Summer Gathercole (she/her/hers) is the Managing Director of SHG Advisors. Summer has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting and is a former CPA. Upon moving to Washington, D.C. in 1998, Summer left her public accounting career and began working directly with homeless and low-income individuals to help prepare them for the workforce and place them in jobs. Summer went on to found and launch a nonprofit workforce intermediary. In 2007, Summer was recruited by the former Mayor of DC, Adrian Fenty, to run the $113M D.C. Department of Labor. Most recently, Summer led Governor Polis’ statewide efforts to reform the behavioral health system – which included bringing together numerous system partners inclusive of providers, hospitals, first responders, law enforcement, local agencies and municipalities, nonprofits, advocates, businesses, educational institutions, and – most importantly – everyday people from across Colorado. The behavioral health system and its partners are intrinsically connected to homelessness, its causes, and possible solutions. Summer has a deep understanding and appreciation for the challenges in addressing behavioral health needs and homelessness, and the multi-faceted actions needed to successfully initiate system reform.
Yumiko Dougherty (she/her/hers) brings 15 years of experience designing and leading
strategic planning efforts with diverse partners to create a shared vision and roadmap forward. She was Chief Strategist for Colorado’s planning and implementation of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act, engaging with hundreds of diverse stakeholders around child welfare reform. Yumiko also served as the inaugural Division Director for Strategy and Engagement at the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA). She authored the BHA’s first strategic vision and plan, and launched its first advisory council consisting primarily of people with lived experience. Prior to working with the State, Yumiko was at the Colorado Human Services Directors Association (CHSDA), which comprises leaders from all 64 counties. She traveled to every corner of the state, focusing on the unique strengths, opportunities, and challenges of rural and mountain communities.
As a consultant, Yumiko recently developed strategic plans for the State’s child welfare system and infant & early childhood mental health system, drafted a strategic framework around CDHS’s housing and homelessness efforts, and led strategic planning efforts at the county-level around child maltreatment prevention.