Anaïs González Castellano – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach / Data Specialist, AFC

I joined mpowered as a Personal Finance Coach because I believe in everyone’s right to achieve financial self-sufficiency. I’m happy to be part of an organization that shares my values and strives to make a difference by providing tools and support that are accessible to all people.

My professional background is in nonprofits, adult education, and cross-cultural communication. Before joining mpowered, I worked as manager of the adult education and immigration programs at Chinese Mutual Aid Association, a human services agency in Chicago. Prior to becoming a manager, I taught English as a Second Language to adults of various cultural and educational backgrounds, and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. My experience helps me build a strong rapport with people of all walks of life, and identify what best fits their needs.

Carli Cisna – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach

Carli Cisna, AFC® is a Bilingual Personal Finance Coach. She works integrated at Warren Village and Mi Casa primarily with single-parents and entrepreneurs to help them establish and improve their credit and in turn, find additional housing opportunities or grow their businesses. Her educational background includes a mix of formal and informal experiences consisting of a Master’s in International Management from Colorado State University – Global Campus, a Bachelor’s in Latin American Studies – Spanish from Seattle Pacific University and time spent living abroad immersed with people of other cultures. When she’s not at mpowered, she can be seen going to concerts, frequenting the mountains, hitting up local breweries, or making guacamole.

Edith Reed AFC® – Personal Finance Coach

I joined mpowered as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) in 2013. I am passionate about helping individuals realize their strengths, self-worth and build confidence to reach their personal and financial goals. I enjoy working with diverse populations and believe in meeting people where they are. I consider myself a gentle flame and my calm, welcoming nature provides a safe, nonjudgmental space where individuals can explore their values & identify their definition of financial success. I enjoy challenging individuals to push beyond barriers, and even mindsets to enjoy their own sense of financial well-being. Prior to joining mpowered, I counseled military members in personal finance. When I’m not working I enjoy reading, listening to music, the performing arts & spending time with family & friends.

Lydia Ruter – Integrated Services Program Manager

I joined mpowered at the start of 2013, with the launch of the Financial Empowerment Centers. I currently serve as the Integrated Services Program Manager, and have been a coach, and a team lead before that. I love mpowered’s work so much because I think that empowerment is how change happens in the world. People need to feel agency to take action, and know it will make a meaningful difference. I enjoy doing financial coaching and now I love coaching our team of Coaches through their learning process, professional development, and goals.  I have a Bachelor’s of Behavioral Science/Social Work, and Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management. Before coming to mpowered, I worked in a few nonprofits that sought to provide safe, stable, affordable housing, including Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. In my free time I love to hike, read books on behavioral economics, and spend time with friends.

Noreen VL Wilson – Financial Wellbeing Coach

I am a Financial Wellbeing Coach and Credit Counselor for Operation HOPE – Inside Denver.  I have over 20+ years of financial experience having held positions from Banking Assistant, Vice President, Risk Management, Business Analysis, Trainer, Auditor, Credit Analyst, Underwriter, Marketing Analyst and Lending Manager while also having extensive mortgage and home modification expertise.  I have managed high-performing business teams to include secondary loans, funding, closing and loan processing teams.  I attended University of Phoenix focusing on a BA in Organizational Management and I possess certifications in the following: Financial Coach, Advocacy Coach, Professional Trainer, Credit Counseling, Six Sigma and Life Coach.  I am a board member for Bank on Denver and contributing partner of the Financial Equity Coalition.

Mariette Candelon – Personal Finance Coach

I joined mpowered as a Personal Finance coach in March 2017. I feel so fortunate to be able to be part of the organization’s mission and help individuals and families on the path towards financial self-sufficiency. I look forward to providing them with support, knowledge and resources available so that as they are accomplishing their financial goals, they can write their own personal story. The financial and personal journey are intertwined, and it is together that we embark upon it. Besides living and working in France, I have had the chance to be an educator for 7 years in Vietnam. I have continued in the education field in the US with DPS, before transitioning into the finance industry with Fidelity Investments. These combined experiences naturally led me to this current role, and it is such an exceptional opportunity to be able to utilize these skills at mpowered. This organization is unique because it provides and nurtures a work environment where compassion, self-care and tolerance are words and values that not only we use and implement daily with the people we support, but that we experience ourselves as members who are part of a wonderful team.

