Joe Barela – Regional Workforce Director, Arapahoe/Douglas Works
Barela serves as a division manager for Arapahoe/Douglas Works, a publicly funded workforce center thatoffers no-cost services to connect job-seekers and businesses in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. He is a Metro Denver EDC award recipient for Economic Developer of the Year award for his delivery of labor market information for companies looking to locate to or expand in the Denver metro area.
Peter Coakley – Senior Vice President & General Manager, Opus Development
Coakley is the senior vice president and general manager of the Opus Denver office. Peter is responsible for managing the company’s fully integrated design/build development services in Colorado. This includes speculative development of most property types, build-to-suit projects and third party construction management services.
Stephanie Copeland – Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)
Copeland was appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper to his cabinet as executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade in January 2017. She joins OEDIT most recently from The Zayo Group, where she served as a president of the communications infrastructure services firm. She was part of a leadership team taking the company public, managing full P&L and operational responsibilities for Zayo’s network services. Previously, she served as chief operating officer at WildBlue, where she was responsible for the operations of the $500 million rural broadband business.
Luella Chavez D’Angelo, MBA – Vice Chancellor for Enterprise Development, University of Colorado, South Denver
As vice chancellor for Enterprise Development since February 1, 2016, Chavez D’Angelo leads the extraordinary CU South Denver enterprise, working to maximize its full potential and impact as a unique and innovative education delivery model and valued asset of the CU system. This includes the management of its people, partnerships, promotions and academic programs for all four CU campuses, the Liniger Building facility and The Wildlife Experience community services – a museum, K-12 education, community programs, and event hosting and space rental.
In addition, she serves as a resource to build collaborations with the Denver, Anschutz, Boulder and Colorado Springs campus academic staff and offerings in enhancing the university’s approach and strategy with corporate and foundation partners.
Dr. Dianna Doyle – President, Arapahoe Community College
Dr. Doyle currently serves as the president for Arapahoe Community College. Prior to leading the academic and student affairs of Community College of Denver, Doyle had a 13-year tenure at Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (with 11 years as their vice president of Educational and Student Services). Before that, she was at the Colorado School of Mines as the director of Student Development. At Community College of Denver, Doyle led Learning/Instruction, Student Services, Online Learning, Pre-Collegiate Programs, Grants, Business and Industry Training, and the Confucius Institute.
In addition to having responsibility for the largest functional areas of WNCC, she also led that institution’s first major gifts campaign, in which over $5 million was raised. From 2008 to 2009, she served as the nationally-elected president of NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.
Jenny Engle – Senior Director, Fidelity Investments
Engle is a senior director of Public Affairs for Fidelity Investments. Engle joined Fidelity in 2001 and assumed her current role in July 2013. She oversees Fidelity’s public affairs, government and community relations activities in Colorado, Fidelity’s newest regional U.S. site. Previously, Engle was senior director of Media Relations, serving as a corporate spokesperson.
Prior to joining Fidelity, Engle held a number of positions primarily in the banking industry. She was vice president of Media Relations for FleetBoston Financial, served as vice president of marketing communication for BankBoston Retail Finance/Back Bay Capital and was assistant vice president of Corporate Communications for KeyCorp. Before that, as head of external affairs for KeyBank of Vermont in Burlington, she managed all aspects of public and community relations, philanthropy, public affairs and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) compliance.
Frank Gray – President and CEO, Castle Rock EDC
Gray is president and CEO of Castle Rock EDC (2009-Current) after seven years at Adams County Economic Development (ACED) where he was vice president of Business Development. In his current position Frank is responsible for attracting new businesses and helping existing industry thrive and grow in Castle Rock and Douglas County. Castle Rock EDC has been named the EDCC’s large community of the year in 2009, 2011 and 2015. In 2011, Frank assumed responsibility for the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown Merchants Association forming what is now known as the Castle Rock Downtown Alliance.
John Hall – EDCC Board Chair, Economic Development Director, City of Westminster
Hall has 25 years of experience in economic development and private land use development consulting. His expertise includes multiple aspects of economic development, including primary business attraction and retention, small business development, retail recruitment, marketing, policy development and analysis, strategic planning, land development and incentive negotiations.
Hall previously served as Economic Development and Urban Renewal director for the Town of Parker, Colorado. Prior to that, he was a business development officer for Westminster. In addition to times with Parker and Westminster, Hall has served as business recruitment officer for the Portland Development Commission, Business Development coordinator and Enterprise Zone program manager for the State of Oregon, and senior associate for Leland and Hobson Economic Consultants in Oregon. He has also engaged in teaching and conducted research in economic development at the university level.
Jeff Holwell – Economic Development Director, City of Lone Tree
Holweel has served in a variety of economic development roles throughout his 18 year career in the Metro Denver region, including director of Business and Economic Development with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer with the South Metro Denver Chamber. In his role at the City of Lone Tree he is focused on retail development, business retention, and major employer attraction for a growing, transit-oriented, and vibrant community in the southeast Denver corridor.
