Staff
Linda Weinerman, Executive Director
Ms. Weinerman has dedicated her legal career to children’s issues. From 1992 until 1999, she worked as a Guardian ad Litem in Denver County, representing children in dependency and neglect cases. Ms. Weinerman served as a Denver City Attorney from July 1999 through May 2002, representing the Denver Department of Human Services in both the Magistrate and Presiding Judge’s Divisions. In 2002, she served on the first Local Oversight Committee of the Office of the Child’s Representative in Denver County, which was charged with selecting all contract Guardians ad Litem in Denver. Shortly thereafter, in the Fall of 2003, Ms. Weinerman became the OCR’s Staff Attorney. In January 2005 she became the OCR’s Deputy Director, handling, among other matters, all complaints filed against GALs. In December 2009, Ms. Weinerman was selected by the Board of Directors to be the new Executive Director.
Ms. Weinerman attended Colgate University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. She obtained a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Pace University in 1985. Upon moving to Colorado, she attended the University of Denver School of Law and obtained her law degree in 1991.
Lynne Winchell, Controller/Budget Officer
E-mail:
303-860-1517 ext 101
Lynne Winchell is the Controller/Budget Officer for the OCR, responsible for the overall budget and accounting functions. Ms. Winchell, a fourth generation Colorado native, graduated from Regis University with a Masters in Finance and Accounting in December 2008. In addition to her Masters, she obtained a dual Bachelors of Science in Finance and Accounting, with a minor in Banking through Regis University.
Ms. Winchell possesses a diverse finance/accounting background. Prior to coming to the OCR, she worked in two State agencies as the Business Manager at the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home at Fitzsimons, and a Senior Budget Analyst at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. She also spent over seven years in the mutual fund industry in financial reporting and fund accounting.
Sarah Ehrlich, Staff Attorney/Legislative Liaison
Sarah Ehrlich is the Staff Attorney of the Office of the Child’s Representative. Ms. Ehrlich received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Vermont in 1996 and attended the University of Denver Law School, graduating in 2004. While at D. U., she served as the Business Editor of the Transportation Law Journal and participated in the Corporate Internship program. She also completed a research project in Biometric Technology for Professor John Soma.
Ms. Ehrlich possesses a diverse legal background. She was the Senior Paralegal in the Anti-Piracy Unit for the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. Ms. Ehrlich has studied juvenile law abroad at Magdalen College at Oxford University in the U. K.
Sheri Danz, Staff Attorney
303-860-1517 ext 102
Sheri Danz is a graduate of New York University School of Law, where she received a Root-Tilden-Kern public interest scholarship and served as a member of the New York University Law Review.
Ms. Danz's legal advoacy on behalf of children and youth includes representing adolescents and young adults in child welfare and other civil matters as a Skadden Fellow/staff attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago; representing juveniles in delinquency proceedings as a staff attorney at the Colorado State Public Defender's Office; and representing youth in public benefits, child welfare, and protective order proceedings as a legal intern at the Door's Legal Services Program, a multidisciplinary youth services center in New York City. Ms. Danz has also worked on issues regarding parents' counsel at the Office of the State Court Administrator in Colorado and served as a law clerk to the Hon. Gene Carter, United States District Court Judge for the District of Maine. Prior to law school, Ms. Danz taught special education in rural North Carolina through the Teach for America Program.
Melanie Jannicelli, Office Manager
Melanie Jannicelli is the Office Manager for the OCR, responsible for all administrative duties and supporting the rest of the staff. Ms. Jannicelli, a Colorado native, graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History in May 2006. In addition to her Art History degree, she obtained minors in Business Administration and Communication Management, and is fluent in German. Before coming to the OCR, she interned in the Education Department of the Denver Art Museum and volunteered at the Medical Center of Aurora.
Sheree Coates, Billing Administrator
E-Mail: ,
303-860-1517 ext 104
Sheree Coates has worked in the Colorado court system since 1989. Prior to OCR, she was the Division clerk for the Chief Judge Harlan Bockman in the 17th Judicial District. She has bailiffed numerous jury trials and has mangaed a high volume division.
When OCR was created, she left her life-long career in providing direct service in court administration and helped create the OCR. She literally helped set up the first office that started without a pencil, telephone or computer. She was isntrumental in developing a payment system and procedures that are still utilized today. She alone processes over 62,000 payment transactions a year for the OCR. The attorneys she works with throughout the state regularly recognize her dedication and hard work.
In addition to paying the bills, she also decorates the office for the holidays and routinely supplies goodies, burritos and salsa for the OCR staff.
Rachel Coates, Indigence Screener
E-mail:
303-860-1517 ext 107
Rachel Coates is OCR's Indigence Screener. Rachel graduated from Colorado State University with her Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Prior to her work at OCR, Rachel worked as a special educator for children with disabilities and their families. She enjoys playing golf and the guitar in her free time.
Cathleen Kendall, Grants and Staff Office Project Manager
E-mail:
303-860-1517 ext 110
Cathleen Kendall is helping the OCR look for grant funding as she investigates various national models which have been utilized to improve the representation of children in D&N and Delinquency cases. Ms. Kendall received her law degree in 1997 from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 1994. Ms. Kendall became a guardian ad Litem in Dependency and Neglect cases in 2002. Prior to becoming a GAL, Ms. Kendall worked at Cooley Godward LLP in Colorado representing leading venture and private equity funds. Prior to that, Ms. Kendall worked in the corporate department of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York City where she focused on domestic and international securities offerings and public and private mergers and acquisitions.