Oscar Torres – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach

Being part of an organization that puts people at the helm of their financial lives is tremendously rewarding. Having that one-on-one contact with clients and knowing they’re one step closer to achieving their goals is a powerful feeling. With a background in customer service, communications, languages, and professional development in education, I feel right at home at mpowered. During my free time I enjoy reading nonfiction, listening to podcasts, watching movies, and leisurely hikes.

Rachel Levy-Culler – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach

I joined mpowered as a Bilingual Personal Finance Coach in September 2017. As I pursued my Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, it became clear that my passion and niche within social work was asset building and financial stability for individuals and families with low incomes. Fortunately, I was able to work as a financial coach in South Florida after receiving my MSW. I look forward to becoming a better, stronger coach. I have a Bachelor of Arts from Appalachian State University. After receiving this degree, I served as a Small Business Development Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Peru, where I became fluent in Spanish. I have also worked at a Women, Infants, and Children clinic; as a migrant farmworker health outreach worker; and as a coordinator of a small business boot camp program. When I’m not at mpowered, I am working side jobs to pay off my student loan debt faster, running, hiking, and exploring Colorado.

Yannek Smith – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach

Yannek Smith has been proudly working for mpowered since early 2017 as a Bilingual Personal Finance Coach. His background is in Education, the Nonprofit sector as well language instruction, translation and editing. His previous career experiences include a consultancy for an international microfinance nonprofit and several years in an academic center focused on Human Rights. He currently serves community members at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer as well as Mi Casa Resource Center in Southwest Denver. In addition to coaching and teaching for the organization, Yannek is focused on developing new financial education content and creating strong community connections with local organizations.

Enrique Aviles – Bilingual Personal Finance Coach

As a member of the Bank On Denver team, Enrique serves as Financial Coach and also supports the immediate needs of families and individuals through the Covid Relief Fund grants program administered by Bank On Denver. Enrique grew up in Southern Arizona where he worked in the field of human services and education and has extensive experience working in the non-profit realm supporting the needs of children, youth, families, and communities in varying capacities including program coordination, program management, prevention services, education, and community development as well as a facilitator, instructor, and trainer. Prior to joining Bank On Denver, Enrique worked as a Bilingual Personal Financial Coach at mpowered helping families and individuals in the greater Denver metro area become more financially stable. Enrique is passionate about social justice, including economic justice, and providing services that will empower our communities and lift them to a higher, more equitable plane.

Kate Sanks, AFCPE® – Personal Finance Coach

Kate is passionate about supporting her clients in realizing their personal and small business financial goals! Clients feel safe and empowered while working collaboratively with her.

Kate is a certified financial counselor/coach through the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education^® (AFCPE) and is also a life coach. These, along with her Bachelor’s in both Accounting and Psychology, allow her to effectively offer a broad base of knowledge and skills which her clients benefit from.

What to bring to your first appointment:

To make the most of your appointment, bring the following information if you have it:

• Most recent paystub
• Award letters for any public benefits you are receiving including unemployment
• Monthly expenses – how much do you spend on rent, utilities, cell phone, transportation, food, child care and any other regular expenses?
• Debt –how much do you owe in credit cards, student loans, car payments, mortgage or other loans or credit

During your first appointment:

Each appointment is unique based on your circumstances, but during your first appointment you can expect to:

• Learn more about the financial coaching and how it can work for you
• Sign a confidentiality agreement that authorizes how information you share may be used
• Provide information on your monthly income, expenses, debt, employment and how use financial products and services
• Sign an authorization to pull your credit report and it will be reviewed with you.
• Discuss your expectations for coaching – what do you want to get out of the appointment and coaching, overall
• Discuss and prioritize your financial goals and challenges
• Receive referrals to other agencies, experts or resources you may need
• Identify specific action steps you will take
• Set your next appointment with your coach

After your first appointment:

• Complete a customer satisfaction survey that will be emailed to you following your appointment.
• Work on completing your action steps with support from your coach who’ll help you monitor your specific goals, objectives and outcomes to provide accountability and to help you achieve tangible results.
• Continue meeting with your coach

Financial coaching works if you are willing to make some changes in how you manage your money.  Even small changes can make a big difference. Since the Denver Financial Empowerment Center opened in 2013, we have served over 6,100 clients who have reduced their overall debt load by $4 million and developed over $2 million in new savings. Read how financial coaching has changed lives.