maternal, child, adolescent, and women’s health; tuberculosis and refugee health; STD/HIV; nutrition services; suicide and injury prevention; emergency medical services; prevention and intervention services for children and youth; and laboratory services. The department’s environmental responsibilities span a full array of activities, including air and water quality protection and improvement; hazardous waste; solid waste management; radiation services; pollution prevention; consumer protection; and environmental leadership. He manages a staff of 1,100 with a budget of over $280 million.

Prior to joining the department, Mr. Martin was the executive director of Western Resource Advocates, a Boulder-based environmental law and policy organization. Prior to that, he was director of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado School of Law.

He also was senior attorney and director of the energy program for Environmental Defense, and from 1986 to 1992 he worked for former U.S. Representative and Senator Tim Wirth, including four years as state director and counsel.

Mr. Martin also served on the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission from February 21, 2003 to January 12, 2007.

He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Knox College in Illinois and his law degree from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College, in Oregon.

change.

Gov. Ritter has doubled Colorado’s renewable energy standard, requiring that 20 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2020, and issued the state’s very first Climate Action Plan.

He is attracting new alternative-energy companies, jobs, investments and research to Colorado. Denmark-based Vestas Blades opened its first North American manufacturing plant in Colorado earlier this year, and ConocoPhillips soon will be opening its global alternative-fuels R&D center in Colorado.

Gov. Ritter often points to Colorado’s intellectual resources as one of the state’s greatest assets even as he touts the state’s vast natural gas, wind and solar resources. He has forged stronger relationships with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and helped create a unique Colorado Renewable Energy “Collaboratory” that links NREL with three of the state’s leading universities.

Other advancements under Gov. Ritter’s leadership include the naming of Boulder as America’s first Smart Grid City by Xcel Energy; quadrupling the state’s wind capacity and adding enough wind energy to the electric grid in 2007 to power 250,000 homes; and opening numerous new solar farms around the state.

Among the key pieces of legislation he sponsored: Prescription Drug Fairness Act; the Colorado Renewable Energy Act, which later formed the basis for Amendment 37; and energy efficiency tax-incentive legislation. He was named Legislator of the Year by organizations such as the University of Colorado and the Sierra Club of Colorado, was the recipient of Colorado Conservation Voters’ “Green Sense Award for Environmental Leadership” and received the “Champion of the Family Farmer” award from the Rocky Mountain Farmers’ Union.

Tom worked in the Climate Change department of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, DC. At UCS, he explored the causes of global climate change and examined transportation and energy solutions to reduce the emissions contributing to climate change. Prior to UCS, and after graduating from Colorado State University, Tom worked as an exploration Geologist.

Tom has traveled around the world and taught school in Central America. In 1994, Tom and his wife Dawn Dennison established The Acoustic Coffeehouse in Nederland which became known nationally as a community gathering place and for the many famous musicians who played in the small living room setting. Tom & Dawn ran the coffeehouse for seven years, selling the business in 2001. Tom lives in Nederland with his wife Dawn, dog Fergus, and a horse named Chester.

Her extensive involvement in community activities and organizations includes service as a board member of the Poudre Valley Health System, vice president and executive director of the National Audubon Society’s Colorado office from 1999 – 2002, and a founding member and chair of Great Outdoors Colorado from 1993 – 1997.

A Colorado registered professional engineer with over 30 years of experience in the public sector, Guillermo “Bill” Vidal brings a diverse and acclaimed career of engineering and management expertise to the City and County of Denver as its Public Works Manager. Vidal also serves as Deputy Mayor.

During his tenure with the City and County of Denver, Vidal negotiated a critical $50 billion, 20 year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy, introduced the largest street and bridge construction program in the history of the City, and developed the City’s first Storm Sewer and Sanitary Sewer Master Plans. Vidal also aided in developing the first Strategic Transportation Plan for the city that will allow the development of a multi-modal transportation plan.

Vidal successfully managed the construction of Denver’s world-class Colorado Convention Center’s expansion and the new wing of the Denver Art Museum, projects totaling over $500 million in costs.

As Executive Director of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) from 1999 through 2004, Vidal successfully restructured the organization to reduce bureaucracy and increase energy and participation. He built consensus among DRCOG’s 50 members (9 counties; 41 municipalities) to unanimously adopt the 20-Year Transportation Plan and the Clean Water Plan. Vidal led the investment of over $40 million into regional projects such as the Central Platte Valley Light Rail Spur and Denver Union Station. 

