Gunnison Country Partners is an affiliate of Partners Mentoring Association supporting Youth Mentoring in Colorado. Gunnison Country Partners is a youth mentoring organization which was founded in 1990 by a group of citizens who believed that caring adults can make a positive and tangible difference in the lives of youth. Since its inception, Gunnison Partners youth mentoring has continually expanded its role as the only mentoring organization in the Gunnison-Hinsdale area to serve an increasingly diverse population of youth with a variety of positive, alcohol-and-drug-free programs and services.
Gunnison Partners believes that every child deserves a mentor.
The hallmark of Partners’ growth has been its dedication to working in a collaborative and cooperative way with community organizations and agencies whose missions include serving youth and their families.
Since opening its doors in 1990, Partners has provided directly, or financially supported, services to over 2,400 Gunnison Country youth.
Our Dedicated Staff
Tina McGuinness, Executive Director
Tina has been with Gunnison Partners since 1997, first as a case manager and now she serves as the Executive Director. She is incredibly awesome at what she does and with her rock star attitude, she has developed a beautiful vision and foundation for Partners and youth mentoring in Gunnison, Colorado.
She enjoys hockey, cycling, running and everything else that can be done outdoors, and some indoor things too, like dance. Her love and passion is extended to her two boys and is seen in everything she does.
Please contact Tina about donations, fund raising events, board of directors questions and any other Partners business related questions.
Megan McKinley, Lead Case Manager
Megan has been with Partners since 2006. As a Case Manager and Program Manager, she is responsible for the overall coordination of our youth mentoring program. Megan has a passion for working with youth that will never burn out and it has been her dream to support Colorado youth mentoring through her work at Gunnison Partners.
Megan loves working for Partners because of the enormous positive impact it can have in a youth’s life! She has an incredible ability to attract volunteers into the mentor program and when you meet her in person, you too will decide to be a mentor!
Megan enjoys time with her husband, Paul and their daughters, Kinley and Lilianna. She looks forward to connecting with anyone who may have the slightest desire to be a mentor.
Julena Swanson, Case Manager
Julena came to Partners in 2008 after volunteering, as a mentor, for over a year. She began as a Camp Counselor for the Summer Youth Program and quickly jumped at the Case Manager position she now holds when the opportunity came.
She loves getting to know the kids, encouraging community to get involved, and making a difference in the lives of all involved.
You can still find her running with the kids during the Summer Youth Program and roaming the halls of our schools as she sets up In-School Mentoring Partnerships.
Julena is a mom to little Roman and enjoys time in the Gunnison Area every chance she can get.
Johnna Bernholtz, Case Manager
Johnna has been a Case Manager with Partners since 2007. She is growing the Crested Butte area partnerships; both Community Based and In-school and she coordinates the High School mentoring program as well.
She has always wanted to find a way to help kids and Partners is a perfect fit.
Johnna enjoys the Colorado outdoors with her husband and two kids– they are avid skiers, hikers, bikers and enjoy family time in general.
“I love Partners for the difference it is making in children’s lives and the smiles we see on the kid’s faces.” Please contact her for more information about getting involved in Crested Butte!
Colin Fitzgerald, AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer
Colin came to Partners in August 2012 as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer from New Jersey and finishes his term in August 2013. Colin’s role at Partners is to increase capacity building through donor development, fundraising, website development, grant writing, and developing a recruitment plan.
Colin is excited to have landed at Partners and to become a part of their team. Colin loves everything about the beautiful state of Colorado. He plans on spending his free time snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and anything else he can do in the great outdoors.
