Christopher Padbury,  National Ambassador & Board Member

Chris and his wife Sarah are the proud parents of six adopted children. He received his undergraduate degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy and Colorado Christian University, and his Masters degree from the University of Colorado.  Currently, he is also a Lt Col in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and has spent time as a C-130 Pilot and Space Operator. Chris and his wife have adopted through every means possible in the U.S. including international and domestic private agencies, an adoption attorney, through the Colorado foster care system, and an adult adoption. These combined experiences give him a unique understanding of the orphan crisis worldwide. In July 2004, Pastor Robert Gelinas along with Chris and a small group of dedicated adventurers founded Project 1.27. As a board member, Chris consults with 20+ states and has presented the Project 1.27 model in NV, AZ, FL, OH, OR and at the White House.  His position allows him to encourage and act as a bridge between government and Christian communities of faith, thus positively impacting the lives of families and orphans both here and ultimately throughout the world.

 Rick Valore, Executive Director

Rick has worked with Project 1.27  since April of 2008 and now serves as its Executive Director. Prior experience includes being an assistant pastor at Colorado Community Church in Aurora and the Smoky Hill Vineyard in Centennial where he served as Children’s Pastor, the Alpha Course leader, men’s pastor and adult education pastor. He also has a BA in Business from Southern Methodist University and has 14 years experience in sales and real estate. Additionally, Rick spent seven years as a professional ski instructor in the Lake Tahoe area.

He loves to work with people from different denominations for a common “Kingdom” goal. Rick also teaches parenting, marriage and leadership classes.

Rick has been married to Nancy for 14 years and has two daughters. His hobbies include skiing, riding bicycles and motorcycles, golf, fishing and going on adventures with his girls.

Contact Rick via email at rvalore@project127.com.

Susan Wright, Adoption Process Manager

Susan has over 20 years of experience in child protection and foster care services. She conducted home studies, trained and supervised foster families in two, large Colorado counties for the majority of her career with human services. She also assisted caseworkers in the decision making process for foster/adopt matches and placements. On a personal note, Susan and her husband, Mickey, are adoptive parents. Over a decade ago, they adopted a teenaged girl who was in the foster care system. She assists families as they move through the adoption application and placement process. She is excited to be a part of the adoption mission of Project 1:27, as it is an answer to her prayer to be joined with fellow believers who serve Colorado’s foster care orphans.

Contact Susan via email at swright@project127.com.

Merinda Taylor, Adoption Process Manager

Merinda is a newlywed and a recent college graduate from Liberty University. She was first united with Project 1.27 when a friend who knew of her heart for adoption suggested she ask for an internship opportunity with this wonderful ministry. She was among the first group of interns working through the summer of 2007. After the summer ended she went on to finish and receive her Bachelors degree in Psychology with honors. Soon after she was thrilled to accept a position with Project 1.27 saying that God has called her heart to this mission and is thankful that the Lord has provided a place for her within this team. She assists families as they move through the adoption application and placement process.

Contact Merinda via email at mtaylor@project127.com.

jsorado Representative

    Julie Mavis – Northern Colorado Representative

Julie has been a foster mom for six years and has lived on orphanages in Honduras and Mexico. She started and leads an orphan/adoption ministry at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont, where her husband Brian is on staff. They have two teenage daughters who are passionate about foster kids and children in need. Julie has worked as a child-specific adoption recruiter for Larimer County. In this role, she worked directly with the children in Colorado’s foster system, finding families specifically for each child, and preparing families for adoption. In her role with Project 1.27, Julie works with northern Colorado churches, helping create awareness about local orphans and supporting their church-based orphan/adoption ministry. She enjoys working with church leaders passionate about caring for orphans. Contact Julie at : jmavis@project127.com

Robin Hill – Administrative Assistant

Contact Robin via email at: rhill@project127.com

Volunteer Staff

Rhonda Miescke, MSW, Program Trainer

Rhonda has over 30 years of experience in child protection, foster care, and adoptions. Prior to joining Project 1.27, she supervised a large Colorado metro county’s adoption program for 15 years. She supervised the foster care placement, matching, adoption placement, and Court process for over 400 adoptions for children while serving as the Adoption Supervisor. In 2006, as a county employee, she presented a workshop entitled “Dancing to a New Beat: Government and Faith Based Organizations Working Together” jointly with Chris Padbury, Project 1.27 Executive Director, and Sharen Ford, the Colorado State Department of Human Services Permanency Manager. In 2008, she also presented with Rick Valore, Executive Director of Project 1.27, at the Christian Alliance for Orphan’s Summit IV. Rhonda is a trainer for Project 1.27 primarily focused on the Adoption Core training.

 Contact Rhonda via email at rmiescke@project127.com.

Brian Felker, LCSW, Program Trainer

Brian has a BA from Metro State College and an MSW from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. He has 15 years of experience as a psychotherapist and social worker for both the public schools and counseling centers specializing in foster/care adoption issues. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has developed and taught at a number of training workshops and conferences for parents and professionals. He has presented three times at the Colorado State Foster Parent Association’s Annual Conference in Glenwood Springs, CO. Brian assists with Project 1.27 strategy, teaches several of the adoptive family classes, and facilitates our support group meetings.

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Sarah Padbury, Training Coordinator and Grant Writer

Sarah has a BA in theater and 20 years experience in writing, editing and acting. She also was an executive assistant for several years. She is now the mother to six adopted children with her husband, Chris. Between homework and kids’ events, she finds time to assist Project 1.27 in strategic planning, grant writing, training coordinator, media development and is the Class Leader for one of our trainings, Unconditional Love in Adoption. Sarah is an appointee to Colorado Governor Ritter’s Task Force on Foster Care and Permanency.

Key Volunteer Trainers

• Joey Mainger, CPR/1st Aid Instructor
• Keith Sidwell/Donor Development
• Bill Gold, CPR/1st Aid Instructor
• Pastor Doug Carlsen, LOVE Class Instructor
• Pam Hueter, Fingerprinter
• Michelle Pedigo, CPR/1st Aid Instructor
• Judy Guadagnoli/Data Base Developer