2011-2012 South Metro Denver Board of Directors

John Brackney, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce
President & CEO

Following a time-honored family tradition, John was born. This event took place in what is now Centennial Colorado, and he grew up a block from where he currently resides and attended Littleton high school. John continued on to the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned a Bachelors' degree in political science. Not yet drained from years of academia he attended the University of Denver where he received a law degree. His formal education completed, he embarked on repaying student loans.

John enlisted in the Colorado National Guard and later attended Officer Candidate School, attaining the rank of Captain. He served as the Company Commander of the 147th Combat Support Hospital. During his 12-year tenure he was privileged to twice receive the Meritorious Service medal.

John was elected to his first term as Arapahoe County Commissioner in 1996, and was selected as Freshman Commissioner of the Year by his colleagues across the state. Re-elected to a second term, he served as chairman of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, and as president of the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority. He was one of the founders of the City of Centennial, a city he is proud to call home.

In his spare time he is a volunteer fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis society and serves on the Board for Littleton Public Schools Foundation. In his spare spare time he enjoys yard work (really?) and, in an attempt to keep his weight down, runs an occasional marathon. No information about John would be complete without mentioning the people most important in his life, his wife Meredith and daughters Taylor and Jordan. Meredith has provided him with endless support and years of friendship, and his girls keep him on his toes and constantly entertained.

Ken Bacon, Littleton Adventist Hospital
2011 - 2012 Board Chair
www.mylittletonhospital.com

Mr. Bacon has 12 years of service with Centura. Most recently he served as president and CEO of Parker Adventist Hospital since 2001. He also held positions as budget and finance manager, director of managed care for hospital contracting finance systems for Porter Adventist Hospital, Parker Adventist Hospital Centura Health from 1991 - 1996. In 1997, Mr. Bacon moved to Texas, where he served as chief financial officer and then president and CEO of Texas Medical Center until his return in 2001.

Mr. Bacon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Union College in Lincoln, Neb., an MBA from Southwest Texas State University and a CPA from the State of Colorado.

Lisa D'Ambrosia, Minor & Brown
Chair-elect
www.minorbrown.com

Lisa is an experienced transaction attorney who advises her clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, private equity and financing transactions.

Prior to joining the Minor & Brown team, Lisa graduated cum laude with distinction from the University of the South in 1989 with a B.A. in political sciences. She continued her education in the M.B.A. program at the University of New Orleans. Lisa graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1993 and earned her Legal Masters degree in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 1994.

A true believer in community involvement, Lisa is also an active member of the South Metro Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. In addition, she is a sponsor of many community and national charitable organizations including: The Children’s Hospital, The Leukemia Foundation, The March of Dimes, The American Liver Foundation and The National Kidney Foundation.

Lisa is the mother of three wonderful girls who help ensure that life never slows down. They remind her daily that everything you need to know in life you truly learn on the Kindergarten playground.

Lisa is a member of both the Colorado and the Denver Bar Associations.

Nicole Ament, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Past (2010-2011) Chair
www.bhfs.com

Ms. Ament is a Shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Denver office and a member of the Real Estate and Land Use groups. Focusing on commercial real estate transactions and land use development, her representative transactions include real estate acquisitions and dispositions, financing, public-private partnerships, development and governmental approvals.

Ms. Ament recently represented the developer of Fitzsimons Village in its negotiations with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Urban Renewal Authority, resulting in the largest urban renewal incentive package in the City of Aurora. The incentive package will facilitate the redevelopment of a 35 acre site into a mixed use development with retail, offices, residential and a hotel and conference center. Additionally, Ms. Ament has led negotiations with local governments on notable development projects, including Landmark Properties' development of 1,700 acres at Denver International Airport which involved negotiations with the City of Denver, the City of Aurora, Denver International Airport and four separate school districts.

Ms. Ament has also represented multiple corporations in large real estate portfolio acquisitions, dispositions and financing. Ament shepherded KSL Capital Partners' $1.8 billion acquisition of ClubCorp. She provides ongoing representation to ClubCorp in relation to its 170 golf courses, country clubs and business clubs. Ms. Ament actively represents Vail Resorts on real estate development including acquisitions, entitlements, association formation, and all other aspects of new development.

