60+ Ride of Weld County (formerly Senior Resource Services) was founded by DeeAnn Groves. After caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease, she discovered a passion for helping the elderly, which led her to become a gerontologist. Caring for her mother helped DeeAnn understand some of the challenges that caregivers of older adults encounter – such as adult children not knowing where to turn for help and aging adults still living independently needing assistance for a better quality of life. Having identified an obvious need, DeeAnn founded Senior Resource Services, which today is known as 60+ Ride of Weld County.
In 2006, DeeAnn applied for and received 501c(3) non-profit status, and opened our doors in 2007, offering transportation and caregiver respite programs. In September 2015, Janet Bedingfield was hired as the assistant executive director in preparation for founder DeeAnn Groves’ retirement. After working with DeeAnn for a year, Janet stepped into the role of executive director on September 1, 2016.
60+ Ride (formerly Senior Resource Services) is governed by a dedicated board of directors, staff, and a team of volunteers who work together to serve the needs of active older adults in Weld County.
Robin Blakely is a farm girl who became a top coach with an extensive background in nonprofit capacity building. For more than two decades, she has worked with nonprofits in a variety of roles, including coach, publicity consultant, marketing director, communications director, development director, and interim executive director for service-focused nonprofits who have included American Society of Baking, Bakers National Educational Foundation, NAMI-Kansas City, MidAmerica CIT Council, CommCARE, A.V. Boys and Girls Club of America, Pro Deo Youth Center, Caregiving Solutions, Shepherd’s Center, and the Donna Reed Foundation. As National Cause Marketing Director for an online retail company, she worked with charities that included CancerCare, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Pay It Forward Foundation. Robin has a special love for serving older adults, caregivers, and rural communities.
Cayti Weber- Vowell is a Colorado native who has lived in Greeley all of her life. She has deep ties to the community and loves Northern Colorado. Cayti has her Master’s Degreen in Communication Studies which she received from the University of Northern Colorado. She has a background in communication, marketing, fundraising, and graphic design.
She currently lives in Greeley with her husband Andy and two sweet kids. Proud mom, she and her family have always stayed very active in the community. In her free time, Cayti enjoys spending time with her family, tending to her indoor houseplants, crocheting, and reading.
From Cayti: “I am so thankful to live in our community and truly admire all of our volunteers. Happy helpers with huge hearts make the world go round.”
Elnauz Reaves grew up and attended schools in Greeley, and has lived a lifestyle aligned with her entrepreneurial spirit while raising three sons. She joined 60+ Ride as an intake coordinator in early 2018. After playing an integral part in eliminating the 60+ waitlist, Elnauz, known to most callers as Ellie, was hired as a part-time office assistant. Through her extended family and culture, Ellie has never known life without love, value, and respect for the aging population.
Julie Conmay is originally from Northern New York, but has lived in Arizona, California, and Wyoming before settling in Windsor where she currently lives with her husband and two teenage daughters. Julie worked many years in child and family services as a case manager and program supervisor before taking a pause to stay at home with her children. During that time, she stayed active helping in the schools and as a CASA volunteer. Julie is a full-time employee.
From Julie: “Transportation is a basic need. Helping our aging population and their families is an honor.””
Yes, this is Gail and the family pup, Kinsale. Gail Shatz left her professional career in 2019, after working 31 years with Partners Mentoring Youth. She has been a therapist at North Range Behavioral Health and director of Suicide Education and Support Services. She worked part time at Weld Food Bank (where she still volunteers) before driving with 60+ Ride. Gail and John have lived in Greeley for 40 years and have one son, Joshua. Gail loves the ocean (snorkeling….yeah!!}, reading, swimming, traveling when she can, and taking tap classes {watch for her on Broadway!!!
Sue Perdue was born in Kansas and has lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tennessee. She now lives in Colorado with John, her husband of 45 years. She has three adult children (Rachel, Suzanna, and Jonathon) and one son-in-law (Travis). She has four great little joys, her grandchildren Ginger, Jonas, Clover, and Ravi. In her free time Sue enjoys crafting, sewing, reading, going to the movies, traveling, and enjoying life. Sue understood the needs of older adults after hearing stories from a friend who works with the aging population, as well as seeing her parents’ needs but being unable to help them. She saw that driving our van was something she could do to help the aging population.
Donna Arnold retired from the U.S. Government and then spent several years working at North Colorado Medical Center. She continued working part-time in various positions. In January 2017, she discovered 60+ Ride and started as a substitute van driver. After marrying in 2000, Donna and her husband moved to Evans, an area they both love. Today, the couple have seven grown children. Donna enjoys quilting and taking day trips during the summer.
Michael Muskin has spent more than 25 years working primarily for human service nonprofits. He was the executive director for three of those nonprofits: Greeley Transitional House, Team Fort Collins, and Weld County Partners. Michael’s last position was with the University of Northern Colorado as the development director for the College of Education. He is currently retired.
Eva is a native of Augusta, Georgia, home of the Master’s golf tournament and all things southern! She moved to Greeley with her husband and two sons in 1984 after her husband accepted a faculty position at the University of Northern Colorado. Eva attended Augusta State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and earned her Masters’ degree in Gerontology from the University of Northern Colorado (Go Bears!). In 1987, she was fortunate to join the staff of the Weld County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging. There she spent the next 32 years providing a variety of aging services to the seniors of Weld County. Eva was honored to spend the last 18 years of her time with the Weld Agency on Aging as the Director and Division Head of the agency. Time stands still for no one so after much soul searching, Eva decided to retire in 2019 to spend more time with family and friends and peruse traveling, gardening, and volunteering for great causes!
