Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Daniel Chase, Chief of Staff at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) for his dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about unemployment benefits, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

Under Governor Hickenlooper's office, Daniel served as a Citizen's Advocate and then was brought on by CDLE as a Special Assistant to the Executive Director. In his time at the department, he has held many roles and now serves as the Chief of Staff in the Executive Director's office. During our Telephone Town Halls, Daniel provided timely updates and answered constituent questions about unemployment benefit programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado.

It is because of local heroes like Daniel that our state has been able to support individuals and families during this unprecedented time. I thank Daniel Chase for his service and sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with him as we work to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Francis Padilla, District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Colorado for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis went above and beyond by participating in many of my Telephone Town Halls to educate my constituents about small business support and resources.

Francis has served the constituents of Colorado in her current role since 2017. As District Director, she is responsible for directing the expansion and delivery of SBA's various loan and business training services throughout the State of Colorado. Prior to her current position, she was the Deputy District Director where she led the Entrepreneurial Development and Lender Relations divisions in the Colorado office and managed the agency's relationships with financial institutions, resource partners, local government officials, and economic development organizations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana provided timely updates related to small businesses relief programs and made herself available to my staff and my constituents around the clock. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my constituents and small businesses in our communities.

It is because of local heroes like Francis that our state has been able to support small businesses and keep many of them afloat during this unprecedented time. I thank Francis Padilla for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as we work to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Diana Herrero, Deputy Director of the Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for her dedication and service to the people of the State of Colorado. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in many Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

Diana has served the constituents of Colorado as a public health professional for more than 18 years in legislative and regulatory policy, immunization and emergency preparedness program management, strategic planning, and performance management. In addition to her leadership role at CDPHE, Diana made it a priority to provide timely updates on COVID-19 and answer constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my office and my constituents.

It is because of local heroes like Diana that our state has been able to protect residents and keep our community safe. I thank Diana Herrero for her service and her sacrifice during this difficult time, and look forward to continuing to work with her as we continue the fight against COVID-19 and its variants.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Bernadette Albanese of the Tri-County Health Department for her dedication and service to the people of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her duties as a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist and Medical Epidemiologist for Tri-County Health Department, Dr. Albanese went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in three Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

Dr. Albanese, who specializes in communicable disease control, outbreak investigations, disease surveillance and general health trends, eagerly partnered with our office to help inform constituents on the most up-to-date and accurate information on COVID-19. On these Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Albanese used her background in disease control and epidemiology to facilitate informed conversations with constituents and answer their questions during an uncertain time.

There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Albanese has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Albanese that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish her nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Dawn Comstock, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Public Health Department (JCPH) for her dedication and service to the people of Jefferson County, Colorado throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her leadership role at JCPH, Dr. Comstock went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in four Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

After a successful career as a tenured professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz, Dr. Comstock answered the call to serve her community in the middle of a global pandemic, stepping into her role as Executive Director in February 2011. Participating in Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Comstock provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituents' questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time. Her insights and knowledge were invaluable to my constituents.

There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Comstock has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Comstock that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish her nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. John Douglas, Executive Director of the Tri-County Health Department, for his dedication and service to the people of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to his duties as Executive Director, Dr. Douglas went above and beyond by engaging, informing and educating community members, including by participating in seven Telephone Town Halls with my office and speaking to thousands of my constituents.

With more than 43 years of experience in the medical field as an Infectious Disease Specialist, Dr. Douglas has enormous experience in the field of public health and has played an instrumental role in disseminating accurate and timely information to Coloradans throughout the pandemic. On Telephone Town Halls, Dr. Douglas provided timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families. Under Dr. Douglas's leadership, residents of our community were empowered and informed as we worked together to help limit the transmission and impact of COVID- 19 on our community.

There is no amount of recognition that can accurately display just how much Dr. Douglas has done for us. It is because of essential workers like Dr. Douglas that we have been able to make it this far in the pandemic. I wish him nothing but the best in the future, as we continue to fight against COVID-19.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Margaret Huffman, Director of Community Health Services for the Jefferson County Public Health Department (JCPH) for her dedication and service to the people of Jefferson County, Colorado throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to her role at JCPH, Dr. Huffman went above and beyond to engage, educate and inform the community about COVID-19, including by participating in one of my Telephone Town Halls with my office and thousands of my constituents.

With more than 20 years of public health and nursing expertise, Dr. Huffman was always ready and willing to provide timely updates on COVID-19 and answered constituent's questions regarding how to protect themselves and their families during an uncertain time.

I would like to extend a personal thank you to Dr. Huffman for her leadership, commitment and sacrifice as a public health official in our community. Her service has helped to keep our residents and community safe and healthy. I also appreciate her ongoing partnership with my office. Again, I thank Dr. Huffman for her dedication to the residents of the Denver Metro region and the State of Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Brian Batz, an Adams 12 Board of Education member on his years of service to the Adams 12 School District.

Brian has been a Board Member of Adams 12 since 2015, and during his tenure, he served as Director of Ward 4. He previously served the Adams 12 community through the Thornton High School IB Parents Group as a board member. He also served as a flag football and soccer coach.

