Victoria A. Gruda, Case Manager
Vicki has been with the firm since 1982, and she has devoted her legal assistant career entirely to family law. She holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado. Vicki enjoys applying her skills to help families achieve their goals through the legal process. She keeps current with the latest advances in family law by attending seminars and lectures on diverse family law topics. Vicki's depth of legal experience and excellent communication skills are invaluable to our clients and the firm. Vicki is a Colorado native, an inveterate world traveler, and an active member of the arts community, where she was a founding member of a nonprofit theater company with which she performed for many years. Her adorable dog, Tillie, is the unoffical firm mascot.
Kathleen E. Georgen, Case Manager
Kathleen has been with the firm since 1995. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Masters of Arts and Sciences in Public Policy Studies from Kansas State University, where she focused on family policy, work-family issues and the effect of Legislation on families. Kathleen was also a legislative staffer in Topeka, Kansas, where she worked on women, family and child issues. Kathleen has co-authored a book chapter on "Marital Problems in Families and Change: Coping with Stressful Events." Kathleen's mental health and social policy background serve her well in the family law realm, and she has a compassionate understanding of the unique emotional challenges inherent in domestic relations. Kathleen is married and has two brilliant children, one of whom has Asperger's syndrome. Kathleen is passionate about helping families affected by autism spectrum disorders. An accomplished baker, Kathleen enjoys sharing the fruits of her labor with her appreciative co-workers.
Krista N. Kaufmann, Case Manager
Krista was invited to join the firm in 2005 and brought over 15 years of experience working with families with her. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Foundations of Law and was selected as one of only two students to receive the Outstanding Student Award, which recognizes students in the areas of scholarship, leadership and service. She was also selected among fifty-one students to be recognized in the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Early in her career, Krista worked in public policy for the Division of Youth and Family Services in Wisconsin. When she moved to Colorado, she attended graduate school at Regis University and was on staff at Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center and the Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies. Her legal experience spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors helping families from all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. Among her proudest accomplishments is the curriculum and programming she developed pairing children experiencing trauma with neglected and abandoned animals creating a powerful healing bond for both.
Family law is a natural fit for Krista because of her commitment to families and her diverse background in legal environments. She brings her strong Midwest work ethic and charitable nature to this firm. As a case manager, Krista establishes an important relationship with our clients and helps them navigate unfamiliar territory. She is thoughtful, creative and professional, which matches our firm philosophy. She takes great care to provide excellent service to every existing and prospective client.
Krista volunteers with several organizations including Operation Noble Foster, which gives temporary homes to pets of active duty soldiers. She is a loyal Green Bay Packer fan and nurtures her Wisconsin roots with backcountry camping, winter hikes and outdoor concerts.
Jennifer S. Hazheer, Office Manager/Legal Administrator
Jennifer joined the firm in 2007 and quickly became a key member of our team. She manages day-to-day office operations, coordinates all court filings, and provides a wide variety of legal support, including maintaining and updating client databases and assisting case managers with trial preparation. A Colorado native, Jennifer attended college in New Jersey, where she majored in public health and was named captain of her softball team. Upon returning to Colorado, Jennifer worked as the HIV Public Information Coordinator and the Tobacco Prevention Initiative Health Educator/Youth Specialist with the Jefferson County Department of Health and Environment. She continues to be actively involved in her community, serving as a mentor with Colorado Youth at Risk and sitting on committees for the Colorado Youth Leadership Awards and the Colorado non-profit Spirit of Being Human. Jennifer brings a strong sense of compassion and dedication to improving the lives of others to the firm. When she's not awing us with her incomparable multi-tasking abilities, Jennifer enjoys international travel and baseball.
