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Gov. Polis Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

Government and Politics

May 31, 2024

From: Colorado Governor Jared Polis

Beef Council Authority Board of Directors

The Colorado Beef Council Authority works to promote the increased consumption of Colorado beef.  The Board researches beef production methods, advancements and other matters with economic impacts upon the beef industry and makes this information available to interested parties.

for terms expiring July 1, 2028:

  • Roberta LeValley of Hotchkiss, Colorado, to serve as a cattle grower, reappointed;
  • John Scanga of Ault, Colorado, to serve as a processor and distributor, reappointed.

Child Protection Ombudsman Board

The Child Protection Ombudsman Board oversees decisions related to the Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman, including personnel decisions, accountability and consistency in operating policies and procedures, and fiscal oversight of the general operating budget.

for terms expiring August 1, 2027:

  • Michelle Dossey of Castle Rock, Colorado, to serve as an individual with previous professional experience with an urban human or social services agency or an urban private child welfare agency, appointed.

Coal Mine Board of Examiners

The Coal Mine Board of Examiners prepares and conducts examinations for all applicants to positions in coal mines that require certification under federal law.  The Board issues certificates of competency to those who qualify.  The Board also provides assistance in developing curricula for coal miner training programs.

for a term expiring July 1, 2028:

  • Nick Aromando of Hayden, Colorado, to serve as a coal mine owner, operator or manager engaged in underground mining and engineer experience in coal mining, reappointed.

Colorado Air Quality Control Commission

The Air Quality Control Commission develops and maintains a comprehensive program for the prevention and control of air pollution in Colorado. The major goal of this program is to meet national ambient air quality standards.

for a term expiring January 31, 2027:

  • Gregg Thomas of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of scientific and technical experience, appointed.

Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs

The Colorado Board of Veterans' Affairs studies the problems facing veterans and makes recommendations to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Veterans’ Affairs concerning programs needed to assist veterans.

for a term expiring June 30, 2028:

  • Jasmine Walker Motupalli of Centennial, Colorado, to serve as a veteran who has been honorably released or separated from the Armed Forces of the United States, reappointed. 

Colorado Commission on Higher Education

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education sets policies for all state-supported institutions of higher education.

for a term expiring July 1, 2027:

  • Jill Barkin of Denver, Colorado, to represent the First Congressional District, occasioned by the resignation of Josh Scott of Denver, Colorado, appointed.

Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission

The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission adopts and enforces rules and regulations for the establishment and operation of gambling in the Colorado towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.

for a term expiring July 1, 2027:

  • Kevin Hyland of Arvada, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Seventh Congressional District and as a certified public accountant with experience in corporate finance, appointed.

Denver Metropolitan Area Regional Air Quality Council

The Denver Metropolitan Area Regional Air Quality Council is the lead agency for air quality planning with the responsibility to prepare air quality plans for the Denver metropolitan region to demonstrate and ensure long-term compliance with federal air quality standards.

for terms expiring April 30, 2027:

  • Oscar Madera of Commerce City, Colorado, to represent local government, reappointed;
  • Enessa Janes of Arvada, Colorado, to represent local government, reappointed;
  • Dan Kramer of Estes Park, Colorado, to represent Larimer County government and to serve as Chair, appointed;
  • Stephanie Piko of Centennial, Colorado, to represent local government, appointed;
  • Bill Obermann of Lakewood, Colorado, to represent local government, appointed;
  • Michael Fronapfel of Parker, Colorado, to represent business expertise, appointed;
  • Anthony Pratt of Lafayette, Colorado, to represent transportation expertise, appointed;
  • Vanessa Solesbee of Estes Park, Colorado, to represent transportation expertise, appointed;
  • Anthony Milo of Thornton, Colorado, to represent business expertise, appointed;
  • Roshini Shankaran of Denver, Colorado, to represent business expertise, appointed;
  • Dena Wojtach of Arvada, Colorado, to represent conservation expertise, appointed.

Front Range Passenger Rail District Board

The purpose of the district is to research, develop, construct, operate, and maintain an interconnected passenger rail system within the front range that is competitive in terms of travel time for comparable trips with other modes of surface transportation.

for terms expiring April 1, 2028:

  • John Putnam of Boulder, Colorado, to serve as a representative of transportation or public finance, appointed;
  • Jose Soto of Pueblo West, Colorado, to serve as a representative supporting a statewide employee organization, reappointed;
  • Joshua Laipply of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the public, reappointed.

Health Facilities Authority Board

The purpose of the Colorado Health Facilities Authority is to enable health institutions in the state to refund or refinance outstanding indebtedness and to provide additional facilities and structures which are needed to promote the health and welfare of the people of the state.

for terms expiring June 30, 2028:

  • Daniel Thurlow of Parker, Colorado, reappointed;
  • George Gray of Denver, Colorado, reappointed;
  • Susana Salamun of Evergreen, Colorado, appointed.

