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Colorado State Capitol building with green trees and golden dome.

Governor Polis announces boards and commissions appointments

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America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission

The America 250 - Colorado 150 commission is created in History Colorado to develop programs and plan for the official observance across Colorado of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the founding of the United States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and the sesquicentennial anniversary of Colorado statehood.

for terms expiring at the pleasure of the Governor:

  • Richard Lewis of Aurora, Colorado, to represent the public at large, appointed;
  • Nick Lopez of Englewood, Colorado, to represent the public at large, appointed;
  • Grace Gillette of Denver, Colorado, to represent the indigenous community, appointed;
  • Steven LaPointe of Denver, Colorado, to represent the indigenous community, appointed;
  • Chris Hinds of Denver, Colorado, to represent the disability community, appointed;
  • Robin Brown of Grand Junction, Colorado, to represent the veteran community, appointed.

Auraria Higher Education Center Board of Directors

The Auraria Higher Education Center Board of Directors manages the operational affairs of the three-school Auraria campus.

for a term expiring July 13, 2027:

  • Angie Rivera-Malpiede of Denver, Colorado, appointed.

Board of Directors of the State Historical Society

The Board of Directors of the State Historical Society is the governing body for the State Historical Society. The Society is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and an agency of the State of Colorado under the Department of Higher Education. It offers public access to cultural and heritage resources of Colorado, including statewide museums and special programs for individuals and families, collection stewardship of Colorado’s historic treasures, educational resources for schools, students and teachers, and services related to preservation, archaeology and history.

for terms expiring July 1, 2027:

  • Richard Benenson of Aspen, Colorado, reappointed;
  • Paul Weissmann of Boulder, Colorado, appointed;
  • Kelly Brough of Denver, Colorado, appointed;
  • Claudia Moran of Lakewood, Colorado, appointed.

Board of Trustees for the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind

The Board of Trustees for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind advises and consults with the Commissioner of Education regarding the management of the school and the education of its students.

for terms expiring July 1, 2028:

  • Meghan Klassen of Denver, Colorado, reappointed;
  • Dahlia Vercher of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as the parent of a student of the school, appointed.

Charter School Institute Board of Directors

The mission of the Institute Board shall be to foster high-quality public school choices offered through institute charter schools, including particularly schools for at-risk students.

for a term expiring July 1, 2026:

  • Nicholas Thompson of Edwards, Colorado, to serve as a member with public service experience, occasioned by the resignation of George Autobee of Colorado City, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring July 1, 2027:

  • Kenneth Smith of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a member with experience as a charter school board member, reappointed;
  • Deborah Hendrix of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as a member with public service experience, 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, 2028:

  • Cassandra Walker Harvey of Durango, Colorado, to represent the Third Congressional District, appointed.

Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority Board of Directors

The Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority issues bonds to provide affordable financing for educational and cultural buildings and equipment owned by non-profit institutions.

for a term expiring June 30, 2025:

  • Heather Schell of Evergreen, Colorado, occasioned by the passing of Keo Frazier of Denver, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring June 30, 2028:

  • Marianne Virgili of Carbondale, Colorado, reappointed;
  • Benita Duran of Boulder, 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, 2025:

  • Ahilya George of Lone Tree, Colorado, to serve as a member of the Fourth Congressional District and as a representative of business management, occasioned by the resignation of Patricia Landaveri of Denver, Colorado, appointed.

Colorado New Energy Improvement District Board

The Colorado New Energy Improvement District Board enables and encourages the owners of eligible real property to invest in new energy improvements, including energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements by authorizing the district to establish, develop, finance, implement, and administer a new energy improvement program that includes both energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy improvements to assist any such owners who choose to join the district in completing new energy improvements to their property.

for terms expiring September 1, 2028:

  • George McGuirk of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a member with executive level experience in the utility industry, reappointed;
  • Kathryn Cusack of Englewood, Colorado, to serve as a member with executive level experience with financial institutions having total assets of less than $1 billion, appointed;
  • Grant Nelson of Castle Pines, Colorado, to serve as a member with executive level experience in the commercial real estate development industry, reappointed;
  • Stephanie Greene of Boulder, Colorado, to serve as a member with experience in the energy efficiency industry, reappointed.

Energy Impact Assistance Advisory Committee

The Energy Impact Assistance Advisory Committee reviews the existing and potential impact of the development, processing or energy conversion of mineral and fuel resources on various areas of the state. The Committee then makes recommendations to the Dept. of Local Affairs to assist impacted areas.

for terms expiring August 24, 2028:

  • Tony Hass of Trinidad, Colorado, reappointed;
  • Heather Alvarez of Mancos, Colorado, appointed.

Financial Services Board

This board is the policy-making and rule-making authority for the Division of Financial Services.

for a term expiring July 1, 2025:

  • Shon Robert Davis of Monte Vista, Colorado, to serve as an executive officer of a state savings and loan association, occasioned by the resignation of Michael George Hurst of Del Norte, 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 a term expiring October 1, 2027:

  • Nellie Moran of Denver, Colorado to serve as a member who resides within the Denver region, appointed;
  • Gina Sacripanti of Colorado Springs, Colorado to serve as a member who resides within the Pikes Peak region, appointed.

Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission

The Supreme Court Nominating Commission attorney members are appointed jointly by the Governor, the Chief Justice, and the Attorney General. The Supreme Court Nominating Commission recommends candidates to serve as judges for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. The chief justice of the Supreme Court chairs the commission and is a non-voting member. No more than one-half of the commission members plus one, shall be members of the same political party.

for a term expiring December 31, 2029:

  • Kenneth Buck of Windsor, Colorado, to serve as an attorney, a Republican, and a member from the Fourth Congressional District, appointed.

Medical Services Board

The Medical Services Board adopts the rules and regulations that govern the operation of the Colorado Medicaid Program and Colorado Indigent Care Program. The Regulations adopted by the board will direct the efforts of the State in defining eligibility and the benefits for these programs, the rights and obligations of clients receiving benefits, and the payment of vendors providing health care services. The Board will also provide advice and consultation to the State Board of Human Services in connection with the administration of the Old Age Pension Health and Medical Fund.

for terms expiring July 1, 2028:

  • David Pump of Pueblo West, Colorado, to represent the Third Congressional District, appointed;
  • Morgan Honea of Centennial, Colorado, to represent the Sixth Congressional District, reappointed;
  • Christina Mulkey of Denver, Colorado, to represent the Eighth Congressional District, reappointed.

Mental Health Advisory Board

The Mental Health Advisory Board is responsible for recommending standards and regulations for the programs of mental health services in any health care facility that has separate facilities for mental health care, or those health care facilities that have as their only purpose the treatment and care of mental illness.

for terms expiring July 1, 2027:

  • Jessica Bell of Severance, Colorado, to represent the Behavioral Health Administration, appointed;
  • Katie Lynn Donohue of Englewood, Colorado, to represent the Colorado Bar Association, appointed;
  • Renee Marquardt of Boulder, Colorado, to represent the Colorado Department of Human Services, appointed;
  • Jennifer Vasquez-Stitt of Castle Rock, Colorado, to serve as a representative of skilled
  • healthcare facilities, appointed;
  • Casey Leigh Wolfington-Angel of Edwards, Colorado, to serve as a representative of
  • nonprofit healthcare facilities, appointed;
  • Scott Simpson of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, appointed.

Peace Officer 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 terms expiring June 30, 2027:

  • Donald Addy of Colorado Springs to serve as a lay member, reappointed;
  • Ashley Beck of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a lay member, reappointed;
  • Laura Bowmar Puckett Daniels of Crested Butte, Colorado, to serve as a representative of local government, reappointed;
  • Rachel Defrancesco of Placerville, Colorado, to serve as an active peace officer with a rank of sergeant or below, reappointed;
  • Sharletta Evans of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a lay member, reappointed;
  • Terrence Gordon of Thornton, Colorado, to serve as a police chief, reappointed;
  • Scott Levin of Englewood, Colorado, to serve as a lay member, reappointed;
  • David Martin of Brush, Colorado, to serve as a county sheriff, reappointed;
  • Sean Smith of Durango, Colorado, to serve as a county sheriff, reappointed;
  • Michael Justin Perry of Ouray, Colorado, to serve as a county sheriff, appointed;
  • Aaron Shiplett of Springfield, Colorado, to serve as a county sheriff, appointed.

Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission

The Hazardous Waste Commission makes rules and regulations for the handling, storage and transportation of hazardous wastes in the State of Colorado.

for terms expiring August 1, 2027:

  • Cathryn Stewart of Denver, Colorado, to represent the public at large, reappointed;
  • David Fridland of Lafayette, Colorado, to represent local government, appointed;
  • Jeff Uhland of Niwot, Colorado, to represent the regulated industry sector, appointed.

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District Board of Directors

The Urban Drainage and Flood Control Districts Board of Directors assists local governments in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of multi-jurisdictional drainage and flood control projects.

for a term expiring January 31, 2026:

  • Mayor Neal Shah of Superior, Colorado, to serve as a mayor from Boulder County, appointed.

Utility Consumers’ Board

The duties and responsibilities of the Utility Consumers’ Board is to provide guidance on policy matters and annually evaluate the performance of the Office of Consumer Council. The OCC’s charter is to advocate on behalf of residential, small business, and agricultural consumers in energy matters before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and other courts.

for a term expiring July 1, 2026:

  • Les Owen of Berthoud, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Eighth Congressional District, occasioned by the resignation of Bonnie Trowbridge of Berthoud, Colorado, appointed;

for a term expiring July 1, 2028:

  • Sondra Young of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the First Congressional District, reappointed.

Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board establishes rules and regulations concerning the application, admission to the exam, and issuance of certificates to operators of water and wastewater treatment plants.

for terms expiring June 30, 2028:

  • Allen Coyne of Julesburg, Colorado, to represent the Colorado Rural Water Association, reappointed;
  • Benjamin Hoffman of Grand Junction, Colorado, to represent various interests in the water and wastewater facility certification program and to serve as a member west of the continental divide, reappointed;
  • Ortilano Oligo of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a city or utility manager in a city or county that operates a domestic water or wastewater treatment facility, appointed;
  • Armando Herald of Littleton, Colorado, to represent the Department of Public Health and Environment and serve as an ex-officio member, appointed.