About Chestor House

Chestor House is a not for profit 501(c) (3) charitable organization that provides support services to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities in managed residential settings. We have a history of over 20 years of service to Boulder County and the surrounding area. The Professional Staff of Chestor House is comprised of experienced professionals with deep commitment to the individuals they serve. The Board of Directors are volunteers from the community giving their time in support of the organizations goals.

Contact Information

Chestor House
1831 Boston Ave. Suite 100
Longmont, CO 80501

Phone:	(303) 926-8840
Fax:	(303) 926-8838
email:	info@chestorhouse.org

Privacy Information

Thank You!

Our successful growth was made possible through the generosity of our friends in the community. However, there are many more people in need of our specialized services and we hope we will have the opportunity to help them.

If you would like to make a donation or learn more about us, please contact our director at info@chestorhouse.org.

Professional Staff

Executive Director/CEO
Debbie Spencer LCSW came to Chestor House Inc. with many years of experience in the field of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Utah and her Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Program Manager
Radha Pillai joined Chestor House Inc. in May 2002 as a program manager. Radha qualified as an R.N. in Psychiatry in England in 1974. He has since worked as a nurse in charge of the severely mentally ill, as a residential social worker with the elderly, as a development worker helping resettle the mentally ill population from Institutions into the community, as a Case Manager for the long term mentally ill, and an Operations Manager in the Midlands, for a National Special needs Housing Association providing housing and support to people with mental health and DD issues. He brings a wealth of experience in human services and believes strongly in equal rights for all individuals and opportunities for all to reach their full potential.

Program Manager
Meredith Baughman comes to Chestor House from Austin, Texas. She has over 12 years experience in social work. This includes residential treatment centers, public schools, camps, and advocacy organizations. She has worked with both adults and children with mental health and developmental disabilities. While at NAMI-Texas, her children and adolescent program called “Visions for Tomorrow”, was published by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and is currently used all over the United States to teach parents and professionals about brain disorders. She enjoys helping people reach their fullest potential in spite of the obstacles they face.

Health Coordinator:
Mary Schoonmaker, the CHESTOR HOUSE INC. nurse, came originally from Massachusetts, where she got her license to practice nursing almost 30 years ago. Ms. Schoonmaker came to Colorado in 1989 with her husband and four children to find a new life. During the next ten years, she developed and managed a respite care program for children and their parents who were involved with the Mental Health Center of Boulder County. Mary has been working at CHESTOR HOUSE INC. since May 2005 and feels very fortunate to be part of "this remarkable team!"

Board of Directors

Gerry R. Phillips (Vice President, Treasurer)
Gerry helped found Chestor House in 1982 and has been a valuable member of the board since 1983. He has also actively participated and been members of other organization including: The Board of Directors for the Colorado Chapter of Autism Society of America, President of the Board of Directors of the NBI Foundation, and President of the Denver Chapter of Tax Executives Institute. Currently, Gerry is the Director, Corporate Tax for Corporate Express, Inc. in Broomfield, CO. He is a graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, with Bachelor of Science - Business and MBA degrees. Gerry is the parent of an autistic son.

Pat Adams (Secretary)
Pat has been a board member of Chestor House since 2003. A former Chestor House Executive Director, from which she retired from in 1998, Pat brings over 30 years of experience in a wide variety of positions in the field of Developmental Disabilities. She has taught public school, implemented Curriculum Development at the University of Iowa, provided case management and social work services, and held many administrative positions in the field. She has a degree in English from Berea College in Kentucky and a graduate degree in Special Education from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Cathy Zink (President)
Cathy Zink has been a board member since 2005. Cathy is the Senior Director of Financial IT systems for DaVita, a healthcare leader providing dialysis to patients through out the United States. Cathy is experienced in moving teams from where they are to where they need to be. She enjoys Colorado outdoor activities, cooking and entertaining. Cathy and her family moved to Colorado in 1983 from Chicago, IL. Cathy completed the Center for Creative Leadership training program, received her undergraduate degree in Accounting and Computer Systems and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance.

Geri Chestor
GERI CHESTOR is a strong advocate for people with Developmental Disabilities. Her son, Richard, is a participant in the Chestor House program. Geri has a long history of involvement with legislation, education and program development on a local and national level. She is a co-founder of the Autism Society of Colorado 1970; on the Board of Directors, Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Resource Center 1980-1992; served on many boards and committees in behalf of people in need of supportive community services. Geri and her family have been involved with the Chestor House program since it began in 1982 and she has served, periodically, on the Board of Directors.

David Sanderson
David S. Sanderson, Esq., is a 1988 Fordham Law School graduate (New York City). He was first admitted to the bar in 1989 in New York, where he practiced general litigation with a New York law firm until relocating to and starting the firm in Boulder in 1991. He is also admitted in Wyoming, various federal courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Dave has been a member of the National, Colorado and Boulder Criminal Defense Bars. He resides in Boulder and litigates business disputes, civil rights, criminal cases, and injury cases statewide out of his offices in Boulder, Colorado.

In 1982, a group of parents of children with autism, along with the Colorado Chapter of the Autism Society of America, established Chestor House, Inc. as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our organization began as a single group home housing eight people with disabilities and was the first in Colorado to adopt a philosophy of non-aversive therapeutic methods.

Believing that individualized services are best provided in a smaller setting, we pioneered a shift from larger group homes to host-homes. Many of our first clients came from state institutions, lacking the basic skills to care for themselves. We have watched many of these individuals progress beyond all expectations, and this success has enabled our growth. Today Chestor House provides services to approximately thirty people.