Our team

Em’s House Foundation leadership is focused on furthering our mission to end housing insecurity for those in recovery. Our team’s combined professional and lived experience make them uniquely qualified to guide our efforts.

Beckie Watson

founder

Beckie enjoyed a long, successful career in the IT field, including C-suite experience. Since her retirement in 2017, she has focused her talents on providing quality and safe housing. She founded and co-owns a residential real estate investment business and is now expanding into transitional housing with the Em’s House project.

The lessons she has learned in the real estate business have led to some of the innovations she brings to her model of recovery homes. From the very beginning, with the purchase and renovation of her first home, she has prioritized the use of quality materials in both the renovation and furnishing of each Em’s House residence. Providing safe, quality housing during their transition period will help residents value and obtain similar safe, quality housing as they move forward.

Beckie believes strongly in the power of quality housing. Housing security is a key factor in the successful transition from a life of dependency to becoming an independent, contributing member of society. Em’s house is a first step in that transition, providing recovering and disadvantaged residents a compassionate hand up to help them succeed.

Sherri Candelario

Advisor

Shared Housing Solutions Founder, Kate’s House Foundation Founder

Sherri Candelario, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Washington Medical School. Sherri is an expert on how opioids work in the brain and has authored several research papers in the field.

Sherri is a federally registered patent counsel and founded the patent practices in several pioneering biotech companies in Seattle and California. Seattle is a hub of innovation and Sherri has been a part of developing data driven science for several companies that have gone public.

Frank Candelario

Advisor

Shared Housing Solutions Founder, Kate’s House Foundation Founder

Frank Candelario has extensive experience in non-profit management and real estate development. Frank started his career as Executive Director of nonprofit camps. In this capacity, Frank was responsible for property management, program management and people.

Frank has experience in international marketing of designer fashion. Frank was the owner of UltraLite Paddle Company, producing the world’s best pickleball paddle. Frank quickly learned that business people with an interest in having good real estate are the solution for helping people in need of quality housing.

Sara Nelson

Board Member

Sara grew up in Ames, Iowa, in a family that valued service to community. She has carried on that tradition personally throughout her life with active membership in numerous community organizations.

When she settled with her family in a small town in Iowa, she first worked as director of a local youth task force. After four years, she transitioned to the local rural healthcare system where she spent 27 years as a communication and recruiting specialist. In addition to traditional healthcare, the system had robust behavioral healthcare services.

These experiences have allowed Sara to observe firsthand the impact of treating all people with dignity and respect. She has seen people turn their lives around with just a little assistance and knows the value of effective communication in helping individuals connect with a life-changing service such as Em’s House.

Recently retired, Sara is excited to put her experience to work for the residents of Em’s House.

Jason Hopcus

Board Member

The present narrative about mental health is often perpetuated through sad, scary, or traumatic events, which typically overlook individuals who are simply struggling with functional life issues.

Jason Hopcus’s personal mission is to advance human connection by embracing the conversation among fighters; the folks whose journeys from black to light give hope to those that deserve a 2nd or even a 3rd chance to be the ambassadors of conversation.

Jason

– acts as a motivator and catalyst for powerful cultural change within both for-profit and non- profit organizations.

– believes connection to oneself, one’s transparency, and one’s passion allows individuals to live a wholly authentic, full life

– creates systems of support for people working to deepen their relationships to their work, their play, and ultimately our world.

His company, Connection Project takes a fresh approach by focusing on those who have turned their personal struggle around to champion for a community-driven cause. Through raw focus on the individual, Jason nourishes honest conversation to birth a system of ‘next level’ social responsibility.

Drawing on personal experience, he fully acknowledges the amount of effort it takes, how necessary it is to share each other’s journeys and why we, as a society, need to move the needle towards unashamed conversation. Jason ignites cultural shift because everyone, directly or indirectly, is affected by mental health.

He contributes the following ways:
– Founder of Connection Project, a for-profit company, and Connection Project Foundation, a 501c3
– Co-founder of The High Wired, a community of tailor-made mastermind experiences and individual coaching for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders seeking NEXT LEVEL
SUCCESS.
– Serves as President/CEO of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for Arapahoe/Douglas Counties, a 501c3

Jane Murray

Board Member

Jane Murray is a Registered Nurse with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing. Jane has nursing experience to include, Inpatient Medical/Surgical, medical review, and mental health nursing. She has experience as a Physical Education teacher and coach and as a photographer.

Jane evaluates performance and quality and is a leader of effective teams. She has knowledge and capabilities to make continual contributions of integrity service to individuals and to the community.

Em’s House gives an opportunity to be involved to build on success and firm positive energy for others.

Susan Snow

Board Member

In the industry for over 10 years, Susan is a real estate expert in the Denver Metro area of Colorado. She has a strong work ethic and loves to create the best experience for her clients. She is involved in her community and believes in giving back to her community in many ways. She has had a personal and professional relationship with the Watson family for many years.

Emily Watson had a special place in her heart. Emily was a special person and had a huge heart, that’s why Susan is compelled to be a part of Emily’s vision to honor her memory.

Getting Started is Easy

Sometimes the first step is hard. We make it friendly and easy.

Just fill out our quick online application to determine your eligibility.