her passion is firmly rooted in empowering families affected by interpersonal violence, breaking the cycle of family violence, and providing preventative education to young individuals about fostering healthy relationships. Marissa’s academic background, combined with her hands-on volunteer experience and professional expertise, equips her to make a meaningful impact on TESSA’s mission and the lives of those it serves.

Advocacy Manager

Yhatisse currently is the Advocacy Manager at TESSA who works with clients and staff alike to empower them. She served as a Confidential Victim Advocate and Hospital Advocate prior to becoming a manager. Yhatisse believes that with hard work and dedication to our mission, we can support our community to help take off the burden that domestic violence presents. Yhatisse comes to TESSA with her background in serving the community, previously working at CASA, where Yhatisse found a passion for serving survivors. She comes to TESSA with her B.A of Psychology and B.A. of Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Safehouse Program Manager

Bri currently works for TESSA as the Safehouse Manager. Prior to her work as the Safehouse Manager, she worked on TESSA’s Safeline, where she found her passion for working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Bri attended the University of Central Oklahoma studying psychology, and she later on attended Pikes Peak State College after moving to Colorado Springs. Her initial background was in early childhood education and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, where she was a childcare provider, Registered Behavior Technician, and Operations Manager. Bri also has certifications in Confidential Victim Advocacy, crisis de-escalation, and professional crisis management. As Safehouse Manager, Bri’s goals are to keep survivors and their families safe and to help them find stability after violence.