A former employee of the nonprofit Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective, Brian Parsons, has prevailed in a complaint filed with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.
The Collective operated several workforce programs under the banner of Opus Creative Industries.
Opus announced it would close on March 31, 2025, and the Collective filed a notice of dissolution with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on July 12, 2025. A tax report showing the Collective’s financial condition indicates the nonprofit reported a net loss of $2.5 million in its most recent publicly available IRS Form 990 covering the period Dec. 1, 2022, to Nov. 30, 2023.
Some Opus employees alleged they were not paid or their paychecks bounced, took a picture of a “rent due” notice they said was posted on Opus’ door and alleged that some vendors also were not paid. Linda Weise, who led the Collective, said at the time that all employees were paid, and labeled those who complained “a few disgruntled individuals.”
Parsons, who worked as volunteer coordinator/facilities manager for the Collective from July 31 to Nov. 1, 2023, at $20 per hour, filed the complaint on Jan. 19, 2024. He alleged he was hired as a contractor rather than an employee, but considered himself an employee and, therefore, was due overtime pay for extra hours he worked.
The CDLE ruled in September that Parsons was an employee, noting, “The employer exhibited extensive control over the claimant’s work methods through detailed supervision and direction, contrary to the employer’s assertions. While the employer alleges they provided no supervision or direction and only gave the claimant requirements and specifications for events, the evidence demonstrates otherwise.”
The CDLE awarded Parsons $182.50 for overtime pay owed, and another $6,000 in penalties to Parsons; it also awarded $1,750 payable to the state for penalties.
The penalties stem from the CDLE’s determination that “the employer recklessly disregarded its legal obligations in failing or refusing to pay the wages owed,” the ruling said. In the ruling, the state agency also concluded “that Linda Weise, President and CEO of Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective d/b/a Opus Creative Industries, is individually and jointly and severally liable for all of these amounts.”
Parsons, who told the Bulletin he served eight years in the Marines, worked for 15 years in the state Department of Corrections and earned a college degree, said he was relieved to receive the determination from the CDLE. He experienced an eight-month period of unemployment and a bankruptcy filing after working for the Collective. Parsons now serves as a job coach in a special education program for a local school district and also heads up a nonprofit agency.
Parsons said he plans to seek payment through the courts, based on the CDLE’s ruling.
Asked about the wage complaint and its outcome, Weise said via email in early January, “The first notice I received of this matter was through your email. Questions regarding the timing and manner of notice should be directed to CDLE, including why CSCCC’s [the Collective’s] counsel was not timely informed of the outcome and why you obtained this information prior to CSCCC counsel’s receipt.”
The CDLE told the Bulletin via email, “CDLE’S Division of Labor Standards and Statistics issued a Citation for this wage claim on September 17, 2025. It was sent by email and mail to the contact information for the employer, Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective/Opus Creative Industries. The point of contact for the employer was confirmed in the response form submitted by the employer on August 30, 2024.”
The CDLE added, “Because the employer failed to pay the wages and penalties ordered in the citation, CDLE’S Division of Labor Standards and Statistics filed a judgment on behalf of the claimant with the Denver District Court for the amounts due to them on January 26, 2026. The court notifies the employer of the judgment via mail.”
At least one other worker besides Parsons filed a complaint with the CDLE.
Matthew Healy, who worked for Opus as a sous chef mentoring Opus students, filed a CDLE complaint on Feb. 13, 2025. The complaint said four of his paychecks bounced from December 2024 to February 2025. He was owed about $4,000, he said.
Healy didn’t see his complaint through to a decision, however, because he finally got paid and has moved to Tennessee, he said. “I decided I didn’t want to deal with it anymore,” he said. “I’m moving on with my life.”