Ms. Ament is a graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and Trinity University. Ms. Ament serves as the chair of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Group. She was named to the 2008 Class for Leadership Denver and the 2006 "50 for Colorado."

Mark Alpert, CH2M Hill
www.CH2M.com

Over the past 30 years, Mark Alpert has made design-build project delivery his focus and passion. He has guided CH2M HILL and clients alike to the thoughtful consideration of design-build delivery and, when in the best interests of all, led many into the evaluation, procurement, and delivery process. Mark’s entire water/wastewater career spans more that 40 years where, from his earliest work as a project engineer, his focus was on the creation and delivery of innovative solutions.

It was from environmental engineering through project delivery where he made the connection to a genuine design-build philosophy. He combined the goals of creating innovative designs with cost-effective construction, operations and maintenance with optimized life cycle costs. One of the early innovators in the water industry focusing on project delivery approaches, Mark’s efforts paid off in developing innovative project designs to encourage cost-effective construction. Moreover, Mark also was a key market leader deploying private capital for public sector water projects that was prevalent from the early 1980’s through the early 1990’s and now is coming back in vogue as communities’ infrastructure needs grow while available capital funding is limited Mark’s early efforts led to the design-build, design-build-operate, and design-build-operate-maintain delivery mechanisms for public and private sector water projects as recognized today.

Mark’s tenure with CH2M HILL provided the platform to support design-build from its beginnings and to deliver truly integrated design and construction projects. Starting from no such business in the mid 1990s, Mark has led the firm to contract and deliver more than $2 billion of constructed water and wastewater work over the last decade. He helped found the company’s industry-wide commitment to design-build and is largely responsible for gaining CH2M HILL’s more than 25 percent market share in the North America water/wastewater design-build market. Mark’s continuing commitment to design-build, single point of responsibility project-delivery has resulted in real-world infrastructure improvements – improvements that mean cleaner drinking water and enhanced wastewater treatment for everyone that his projects have touched.

He has served as president of the Water Design-Build Council, an association of integrated design-build firms and an active member of Design-Build Institute of America since 1995 and serves on its Civil Infrastructure and Water committees.

ME-Master of Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1980; BS-Bachelor of Science, Lehigh University, 1970; Professional Engineer, MD; Professional Engineer, VA; DBIA Designated Design-Build Professional.

In 2009, Mark was the highest honor by the Design Build Institute of America – namely the Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jean Barker, Kaiser Permanente of Colorado
www.kp.org

Jean Barker is Executive Director for Sales and Account Management, Colorado Region, for Kaiser Permanente. As America's leading integrated health care organization, Kaiser Permanente is focused on delivering accessible health care to the public. Jean has been with Kaiser Permanente for 20 years, where she began her career as a financial analyst. She also worked in strategic planning, product development and marketing before earning her present position in 2002. Jean's responsibilities include accountability for all sales and account management activities, as well as representing Kaiser Permanente to the community and interfacing between the market and the company.

Jean graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in medical technology and earned an M.B.A. in business administration from the University of Oklahoma.

A resident of Cherry Knolls, Jean and her husband, Cliff have three children, Sam, Carrie and Alex. Jean and her family like to ski at Winter Park and enjoy getting together with their neighbors. She also spends her free time reading and cooking.

Cheryl Braunschweiger, ALMC Mortgage
Vice Chair, Membership
www.almcmortgage.com

As a successful business owner and community leader, Cheryl Braunschweiger is known and respected for getting things done with a degree of skill and enthusiasm that bring out the best in those around her – colleagues, clients and friends. The name of her business, ALMC Mortgage, reflects Cheryl’s philosophy and personality. She says it stands for All Loans Must Close –a reflection of her determination to do whatever it takes to serve her clients. Cheryl has been in the mortgage lending business for 15 years.

A natural leader, you’re most likely to find Cheryl at the forefront of whatever she’s involved in, helping the people she’s working with come up with solutions that work for best for them. She approaches work – and life – with passion, integrity, solid business judgment and a commitment to contributing to the community and those she works with.

Her areas of expertise include general management, business start-up and ownership, financial management, marketing and sales, business planning, and community leadership.