Vidal spent 23 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), where he worked his way up from the position of Highway Design Engineer to eventually serving as the Executive Director under Governor Roy Romer for five years. During his career at CDOT, Vidal held various positions including Region II District Engineer and Region VI Transportation Director. Under his leadership as Executive Director, CDOT implemented a re-engineering effort of all project design and construction processes and completed the first statewide multi-modal transportation long-range plan in Colorado’s history, while establishing the first air quality policy in the department’s history.

Vidal is a native of Cuba. He and his brothers arrived in the United States in 1961 via “Operation Peter Pan”. Vidal chronicles these events in “Boxing for Cuba”, a 2008 Colorado Book Award nominee.

Doug Hutchinson was elected Mayor of Fort Collins on April 5, 2005. He and his wife, Cathy, both grew up in Fort Collins. Doug retired from the US Air Force as a lieutenant colonel and then served for ten years as a civilian with the Department of Defense. He retired after 33 years of service in 1999 and returned to Fort Collins.

Prior to becoming Mayor, Hutchinson was an active observer of city politics, and wrote a regular political community column for the Fort Collins Coloradoan for over three years. Fort Collins’ Style Magazine commissioned Doug and Cathy to jointly author a series of articles on northern Colorado regional issues.

  Mayor Hutchinson graduated from Colorado State University, where he received a Bachelors degree in Physical Science in 1965. He earned a Masters degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1976, with an additional graduate certificate in information systems from USC in 1985.  Doug and Cathy live in “old town” Fort Collins, and their three children (and six grandchildren) all live in or near Fort Collins.

Mr. Rivera holds a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology from Texas Tech University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville State University. He is a Vice President - Investments with UBS.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Rivera came to Colorado Springs in 1984 as an Army Captain at Fort Carson. He has served on many community boards including being a founder and past president of the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Colorado Springs Greater Chamber of Commerce Board and United Way Board of Trustees and Executive Committee and a co-chair of The Springs Community Action Plan. He is also a mentor in the Big Brothers - Big Sisters school based mentoring program and previously was a Big Brother for a one to one match.

Keith Lambert has served as mayor of Rifle, Colorado since 2001 and as a board member and President of the Rifle Fire Protection District from 1992 to 2000. Mr. Lambert also serves on the boards of the Aspen Community Foundation, the Rifle Community Foundation, the Early Learning Fund and the State Workforce Development Council.  Mr. Lamberts was the original Chair of the Colorado Municipal League Energy Committee and member of the CML Policy committee. Mr. Lambert is a retired teacher from Garfield School District Re-2 and former instructor at Colorado Mountain College.

many years of service and promoting Public Power.

Mr. Suhler owns a farm about 1,800 acres north of Springfield, serves as the Vice President of FNB in Lamar and manages the Springfield banking center.

several nonprofits and community coalitions. She co-founded the Four Corner’s Safe School Coalition, and volunteered for the local domestic violence hotline. Currently she serves on the Board of the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE). In March of 2007 Congressman John Salazar presented Joelle with the “Rising Star Award” at the 74th Annual Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner held by The Colorado Democratic Party. She was recently appointed to the Colorado State Board of Health by Governor Bill Ritter and to the Colorado Commission on Indian Affairs as an Ex-officio member representing La Plata County.

Joelle attended high school in Durango and Bayfield, and studied Occupational Therapy and Social Work at both Ft. Lewis College in Durango and Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Joelle is fluent in Spanish, having served as a missionary for the LDS church. Joelle, her husband and partner, Matt, and their 14-year old son, Mesha, reside in La Plata County, just west of Durango. She loves the beauty of the Four Corners area and takes advantage of the outdoors whenever possible by hiking, biking or snowboarding. Joelle is thrilled to be serving her community as a county commissioner.

First elected in 2000, Representative Alice Madden is serving her fourth term for House District 10 which consists of central Boulder, Gunbarrel and Niwot.

Generally recognized as the architect of the stunning victory for House Democrats in 2004

and in 2006, Representative Madden serves as the Majority Leader. Democrats had not held majority in the House since the 1970’s, and Rep. Madden is the first Democratic woman to ever hold that position. She made history by ending the 120 day session two days early, two years in a row—saving the tax payers tens of thousands of dollars.

