Katie Svihlik-Burpo
CEO

Katie Svihlik-Burpo is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of GoldStar Learning Options, Inc, a certified SLPA and Behavior Interventionist. Growing up with a younger sister with Angelman Syndrome and Prader Willi syndrome, she experienced the many challenges families face every day in the world of disabilities. She began working with individuals with disabilities in 2001 in private practice settings, schools and interdisciplinary centers. Katie graduated from Metropolitan State University with a degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences in 2006 and continued to work in the field using a holistic approach. She believes that with the right supports every individual can learn and grow at any stage of life.  She loves to spend time with her family and enjoy the outdoors in 4-wheeling, camping and hiking.  Katie continues to dedicate her life to setting up programs to ensure ongoing progress in each individual with differences so that they may lead a purposeful, fulfilling life.

Brandi Rende
Director of Operations

Brandi is the Chief Officer of Operations here at GoldStar Learning Options, Inc.  Helping others has been her passion since she was young and went through the loss of her sweet cousin who was born with down syndrome.  She is passionate about providing purpose to every individual she works with.  She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has taken a number of master’s level courses in counseling.  Her professional experiences include Inpatient and emergency psychiatric departments at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, supervising a severe behavioral group home for adolescents as well as in home and community-based behavior therapy with a variety of children and adults with developmental differences.  She believes that every individual deserves to live life to their fullest potential and with purpose.  She enjoys spending time with her family and spending time around the campfire in the beautiful Colorado mountains.  Brandi is dedicated to helping GoldStar continue to provide the highest quality of services to help every individual achieve their greatest potential.

Rachael Porter
Associate Director of Operations

Rachael Porter is the Associate Director of Business Operations and works with the GoldStar team to ensure all day to day operations are running with quality and efficiency. Rachael believes that the goal of each GoldStar program should be to support the clients, families, and staff in every aspect of life. In her 7 years with GoldStar, she has truly found her passion in serving families and supporting those working with developmental disabilities. Rachael enjoys the Broncos, her two bunnies, and a glass of scotch in her free time. She believes that every child, adult, and family deserve to feel that their voice is heard and she will do everything within her power to meet every family’s unique needs. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and is a great resource for individual clients, billing, Medicaid and is creative with how to find the supports for each person.   

Meghan Horihan
Associate Director of Adult Services

Meghan Horihan is the Associate Director of Adult services who works with GoldStar clients ages 18 and up to help them find a meaningful life path while supporting individuals to pursue their own purpose. Meghan firmly believes that GoldStar provides a place for individuals to be confident in their own abilities while providing the support for continued progress towards independence. Meghan has empowered individuals to find meaningful employment, while also working with the community to realize the competitive advantage of neurodiversity within the workforce. Meghan graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She enjoys watching the Green Bay Packers and finding new adventures. Through her work she hopes to identify and eliminate barriers that hinder a fully inclusive community. 

Robyn Ledebuhr
Behavior Department Director

Robyn Ledebuhr is the Director of the Behavior Department and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with GoldStar Learning Options. Robyn began her behavior analysis career in 2005 at a growing company that focused on early intervention in Hermosa Beach, California. In 2010, she graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in Psychology. In February of 2012, she passed her exam to  become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Robyn moved to Denver, Colorado in 2015. After starting at GoldStar in 2016, she quickly stepped up to the role of Director of the Behavior Department. As she supports GoldStar’s Behavior Consults, her goal is to facilitate the growth of the behavior program with the creation and implementation of sound behavioral intervention. Robyn has 3 beautiful children of her own. Watching them grow and take on challenges has only reaffirmed the importance of providing quality support and guidance to individuals with developmental delays and their families.

Monica Hoffman
Associate Director of Program Operations

Monica Hoffman is the Associate Director of Program Operations at GoldStar Learning Options, Inc, in addition to providing therapeutic supports as a Behavior Interventionist. She grew up in a large family that embraced individuals with developmental disabilities which created her passion for this field. Monica graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders: Speech Language Pathology, and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado.  Monica has worked in the field in a variety of settings including private and public schools, as well as non-profit agencies. She enjoys reading and the outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends creating, memories to last a lifetime. Monica continues to search for ways to promote awareness and acceptance of those with differences in all walks of life.

Heather Mazzuca
Manager of Adult Operations

Heather is the Manager of Adult Operations with GoldStar Learning Options. Working with adults with Developmental Disabilities became a newfound passion when she started working for GoldStar with no previous experience in the field. Heather began as a full-time Direct Care staff in our Adult Day Program. She has worked her way in the direction of billing and supporting our adult participants ensuring they have the funding they need to work towards a more independent and purposeful life. Heather loves spending time with her 2 doggos, no matter what the activity! Heather is committed to helping all adult participants at GoldStar reach their fullest potential while learning through real life experiences. 

Emily Thompson
Human Resources Manager
Emily Thompson is the Human Resources Manager for GoldStar. Emily brings a decade of experience in customer service and business development. She came to us in the summer of 2019 to help identify the business needs for our programs and implement effective solutions to meet those needs. She drives the implementation of new technologies for communication and organization within the company. In February of 2020, Emily moved into the Human Resources Manager position. Her passion is to help company and employee growth. Even through moving into this position at the beginning of a worldwide pandemic, she has made sure the company continues to run smoothly and has done a great job of keeping everyone informed. In her personal time, Emily enjoys collecting art, going to concerts, doing anything outdoors, and spending time with her husband, daughter and two giant dogs.
Lauren Williams
Manager of Children’s Programs

Lauren Williams is the Manager of Children’s Programs at Goldstar Learning Options, Inc. and a Registered Behavior Technician, providing quality and comprehensive support for our individuals and families, as well as our team members. Her passion for caring for underserved populations was sparked at a young age and has persisted through adulthood. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder with a double degree in Psychology and Sociology, she went on to work with the Department of Human Services, where she gained valuable experience and a true passion for advocacy. She works closely with our Goldstar families to understand each individual's unique, dynamic needs in order to help cultivate a positive environment of inclusion and opportunity for all. In addition to her passion for serving our community, Lauren enjoys exploring Colorado, the abundant music scene (especially Red Rocks), and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Lauren Hofmann
Office Manager

Lauren Hofmann is the Office Manager of GoldStar and works to ensure everything at GoldStar is running smoothly and efficiently.  Lauren works with almost everyone at GoldStar and is the first person you see when you come into the office.  She brings six well-informed years of customer relations experience and is committed to providing exceptional customer service.  She has a knack for turning problems into opportunities and serving the needs of every team member and client at GoldStar.  She is passionate about making a real difference in the people around her, and is thrilled to have found a home with GoldStar. Lauren is a native to Colorado and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  When not working, you can find Lauren playing softball, she is an avid athlete, who has won a few world championships.  Her and her boyfriend recently purchased their first home and they are excited to start that chapter of their lives.  Lauren believes that “if you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life”.  Lauren is dedicated to providing the very best for every team member and client, so they can achieve their greatest potential.

Lētta Steshyn
Public Relations and Special Projects Administrator
Letta is the Public Relations and Special Projects Administrator here at GoldStar Learning Options, Inc. In 2007, she graduated from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing. Letta strongly believes in the power of positivity and helping others. Being apart of this amazing industry has always been a goal for Letta. She is a lending hand here at GoldStar for billing, organization, and marketing. Her main mission is to continue to remind all GLO staff that they are appreciated and supported for all they do. Letta truly loves spending time with friends and her 4 dogs.