High-Performance Transportation Enterprise

The High-Performance Transportation Enterprise was created to actively seek out opportunities for public-private partnerships for the purpose of completing surface transportation infrastructure projects.  The Transportation Enterprise pursues any available means of financing such surface transportation projects that will allow the efficient completion of the projects.

for terms expiring October 1, 2027:

  • Nissa Erickson of Dillon, Colorado to serve as a member who resides within the Interstate 70 mountain corridor, appointed;
  • Cecil Gutierrez of Loveland, Colorado, a member who resides within the planning area of the north front range metropolitan planning organization, reappointed.

Peace Officers Standards and Training Board

The Peace Officers Standards and Training Board oversees the certification of training programs, training academies and instructors of police officer candidates.  The Board also certifies qualified peace officers.

for a term expiring June 30, 2024:

  • Devon Meyers of Littleton, Colorado, to serve as an active peace officer with the rank of sergeant or below, occasioned by the resignation of Tonya Barnes of Elizabeth, Colorado, appointed;

for a term expiring June 30, 2025:

  • Chief Ron Thomas of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a chief of police, occasioned by the resignation Chief Maris Herold of Boulder, Colorado, appointed;

for a term expiring June 30, 2027:

  • Jessica Shouse of Johnstown, Colorado, to serve as a lay member, appointed.

Public Employees’ Retirement Benefit Plans 

The Public Employees’ Retirement Benefit Plans (PERA) manages and provides retirement and other benefits to the employees of more than 500 government agencies and public entities in the State of Colorado. By state law, the management of the public employees' retirement funds are vested in PERA's Board of Trustees.

for a term expiring July 10, 2028:

  • Taylor McLemore of Denver, Colorado to serve as a representative with experience and competence in investment, management, finance, banking, economics, accounting pension administration or actuarial analysis, reappointed.

Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Board

The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Board of Directors oversees seven Denver metropolitan counties—Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson—and comprises more than 280 nonprofit and local government organizations. These groups provide metro residents with a multitude of programs and activities, many of which are free or low cost, including art, music, theater, dance, zoology, botany, natural history or cultural history.

for terms expiring May 15, 2027:

  • Tamra Ward of Denver, Colorado, appointed;
  • Patricia Salazar of Denver, Colorado, appointed;
  • Jacki Cooper Melmed of Denver, Colorado, reappointed.

State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners

The State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners board adopts rules and regulations for the profession, conducts examinations, and grants or denies licenses.

for a term expiring August 12, 2026:

  • Jada Payne of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as a public member occasioned by the resignation of Gina Kretoski of Littleton, Colorado, appointed;

for a term expiring August 12, 2028:

  • Meagan Terry of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as a professional member, reappointed;
  • Bobbi Miller of Arvada, Colorado, to serve as a professional member, reappointed.

State Board of Social Work Examiners

The Board licenses social workers in Colorado and conducts hearings concerning complaints against licensed social workers.

for terms expiring June 30, 2028:

  • Laura Schwartz, MSW, LCSW, CAC III, of Fort Collins, Colorado, to serve as a licensed clinical social worker, reappointed;
  • David Humphrey Jr,. PhD, of Thornton, Colorado, to serve as a public member, appointed.

State Fair Authority Board of Directors

The Colorado State Fair Authority Board of Commissioners is a corporate body, a political subdivision of the state. The Board directs and supervises the Colorado State Fair and Industrial Exposition.  The Fair is held annually at Pueblo for the display of livestock and agricultural, horticultural, industrial, mining, recreational, educational and scientific products of the State of Colorado.

for terms expiring November 1, 2024:

  • John Singletary of Pueblo, Colorado, to serve as a representative of agriculture, appointed.

State Plumbing Board

The State Plumbing Board grants licenses to plumbers, and amends and enforces rules and regulations for the examination and licensure of plumbers.

for a term expiring July 1, 2028:

  • John Hill of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as a plumbing contractor, reappointed.

Statewide Internet Portal Authority Board

The Statewide Internet Portal Authority develops the officially recognized statewide internet

portal that provides one-stop access to electronic information, products, and services in order to give members of the public an alternative way to transact business with the state.

for a term expiring June 1, 2028:

  • Ernesto Chavez of Westminster, Colorado, to represent local government, reappointed.

Towing Task Force

The Towing Task Force was established in 2014 to make recommendations to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission about the maximum rates that may be charged for the recovery, towing and storage of a vehicle that has been towed without the owner’s consent. It also advises the Commission concerning investigations of overcharges made by towing carriers.

for terms expiring December 30, 2027:

  • Mike Padilla of Commerce City, Colorado, to serve as a representative of an association of motor carriers within Colorado as consumers of towing services, appointed; 
  • Seth Isaiah Thomas of Broomfield, Colorado, to serve as a representative of 

disproportionately affected communities, appointed.