The working Board of Directors at IMPACT Personal Safety of Colorado leverages its members’ professional knowledge, creativity, and belief in the value of IMPACT courses and workshops to help the organization meet its goals and grow. The BOD welcomes your interest in becoming a member or advisor.
Sarah Shepherd, Chair
Sarah served as Executive Director of IMPACT Personal Safety Colorado from summer 2010 to December 2016. After taking her first IMPACT Basics Course in 2010, she instantly recognized that the program should be available to everyone in her life and offered to help the Dorns expand their coursework in Denver. Sarah hopes her career in nonprofit business development and personal safety will enable her to lead by example and share her passion for safety and self-efficacy skills with people everywhere she goes.
Sam Gallaher, Board Member
Sam Gallaher, PhD, began his service on the Board in the fall of 2017. His first experience with IMPACT Colorado was as a student of their first Men’s Basic Course in 2012. In 2013, he joined his wife Laura in the Advanced Course. IMPACT training has increased their self-esteem and the communication skills learned in these courses have added immensely to their marriage.
Sam grew up in southeast Washington state, where his passion for public service was forged working at Camp Grizzly, the local Boy Scout camp. After earning a BS in Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering from Oregon State University, Sam moved to Colorado to work for Johns Manville. He joined the organization’s philanthropy board, JM Stars, and organized the company’s quarterly blood drive.
Desiring a stronger link between his work and his community, Sam completed a Master of Public Administration and PhD in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado Denver. He currently works in the Denver Auditor’s Office.
Sam is excited to use his policy and public administration knowledge and analytical skills to benefit the organization.
Blanche Ndoutou, Board Member
Blanche was born in the Central African Republic and moved to the U.S. about 12 years ago with her family as refugees. She recently graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Criminology and Spanish and a minor in Leadership Studies. Her passion is in youth development and Juvenile Justice. She has 6 siblings that she loves spending time with.
David Forest Dorn, Founder and Board Member Emeritus
David grew up right here in Colorado. In 2003, while working as an architect in Los Angeles, he took the Men’s Basics Course with IMPACT Personal Safety of Southern California. As a longtime philanthropist and champion of equality, David was immediately drawn to IMPACT’s missions and important work.
David and his wife Amelia returned home in 2005 and founded the Colorado Chapter of IMPACT Personal Safety in 2006. David served as the founding Board Chair and continues to play active and inspiring roles on the Board of Directors and on the big blue mats.
David works passionately as an architect at Open Studio Architecture. He enjoys the outdoors and is the proud father of two empowered kids.
