Colorado Springs financial consultant sees divorce as a catalyst for

Denisa Tova has been a financial consultant for the last 10 years.

Her office is in the historic former YWCA building on East Kiowa Street, in the heart of downtown. Tova particularly treasures the original Van Briggle fireplace in the conference area, which helps provide a warm, informal tone.

Tova specializes in working through the complex financial issues for people who have, as she puts it, "embarked on the journey of divorce."

Tova took time recently to tell CSBJ about herself and her business.

Organization: Divorce Resource Centre of Colorado LLC

Position: Founding partner

Hometown: Born and raised in Prague, Czech Republic

How long have you lived in Colorado Springs: Since 2000

Education: Certified Financial Planner Practitioner -- The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa; Certified Financial Divorce Practitioner -- The Academy of Certified Financial Divorce Practitioner in Palatine, Ill., Chartered Financial Consultant -- The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Chartered Life Underwriter - - The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa., mediator -- Phoenix Strategies in Colorado Springs.

A few words about your company: Divorce Resource Centre of Colorado was founded in response to the need to change the way in which our society divorces. We envision divorce to be a process that does not end with a decree, but one that is a catalyst for new beginnings. It is imperative that clients are given the opportunity to fully understand the complex financial and tax issues of divorce, because what may appear to be a financially equitable settlement at the date of divorce may lead to financial ruin in the future.

Recent accomplishments: Silver Bell Award nominee for developing and implementing a financial curriculum for Partners in Housing.

Founded a local focus group consisting of members from the legal, financial and mental health professions to promote awareness of alternative dispute resolution models, such as mediation and collaboration.

Biggest career break: Being given the opportunity to work with like-minded professionals to benefit clients through life transition of divorce.

Someone you admire: Vaclav Havel -- a former president of the Czech Republic and a wonderful playwright. During the 1960s, he satirized the communist regime and he became a symbol of democratic thought. He represented hope and opportunity.

About your family: Two children, 14-year-old Elias and 8-year- old Dominique. My husband, John, has inspired me to grow as an individual, a parent, a partner and a businesswoman.

Something else you'd like to accomplish: I am looking forward to working with our team to help bring the collaborative divorce model to Colorado Springs.

How your business will change during the next decade: Our vision is to be able to literally change the way our society divorces. Looking to the future, our goals are:

Education -- to offer a comprehensive post-divorce curriculum that will serve as a springboard for clients as they re-tool and rebuild.

Collaboration -- to be a comprehensive resource for divorcing clients, their attorneys and mental health professionals

Expansion -- to provide our resources to people from Pueblo to Fort Collins

What book are you currently reading? I have been carrying around "Non-Adversarial Communication" by Arlene Brownell Ph.D. and Tom Bache-Wiig, which I have read multiple times.

What is the one thing you would change about Colorado Springs? I would like to see the legal climate change as it relates to the family by embracing the collaborative divorce model -- a new way to restructure a family, resolve legal issues and move on with life after divorce.

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