Brian's dedication to the Adams 12 community follows a history of him serving his community. He has served on the Thornton Citizen Police Academy, as a Thornton Water Ambassador, a IT/video/photo assistant to the Northglenn United Methodist Church, a board member for the Burgundy HOA community, and a Denver north photographer for the Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue. In addition to his contributions to the community, he is a loving husband and devoted parent to three children.

His dedication to the Adams 12 School District and the larger community has been tremendous, and I extend gratitude for his service to the Adams 12 community and the great State of Colorado. I wish Brian Batz all the best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kathy Plomer, an Adams 12 Board of Education member on years of service to the Adams 12 School District.

Kathy has been a Board Member of Adams 12 since 2013, and during her tenure, she served as Board President. She has a 16-year history of volunteerism and service to the in Adams 12 community. She was a classroom volunteer, PTO President, School Improvement Team member at four schools, District School Improvement Team leader, and a founding member of the Adams 12 Community Action Network (Adams 12 CAN).

Kathy's dedication to the Adams 12 community follows a history of service to her community. She has a Master's in Public Health from the University of Michigan and has worked in the field of public health for more than 25 years. She worked for Tri-County Health Department and runs her own consulting company. In addition to her service to the community, she is a loving wife and devoted parent to three children.

I wish Kathy Plomer all the best in her future endeavors, and I extend my gratitude for her service to the Adams 12 community and the great State of Colorado.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dalton Davey also known as Dr. Derpster of Northglenn, Colorado for receiving the City of Northglenn Young Entrepreneur Award.

The Young Entrepreneur Award is given to a Northglenn student that has displayed entrepreneurial prowess and has stood out amongst their peers. This year's award goes to the YouTuber, Dr. Derpster. This young man has brought joy to hundreds of subscribers each week as he plays many of the most popular video games. This knack for entertainment is impressive, and I encourage him to continue to bring joy to people in all aspects of his life.

Dr. Derpster represents some of the brightest youths that Northglenn has to offer. It is a testament to the schools in our community for fostering such a comprehensive learning environment. I wish him nothing but the best in the future and congratulate him on winning this award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Fit Theorem of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's People's Choice Award.

The People's Choice Award recognizes a Northglenn business for their customer service and customer satisfaction within the community. Fit Theorem is known for being one of Colorado's premier kickboxing studios. Their mission is to improve the lives of clients by making them healthier in both mind and body. With several locations across the state and country, Northglenn is lucky to have one of their studios in our community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the team at Fit Theorem moved many of their classes on line and continue to bring fitness and fun to people during a difficult time.

Congratulations again to Fit Theorem for this accomplishment, and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Joseph Ramos for earning the City of Northglenn's Investment Award.

The Investment Award is given to a business that has made significant investments in the past year. Dr. Ramos, a local personal injury lawyer and emergency room doctor, is this year's recipient for his work to take care of his local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. During his medical career, he found that he could care for people to a greater extent by also becoming a lawyer. His expertise in both legal and medical sciences, Dr. Ramos has become one of the most effective personal injury attorneys in our community, helping people receive the best possible medical care possible while ensuring insurance companies pay fairly.

Dr. Ramos's devotion to our community is commendable. Congratulations to Dr. Joseph Ramos on this achievement and I thank him for his contribution to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize M2 (m- squared) Confections of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Home-Based Business of the Year Award.

This award recognizes a home-based business that has positively contributed to the community in a meaningful way. As a producer of fine chocolates and candies headed by Kendall and Jonathan Matthews, the business is dedicated to producing high-quality desserts with ingredients sourced according to ethical and sustainable standards. The owners offer world-class expertise, with many years of experience between them. Their dedication and commitment to their craft is reflected by the high caliber of their confections and the impact of their business can be felt throughout the City of Northglenn.

Congratulations again to M2 Confections for this accomplishment and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Althaus Law of Northglenn, Colorado for earning the City of Northglenn's Small Business of the Year Award.

The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes a local business with up to twenty employees that had an outstanding year of business and leadership in the community. Althaus Law, led by founder Jeff Althaus, is dedicated to estate law in Colorado, helping countless families plan for their future through real estate investing. With an emphasis on giving back to the community, Althaus Law is an engaged and valued small business in Northglenn.

Congratulations to Althaus Law for receiving this award and I wish them all the best in the future. I thank them for their contribution to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Metro Brokers North Metro of Northglenn, Colorado for receiving the City of Northglenn Business of the Year Award in Longevity.

Metro Brokers North Metro is a full-service real estate house dedicated to helping buyers, sellers, commercial tenants, landlords, and investors manage their profits. Their team of knowledgeable and dedicated agents gives their clients a host of valuable information, leading to better decisions and an accurate understanding of their assets. This commitment to providing quality service has distinguished this business for many years, over which they have built a thriving organization that seeks to provide the best possible service.

It is my honor to extend my thanks to Metro Brokers North Metro for their superb business that has truly stood the test of time. Real estate is an industry that can be easily abused if led by the wrong people, but this team has consistently demonstrated their honesty, celerity, and transparency when it comes to assisting their clients. The community at Northglenn applauds their service and anticipates their business for many years to come.