Community Leadership Council
The Community Leadership Council is a powerful coalition of community members and decision-makers who steer the strategy of the Rocky Mountain Partnership, endorsing critical targets and strategies. They are deeply engaged in the work and ensure their teams’ active participation. By investing in the neutral infrastructure that drives collaborative initiatives, they play a pivotal role in advancing the partnership’s mission. They are lead by the following Executive Committee:
Executive Committee
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Gabriela Chavez Civic Influencer Chair |
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Dr. Chris Fiedler City of Brighton City Council Member |
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Chris Gdowski Superintendent, Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
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Raymond H. Gonzales President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation | Executive Vice President, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce |
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Dr. Jeni Gotto Superintendent, Westminster Public Schools |
Sarah Justice Hughes Civic Influencer Vice-Chair |
Peter LiFari Chief Executive Officer, Maiker Housing Partners |
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Will Pierce Superintendent, 27J Schools |
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Randy Roberts President, Triple Peaks Ventures, RMP Board Chair |
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Kami Welch President, Arvada Chamber of Commerce |
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Community Leadership Council
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Dr. Cynthia Armendariz Director, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, Colorado Department of Higher Education |
Lori L. Bailey Director, Student Engagement Initiatives, Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
Jason Batchelor City Manager, City of Aurora |
Debra Bristol Executive Director, Brighton Housing Authority |
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Barry Burch Jr., MBA Manager of External Affairs, Denver International Airport |
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee President, Community College of Aurora |
Dr. Gabriel Castaño, EdD Vice President, Enrollment Management & Student Success, Front Range Community College |
Larry Dorr Chief Financial Officer, City of Westminster |
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Chief Bill Dunning Division Chief, Adams County Sheriff’s Department
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Dr. James Duffy Chief Operating Officer, Westminster Public Schools
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Corey Edwards VP of Strategic Partnerships, Mainstay
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Nichole Everman Chief Operating Officer, A Precious Child
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Dr. Chris Fiedler City of Brighton City Council Member |
Dr. Jessica Fiedler Executive Director, Almost Home |
Kristen Fiddes Chief Nursing Officer, HCA HealthONE Mountain Ridge |
Mark Fink Executive Director, Anythink Libraries |
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Letia Frandina Executive Director, Adams County Education Consortium |
Chris Gdowski Superintendent, |
Heather Geyer City Manager, City of Northglenn |
Eric Gleason Chief Executive Officer and President, A Precious Child |
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Maria Gonzalez Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Adelante Community Development |
Dr. Jeni Gotto Superintendent, Westminster Public Schools |
Whitney Gustin Connor Executive Director, Kids First Health Care |
Raymond Gonzales President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation | Executive Vice President, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce |
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Lisa Hough President/Chief Executive Officer, AC-REP
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Levon Hupfer, LAC, MAC Deputy Director, Adams County Health Department |
Amanda Jones Chief Operating Officer, Community Reach Center |
Lindsey Kimball Economic Development Director, City of Westminster |
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Peter LiFari Chief Executive Officer, Maiker Housing Partners |
Brian Mason District Attorney, 17th Judicial District – District Attorney’s Office |
Michael Marsico, LCSW VP of Clinical Services, Community Reach Center |
Ryan McCoy Executive Director of Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness, Westminster Public Schools |
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Katie O’Donnell Director of Communications and Public Engagement, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) |
Iza Petrykowska Executive Director, Arvada Economic Development Association |
Will Pierce Superintendent, 27J Schools |
Retired Chief Don Quick Retired Chief Judge, 17th Judicial District Courts |
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Jason Rogers City Manager, City of Commerce City |
Lindsay Salas Chief Executive Officer, CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties |
Dr. Constance Schmidt, MHA, FACHE Chief Executive Officer, St. Anthony North Hospital, CommonSpirit |
Hon. Kyle Seedorf Chief Judge of 17th Judicial District |
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Ana Soler Senior Program Officer of Education, Gates Family Foundation |
Jaylin Stotler Deputy Director, Parks Recreation & Community Programs, City of Thornton |
Ray Torres Chief Executive Officer, Key Klean |
Kami Welch President, Arvada Chamber of Commerce |
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Dace West Chief Impact Officer, The Denver Foundation |
Dr. Kelly Weidenbach Executive Director, Adams County Health Department |
Heidi Williams President & Chief Executive Officer, Metro Mayors Caucus/Civic Results |
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Partners & Regional Stakeholders
Achieving transformative impact requires more than isolated efforts; it demands a united, cross-sector approach.
The Community Leadership Council (CLC) is at the heart of this approach, serving as a dynamic coalition of community members and decision-makers dedicated to steering the strategy of RMP. With the Executive Committee at the helm, the CLC drives this collaborative effort, endorsing new partners, High Impact Projects, and policy agendas. They ensure active engagement across their teams to advance shared goals, making significant strides towards a brighter future.
Who comprises the CLC?
- The CLC is comprised of diverse community leaders and decision-makers across sectors, all committed to the RMP’s mission. The Executive Committee leads this group, playing a pivotal role in strategic decision-making.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Endorsing new partners and High Impact Projects
- Approving policy agendas
- Ensuring their teams’ active participation in advancing shared goals
Decision-Making Process
- The CLC operates on a consensus model, where major decisions are made collaboratively. The Executive Committee facilitates these discussions, guiding the group towards unified actions.
Meeting Schedules
- The CLC meets on a quarterly basis to review progress, endorse new initiatives, and align on strategic goals. The Executive Committee meets monthly to ensure continuous leadership, address immediate issues, and drive ongoing initiatives.
Strategies For Fostering and Maintaining Effective Partnerships
- Regularly scheduled meetings to ensure continuous communication and alignment.
- Transparent sharing of data and progress through The Resiliency Project Data Hub.
- Bi-annual check-ins with RMP Core Team and each CLC organization.
- Recognition and celebration of collective achievements to sustain motivation and engagement through Quarterly and Annual Highlights Reports and Quarterly Cradle to Career Briefs (newsletter).
Entities represented on the CLC invest in the neutral infrastructure that supports the network, playing a pivotal role in advancing the partnership’s mission.
The Community Leadership Council is NOT the Board of Directors for the Backbone Team (a 501(c)(3) organization). The Board of Directors for the Backbone Team holds fiduciary responsibility and oversight of the Backbone Team and organization, and ensures that there are staff and resources in place to support The Partnership. Learn more HERE.