The Kids Create the Music Foundation Board of Directors and Advisors are comprised of  Volunteer members who donate their time and/or services to the mission of the Foundation.

Board Members

Suna Thomas
Suna Thomas has in B.S. Medical Dietetics and Nutrition and M.Ed. in Exercise Physiology.  She was an entrepreneur and consultant and nationally recognized in the wellness field, who developed comprehensive health and wellness programs for over 15 years for companies such as Monsanto/Solutia/Texas Instruments/Texaco Oil Company/Parker and Parsely and more.  Her belief in proactivity and her passion to make a difference led her to be very successful, showing true cost savings in the millions in her  prevention and safety programs that she developed and implemented.  Her work did not go un-noticed, she won many awards including VPP Star Award for Health Safety, Well Workplace Gold Award, national award from the Surgeon General C. Everett Coop for Wellness, Wellness Director of The Year.   After having 2 boys, Suna took a leave of absence from her field and turned her energy in being a stay home mom to Noel (age 12) and Evan (age 10) and her family. Her creativity, vision and her volunteerism vow to continue to make a difference “now” in her kids’ lives.  Her love for music led to her having a vision for creating the Kinard House Band.  After successfully putting together the middle school club and finding funding for its first year, she turned her thoughts to the year to follow and the need for this opportunity at more schools for more kids in Northern Colorado.  She inspired a group of business leaders, community members and music industry professionals to band together to raise the funds necessary to broaden the reach and create the Kiss FM Kids Create the Music Foundation.

Chris Kelly
Chris is the Program Director and Afternoon Show Host for Northern Colorado’s 96.1 KISS FM, also serves as the Arena Host for the Colorado Eagles and now as the Spokesperson for the Kids Create the Music Foundation.  He has been in the Northern Colorado market for 10 years, and in that time has dedicated thousands of hours to community service in almost every facet of the phrase.  His dedication to the community and public service, through his own personal volunteer efforts, in addition to that of the radio station he is responsible for and the staff that makes it up, is paramount to his vision for the radio station.  Chris has been part of numerous efforts that have raised, in total, well over two million dollars for local causes in the past decade.  His most prominent contribution is through the radio station’s annual Kissmas Wishes Holiday Drive, where he and his staff are responsible for collecting and donating items to more than 40 local non-profit agencies, totalling approximately $250,000 annually.

Dani Grant
Dani is the new owner of  the historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre up Poudre Canyon, as well as one of the owners/operators of Chipper’s Lanes, a chain of 4 bowling centers on the Front Range.  Chipper’s is also an all ages live music venue and hosts local music weekly in Fort Collins.  Dani is an active member of the community and a proponent of local music in Northern Colorado.  Dani managed the 2008 Bohemian Nights at New West Fest and has assisted management at other festivals in the area over the past 3 years.  Dani has 3 daughters at Tavelli Elementary ages 8, 7, and 5 who all play the piano, goof around with harmonicas and sing.

Jill Michel
Jill has worked in various capacities in the music industry for 11 years with local, regional and national talent ranging from Billy Joel to String Cheese Incident.  Her tasks have included stage management, artist liaison, as well as audio & lighting production management.  She has worked annually at the International Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas and is currently in her 12th year of audio account managing for festivals and concerts at Shaped Music Inc., in Fort Collins.  Her interests and skills include full service detailing of all aspects of live concerts and festivals locally and regionally. Her clients include The Downtown Fort Collins Business Association, Beet Street, New West Fest @ Bohemian Nights, Colorado College and others.  She has also facilitated personnel management and crew training/development for Shaped Music.  Jill has a passion for observing kids develop musically in their gifting or various music industry interests.  She has six children, ranging in age from 12 to 27 who are all musically involved.

Jessica Brown
Jessica is a proud alumni of Colorado State University and owner of JBrown Enterprise, an IT headhunting firm. In addition to her role with Kids Create the Music Foundation, Jessica seats on two other local boards, the Larimer County Workforce Investment Board and the Loveland Sculpture Invitational Board.  She is well versed in the creation and restructuring of community boards and is a respected community leader.  Her networking and business connections gives her an ability to get the “right people” to the table that are instrumental in implementing the visions of volunteer boards. Her husband Skip, a drummer, has been influential in her love and support for the arts.  She believes that kids who benefit from KCTMF and the Middle School House Band programs will be carry this enriched experience with them through the rest of their lives making them not just “better” musicians but empowered individuals!

Jeffrey Swager
Jeffrey is the Associated Director for Northern Colorado’s Arts and Entertainment publication, The Scene Magazine.  Located in Fort Collins, you might find Jeffrey promoting, producing or even playing in an event.  He also founded Symbiotic Music Productions in 2001, which provides professional event planning consultation to businesses, non-profit companies, venues, events and festivals.  Focusing on fundraising related events, Jeffrey always finds an angle to, “Party with a Purpose.”   He also works closely with up and coming musicians by talent buying for an all ages live music venue, Chipper’s Lanes Live.  Jeffrey also serves on the board with Leaving a Positive Legacy Program, a non-profit organization which helps engage music fans during events to support and increase awareness for chosen social, cultural and environmental beneficiaries.

Advisors/Staff/Volunteers

David Parsons – Instructor, Kinard House Band
David Parsons grew up on the East Coast but has lived in Colorado since 1984.  He grew up playing piano in a musical family and picked up the guitar in his early 20′s.  He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in Music Recording and did his internship in Nashville area studios.  He toured with the Continental Singers in the 80′s and produced music for the Miss America pageant TV broadcast in 1990.  He is currently working with multiple Front Range bands and tours with GunnPoint, a Cowboy Church and special events band, is the Musical Director for a Denver area church, teaches guitar privately and is also staying involved with studio production/music recording projects, all while the Kinard House Band Music Director.

Rich Werdes - Shaped Music
Jess Gries – Legal Advisor