By J. Svendsen-Delaney

reporting@lhvc.com

In every community, there are people who work behind the scenes. In Niwot, Janice Rebhan is one such individual.  An MBA and the mother of three sons, Rebhan donates her time and talents to help the children of Niwot. She volunteers in a variety of capacities including serving as treasurer for local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops.

Rebhan said, "My background prepares me to manage money." But it is obvious by the outpouring of praise from those familiar with Rebhan's services that her talents extend well beyond her financial expertise.

Cub Scout troop leader Jeff Biley said, "Janice is an oracle of knowledge. If we don't know it, we go to Janice." Biley described Rebhan's contributions to the recent Pinewood Derby as she checked kids in and coordinated the awards.

Rebhan plans the monthly leadership and pack meetings and offers merit badge counseling for the scouts. She also plays an advisory role at the scouts' summer camp.

It is evident by the sparkle in Rebhan's beautiful hazel eyes that she loves her work. "Kids are enthusiastic about everything and they get excited about their accomplishments. They love to learn," she said. "If a child discovers an interest, they

will become passionate about it."

Rebhan described the boy scouts who passed their rifle range test at camp as, "walking on clouds." She admitted that she enjoys going to the camp just to hear the stories at the end of the day.

She also volunteers at the local schools. Sunset Middle School Principal Dawn Macy said, "Janice is fabulous. She is the most positive, uplifting and empathetic tutor you could hope for. Janice reaches kids where they are at to help them move up. She is a great parent, supporter and activist."

Rebhan served as treasurer for two years for Sunset Middle School's PTAC. Suzanne Phillips, PTAC president, said, "While accounting is her forte, you can also count on Janice to step up and volunteer when no one else does. She is efficient, organized and reliable, and she never complains. We need more people like Janice."

Rebhan was the baseball recreation director of the Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) program for two years, and served on the board as secretary. Tony Dageenakis, NYS softball director, said, "Janice is there to see NYS succeed for the right reasons. She wants all kids - no matter their background - to come away from their experience feeling like it was the greatest thing that has happened to them in their young lives so far and that they made a difference to their team."

Before coming to Colorado, Rebhan worked in financial planning for a subsidiary of General Electric, after securing an MBA from San Francisco State. Originally from northern California, she received her undergraduate degree in business and economics from University of California, Santa Barbara where she met her husband, George, who lived next door to her.

The couple came to Colorado in 1992 when George started a computer software consulting business. They lived in Lake Valley for ten years before becoming Niwot residents. The Rebhans have three sons,  Travis (13), Davis (11) and Curtis (8).

When Rebhan is home and sitting, which is hard to imagine considering her many pursuits, she likes to quilt. We might see one of her wildflower themed pieces in the next Nostalgia Day exhibition.

It's easy to understand why children respond so positively to Rebhan. She is not only brilliant, but also warm and cheerful and she understands children. Her enthusiasm towards the scope of their education is evident by her broad scale commitment.

Dageenakis said, "She hopes that the kids in NYS learn something about themselves and that their parents learn something they didn't know about their child."