Biographies: City of Fort Collins

Economic Vitality and Sustainability Action Group II

Group Member Biographies
Rusty Collins Alex B. Chapman Denise Burson Freestone Greg Churchman Dr. Hank Gardner Linda Stanley (Term ends January, 2006) Ken Deines (Term ends January, 2006) Pat Brady (Term ends January, 2006) Mary Fischer (Term ends January, 2006)	Stuart MacMillan (Term ends January, 2006) Kim Jordan (Term ends January, 2006) Jim Welch Bill Dietrich (Term begins January, 2006) Paul Hudnut (Term begins January, 2006) Tim Johnson (Term begins January, 2006) Ellen Zibell (Term begins January, 2006) David Neenan (Term begins January, 2006) Mary Robertson (Term begins January, 2006)

1. Rusty Collins - Rusty Collins is a Partner and Broker Associate with The Group, Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado. Additionally, he provides consultation for affordable housing projects, community initiatives, grant writing and technical training for nonprofits. Rusty and his wife, Janelle, are co-owners of their LLC named Collins Colorado Housing, which serves as a vehicle for residential and commercial property services, consulting, home modification and occupational therapy. The Fort Collins Board of Realtors named Rusty the Fort Collins Citizen of the Year in 2002. The Commencement Speaker for his CSU graduation in 1991, Rusty earned his both his Master and Bachelor of Science Degrees in Consumer Science and Housing from Colorado State University. After teaching at the University as CSU Faculty, Rusty became the Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor and served in that capacity for a decade. Under his direction, Neighbor to Neighbor produced 136 units of affordable housing, increased its assets by $9.5 Million, raised its annual budget by $1.45 Million, created a Property Management Division, established 2 branch locations and increased its staff from 7 to 20.

2. Alex B. Chapman - A retired Manager of Operations Planning in the oil industry. He worked for Conoco for 38 years as a driller, builder, operator and Production Superintendent, after which he became the Human Resource Planner and Manager of Operations Planning for Conoco's International Production Department. Since retiring in 1992 and moving to Fort Collins, Alex has served on the City Plan Advisory Committee, Planning and Zoning Board and as President of the SouthRidge Greens Home Owners Association. In the past few years, he worked as a consultant with a manufacturing company to help develop organization structure and a human resource plan, and currently helps manage retirement investments.

3. Denise Burson Freestone – Co-founder of OpenStage Theatre (1973). Denise still serves as Artistic Director and Executive Producer for the company, helping the Open Stage Theatre receive the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition's Distinguished Merit Award and special commendation from the Colorado Legislature and the Fort Collins City Council. Denise and her husband were the recipients of the 2003 Tree of Peace Medallion from Arts Alive Fort Collins. She continues to serve on the Chamber of Commerce Local Legislative Affairs Committee, served on the City's State of Arts steering committee, was a founding member of the board of directors of Arts Alive Fort Collins and was the Assistant Director of CSU's Institute for Women and Leadership.

4. Greg Churchman – An Interview and Retention Strategist and owner of Churchman Consulting Solutions. His areas of specialty include competency-based interviewing and selection, retention, staffing, and high team performance. He recently authored the book Daterviewing: Exposing the Biases That Influence Hiring Decisions, and writes a monthly column for the Denver Business Journal called Hiring the Best. Greg has 20 years experience in human resources, engineering, management and technical marketing. His past employers include NCR Corporation, AT&T, Symbios Logic, and LSI Logic. Greg is a 20 year resident of Fort Collins and serves on boards at Kruse Elementary and College America, along with working as a fitness instructor.

5. Dr. Hank Gardner – Associate Vice President for Research at CSU. His responsibilities include promoting interdisciplinary research and facilitation between CSU and economic development and technology transfer activities, as well as serving as the University patent officer. Hank served a brief period with a non-profit cancer research center in Denver after serving 25 years with the US Army Medical Department in the Medical Service Corps, the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and as Scientific Director of the US Army Center for Environmental Health Research. Hank has a number of publications in environmental health and toxicologic pathology and currently teaches at CSU. He is the Director of the Rocky Mountain Institute for Biosecurity Research, is a participant in a number of national and international committees on environmental health and is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

6. Linda Stanley, Former CSU Professor in the College of Business. Linda currently works as a research scientist for CSU. Her background spans a broad array of economic, social, and environmental issues. She is the Chair of the Air Quality Board, and has served on the City Manager's Transportation Funding Committee, the Small Business Development Center Board and the Larimer County Economic Development Board.

