Ms. Parezo is the Director of Operations at Spark Policy Institute, splitting her time between organizational development and project management. Meggan supports internal operations focusing on developing efficient and effective processes, allowing the Spark team to operate at its best. She brings experience in project management, coalition development, stakeholder engagement at the local, state and federal levels, process improvement, healthy eating and active living systems with an emphasis on healthy equity, and environmental remediation.

Before joining the Spark team, Meggan worked for a statewide nonprofit and funding organization helping to create healthy eating and active living opportunities for children and their families across Colorado. As a part of this work, she helped implement and foster a local community investment initiative focused on tackling policy change at multiple levels, along with other systemic solutions related to childhood obesity. She managed a network of up to 25 local coalitions, associated grants, and a community advisory board providing direction to the organization’s leadership team and board. Prior to that, Meggan worked in the environmental remediation industry overseeing data management, contract compliance, process and program development and resource allocation as well as performing as a geographic information systems (GIS) specialist. Meggan holds a BS in Geography from Southern Oregon University.

Having grown up in a family of educators, Meggan is passionate about ensuring children and youth have equal access to high quality education and extra-curricular activities and is a mentor through Denver Kids, Inc. Outside of work, Meggan loves to travel and spend time outdoors with her husband and daughter, and most importantly laugh and enjoy time with family and friends.