Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mayor Joyce Jay for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor Joyce Jay has called Wheat Ridge home for the past 32 years. It's where she raised her daughter, Ginger, who graduated from Wheat Ridge High School.

Politics was never Mayor Jay's intended career. With a communications degree from Loretto Heights College, she enjoyed a long profession as a commercial photographer working for clients such as Allstate, Bellco, Excel, Primedia, ReMax, Pinkard and the State of Colorado.

Mayor Jay retired after she sold her photography business but then became a Jefferson County Diversion Officer. She then joined and chaired the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission. From there, she was elected to City Council from 2009-2013 and elected as Mayor of Wheat Ridge in November 2013.

Currently Mayor Jay serves on the DRCOG Board, Urban Drainage and Flood Control Board, Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation and the Metro Mayor's Caucus. Past and present participation in community boards includes the Wheat Ridge Business Association, Wheat Ridge Business District and the Wheat Ridge Education Alliance.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Mayor Joyce Jay for this well- deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud students from Northglenn High School for their creative and unique mobile applications (apps) entered in the 2017 Congressional App Challenge.

Two student teams from Northglenn High School participated in the challenge. The winning app allows blind students to have a better experience using computers through an audial. The other team developed an app that allows for emergency response teams to locate people in an emergency situation. Each team spent countless hours and used numerous tools to learn about coding, further advancing their STEM education. Each team built their app in less than three months which shows their perseverance and dedication to this project.

I am proud of these students at Northglenn High School for their dedication in this endeavor, and I wish them the best in all of their future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Cherri Parks for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Over the last 25 years, Dr. Cherri Parks has maintained a successful career at Colorado Christian University. She has served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs for the College of Undergraduate Studies for the past 12 years. Prior to that, she was a Professor of psychology for 13 years.

Dr. Parks said that her students have brought her much joy over the years. She has enjoyed cooking for them, getting to know them and sharing in their lives.

In her early career, Dr. Parks spent time working with women on many issues such as finding one's identity, specifically college-aged women. She has a strong desire to help people work through challenges in their lives.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Dr. Cherri Parks for this well-deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jennifer Ryan for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Jennifer Ryan has worked in healthcare and insurance for 30 years where she has been able to collaborate with wonderful people and organizations with diverse business practices and philosophies. After growing up in Colorado, she left and later returned in late 2016 to the Denver Metro area. She is currently the Sales & Marketing Director of Foothills Integrated Health.

Jennifer has been a featured speaker, educator and trainer in occupational medicine and compliance. She has been featured on The Story Project, StoryCorps with NPR, and was awarded 2017 Colorado Mother of The Year for American Mothers, Inc. She also has a passion for adoption, and served as a board member and treasurer for Families of Russian and Ukrainian Adoption in Southern Colorado for five years.

In 2013, Jennifer started a nonprofit art organization, The Mural Project, that works with at-risk kids and under-privileged community members to create one-of-a-kind murals. To date, they have completed 20 projects in El Paso County, Pueblo County and Denver County, and are looking forward to projects in Jefferson County.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Jennifer Ryan for this well- deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp has deep roots working in Jefferson County, and has an extensive background working in the areas of mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice.

Rep. Kraft-Tharp ran the Gemini House and Women in Crisis programs with Family Tree in Jefferson County, and has run a small consulting business helping Jefferson County's small businesses and nonprofits build their capacity. In 2012, she was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives where she currently serves as the Chair of the Business Affairs and Labor Committee, the Legislative Audit committee and the Streamlining Sales tax committee. She also serves on the Appropriations committee. Her focus in the legislature has been on economic development, workforce pathways and increasing access to mental health services.

Rep. Kraft-Tharps's work in the community has included her involvement with the Jefferson County League of Women Voters, Jeffco PTA, the Northwest Business and Professional Women. She has also served as a member of the Jeffco Public Schools Strategic Advisory Committee, the City of Arvada Human Services Council and the Arvada Citizens Capital Improvement Committee. She has also been recognized for her legislative work by the Women's Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Nonprofit Association and as a Denver Business Journal Powerbook Finalist.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Representative Tracy Kraft- Tharp for this well-deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kami Welch for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Kami graduated with a degree in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Oregon. She pursued a career in that field as well as in the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, Kami has volunteered with nonprofit organizations that focus on children, education, homelessness and domestic violence.

Currently, Kami is the President of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. Having worked in the Chamber sector for eight years, she has developed a passion for community, business growth and creative marketing strategies.

Outside of work, Kami participates on many boards and in several leadership roles such as Family Tree Next Gen, Arvada Vitality Alliance, Jefferson County Business Education Alliance, Red Rocks Community College Student Mentorship Program, Western Association of Chamber Executives Emerging Leaders Program and more. Additionally, Kami is a wife, mother of two little boys, a community volunteer and a leader of a local business.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Kami Welch for this well- deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

21ST CENTURY RESPECT ACT

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Christine White for being honored by the West Chamber of Commerce.

Christine began her career as an environmental chemist when she was recruited by Coors Brewing Company to create and staff a corporate-wide environmental laboratory to meet the requirements of providing certified chemical analyses to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Over the years, Christine has moved up in the organization serving as the production manager in the Can Manufacturing Plant and then leading the Technical & Quality functions for a small division, Coors Brewing Worldwide. In that position, Christine and her team were responsible for overseeing the brewing, packaging and distribution of all contract operations throughout Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, China and the Virgin Islands. During this time, she was also responsible for leading the development of the company's global quality management system.