Over the past two years, she helped negotiate and pass Referendum C—the much needed TABOR reform. She is now focusing on lowering the costs of prescription drugs and expanding the New Energy Economy. 

A graduate of University of Colorado School of Law, Rep. Madden practiced employment law at Fairfield & Woods, one of Denver’s finest law firms. Prior to running for office, she taught legal writing and was the Director of Alumni Relations for the CU Law School. A longtime community activist, Rep. Madden has focused on creating stronger communities through improving the economy and access to quality education and health care. She is also a fellow at the Center for American Progress and a board member for Western Progress.

She is married to Pete Madden, who works in the high-tech industry, and they have two boys who attend Boulder Valley public schools and seem to play every sport known to mankind.

and the national science policy advisory body to the President and the Congress. He has a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Ron Binz was appointed as Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission by Governor Bill Ritter on January 23, 2007. Prior to his appointment, Ron was President of Public Policy Consulting, specializing in policy and regulatory issues in the telecommunications and energy industries. His clients include consumer groups, state agencies, telecommunications carriers and business associations.

Ron also served until 2003 as President of the Competition Policy Institute (CPI), based in Washington, D.C. CPI was a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing competition to telecommunications and energy

A native Coloradan, Skip is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA.

In that capacity, he had overall responsibility for NCE’s regulatory affairs including determination of revenue requirements, electric and gas rate design.
With the merger of NCE and Northern States Power Company in August 2000 to form Xcel Energy Inc., he was promoted to the position of Vice President, Policy Development. In this position, was responsible for coordinating the development of the Company’s policies related to electric and natural gas restructuring, including environmental and market structure issues. He also had primary responsibility for managing the Company’s rate and regulatory affairs before the Colorado PUC.
In October 2006 he was named Vice President, Marketing. In this position, he oversees the Xcel Energy’s market research, product development, product management, Customer Advocacy and renewable and energy efficiency programs.
He has testified before the FERC, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, the Texas Public Utility Commission and the Colorado legislature on numerous rate, certificate, resource planning and tariff issues.

As the Director of Community Development and Sustainability for Denver-based Lend Lease Communities, LLC, Megan Christensen is responsible for developing and implementing the sustainability strategy for the business in the U.S.   For Christensen and Lend Lease Communities, sustainability means much more than being environmentally friendly.

Christensen has an honors degree in Regional and Town Planning from the University of Queensland and is currently working toward her MBA.   She is a member of the ULI Sustainable Development Council and sits on the Board of USGBC (Colorado).

Ron Judkoff directs the Building Energy Program at the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The Program consists of 45 scientists, engineers, visiting professionals, and Post-Docs, 20,000 ft2 of laboratory facilities, and a budget of about $26 million per

year. Technology areas include Ultra-Efficient Buildings, Building Integrated PV, and Active Solar Heating and Cooling. Previously Ron was a Senior Architectural Engineer in the NREL Buildings R&D Program specializing in the energy design of highly efficient architecture and in simulation and monitoring techniques. He has published over 100 papers in the peer-reviewed and popular literature. He leads an International Energy Agency multinational task on developing validation methods for building energy simulation software, and he is the author of the section in the 2005 ASHRAE Handbook of fundamentals on “Model Validation and Testing”. His work has been translated into numerous foreign languages including among others, Japanese, German, French, Dutch, and Portuguese, and has been cited in the building energy codes of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries. Ron holds a Masters in Architecture degree from Columbia University, and has been the recipient of several national awards including: a) R&D 100 Award 2005 for Development of the TREAT with SUNREL simulation software in collaboration with New York State ERDA, b) AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Building Award 2001 for energy design of the Zion National Park Visitor Center, c) ASHRAE Technology Award 1999 for energy design of the NREL TTF lab building, d) 1991 Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for developing a method to rapidly evaluate the thermal performance of manufactured buildings resulting in a 500% increase in the cost effectiveness of retrofits for the National Low Income Weatherization Program e) patent for a device to protect buildings from bio and chemical aerosol attacks, and f) copyright for the SUNREL building energy simulation software.

