Community Leaders Council

RMP’s work is driven by a large community leadership table called the Community Leaders Council (CLC). It is comprised of cross-sector leaders representing partner organizations from across the region who:

Set shared targets towards economic and social mobility on behalf of the network AND holds the network accountable for meeting those targets
Drive the implementation of the strategic plan
Support removing barriers to the collective work
Communicate out calls to action

RMP Chairs

The Chairs are responsible for driving the work of the network and providing direct consultation to the RMP team in preparation for moving the work forward. Chairs are leaders from local government, education, nonprofit, and other critical sectors.

Dr. Chris Fiedler
Superintendent, 27J Schools
Education

Heather Geyer
City Manager, City of Northglenn
Local Government

Raymond Gonzales
President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC) and Executive Vice President of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
At-Large

Jennifer Hoffman
City & County Manager, City & County of Broomfield
Local Government

Peter LiFari
Executive Director,
Maiker Housing Partners
Nonprofit

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee serves as the executive Committee and leads the strategy for the Partnership. It sets the strategic priorities for the network and provides strategic leadership and guidance to the entire Community Leaders Council.

Dr. Cynthia Armendariz
Director, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, Colorado Department of Higher Education
At Large Champion

Dr. John Douglas
Executive Director, Tri-County Health Department
At Large Champion

Dr. James Duffy
Chief Operating Officer, Westminster Public Schools
Building Community Power
Co-Champion

Curtis Esquibel
Director of Communications & Community Engagement, Boettcher Foundation
Infrastructure Champion

Dr. Chris Fiedler
Superintendent, 27J Schools
Education & Training
Co-Champion

Chris Gdowski
Superintendent,
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Education & Training
Co-Champion

Heather Geyer
City Manager,
City of Northglenn
Economics & Workforce Development
Co-Champion

Raymond Gonzales
President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC) and Executive Vice President of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Economics & Workforce Development
Co-Champion

Maria Gonzalez
Founder and CEO, Adelante Community Development
Building Community Power
Co-Champion

Whitney Gustin Connor
Executive Director, Kids First Health Care
Health & Mental
Health Co-Champion

Pat Hamilton
Chief Operating Officer, Adams 12 Five Star Schools
At Large Champion

Jennifer Hoffman
City & County Manager, City & County of Broomfield
At Large Champion

Levon Hupfer
Director of Diversion, Health & Legislation, 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
Social & Criminal
Justice Co-Champion

Dr. Tricia Johnson
Vice President, Westminster Campus, Front Range Community College
Education &
Training Co-Champion

Peter LiFari
Executive Director,
Maiker Housing Partners
Building Community Power
Co-Champion & Basic Needs
Co-Champion

Omar Montgomery
President of the Aurora NAACP
and Director of Equity, Culture,
and Community Engagement
for Cherry Creek School District
Social & Criminal
Justice Co-Champion

Constance Schmidt
Chief Executive Officer, Centura Health – St. Anthony North Health Campus
Health & Mental
Health Co-Champion

Kami Welch
President, Arvada Chamber of Commerce
Economics & Workforce Development
Co-Champion

Community Leaders Council Members by Sector

Business

Arif Gangji, President/CEO, Neon Rain Interactive
Lisa D. Hough, President/CEO Adams County Regional Economic Partnership
Kami Welch, President, Arvada Chamber of Commerce*

Community-Based Organizations & Nonprofits

Melanie D’Evelyn, Colorado Executive Director, One Million Degrees
Maria Gonzalez, Founder and CEO, Adelante Community Development*
Marc Jacobsen, CEO, Hunger Free Colorado
Stephanie Knight, Executive Director, The Senior Hub
Lindsay Lierman, Executive Director, CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties
Peter LiFari, Executive Director, Maiker Housing Partners*
Carina Martin, CEO and Founder, A Precious Child
Omar Montgomery, President, Aurora NAACP | Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District*

Early Childhood

Lisa Jansen Thompson, Executive Director, Early Childhood Partnership of Adams County

Economic Development

Raymond H. Gonzales, President, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC) | Executive Vice President of Denver Chamber of Commerce*
Daniel Ryley, Executive Director, Arvada Economic Development Association

Education (PK-12)

Ken Ciancio, Secretary, Westminster Public Schools Board of Education
Dr. James Duffy, Chief Operating Officer, Westminster Public Schools*
Dr. Chris Fiedler, Superintendent, 27J Schools*
Chris Gdowski, Superintendent, Adams 12 Five Star Schools*
Pat Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer, Adams 12 Five Star Schools*
Ryan McCoy,Westminster Public Schools*

Faith

Matt Manning, Senior Pastor, Crossroads Church

Health & Mental Health

Tonzia Buor, Vice President Human Resources, North Suburban Medical Center
Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director, Tri-County Health Department*
Whitney Gustin Connor, Executive Director, Kids First Health Care*
Amanda Jones, Chief Clinical Officer, Community Reach Center
Constance Schmidt, Chief Executive Officer, Centura Health – St. Anthony North Health Campus*

Local Government/Law Enforcement

Jason Batchelor, Deputy City Manager, City of Aurora
Larry Dorr, Deputy City Manager & Chief Financial Officer, City of Westminster
Chief Bill Dunning, Division Chief, Adams County Sheriff’s Department
Heather Geyer, City Manager, City of Northglenn*
Jennifer Hoffman, City & County Manager, City & County of Broomfield*
Levon Hupfer, Director of Diversion, Health and Legislation, 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office*
Karen Borkowski-Surine, Assistant City Manager, City of Brighton
Brian Mason, District Attorney, 17th Judicial District – District Attorney’s Office
Vanessa Oldham, Deputy Director of Health and Human Services, City & County of Broomfield
Jaylin Stotler, Community Connections Manager, City of Thornton
Roger Tinklenberg, City Manager, City of Commerce City
Jim Twombly, City Manager, City of Aurora

Philanthropy

Kerrie Bentfield, Grants Program Officer, Daniels Fund
Carla Godec, Program Officer, Anschutz Foundation
Ted Harms, Executive Director, Anschutz Foundation
Ana Soler, Senior Program Officer – Education, Gates Family Foundation
Dace West, Chief Impact Officer – The Denver Foundation

Postsecondary/Workforce

Dr. Cynthia Armendariz, Director, Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, Colorado Department of Higher Education*<
Letia Frandina, Executive Director, Adams County Education Consortium
Dr. Tricia Johnson, Vice President Westminster Campus, Front Range Community College*

Backbone Board of Directors Liaison

Curtis Esquibel, Director of Communication & Community Engagement, Boettcher Foundation*

* Members of the Steering Committee and Champions for the Collective Work