Cheryl is a member of the Board of Directors of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and chairs what is widely recognized as the best leads group within the Chamber. She’s a former chairperson of the City of Aurora’s Business Advisory Group. She was nominated as “Outstanding Woman in Business” by the Denver Business Journal in 2008 and has received numerous other awards and recognition for her outstanding accomplishments.

Greg Cottrell, Cottrell Printing
www.cottrellprinting.com

A "native" of Colorado, Greg is a founding owner of Cottrell Printing, a family business in Denver for 40 years. He went to South High School, followed by a vocal/singing scholarship at Boston University and then to the University of Colorado-Boulder with a double major in economics and accounting.

After a stint in the US Navy directly under the Commander of the Seventh Fleet (southeast Asia) during Vietnam, Greg returned to Denver in 1971. Greg and two brothers then started their printing business in the basement of an office building on South Colorado Blvd.

Two years later, they purchased land near I-25 and East Arapahoe Rd for $1 per sq.ft. and moved their shop. Notwithstanding some "bumps" along the way, business grew and in 1999 they built the Cottrell Center near Dry Creek and I-25, housing the print shop in 35,000 sq.ft. and eight additional Tenant spaces.

The Cottrell family is honored to be active citizens and long-time business partners in the dynamic culture serviced by the South Metro Denver Chamber.

Gayle Dendinger, CAP Logistics
Executive Committee Member at Large
www.caplogistics.com

Gayle Dendinger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of CAP Logistics. He has been in the expedited freight services industry for over 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska and has done post-graduate work in entrepreneurship at the University of Denver.

Recognizing the need for a venue for Colorado CEOs and leaders to be able to better work with each other, he founded The Colorado Business Roundtable in conjunction with the 23 roundtables of sister states and the National Business Roundtable in Washington, which advises the President.

His personal motto is that, “It is good business to be a good neighbor.” As a result, he has supported the Colorado Department of Education in Lesson Study, Denver Public Schools in Distance Learning using 2-way satellite transmissions, and the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce in the development of WBE Certification. Internationally, he has been involved with moving and delivering a substantial amount of text books to 40 schools in South Africa and winter coats and other supplies to U.S. allies in Eastern Europe – Romania, Poland, and Albania.

A great believer in the power of collaboration, he has co-developed software to magnify the results of cooperative efforts and has co-written a graduate level course with Colorado Christian University, which was taught collaboratively with approximately thirty business and civic leaders in the Fall of 2004.

As an admirer of Buckminster Fuller, Mr. Dendinger has created the ICOSA™ award, modeled after the icosahedrons, a 20-faceted polygon, which was simultaneously awarded by twenty community leaders to twenty individuals for their work in the progression of the No Child Left Behind Act.

CAP Logistics is the recipient of the 2008 Denver Metro Chamber Small Business of the Year, 2008 Governor’s Export Award, 2005 US Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificate, 2005 Colorado Ethics in Business Award and 2004 Colorado Performance Excellence Foothills Award (State Baldridge Award for Excellence in Approach).

Joel Edwards, Gates Corporation
www.gates.com

Joel Edwards is Vice President of Fluid Power Product Development for Gates Corporation, a global subsidiary of Tomkins which provides engineered products for the industrial, automotive and building products markets, focusing on energy-efficient and green products. Joel has been employed with Gates for 19 years holding various roles in engineering, operations & business management. He leads a global team of over 100 engineers, scientists and technicians with development locations in 4 states and 9 countries, based out of the Division’s global R&D headquarters located in Englewood, developing new fluid power & fluid transfer products while advancing the science of fluid handling technology.

With a passion for supporting the local community, Joel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and has been an active participant of the Chamber’s Economic Development Group and Legislative Action Committee. He is a past Industry Judge for Graland Country Day School’s annual Invention & Innovation Competition which helps teach middle school students the power of new product innovation. Joel is active at Greenwood Community Church as a Sunday School teacher, and has been a volunteer youth basketball coach in the Highlands Ranch Community Association as well as the YMCA.