Christine was then recruited by Molson Coors Brewing Company headquarters into the newly created position of Deputy Chief Compliance Officer where she was responsible for the strategic direction and execution of the global legal compliance program, encompassing business units in Canada, UK, U.S., Asia and the New Market Development and M&A functions.

Currently, Christine is the Global Director for the Business Continuity & Crisis Management department for Molson Coors Brewing Company. Christine has a passion for leadership

and mentoring and has spent a great deal of her adult life learning and sharing her passion. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for multiple nonprofits.

I extend my deepest congratulations to Christine White for this well- deserved honor from the West Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud DLA & Company for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Chamber Business of the Year Award. This award recognizes businesses or individuals for their contribution to the community, and are a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

DLA & Company was founded by Dale Anderson in 1985 as an independent full-service financial planning firm committed to helping individuals and business owners pursue their financial goals. DLA & Company was one of the founding businesses of the Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Dale chaired the Leads Group, and is a member of the Wheat Ridge Business Association, the West Chamber of Commerce and the High Plains Drifters Charter Club of the International Federation of Fly Fishers.

I applaud Dale Anderson for being the recipient of this well-deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate him on his success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Down River Equipment for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Special Recognition Award--A ``Colorado Company to Watch'' Award. The Special Recognition Award recognizes businesses or individuals showing strong community ties and a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

Down River Equipment was named a Colorado Company to Watch by the Colorado Office on Economic Development and Trade as a ``second stage'' company for their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, unique processes and philanthropic actions. ``Second stage'' companies are those who have moved past the startup stage and into a period of growth. Down River Equipment has been manufacturing and supplying river equipment in Colorado since 1985. The company is owned by boaters and employs an experienced team to assist with all the customer's river needs. The company specializes in the custom fabrication, distribution and retail of equipment of all types of river adventures.

I applaud Down River Equipment for being the recipient of this well- deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate them on their success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Four Seasons Farmers and Artisans Market for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Cultural Commission Award for 2017. The Cultural Commission Award recognizes businesses or organizations that actively contribute to the enrichment of the culture of the City of Wheat Ridge.

This award recognizes the business that has made an impact by encouraging culture and arts, promoting awareness of the city's cultural activities, diversity and heritage and supports opportunities in art education for all ages incorporating art into the architecture and design of their building.

I applaud the Four Seasons Farmers Market of Wheat Ridge for being the recipient of this well-deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate them on their success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Emily Green for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Rising Star Award. This award recognizes businesses or individuals improving the organization and the community, and are a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

The Rising Star Award is given each year to a member who has made a difference in the Wheat Ridge Business Association. Emily made a difference immediately upon her entrance to the Association. She joined various committees, volunteered, became a board member and subsequently became a board officer. Emily schedules and plans the monthly ``Biz Mix'' networking event; finding a location, obtaining food and drink sponsors and advertising the events. Emily also owns a local business, Cibo Meals. This meal-delivery service brings fresh, creative, and environmentally-responsible vegetarian meals around Northwest Denver using reusable Mason jars.

I applaud Emily Green for being the recipient of this well-deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate her on her success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Seyfer Automotive for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Business of the Year Award for 2017.

The Business of the Year Award recognizes local businesses who demonstrate a commitment to their community, strong management practices and are a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

As noted in their mission and vision statement, ``For over 50 years, Seyfer Automotive has provided expert, quality auto repair. Wheat Ridge drivers have come to know them for their reputation of fixing problems that no other shop can fix. Their mission is to provide their customer and their vehicle with the quality service they expect and deserve. The

Wheat Ridge auto repair team takes pride in their ability to outperform local dealerships.''

I applaud Seyfer Automotive for being the recipient of this well- deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate them on their success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Mike Stites for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's City Council Partnership Award for 2017. Selected by the Wheat Ridge City Council, the Council Partnership Award recognizes businesses or individuals showing strong community ties and a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

The Council unanimously selected Mr. Stites for his lifelong commitment to Wheat Ridge. Mr. Stites recently closed his successful B&F Tire Company on 38th Avenue where he and his father ran the shop until Mr. Stites retired in early 2017.

I applaud Mike Stites for being the recipient of this well-deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate him on his success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Tim Rogers for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Mayor's Partnership Award for 2017. Selected by the Mayor of Wheat Ridge, Joyce Jay, the Mayor's Partnership Award recognizes businesses or individuals that show strong community ties and a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

The Mayor selected Mr. Rogers for his continued support of the City of Wheat Ridge. Besides his day job as a commercial real estate broker for Genessee Commercial Group, Rogers is the Chair of ``Renewal Wheat Ridge,'' the City's Urban Renewal Authority. Under his guidance, the City has seen growth and development of new housing and retail opportunities, among other developments and projects within the city.

I applaud Tim Rogers for being the recipient of this well-deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate him on his success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Tinamarie Seyfer for receiving the City of Wheat Ridge's Member of the Year Award. This award recognizes businesses or individuals who have dedicated the past year for their contribution to the organization and the community, and are a positive reflection of the City of Wheat Ridge's values.

Tinamarie Seyfer spearheaded a new fundraising idea at the Wheat Ridge Holiday Lighting Ceremony--the tree auction. Tinamarie found groups and businesses to donate and decorate the trees for auction. She then worked to deliver the trees to the buyers' homes or offices. Tinamarie serves on the Wheat Ridge Business Association board and assisted with the 2017 Ridgefest Car Show along with her husband, Troy. Tinamarie and Troy also hosted one of the monthly ``Biz Mix'' networking events, as well as owning her own business, ``Five Rings Financial.''

I applaud Tinamarie Seyfer for being the recipient of this well- deserved honor by the City of Wheat Ridge, and I congratulate her on her success.