Board of Directors
Mary Salsich (Board Chair) - Community Member
Mary is owner and managing broker of her own real estate brokerage, Red Pepper Real Estate. Prior to getting her real estate license, Mary worked in the nonprofit sector as development director for a variety of nonprofits and Community Partnership Coordinator at Manual High School from 2000-2003.
Mary joined the board of Friends of Manual in 2015 because she truly believes schools with a majority of students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch need extra support, both financially and emotionally. She became Treasurer in 2017 and assumed the role of Board Chair in 2018.
Although it is often said that real estate is a 24/7 business, Mary finds time for many outdoor activities and giving back to the community through volunteering and fundraising for Friends of Manual, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and Park Hill Neighborhood Association.
Mary is owner and managing broker of her own real estate brokerage, Red Pepper Real Estate. Prior to getting her real estate license, Mary worked in the nonprofit sector as development director for a variety of nonprofits and Community Partnership Coordinator at Manual High School from 2000-2003.
Mary joined the board of Friends of Manual in 2015 because she truly believes schools with a majority of students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch need extra support, both financially and emotionally. She became Treasurer in 2017 and assumed the role of Board Chair in 2018.
Although it is often said that real estate is a 24/7 business, Mary finds time for many outdoor activities and giving back to the community through volunteering and fundraising for Friends of Manual, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and Park Hill Neighborhood Association.
Blake Johnson (Treasurer) - Class of 1988
Blake, his brother, Lyle Johnson (1986), and sister Ashley Rust (1991) all graduated from Manual. Blake received his BA in Economics from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN in 1992 and MBA in Finance from Indiana University in 1996.
Blake is CFO of Devils Thumb Ranch and Marker Hill Capital. His experience includes Commercial real estate development, oil and gas investments. He owns, builds and manages hotels, office buildings and retail buildings. Prior career work includes consultant at PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP, programming financial software, investment banking, and private equity, strategy at Level 3 Communications (where he worked with Tom Boasberg).
In addition to Friends of Manual, Blake serves on the board of Skyline Acres. He started a Robotics Club at his son's school. His wife, Lisa Grey Johnson founded and is director of Girls on the Run of the Rockies, a non-profit after school curriculum service over 5,000 girls a year in over 200 schools, many of which are in DPS.
Blake wants to serve the Manual community and help provide the school community and neighborhood, the pride, political and financial support to help the Manual kids and families.
Blake, his brother, Lyle Johnson (1986), and sister Ashley Rust (1991) all graduated from Manual. Blake received his BA in Economics from DePauw University, Greencastle, IN in 1992 and MBA in Finance from Indiana University in 1996.
Blake is CFO of Devils Thumb Ranch and Marker Hill Capital. His experience includes Commercial real estate development, oil and gas investments. He owns, builds and manages hotels, office buildings and retail buildings. Prior career work includes consultant at PriceWaterhouse Coopers LLP, programming financial software, investment banking, and private equity, strategy at Level 3 Communications (where he worked with Tom Boasberg).
In addition to Friends of Manual, Blake serves on the board of Skyline Acres. He started a Robotics Club at his son's school. His wife, Lisa Grey Johnson founded and is director of Girls on the Run of the Rockies, a non-profit after school curriculum service over 5,000 girls a year in over 200 schools, many of which are in DPS.
Blake wants to serve the Manual community and help provide the school community and neighborhood, the pride, political and financial support to help the Manual kids and families.
Catherine (Cathy) Crawford (Historian) - Class of 1981
Cathy is a Native of Denver and graduated from Manual in 1981. Going to Manual is a family tradition. Her father graduated from the Old Manual in 1953, and her 2 siblings graduated in 1976 and 1985. Her niece will carry on the tradition and will be the newest graduate in 2023. Cathy is a past board member who volunteered to be a mentor to a student who had to relocate to a different school when Manual closed in 2006. Cathy rejoined the Friends of Manual in 2019 because Manual is close to her heart and wanted to give back to the school.
It's never too late to go back to school. Cathy went back at the age of 40 and graduated from Community College of Aurora in 2010.
Currently working for Colorado Access, Cathy helps families access quality, affordable care through the Children’s Health Plan (CHP) in the State of Colorado. She has seen several families need extra help. She organized a food drive within her department and collected enough for almost 20 families for Thanksgiving and they adopted a family from Manual to help with Christmas.
Cathy loves traveling and was fortunate to go oversea more than 20 years ago. Since then she has been very blessed to see the 2 different Popes at the Vatican in Rome. Cathy is a firm believer in making a wish list and once you accomplish one add a new one. This always gave Cathy something to look forward to. Her next wish is to go to Spain, fingers crossed that travel will become safe again.
Cathy is a Native of Denver and graduated from Manual in 1981. Going to Manual is a family tradition. Her father graduated from the Old Manual in 1953, and her 2 siblings graduated in 1976 and 1985. Her niece will carry on the tradition and will be the newest graduate in 2023. Cathy is a past board member who volunteered to be a mentor to a student who had to relocate to a different school when Manual closed in 2006. Cathy rejoined the Friends of Manual in 2019 because Manual is close to her heart and wanted to give back to the school.
It's never too late to go back to school. Cathy went back at the age of 40 and graduated from Community College of Aurora in 2010.
