Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang has lived in Pueblo for 25 years and holds a BA in Economics and Management from Albion College. His career spans sales, operations, and construction management, beginning with Westinghouse Electric and the Eaton Corporation, which brought him to Pueblo in 2001. For the past fifteen years, he has served as COO of TR Toppers, Inc. Andrew is deeply involved in the community, including leadership roles with United Way, District 60 strategic planning, the CSU Pueblo Hasan School of Business Advisory Committee, and the PEDCO Board and Foundation. He and his wife, Martina, live in Pueblo West and have two adult children in Denver.
Patricia A. Erjavec
Patricia A. Erjavec, PhD, is the retired distinguished President of Pueblo Community College, where she served from 2010 to 2024, leading a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution committed to accessible, high-quality education across multiple campuses in southern Colorado. Prior to her presidency, she served on the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, including terms as Board Chair and Interim System President, and earlier held executive leadership roles in behavioral health and manufacturing. Dr. Erjavec holds a PhD in Leadership, Research and Foundations from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Colorado. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with numerous state and national honors for her leadership in education and community service and continues to serve on several local and statewide boards. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Patty and her husband, Ray, have built a beautiful life with their children and community.
Leo Laprarie
Raised in Pueblo, he is a graduate of Pueblo County High School and earned his B.A. from the University of Southern Colorado (CSUP), an M.A. and K–12 Principal endorsement from Adams State, and a Superintendent’s endorsement from U.C.C.S. He retired in 2014 after a 36-year career in K–12 education as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent, serving on numerous committees and boards and focusing on helping students succeed. He has been married to his wife Janice for 47 years, and together they have raised three children and are proud grandparents of seven. In retirement, he continues to serve his community through church and civic organizations, including Parents Challenge Pueblo.
BJ Tripp
A fourth-generation Coloradoan and proud Pueblo resident, BJ (Betty Jean) Tripp is passionate about seeing her community move forward and creating greater opportunities for the next generation. She has served as a deacon and active member of her church, where she started a Divorce Recovery Workshop. Along with her husband, Mike, she also taught several Dave Ramsey financial classes, helping individuals and families develop stronger financial foundations. For BJ, serving with Parents Challenge is about more than education, it is about investing in parents, strengthening families, and helping children build a future filled with opportunity. With two of her three daughters having left Colorado to pursue successful careers, BJ hopes that her 11 grandchildren will one day find abundant opportunities right here in their home state.
Bob Leach
Bob Leach is a Pueblo native who received a BS degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University – Fort Collins. The first 10 years of Bob’s career were spent as an engineering consultant and land surveyor. The bulk of Bob’s career was as a homebuilder and land developer with projects in Pueblo, Colorado Springs & Canon City. Bob is past chair of the Pueblo Association of Homebuilders, the Colorado Association of Homebuilders & the Board of Directors of the Pueblo YMCA. Bob is currently serving as chair elect of the Pueblo Economic Development Corp. (PEDCo). Bob and his late wife Karen were married for 35 years and have three adult children.
Florence Hunt
Florence Hunt served as the Victim/Witness Coordinator with the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a position she held with dedication and compassion for more than 37 years.
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Florence moved with her family to Colorado Springs in 1968. In 1981, she relocated to Pueblo with her one-year-old daughter, Tonika Simmons, where she continued building a life centered on community leadership and advocacy.
Florence’s passion for helping others and advancing education has guided both her professional and volunteer service. She strongly believes in the importance of family and in creating strong foundations and opportunities for youth to succeed.
