Board Members

With a BA in elementary education/music and a BS in nursing, Barb brings 20+ years of

experience in child development, patient care and leadership. She is a Registered Nurse with a

background primarily in pediatrics and NICU, and is also a professional musician and educator.

During nursing clinicals, Barb learned about behavioral modification therapies for autistic

children, but was frustrated that this could be the only option as it didn’t always seem to be

effective. Barb and her husband Troy met Kaegan, Josha, and Odell in 2016 through their real

estate company, when the Smiths were seeking a property to build a Keys 4 Autism community,

and they quickly became friends. Barb & Troy were so humbled and inspired by their story. It

was an eye-opener for Barb from a medical standpoint, in that there truly was more out there

than just behavioral modification therapy. From that point on she and Troy tried to be involved

with Keys in whatever capacity they could. It has been a joy to see the growth in both Kaegan

and the program, and she is excited to be more involved. Barb currently travels part-time as a

Clinical Nurse Educator. When she is not working you will find her outdoors, either on the beach

in Puerto Rico or in the mountains of Colorado, or performing music wherever she can!

Justin Mitchell is the owner of JAMCo Woodworks, a sawmill and woodworking business in Montrose County, Colorado. He’s been connected to Kaegan and the heart behind CommuniKeys since 2008, drawn to its vision of restoration, justice, and radical belonging. With a background in construction and community-rooted business, Justin brings a grounded, relational approach to the board and a deep commitment to building spaces where people thrive.

Annette has been working in the Supply Chain industry in Finance and Human Resources for the past 7 years. In the late 90’s Annette met Kaegan and his family when they attended the same church in Houston, Texas. She was invited to join Kaegan’s therapy team and fell in love with their passion and compassion. Annette currently lives in West Texas and enjoys spending time with family and friends. When she gets a chance you can find her on the pickle ball court or in the yoga studio.