Gov. Polis Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

Monday, January 23, 2023

Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System

The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System is the governing board for Colorado State University and the Colorado State University, Pueblo.  The Board selects the presidents of these schools and generally oversees the schools, including determination of salaries and tuition, conferring degrees and carrying out other legal functions. 

for terms expiring December 31, 2026:

  • Raymond Baker of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as a Republican, appointed;

  • Armando Valdez of La Jara, Colorado, to serve as a Democrat and representative of agriculture, reappointed.

Board of Trustees for Metropolitan State University of Denver

The Board of Trustees of Metropolitan State University of Denver is the governing body for the Metropolitan State University of Denver.  The Board is responsible for all contracts, property, rules, and regulations governing the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

for a term expiring December 31, 2023:

  • Olivia Mendoza of Lakewood, Colorado, occasioned by the resignation of Mario Carrera of Lone Tree, Colorado, appointed.

Child Support Commission

The commission reviews the child support guidelines and is required to issue a report every four years to the Governor and the General Assembly of the results of the review of child support guidelines and any recommended statutory changes.

for terms expiring July 1, 2026:

  • Ana Peters of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a parent representative, appointed;

  • Neal Peskind of Superior, Colorado, to serve as a parent representative, occasioned by the resignation of Carl Roberts of Arvada, Colorado, appointed;

  • LeAnn Anderson of Denver, Colorado, to serve as an interested party, appointed.

Clean Fleet Enterprise

The Clean Fleet Enterprise will incentivize and support the use of electric motor vehicles.

for a term expiring September 28, 2024:

  • Jose Guardiola of Commerce City, Colorado, to serve as an individual from a disproportionately impacted community, occasioned by the resignation of Carlos Gonzales of Colorado Springs, Colorado, appointed.

Colorado Dental Board

The Colorado Dental Board makes rules and regulations, examines and licenses dentists and dental hygienists, and conducts hearings regarding the suspension or revocation of licenses.

for terms expiring January 1, 2027:

  • Sonjiang Luo of Aurora, Colorado, to serve as a dentist, appointed;

  • Suzanne Hubbard of Greeley, Colorado, to serve as a dental hygienist, appointed;

  • Tasnova Mohler of Thornton, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the public, appointed.

Colorado Human Trafficking Council

The purpose of the Council is to bring together leadership from community-based and statewide anti-trafficking efforts, to build and enhance collaboration among communities and counties within the state, to establish and improve comprehensive services for victims and survivors of human trafficking, to assist in the successful prosecution of human traffickers, and to help prevent human trafficking in Colorado.

for a term expiring December 31, 2025:

  • Caroline McKinnon of Littleton, Colorado, to serve as a representative of organizations that provide direct services to victims of human trafficking, occasioned by the resignation of  Nhu-Minh Le of Aurora, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring December 31, 2026: 

  • Jenelle Goodrich of Littleton, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a faith-based 

organization that assists victims of human trafficking, appointed; 

  • Brooke Byrd of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a regional or city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition, reappointed; 

  • Andrew Lorensen of Limon, Colorado, to serve as a director of a rural county department of  social services, reappointed; 

  • Mona Petroco Klein of Pueblo, Colorado, to serve as a representative of regional or city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition, reappointed; 

  • Chief James Scott Baird of Breckenridge, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a statewide association of police chiefs, reappointed; 

  • Dr. Michelle Sunkel of Grand Junction, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a college or  university department that conducts research on human trafficking, reappointed; 

  • Amanda A. Finger of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a regional or city-wide human trafficking  task force or coalition, reappointed; 

  • Darren Weekly of Castle Rock, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a statewide association of county sheriffs, appointed; 

  • Jo-Ann Cahill O’Neill of Canon City, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a regional or city-wide human trafficking task force coalition, reappointed. 

Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee

The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee shall annually review proposed projects for expenditure of Colorado wildlife habitat stamp funds and make recommendations to the director and the wildlife commission.

for terms expiring December 31, 2023:

  • Liz Rose of Denver, Colorado, a sportsperson, to serve as a representative of the Northeast region, occasioned by the resignation of Jennifer Gluck of LaSalle, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring December 31, 2026:

  • Brien Webster of Grand Junction, Colorado, a sportsperson, to serve as a representative of the Northwest region, appointed;

  • Dave Dillon of Durango, Colorado, a sportsperson, to serve as a representative

of the Southwest region, appointed;

  • John Stark of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a sportsperson, to serve as a

representative of the Southeast region, appointed;

  • Lauren McCain, PhD, of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a nationally or regionally recognized conservation organization whose mission is focused on nongame wildlife and whose membership is composed primarily of nongame wildlife users, reappointed.

Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise

The enterprise, under the governance of the Health Insurance Affordability Board, will administer a health insurance affordability fee on Colorado health insurance carriers and a special assessment on hospitals to fund measures to reduce consumer costs for individual health coverage plans.

for terms expiring September 24, 2026:

  • Shannon Groves of Denver, Colorado, a representative employed by a carrier, reappointed;

  • Stephanie Einfeld of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to serve as a representative of primary care health care providers who does not represent a carrier, reappointed;

  • Richard Cimino of Fraser, Colorado, to serve as a representative of consumers of health care who are not employees of a hospital or other health care industry entities, reappointed;

  • Karla Gonzales Garcia of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of consumers of health care who are not employees of a hospital or other health care industry entities, appointed;

  • Samuel Todd Young of Grand Junction, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a business that purchases or otherwise provides health insurance for its employees, reappointed.