Tom Clark is Executive Vice President of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He has over 30 years of economic development experience at the state, regional, county and city levels. Tom's career spans four decades from Director of Commercial and Industrial Development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs,

through positions with the Fort Collins, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Denver Corporation, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Economic Council, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He holds bachelors degrees in speech and psychology from Minnesota State University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Illinois. Tom was the founder and first president of the Metro Denver Network, the Metro Denver region's first economic development program, for which he received the Arthur D. Little Award for Excellence in Economic Development. He was chosen as one of the nation's top economic development professionals by the Council on Urban Economic Development.

Rich L. Gonzales, became a member of the Denver Fire Department in 1972, and was Denver’s Fire Chief from September 1987 to April 2001. He is a native of Denver, and is the youngest of 14 children. He has four children and three stepchildren.  His wife, Mary Kanan, is Assistant Director the Division of Adult Parole and Community Corrections for the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Rich received his A.A. in Fire Science from Red Rocks Community College, B.S. degree in Business Administration from Regis University (summa cum laude), and a masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. Rich has received certificates from the Senior Executive in State and Local Government and Senior Executive Negotiation programs from Harvard University, and has attended the Rocky Mountain Leadership Program.

Rich has been an instructor at Red Rocks Community College and the University of Colorado at Denver. He has provided keynote speeches, workshop presentations, and motivational lectures in conjunction with organizational theory and organizational change throughout the United States and Canada.

Rich joined the Mile High United Way in May 2001 as the Vice President of Campaign, led the New Markets and Initiatives program and most recently was Vice President of Community Relations. Rich’s responsibilities included meeting with neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce, city councils, educating communities about the programs and services that Mile High United Way provides.

Stu Reeve currently serves as energy manager for the Poudre School District (PSD) and the City of Fort Collins in Ft. Collins, Colorado. For the past 30 years, he has held several positions in facility services and business services (just a “old sparky”). PSD has a nationally recognized energy management and sustainable/high performance schools program. PSD has also embraced a Sustainability Management System that provides a comprehensive “corporate” environmental stewardship philosophy district-wide. Please feel free to steal anything you like, that’s how we did it…..:-)

Michael J. Holtz, FAIA, FASES, LEED AP Architectural Energy Corporation • Boulder, Colorado Michael Holtz, FAIA, President of Architectural Energy Corporation, has been engaged in energy and environmental research and design consulting since 1972. Michael has held senior research and management positions with the AIA Research Corporation in Washington, D.C., the Solar Energy Research Institute (now the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) in Golden, Colorado, and since 1982, Architectural Energy Corporation. He managed international research programs sponsored by the International Energy Agency, the United Nations and the U.S. Department of Energy, and has

consulted on the design of hundreds of energy and environmentally-responsive residential and commercial buildings.
At Architectural Energy Corporation (AEC), he oversees a diverse portfolio of professional services and products all aimed at assisting AEC clients transition to a sustainable economy. Architectural Energy Corporation is nationally and internationally recognized for its leading edge work in sustainable design and analysis, building commissioning and retrocommissioning, energy research and development, and energy analysis and fault detection / diagnostic software.
In recognition of his professional contributions and achievements, Michael was awarded Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects and the American Solar Energy Society.
Michael holds a Bachelor and Masters of Architecture, and is a licensed architect in Colorado, Tennessee and Washington, D.C.

David Tryba is the founding principal of Tryba Architects. The Denver-based architecture and urban design firm has a national reputation for design excellence specializing in the full integration of architecture, urban design and preservation. Through these synergies, the firm has contributed to a redefinition of the American city, recognizing that successful modern urbanism re-establishes key connections between people and their built and natural environments, their culture, their past and future.

Tryba Architects has orchestrated the design of large infill projects and systems that inspire new neighborhoods and districts in emerging American cities: The Colorado History Museum, The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Clayton Lane, the Webb Municipal Office Building, Denver Botanic Gardens Master Development Plan, Englewood CityCenter and Lower Downtown's Mercantile Square.

2007 Firm of the Year AIA Western Mountain Region
2007 President American Institute of Architects, Denver Chapter
2005 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, University of Colorado
2004 Firm of the Year – AIA Colorado
2003 Firm of the Year – AIA Colorado
1992 AIA Denver Young Architect of the Year
1981 Master of Architecture with Honors University of Colorado, Denver
1977 Bachelor of Environmental Design, University of Colorado, Boulder