Joel actively participates in industry associations to promote US-based manufacturing. He is a founding Board Member for the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers located in Indianapolis, IN and a past Board of Director for the DC-based Rubber Manufacturer’s Association. He has been Economics & Statistics chairperson of the National Fluid Power Association (based in Milwaukee, WI) and currently sits on the Industry Advisory Board for the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center with seven participating universities and 55 industrial partners.

Joel received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with a Minor in Mathematics, from Colorado State University in 1991. Joel has been a resident of Colorado for over 35 years, including 15 years in the South Metro Denver area. Married for 20 years, he lives and plays in Centennial and enjoys spending time with his wife, Susan, and two children, Jacob & Julia.

Tammy Fernandez, University of Phoenix
www.phoenix.edu/colorado

Tammy Fernandez currently serves as the vice president and campus director for University of Phoenix – Denver. Her responsibilities include managing almost 500 faculty and staff members and overseeing all academic, enrollment, finance, corporate development, and marketing for the University’s five campus and learning center locations in Lone Tree, Aurora, Fort Collins and Westminster. As the need for non-traditional education continues to increase, she is also responsible for expanding the University’s footprint in the Denver area.

During her 10-year tenure, Fernandez has held many prominent positions at University of Phoenix, including regional director of marketing and enrollment for the New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas campuses. An accomplished leader and champion for education, Fernandez has been recognized by the University with numerous awards for exceptional service, top performance for growing her team and the campus and the impossible dream award, which recognizes people that think outside the box to get the job done.

She also makes significant contributions to the local non-profit and business community. With a passion for giving back to the community, she led the Denver campuses to donate more than 400 hours last year volunteering at various organizations such as the Denver Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, The Children’s Hospital, the Salvation Army and the Colorado Humane Society.

In addition, Fernandez is an active member of the South Metro Women in Leadership Board, South Metro Leadership Program, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Aurora and the Student Leadership Board. She is also the Vice Chair of Leadership Initiatives for the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, is the Membership Director for the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of Directors for the YMCA. She is also a finalist for The Denver Business Journal’s 2009 Outstanding Women in Business Award, which will be announced next month.

Under her leadership, the University has been selected as a 2009 winner of the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, presented by a national organization that recognizes companies that make work manageable and successful, and was a recent finalist for the Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year award.

Fernandez is a graduate of University of Phoenix, earning a bachelor’s of arts in management as well as a master’s degree in business administration. .

Brian Hart, Frame deArt II
www.framedeartonline.com

Brian Hart opened Frame De Art in 1991 and in March of this year, celebrated Frame De Art's 20th anniversary. Brian has developed strong roots in the Denver Metro and Englewood communities by building lasting business and personal relationships.

Through the years, Brian has been recognized as a business owner who gives back to the community whenever possible. In 2009, he won the Community Caring Award from the City of Englewood and for the last 10 years has donated, on a weekly basis, all the frames for Channel 7's Everyday Hero Award plaques. He has participated and donated in numerous other charities and nonprofit organizations through his business and also in his personal life.

Brian was also presented the 2010-2011 Englewood Rotary Business Person of the Year award. Because of Brian's passion to help other businesses and charities succeed in his community, he dedicates his time to the Board of the South Broadway Business Improvement District and is currently serving as Treasurer.

Brian began school in Colorado and completed his education with a degree in Business Finance from CSU. He lives in Denver with his family, including Shelley, his wife of 19 years; his son Campbell, who will be a senior at South High School this year; and his daughter, Lauren, who will be a freshman at South High School.

If Brian isn't working at Frame De Art or with his family, you might find him hiking one of Colorado's 14ers or on his bike!

Rick Koontz, Wells Fargo
Board Treasurer
www.wellsfargo.com

Rick Koontz is Senior Vice President and Business Banking Manager for Wells Fargo's Business Banking team for the South Suburban Denver market. He is based at Wells Fargo's Highlands Ranch location and manages a team of nearly 25 financial services professionals. Koontz has more than 25 years of financial services experience and has worked for Wells Fargo and its predecessors for over 20 years, the majority of which has been spent in Business Banking in the South Denver market.

A native of Kansas, Koontz has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an M.B.A. from Wichita State University. He and his wife, LeAnn, have two sons, Kyle and Jared.