Her extensive community involvement and leadership include:
- Colorado Victims of Crime Act Board – more than 10 years of service
- Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) – 6 years as Co-Vice President and 3 years as President
- Pueblo African American Concern Organization – 2 years as Vice President and 7 years as President
- Pueblo Domestic Violence Community Task Force – Founding Member with 10 years of service
- Graduate of the El Pomar Leadership Program, Class of 2014
Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang has lived in Pueblo for 25 years and holds a BA in Economics and Management from Albion College. His career spans sales, operations, and construction management, beginning with Westinghouse Electric and the Eaton Corporation, which brought him to Pueblo in 2001. For the past fifteen years, he has served as COO of TR Toppers, Inc. Andrew is deeply involved in the community, including leadership roles with United Way, District 60 strategic planning, the CSU Pueblo Hasan School of Business Advisory Committee, and the PEDCO Board and Foundation. He and his wife, Martina, live in Pueblo West and have two adult children in Denver.
Patricia A. Erjavec
Patricia A. Erjavec, PhD, is the retired distinguished President of Pueblo Community College, where she served from 2010 to 2024, leading a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution committed to accessible, high-quality education across multiple campuses in southern Colorado. Prior to her presidency, she served on the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, including terms as Board Chair and Interim System President, and earlier held executive leadership roles in behavioral health and manufacturing. Dr. Erjavec holds a PhD in Leadership, Research and Foundations from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Colorado. Throughout her career, she has been recognized with numerous state and national honors for her leadership in education and community service and continues to serve on several local and statewide boards. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Patty and her husband, Ray, have built a beautiful life with their children and community.
Leo Laprarie
Raised in Pueblo, he is a graduate of Pueblo County High School and earned his B.A. from the University of Southern Colorado (CSUP), an M.A. and K–12 Principal endorsement from Adams State, and a Superintendent’s endorsement from U.C.C.S. He retired in 2014 after a 36-year career in K–12 education as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent, serving on numerous committees and boards and focusing on helping students succeed. He has been married to his wife Janice for 47 years, and together they have raised three children and are proud grandparents of seven. In retirement, he continues to serve his community through church and civic organizations, including Parents Challenge Pueblo.
BJ Tripp
A fourth-generation Coloradoan and proud Pueblo resident, BJ (Betty Jean) Tripp is passionate about seeing her community move forward and creating greater opportunities for the next generation. She has served as a deacon and active member of her church, where she started a Divorce Recovery Workshop. Along with her husband, Mike, she also taught several Dave Ramsey financial classes, helping individuals and families develop stronger financial foundations. For BJ, serving with Parents Challenge is about more than education, it is about investing in parents, strengthening families, and helping children build a future filled with opportunity. With two of her three daughters having left Colorado to pursue successful careers, BJ hopes that her 11 grandchildren will one day find abundant opportunities right here in their home state.
Bob Leach
Bob Leach is a Pueblo native who received a BS degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University – Fort Collins. The first 10 years of Bob’s career were spent as an engineering consultant and land surveyor. The bulk of Bob’s career was as a homebuilder and land developer with projects in Pueblo, Colorado Springs & Canon City. Bob is past chair of the Pueblo Association of Homebuilders, the Colorado Association of Homebuilders & the Board of Directors of the Pueblo YMCA. Bob is currently serving as chair elect of the Pueblo Economic Development Corp. (PEDCo). Bob and his late wife Karen were married for 35 years and have three adult children.
Florence Hunt
Florence Hunt serves as the Victim/Witness Coordinator with the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a position she has held with dedication and compassion for more than 37 years.
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Florence moved with her family to Colorado Springs in 1968. In 1981, she relocated to Pueblo with her one-year-old daughter, Tonika Simmons, where she continued building a life centered on community leadership and advocacy.
Florence’s passion for helping others and advancing education has guided both her professional and volunteer service. She strongly believes in the importance of family and in creating strong foundations and opportunities for youth to succeed.
Her extensive community involvement and leadership include:
- Colorado Victims of Crime Act Board – more than 10 years of service
- Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) – 6 years as Co-Vice President and 3 years as President
- Pueblo African American Concern Organization – 2 years as Vice President and 7 years as President
- Pueblo Domestic Violence Community Task Force – Founding Member with 10 years of service
- Graduate of the El Pomar Leadership Program, Class of 2014