Patrick Holwell – Workforce Economist, Arapahoe/Douglas Works
Holwell has been in workforce development for over 25 years. He is the workforce economist for the Arapahoe/Douglas Workforce Development Board serving Arapahoe and Douglas Counties in Metro Denver. Patrick earned his MA from University of Colorado at Denver. He recently received the Metropolitan Cooperation Award from the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation for his work, and the SarLevitan Award from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals for applied workforce development research. He regularly helps economic developers market the metro Denver area to businesses considering locating here, and has in-depth understanding of the local labor market.
Cynthia Madden Leitner – President and Founding Director, Museum of Outdoor Arts
Madden Leitner co-founded the Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA) with her parents, Colorado developer John W. Madden, Jr. and his wife Marjorie Madden in 1982. Designed as a “museum without walls", MOA’s original mission followed the definition by integrating the arts into commercial landscapes and architecture to create synergistic environments for everyday living. Beginning with a donated outdoor collection of 12 sculptures placed in Greenwood Plaza, the collection now has over 200 monumental sculptures installed throughout the Denver Metro area. In 1995, the Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts was awarded to Madden Leitner for the realization of MOA’s unique vision.
Elaine Mariner – Cultural Director, Town of Parker and Director, PACE Center
Mariner oversees Parker’s cultural programs and facilities including the PACE Center, the historic Schoolhouse on Mainstreet and the development of Parker’s Creative District at Old Town. She formerly served as the director of Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the state Office of Economic Development, where she re-branded the agency to represent the full breadth of Colorado’s creative industries and launched the state’s Creative Districts program.
Lauren Masias – Public Information Officer & Director of Transportation Programs, Denver South EDP
Masias is a Colorado native and has lived in the Denver area for the past four years. She graduated from LaSalle University in 2006 with a degree in Communications and Public Relations and has since garnered several years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector as well as working in the marketing department at the corporate office for Chrysler Group, LLC. As the Public Information officer for the Denver South Transportation Management Association, Lauren is responsible for informing the public and jurisdictions about transportation projects and timelines in the area and developing marketing campaigns that maximize exposure for various TDM programs. Additionally, she focuses on corporate outreach, grant opportunities and working in conjunction with partners of the TMA.
Robert Olislagers – CEO, Centennial Airport
Olislagers is the chief executive officer of Centennial Airport, one of the busiest business and general aviation airports in the nation. Prior to joining the airport in 2000, he served airports in California and New York. Under his leadership, Centennial Airport has grown to become one of the most prominent business airports in the U.S.
In addition to being an accredited airport professional, Robert is a certified intelligence analyst and (counter-) Terrorism Liaison officer. He is a nationally recognized expert on general aviation security, having testified before Congress and the State Legislature on the subject.
He is the recipient of numerous industry awards, most recently, the Distinguished Service Award, which is one of the highest awards given by the American Association of Airport Executives, exemplifying the nation’s best in airport management.
Jeremy Rietmann – EDCC Board Vice Chair, Economic Development Director, Town of Gypsum
Rietmann is an experienced community relations, public affairs and business development professional, committed to improving economic opportunity and quality of life in Colorado’s Vail Valley. Rietmann currently serves as Economic Development director for the Town of Gypsum.
Ed Sealover – Reporter, Denver Business Journal
Sealover has been a reporter at the Denver Business Journal since March 2009. He covers state government as well as health care, airlines, hospitality, tourism, and the beverage industry. The 2017 legislative session is the 11th that Sealover has covered for three different papers, including the Colorado Springs Gazette and the Rocky Mountain News, where he worked until its closure.
Throughout his career, he’s received more than 70 awards from press associations in five different states in categories that include beat reporting, political reporting, public service and investigative reporting.
Ty Seufer – Owner, Castle Rock Zip Line Tours
Seufer is the owner and operator of Royal Gorge Rafting, WhiteWater Bar & Grill, Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours, Castle Rock Zip Line Tours, and Harmony Gardens in Ft. Collins and Brighton. Seufer is a Colorado Native graduating from Canon City High School. Seufer has a BA in accounting and a Minor in marketing which he received from Colorado State University.
Commissioner Nancy Sharpe – Arapahoe County, District 2
Commissioner Sharpe is serving her second term as Commissioner representing District 2. She is chair of the Board of County Commissioners in 2017 and serves on the Executive Budget Committee. Nancy is focused on economic development in cooperation with cities, economic development organizations and chambers of commerce. In 2016, Colorado Counties Inc. honored Nancy with the organization’s Commissioner of the Year Award. Nancy Sharpe also serves on the Board of the Denver South Economic Development Partnership.
Commissioner David Weaver – Douglas County, District 1
Commissioner Weaver is the 2017 vice chair of the Board of County Commissioners. He was sworn in as Douglas County Commissioner, District I, on July 21, 2014, filling a vacancy created by the departure of Commissioner Jack Hilbert who resigned his position in July, six months before the completion of his second term. Weaver was subsequently elected to the position in November 2014 and began serving his own first term January 2015. During the same year he was named the 2015 Freshman Commissioner of the Year by Colorado Counties Inc.
Weaver, a former Douglas County Sheriff, began his service career in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in 1981. He is an experienced leader who believes in strong fiscal accountability, service excellence, integrity and community partnerships.
He supports a healthy, balanced approach to maintaining the quality of life we enjoy in Douglas County to include preserving the beauty of our rural, agricultural and ranching areas while simultaneously focusing on viable and quality growth in the urban corridors.