Peter Moore, Polsinelli Shughart PC
Board Legal Counsel
www.polsinelli.com

Peter Moore is a partner in the Denver office of Polsinelli Shughart PC, a national law firm with 16 office locations stretching from Washington DC to Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Moore focuses his practice on commercial and real estate transactions.

During his thirty years of practicing law in Denver, Peter has been the lead attorney in the following representative transactions: • Asset sale of an eighteen-store chain of sporting goods stores • Stock sale of a Minnesota manufacturing company • Acquisition of numerous commercial printing companies for a national consolidator • Purchase and sale, under a variety of structures, of numerous Colorado businesses • Lead counsel for the wind-up in sixteen states of a 90-store national equipment rental company • Reorganization and wind-up counsel for several law firms and businesses. Peter currently serves as outside general counsel for numerous Colorado-based businesses.

Mr. Moore is dedicated to helping the community. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Geneva Glen Camp and is a past Board member of the Swallow Hill Music Association. He is a founding member of the Bench and Bar Society for the Mile Hi Chapter of the American Red Cross, a member of the Colorado Lawyer’s Committee’s Homeless ID Task Force, and an active member of the South Metro Denver Chamber’s Economic Development Group, Legislative Action Committee, and Business Leaders for Responsible Government.

Peter is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service (B.S.F.S. 1978) and the University of Denver College of Law (J.D. 1981). He lives in Greenwood Village, Colorado with his wife Gina and their three children, Patrick, Brian, and Lisa.

Joe Rice, Lockheed Martin
www.lockheedmartin.com

Joe Rice is the Director of Government Relations for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. He is a Colonel in the Army Reserve with five combat tours of duty in Iraq and one peacekeeping tour in Bosnia. Joe is also an adjunct professor of history, government, and public administration at the Colorado Campus of the University of Phoenix. He is a former member of the Colorado State House of Representatives, and a former mayor of the City of Glendale.

Joe and Kendall live in Littleton and have three young children: Harrison, Lexie, and Dalton. Joe Rice (D-Littleton) was elected in November 2006 and re-elected in November 2008 to represent District 38 in the Colorado State House of Representatives. House District 38 is in Arapahoe County and included Littleton, Greenwood Village, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, and part of Englewood. He narrowly lost re-election in 2010 by 1% of the vote in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by almost 10 points in voter registration.

While in the legislature, Joe focused on economic development and transportation, passing ground breaking economic development legislation that directly lead to thousands of jobs in Colorado and continues to be center stage in current projects such as the Denver Stock Show and a possible bid for the Olympic Games. Joe passed the first transportation funding measure in over 18 years, addressing a backlog of over 120 structurally deficient bridges as well as other transportation improvements. Among other notable achievements were the creation of a statewide Cold Case Team to address Colorado’s over 2,000 unsolved homicides, and a bill reducing the business personal property tax.

Joe’s private sector business experience includes work as a supervisor, trainer, and manager at MCI, JD Edwards, and Wells Fargo Bank. Joe served as the mayor of Glendale from 1996 to 2003, where accomplishments included diversifying the community by attracting quality retail and professional businesses to the city while cutting taxes, balancing the budget, building three parks, and building the city’s first pre-school and recreation center.

Joe has served in the military for over 25 years. Assignments include peacekeeping operations in Bosnia (2002); establishing the first post-Saddam Baghdad City Council and serving as advisor and military liaison to the Council (2003-2004); advising on interactions between military forces and the Iraqi government (2005 and 2007); facilitating development of the Iraqi Security Forces (2009); and implementing the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq and developing enduring partnerships between US and Iraqi forces (2011). Joe is Airborne and Ranger qualified. Awards include 2 Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Badge for action under enemy fire, and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge.

Joe previously served on the Board of Directors of Sister Cities International and has been involved since 2003 with the Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership, a cultural and professional exchange program between Iraq and the United States.

Kevin Sullivan, Wong Strauch Architects
www.wsarchitect.com

Kevin Sullivan grew up in central Wyoming, although he has always felt like he is a native and grew up rooting for the Broncos and Nuggets. After graduating High School in Casper, Kevin set his sights north to Bozeman and Montana State University, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees (with a minor in Powder Skiing). Kevin graduated in the top of his class, receiving the prestigious Alpha Rho Chi Architecture Medal upon graduation in 1984. After graduation he moved to Denver.