Stroke Advisory Board

The Stroke Advisory Board evaluates potential strategies for stroke prevention and treatment, and develops statewide needs assessments identifying relevant resources to improve quality of care for stroke patients.  Each year, the Board submits a report specifying its findings and recommendations to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the corresponding committees in the State House and Senate.

for a term expiring August 1, 2023:

  • Dr. Richard Bottner of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of a statewide hospital association, occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Darlene Tad-y of Aurora, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring August 1, 2025:

  • Dr. Brianna Fox of Hugo, Colorado, to serve as a physician who is actively involved in stroke care and who is board certified in primary care, appointed;

  • Sara Minott of Englewood, Colorado, to serve as a hospital administrator form a hospital located in an urban area of the state, appointed;

  • Dr. Jeffrey Beckman of Golden, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado

Department of Public Health and Environment, reappointed;

  • Kerri Jeppson of Golden, Colorado, to serve as a registered nurse involved in stroke care, reappointed;

  • Dr. Michelle Leppert of Englewood, Colorado, to serve as a physician actively involved in stroke care and who is board-certified in vascular neurology, reappointed;

  • Christopher Mulberry of Commerce City, Colorado to serve as an emergency medical service provider, reappointed.

Judicial Nominating Commissions

There is a judicial district nominating commission for each of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts that select nominees for district and county judicial vacancies. Each district nominating commission is chaired by a justice of the Supreme Court, who is a non-voting member of the commission.

Third Judicial District Nominating Commission

for terms expiring December 31, 2028:

  • Elizabeth Kelly of Trinidad, Colorado to serve as a non-attorney, an Unaffiliated, and member from Las Animas County, appointed;

  • Shannon Shiveley of Trinchera, Colorado to serve as a non-attorney, a Republican, and member from Las Animas County, appointed.

Supreme Court Nominating Commission

for a term expiring December 31, 2028:

  • Edwin Perlmutter of Arvada, Colorado, to serve as an attorney, a Democrat, and a member from the Seventh Congressional District, appointed.

Pinnacol Assurance Board of Directors

The Pinnacol Assurance Board of Directors promulgates rules and regulations pertaining to the operation and administration of the Colorado Pinnacol Assurance Fund. 

for terms expiring January 1, 2028:

  • Emily Lord King of Greeley, Colorado, to serve as a farmer and employer whose liability is insured by Pinnacol, appointed;

  • Isaac Wanasika of Westminster, Colorado, to serve as an employee of an employer whose liability is insured by Pinnacol, appointed.

Scenic and Historic Byways Commission

The Commission works with state agencies, the US Forest Services, Bureau of Land Management, local byways organizations, public and private resources, to assist in the development of byways management plans, including interpretation, promotion and protection of distinctive byways characteristics.  They also help coordinate the budgeting process and allocation of federal, state, and private funds for the purpose of byway improvement. 

for a term expiring January 1, 2024:

  • Jeff Christenson of Dolores, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Bureau of Land Management, occasioned by the resignation of Tim Finger of Lakewood, Colorado, appointed;

for terms expiring January 1, 2026:

  • Terry Hart of Pueblo, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Transportation Commission, appointed;

  • Christopher Bowles of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of

preservation, appointed;

  • Patrick Eidman of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of the Colorado

Historical Society and ex-officio member, appointed;

  • Darius Pakbaz of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative from the

Colorado Department of Transportation, appointed;

  • Andrew Grossmann of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a representative of

Colorado Tourism Office, reappointed.

State Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education

The Board is the governing body for the state community college system and the coordinating board for local district colleges.  It also coordinates the activities of area vocational schools.

for terms expiring December 31, 2026:

  • Landon Mascarenaz of Denver, Colorado, to serve as a Democrat and member from the First Congressional District, reappointed;

  • Terrance Douglas McWilliams of Colorado Springs, Colorado, to serve as a Republican and member from the Fifth Congressional District, reappointed.

State Board of Human Services

The State Board of Human Services adopts policies, rules and regulations for the administration of the Department of Human Services.  The Board adjusts the minimum award for old age pensions for changes in the cost of living.  The Board also adopts rules and regulations concerning foster care and adoption procedures, mental health programs, alcohol and drug abuse programs and developmental disabilities programs.

for a term expiring March 1, 2023:

  • Tamara Pogue of Dillon, Colorado, to serve as a County Commissioner, occasioned by the resignation of Mary Melton of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, appointed.

Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

The 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 a term expiring June 30, 2024:

  • Benjamin Hoffman of Grand Junction, Colorado, to serve as a member with various interests in the water and wastewater facility certification program with geographical representation west of the Continental Divide, occasioned by the resignation of Roberta Darcy of Basalt Colorado, appointed.