Currently working for Colorado Access, Cathy helps families access quality, affordable care through the Children’s Health Plan (CHP) in the State of Colorado. She has seen several families need extra help. She organized a food drive within her department and collected enough for almost 20 families for Thanksgiving and they adopted a family from Manual to help with Christmas.
Cathy loves traveling and was fortunate to go oversea more than 20 years ago. Since then she has been very blessed to see the 2 different Popes at the Vatican in Rome. Cathy is a firm believer in making a wish list and once you accomplish one add a new one. This always gave Cathy something to look forward to. Her next wish is to go to Spain, fingers crossed that travel will become safe again.
Allison Rankin - Parent of Manual students
Allison and her husband Seth moved to Whittier in February 2002. They have 2 kids, Layla (who graduated from Manual in 2022) and Naomi, who is graduating from Manual in 2025. Allison fell in love with Manual as a board member of the Whittier Neighborhood Association (WNA) and over the years has developed deep relationships with students and teachers alike. Allison helped fundraise to send 20 kids from the Performing Arts Dept to New York in the Spring of 2022 and was honored to be invited to attend the trip as a parent chaperone. It was a life changing trip for everyone in attendance! You will often find her tucked in the seats of the Joyce Davis Auditorium watching auditions or rehearsals for the various performances Manual so masterfully puts on or cheering any and every sport from the Manual bleachers.
Allison has an undergraduate degree in Human Services from Lesley University and a Masters in Public Health and Social Work from Boston University. She left the field of public health to start a career in real estate in 2013 and never looked back!
Allison and her husband Seth moved to Whittier in February 2002. They have 2 kids, Layla (who graduated from Manual in 2022) and Naomi, who is graduating from Manual in 2025. Allison fell in love with Manual as a board member of the Whittier Neighborhood Association (WNA) and over the years has developed deep relationships with students and teachers alike. Allison helped fundraise to send 20 kids from the Performing Arts Dept to New York in the Spring of 2022 and was honored to be invited to attend the trip as a parent chaperone. It was a life changing trip for everyone in attendance! You will often find her tucked in the seats of the Joyce Davis Auditorium watching auditions or rehearsals for the various performances Manual so masterfully puts on or cheering any and every sport from the Manual bleachers.
Allison has an undergraduate degree in Human Services from Lesley University and a Masters in Public Health and Social Work from Boston University. She left the field of public health to start a career in real estate in 2013 and never looked back!
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Jim McNally, (Historian Emeritus) - Class of 1957
A retired DPS social science teacher born and raised in Denver, Jim is a person steeped in the lore of his home town, especially Manual High School. As a local historian, he compiled a book in 2000 for Charlie "Bronco" Goldberg titled: Broncos: How Sweet It Is! He holds MA degrees in History (1970) and Educational Media (1975) from the University of Northern Colorado. While a teacher of US history for over 25 years, he always emphasized the importance of Denver, Manual, and minorities in the narrative of our country. His second book is titled: Denver's Manual High School- 1876 Bricklayers to Thunderbolts 2016. |
Previous Board Members:
Bernique Abiakam, James Beverly, Bill Bridges, Aaron Burgamy, Debra Clark, Kari Campbell, Dan Combs, Cathy Crawford, Sarah Csanyi, Nick Delap, Polly Flobeck, Kendrick Friendly, Ron Frierson, Linda Galloway, Julia Gayles, Emily Harris, Hayden Hirschfeld, Lainie Hodges, Andy Holleman, Bruce Hoyt, Walter Huff, Rossanda Jackson, GG Johnston, Pastor Vernon Jones, Angie Knepell, Charles Malek, Jacob Martinez, Burke McHugh, Alexis McClain, Jim McNally, Jorge Merida, Anne Moorehead, Buffy Naake, John Raabe, Joan Richardson, Cindy Sack, Laurence Schiffman, Al Schnegelberger, Dale Scott, Becky Selig, Aaron Smith, Jessica Springs, Max Stitch, Rebecca Sunshine-Dewitt, Wallace Sutton, Jose Torres, Lane Volpe, John Warren, Mark Warren, Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth, Graham Williams, and Marty Zimmerman.
We are looking for new Board Members! Please click on the Board Application Form to apply or email us for more information.
Bernique Abiakam, James Beverly, Bill Bridges, Aaron Burgamy, Debra Clark, Kari Campbell, Dan Combs, Cathy Crawford, Sarah Csanyi, Nick Delap, Polly Flobeck, Kendrick Friendly, Ron Frierson, Linda Galloway, Julia Gayles, Emily Harris, Hayden Hirschfeld, Lainie Hodges, Andy Holleman, Bruce Hoyt, Walter Huff, Rossanda Jackson, GG Johnston, Pastor Vernon Jones, Angie Knepell, Charles Malek, Jacob Martinez, Burke McHugh, Alexis McClain, Jim McNally, Jorge Merida, Anne Moorehead, Buffy Naake, John Raabe, Joan Richardson, Cindy Sack, Laurence Schiffman, Al Schnegelberger, Dale Scott, Becky Selig, Aaron Smith, Jessica Springs, Max Stitch, Rebecca Sunshine-Dewitt, Wallace Sutton, Jose Torres, Lane Volpe, John Warren, Mark Warren, Hon. Elbra Wedgeworth, Graham Williams, and Marty Zimmerman.
We are looking for new Board Members! Please click on the Board Application Form to apply or email us for more information.