Kevin started his working career in the South Metro area, working an internship during college and after graduation with Harrison Kimball Stoglin, located in the SG Plaza building near the Chamber specializing in residential projects. An opportunity arose for Kevin to join one of Denver’s largest commercial architectural firms, Seracuse Lawler Wong Strauch and he joined the firm. He specialized in Architectural Design and was made Design Director of the firm at the age of 28, overseeing the design process and working directly with Jack Lawler and Jam Wong, the firms’ Principal Designers. Kevin took his NCARB Board examination in 1988 and received his License to practice Architecture in Colorado.

During the Denver recession of the late 1980’s, many designs rarely left the drawing boards for construction, yet Kevin was fortunate to work on many significant projects including being on the design team working on the Airside Concourses (A, B & C) at the new Denver International Airport, starting in 1989.

The project marked the end of his career at Seracuse Lawler Wong Strauch (then known as The Allred Architectural Group) in 1993, when Kevin left to join his friend Kevin Mills at Architectural Concepts specializing in Bowling and Entertainment Architecture. The firms’ projects spanned the country and globe, allowing travel from Indiana and Florida to China and Mexico. The firm received numerous industry design awards and Kevin remained a principal at the firm until 2002, when another unique opportunity presented itself to Kevin.

Wong Strauch Architects, formed from the previous firm of Seracuse Lawler Wong Strauch, approached Kevin to ‘come back’, work with the retiring Jam Wong and become Director of Design for the firm. This opportunity allowed Kevin to broaden type of projects he worked on and to move back into the Denver marketplace. At Wong Strauch Kevin has worked on a wide range of projects including several new projects at DIA, a school for DPS, multiple retail centers and an office building in Lone Tree, churches, master planned Transit-Oriented projects, multiple new facilities for Denver Water, a library remodel at the Auraria Campus and mental health facilities in Grand Junction and Westminster.

Currently Kevin is designing the new space for the SMDCC’s move to SouthGlenn, a Visitor’s Center for the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield, several new projects for Xcel Energy, an indoor racing facility for Full Throttle and a new Administration Facility for the City of Black Hawk. Kevin passed his LEED © AP examination in 2006 showing his commitment to sustainable/green building design. Kevin is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Denver Executive Council.

Kevin used this opportunity with Wong Strauch to join the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s Economic Development Group to enhance his marketing potential and reintroduce himself to the Denver marketplace. He quickly accepted a role on the Advisory Board for the EDG, joined the Renewable Energy Group and Legislative Action Committee. He now serves on the Board of Directors for the Chamber and was the 2010 Chair of the EDG.

Kevin has been married to Bernadette for 23 years and has three children, Alana (21), a senior at CSU, John (19) a freshman at CSU and Erin (16), a sophomore at Arapahoe. He has lived in Centennial for 21 years, is a member of St. Thomas More Church, an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 456 and coached his son’s soccer team for 12 years. He plays golf, is an avid skier and loves to hike and camp. .

Becky Takeda-Tinker, Colorado State University-Global Campus
Vice Chair, Leadership Initiatives
www.csuglobal.org

Becky Takeda-Tinker blends the best practices of her business management, and organizational leadership and governance career, with her passion for higher education as the President for Colorado State University-Global Campus. Becky’s previous work in private equity and as an entrepreneur has equipped her with the skills and ability to understand the multiple dimensions of today’s competitive and technological landscape as she collaborates with both businesses and accredited universities for program development and educational leadership. Becky is a published scholar while continuing to actively serve as a Board of Director for several non-profit and professional organizations. Becky holds a Ph.D. in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership, an M.B.A. in Finance with a post-graduate certificate in Marketing Management, and a B.A. in Economics.

Rick Whipple, WhippleWood CPAs
www.whipplewoodcpas.com

Rick has been an owner of WhippleWood CPAs for over two decades. During the last six years, he has successfully managed the growth and strategy of the firm in his role as CEO. He has been responsible for positioning the firm to deliver high quality tax, business assurance, and consulting services for high net worth individuals and business owners located throughout the United States and abroad. Rick is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm and he consults in general business areas, strategic tax planning, and issues facing emerging businesses.

