Sara Morris
Executive Director
Sara Morris is the Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation with responsibility for overall management of the organization which includes fundraising, marketing, budgeting, public speaking and community outreach. Sara grew up in a military family. Her grandfather served in the Army, her Father served in the Navy and her brother is currently serving in the Navy. Sara is also the founder and owner of StoryCatchers Media, a video production company. Since starting her company, she has won two Emmy Awards and a Telly Award for her work. Her background is in television news where she worked as an award winning journalist for 15-years all over the country reporting and anchoring the news.
Kailey Pukini
President
Kailey Pukini is an experienced mortgage broker with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Before dedicating her time to the facets of home acquisition and ownership, Kailey managed fundraising efforts for the University of Arizona and The University of Denver, where her teams were responsible for raising over 1.5 million dollars for faculty retention and financial aid. She currently serves as President of the Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation, a role that reflects both her longstanding commitment to the organization and her deep personal connection to its mission. When her brother was suddenly hospitalized, Kailey and her family experienced firsthand the profound impact the Fisher House Foundation can have on military families in crisis. That experience continues to inspire her work today, and she is honored to now help provide that same support to other families who may find themselves in similar circumstances.
Shan Burchenal
Board Treasurer
Shan Burchenal is the Treasurer for the Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation. She recently retired from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., a casual dining chain headquartered in Denver, CO, where she was Director, Compensation and Benefits. Shan is a seasoned Human Resource professional. She spent 23 years in various management roles with PepsiCo, Inc. Early in her career she worked for The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Her father served as an officer on a Naval destroyer in the Koren War. Shan graduated from Denison University with a BA in Economics and received an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Shan and her husband, Caleb, have two grown children and a Golden Retriever. They enjoy hiking and skiing.
Chris Bruce
Board Member
Chris Bruce is a graduate of Colorado State University. He retired from the Air Force after 20 years where he flew the C-130 and the C-141. Chris then was a pilot at United Airlines for 22 years. He has been based at San Francisco, New York’s JFK, Newark and Denver. He flew the B-727, B-737, B-757, B-767 and the B-777. Chris and his wife Lynn have two daughters and three grandchildren. They live in Denver.
Annette Johnson
Board Member
Dr. Annette Johnson served in the United States Air Force in the Transportation Division; she worked in the vehicle operations division and as a protocol driver. Being a protocol driver came with the privilege of being a driver on two Presidential details, First Ladies, CIA, Secret Service, all Heads of State, and many other dignitaries as assigned. When the protocol assignment was completed, she resumed her regular duties driving 10-ton tow trucks and tractor-trailers until a life-changing injury.
As a disabled Veteran, Dr. Johnson has devoted her life to assisting veterans. Always giving back, Dr. Johnson is the CEO & Founder of her nonprofit organization, GIVES Inc. She has been dedicated to improving the lives of veterans, socio-economically disadvantaged, disabled individuals, and other nonprofit organizations for over 45 years.
Dr. Johnson is a member of multiple nonprofit veteran service organizations; currently, she has been a life member of the DAV and VFW for over 40+ years, a life member in The American Legion for 15+ years, where she has served in multiple officer positions, and she is a Past Department Commander for the state of Colorado. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Veterans Overseas Deployment, where she is the Program Director and participates in Grant Writing, she also serves as the Colorado Ambassador for the Military Women’s Memorial located in Washington DC and became a Certified Veteran Service Officer after completing her training with The American Legion, where she currently is a Post and District Service Officer.
Winters Heafey
Board Member
Winters Heafey is a Principal at Required Properties, a Colorado-based real estate investment brokerage covering a range of asset classes, including commercial, industrial, land, office, and multifamily. Before entering the real estate profession, Winters served in the 75th Ranger Regiment of the US Army. Winters takes an active interest in several community and nonprofit organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation, Colorado Youth for a Change and is the Board Chair of the Sturm Military Specialty at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology; Sturm Military Specialty. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Denison University and the University of Denver’s Professional School of Psychology.
Mark Lepczyk
Board Member
Mark Lepczyk is a former Air Force officer and pilot with12-years of service that included several deployments throughout Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. After completing his time on active duty in 2018, he transitioned to a career in aerospace, where he works to develop and deploy software solutions for the defense industry. Mark obtained a B.S. from Purdue University, an M.P.S. from Pennsylvania State University, and graduated from the USAF’s Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training. Mark enjoys family life in Denver with his wife, son, and two dogs and is extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board of the Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation.
Jacob Butler
Board Member
Jacob Butler is a former Army officer who served in the 101st Airborne Division as an infantry officer and the 4th Infantry Division as a military intelligence officer. Jacob is a graduate of the University of Oregon. After completing his military service, Jacob attended law school in Chicago and currently works as an attorney at the Denver office of the law firm Polsinelli. Jacob is married and lives with his wife and son in Denver and is excited for the opportunity to give back to the veteran community through service on the Board of Directors at the Rocky Mountain Fisher House Foundation.