7. Ken Deines – A retired pharmaceutical and insurance executive. He is currently working with small, start-up companies particularly in the fields of bio-medical science and bio-technology. Ken has lived in Fort Collins since 1999, but also lived here from 1969 - 1986. He was recently the VP of finance for PR Pharmaceuticals, a local pharmaceutical company, and also on the Board of Director's for the company. He is currently the CEO of a Denver start-up company called Zynex Pharmaceuticals. He is active in the Colorado Biotech Association and the Larimer County Biosciences Initiative.

8. Pat Brady – President of FirstBanks of Northern Colorado and Greeley. Pat has fourteen years of management experience and training in all facets of bank operations and lending. He has been the Fort Collins Housing Authority Commissioner since 2000 and has served on a number of boards including Funding Partners for Housing Solutions (1998 - present); Habitat for Humanity (1991 - 1998); and Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce (1994 - 1998). Pat is also involved with CSU and other community organizations.

9. Mary Fischer - Director of the Small Business Development Center. She specializes in sharing knowledge and experience related to small business development, having been a small business owner herself. She has lived in Fort Collins for 11 years and has served on a variety of boards and commissions including the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, PSD Workforce Pathways Advisory Council, PSD Career and Technology Education Subcommittee, the Chamber's Small Business Assistance Subcommittee, Workforce Investment Board and the Northern Colorado Idea Lab Advisory Board.

10. Stuart MacMillan – Partner and Vice President of the Everitt Companies. Stuart has abundant knowledge of and experience in commercial development with a background in retail development. He currently serves as the chair of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation Board as well as serving on the Fort Collins Country Club Board and the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

11. Kim Jordan – CEO of New Belgium Brewery, a local and successful business. She promotes environmentally and socially focused practices and policies within her company.

12. Jim Welch – Owner of Remote Power, a design and contracting firm for solar electric systems. Jim is a community activist on energy and environmental issues. He is the recipient of the 2004 Green Power Pioneer Award from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Education. In addition, Jim is an international consultant on business and market development for the renewable energy industry.

13. Bill Dietrich – Spokesperson for the High Tech Network. Bill has global experience in the hi-tech industry.

14. Paul Hudnut – Director of Venture Development at CSU. He works on the commercial development of university technologies and teaches entrepreneurship classes at the College of Business. His background and interest is in building companies, technology transfer, and intellectual property. Paul has been involved in several entrepreneurial companies and was an executive at Heska Corporation, US WEST Marketing Resources and PR Pharmaceuticals. He currently serves on the board of directors of EnviroFit International, Caring Families and the Rotary Club. He served on the City's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the local United Way board in addition to being an advisor to the Fort Collins Virtual Incubator.

15. Tim Johnson – Self-employed. A biochemist by training, he designs science programs for elementary students. He currently serves on the City's Transportation Board and has served on the City Manager's Transportation Advisory Committee, the Natural Resources Board and chaired the Community Transportation Campaign in April 2003. Tim has lived in Fort Collins since 1979.

16. Ellen Zibell – Owner of Perennial Gardner and Sense of Place. Ellen specializes in small business and retail and is an advocate for Downtown/Old Town Fort Collins. Currently, she is a member of the Junior League of Fort Collins, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Poudre Valley Hospital Business Relations Committee. Formerly, she was the Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association, member and Vice President of the Crossroads Safehouse Board, member of the Junior League Garden Tour and the University of Kansas Fort Collins Chapter Leader.

17. David Neenan – Chairman/CEO of the Neenan Company. He has lived in Fort Collins for over 30 years and has knowledge and experience of community development, both commercial and industrial. He specializes in entrepreneurial, environmental, emerging technologies and global/local perspective issues. In addition, has spoken and written as a business consultant on the local and national level.

18. Mary Robertson – Executive Director of First Call, a local non-profit agency. She has lived in Fort Collins for 31 years and has served on the library board for the past five years, three of which she was the chair. Mary also serves on a subcommittee of the Downtown Development Authority, Old Town Cultural District, CSU Cooperative Extension Advisory Committee for Larimer County, Council of Human Service Agency Directors, and is the chair of the Healthier Communities Coalition. The committees she has formerly served on include the City Plan Advisory Committee and the Imagine Fort Collins Campaign, an initiative to pass a tax to build a new performing arts center and library in our community.

Economic Vitality and Sustainability Action Group

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Partners and Resources

Business Resource Guide Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.Chamber of Commerce Downtown Business Association Downtown Development Authority Small Business Development Center Colorado State University Front Range Community College Convention and Visitors Bureau Technology Incubator