Rick graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in accounting. He subsequently completed his Masters Degree in tax law at the University of Denver. He specializes in various areas of tax law and is an expert in complex tax planning, accounting, tax issues unique to franchise businesses, and strategic planning. Rick has served as a seminar leader on presentations addressing passive activity rules and planning opportunities using employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Rick is also a student of leadership and management principles.

Throughout his life, Rick has participated in a variety of civic and charitable functions. He was a volunteer head coach for Little League Baseball. He also has been the treasurer for a variety of political and non-profit organizations. These include his father’s campaign for the Colorado RTD board, Fred Green’s campaign for State Representative, the Acacia Fraternity Alumni Advisory Board, and the Ronald McDonald House. At the Ronald McDonald House, he provided oversight over a $5 million new construction project, and a capital campaign that raised $2 million of funding for the project. Most recently, Rick served on the Board of the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project. He has supported a variety of political and social causes through his volunteer work and cash contributions.

He is a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (special member of the Tax Section), the Sierra Club, The American Alpine Institute, and the Access Fund.

He currently resides in Morrison, CO with his wife and two young children. In his spare time, you can find him playing with his children, climbing rocks, surfing, or exploring the high mountains of the world. .

Donna Wilson, Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation
www.cherokeeranch.org

Donna Warner Wilson is CEO of the Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation (CRCF), a nonprofit 501 (c) (3). She was hired in 2005 by the Board of Directors to help the Foundation achieve the goal of being a mission-driven culture and education hub, serving as a strong community resource for citizens in the Denver Metro area, the region and Colorado, and eventually nationally.

A native of Colorado, Donna received her B.S. and M.A. degrees from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Before joining CRCF, Donna had over 25 years of diverse experiences at the University of Denver as an educator, researcher, administrator and consultant. Other experiences include communication and public opinion research; public relations; marketing; and program development, assessment and evaluation.

Donna is committed to CRCF’s primary goals, which are to enhance cultural life in Colorado and continue to expand their educational endeavors related to the values and assets of the Foundation. CRCF also aspires to become a trusted and responsible educational and leadership center for thoughts and ideas, civil public dialogue, and creative and innovative action. In this effort, CRCF intends to develop several targeted strong partnerships and alliances and have already started that process. .

Wendy Woods, Nexus Financial Services
www.myhdvest.com/wendywoods

Wendy Woods grew up in Ohio and received a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics from the University of Toledo. She relocated to Colorado in the mid-1980's and pursued a Master's Degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix. After 20 years in the Information Technology field, Wendy changed careers and became licensed as a Financial Advisor.

Wendy currently resides in Morrison, Colorado with her husband, Tim Cousineau, and her menagerie of 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a bird. She loves skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, biking, and camping. When confined to the indoors, Wendy enjoys reading and crafts.

Bret Yoder, Clifton Gunderson
Vice Chair, Small Business Development Center
www.cliftongunderson.com

Bret Yoder's bio information will be available soon.

Chris Younger, Capital Value Advisors
www.capitalvalue.net

Chris Younger is Managing Director for CapitalValue Advisors, an investment bank in Denver, Colorado. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School with more than 20 years of experience in executive management, marketing, sales, transactions, and law. He has personally managed over 40 transactions, either as buyer, seller, or advisor, and has had the operating responsibility for integrating acquisitions following purchase. Chris advises mid-market businesses during critical transition events, including capital raises and mergers and acquisitions.

Before helping create CapitalValue Advisors, Chris helped found and was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Expanets, the nation’s largest ($1.2 billion in revenues in 2000) and leading provider of converged communications solutions. Prior to his work at Expanets, Chris was an attorney with Wilson, Sonsini in Silicon Valley, and was also a clerk for the Honorable Jesse E. Eschbach, Senior Judge for the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. Chris is a summa cum laude graduate of Miami University in Ohio, and was named one of Denver’s Top “40 Under 40” business leaders by the Denver Business Journal. During his tenure at Harvard, Chris was the Managing Editor for the Harvard Law Review. Additionally, he is the co-author of the book Harvest: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Company.