Origin of the Center for Colorado's Economic Future
Creation of the Center for Colorado’s Economic Future implements a key recommendation of the Colorado Economic Futures Panel, created by the University of Denver in keeping with its commitment to contribute to the public good. The panel conducted its work from the fall of 2004 to January of 2006. The panel was created to examine the fiscal health of Colorado’s state and local governments and their ability to sustain fundamental public investments appropriate to Colorado’s long-term economic vitality.
Recommendations of the Colorado Economic Futures Panel addressed specific constitutional proposals as well as the need to better inform voters about ballot proposals and citizens about state and local government. Specifically, the panel recommended:
… that an independent, nonpartisan, non-governmental organization be established to conduct ongoing research and provide regular updates to the public on matters related to Colorado’s fiscal health, other significant trends affecting the state’s economy and on proposed initiatives and major legislation relating to taxation and public spending.
Creation of The Center for Colorado’s Economic Future at the University of Denver is a continuing expression of the university’s commitment to contribute to the public good.
Staff Biographies
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Charlie Brown
Director, Center for Colorado’s Economic Future, University of Denver
Charles (Charlie) S. Brown is the director of the Center for Colorado’s Economic Future at the University of Denver, and is the founder and president of Charles Brown Consulting Inc, a small public policy and economic consulting firm. Some of his firm’s clients have included the Colorado Department of Transportation, Carter and Burgess Inc., Move Colorado, the University of Colorado, the University of Denver, Colorado Succeeds, and the Donnell-Kay Foundation. Brown also recently served as the staff director for the University of Denver’s Colorado Economic Futures Panel.
Prior to becoming a private consultant, Brown retired from state government in January 2004 after a 29-year career. His career in state government included serving as executive director of the Legislative Council Staff for 17 years.
Before becoming the Council's director, Brown was an assistant commissioner of education for two years. He was responsible for administering the all aspects of the state's system for funding public schools. Before serving as Assistant Commissioner of Education, he served the Legislative Council for 11 years as the lead tax and fiscal analyst and school finance specialist.
Brown holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and he was a 1994 Gates Fellow at the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
He was awarded the Outstanding Public Service Award by the University of Colorado and the Graduate School of Public Affairs in 2003, and the Leo C. Riethmayer Outstanding Public Administrator Award in 2004. He is an honorary inductee to Pi Alpha Alpha, the professional honor society for public administrators. Charlie was appointed to the Colorado State Board of Equalization, confirmed by the Colorado State Senate, and elected as the board’s vice-chairman in 2006.
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Board of Advisors
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Clarissa Arellano-Malca
Government Affairs Director, Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS®
Clarissa currently serves as the Government Affairs Director for the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS(r). She has held a variety of public and private sector positions doing nonprofit management, fundraising, political analysis and leadership development at all levels of government. She has worked in political campaigns in Texas and Colorado in the areas of research, strategy, forecasting, and is frequently called to serve as advisor to candidates and elected officials. Clarissa cameos as the political analyst for Univision-Colorado, various Spanish radio stations, Colorado Springs KRDO TV and NewsRadio and is a weekly political commentator on Castle Rock Radio. In addition to her political involvement, Clarissa is a parliamentarian and serves on various state and community boards in the fields of arts and politics. Clarissa has a Masters degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Publ ic Policy Analysis and a Doctorate in Public Policy and Administration with a specialization in Elections, Public Opinion, and Voter turnout. -
Forrest M. Cason
Chief Financial Officer, Mental Health Corporation of Denver
Forrest Cason recently joined the Mental Health Corporation of Denver as its CFO. For the previous nine years he was employed by the University of Colorado Hospital as Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer. From 1996 to 1998 he served as the chief financial officer of the Stapleton Development Corporation. His prior work experience includes seven years in public finance investment banking and eight years as an executive in state and local government organizations in Colorado. -
Margaret A. Coval
Executive Director of Colorado Humanities
Margaret Coval (Maggie) is the Executive Director of Colorado Humanities, a 34-year old non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire Coloradans to explore ideas and to appreciate our state’s diverse cultural heritage. Ms. Coval has been on the Colorado Humanities staff for 25 years and is in her tenth year as Executive Director. While at Colorado Humanities, she has created and directed dozens of public humanities programs. She is co-founder of the High Plans Chautauqua; served as executive producer of Conversations 2000 public radio programs and Five States of Colorado documentary film; developed and directed institutes for K-12 teachers, programs for K-12 classrooms and public forms for adult audiences statewide; and has overseen the development and management of more than 1000 grant awards. Recent activities include managing the merger of the Colorado Center for the Book with Colorado Humanities. Ms. Coval has degrees from Colgate University and the University of Denver. -
Cathey McClain Finlon
Chairman & CEO, McClain Finlon Advertising, Inc.
Cathey Finlon is CEO and owner of McClain Finlon Advertising, which ranks among the top 100 agencies in the US, in size. She is a past chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Finlon led the revitalization of collaborative economic development programs for metro Denver, business community support for the development of Fitzsimons Medical Center and biotech facilities, and community support for water, transportation and higher education. She also serves on the board of Children’s Hospital, Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Public School Foundation. -
Judy A. Giacomini
Vice President of Student Services, Northeastern Junior College
Prior to serving as Vice President of student services at Northeastern Junior College (NJC), Judy Giacomini served as the college’s Interim President for a year and a half. Before serving as the Interim President, Judy served for over a decade as the NJC’s Director of Counseling and Assessment Services. Prior to serving as the Director of Counseling and Assessment Services, Ms. Giacomini served as a Counselor for NJC, as well as a Counselor and Art instructor at the secondary school level. Judy’s professional achievements have been recognized with the Colorado Counselor of the Year and NJC Alumni Pathfinder and Alumni Service awards. In addition to involvement in professional associations, Judy has been involved in state, regional and local civic organizations, including serving as the Vice Chair of Progressive 15, the Sterling Chamber of Commerce Board, the Sterling Rotary Board, the Colorado Rural Consortium Workforce Development Board, and the Eastern Colorado Workforce Development Board. -
Barry Gore
Vice President of Investor Relations, Adams County Economic Development
Barry Gore is the Vice President of Investor Relations for Adams County Economic Development where he is engaged in membership development, public relations and public policy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Progressive 15 in northeastern Colorado. Gore’s career in public relations, marketing, development and international student programs spans corporate and nonprofit business, and industry starters as well as start-ups. He holds a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from Southwest Texas State University. Gore and his wife relocated to Colorado with Up With People in 1992. He lives with his family in Thornton and is an active community volunteer. -
Gerald (Jerry) F. Groswold
Consultant, Groswold Ski Company
Jerry Groswold, a native of Denver, is a consultant to mountain resorts. In 2005, he and his father, Thor, were inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame. In 1986, he was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame and into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1975 he became president and CEO of the Winter Park Resort, retiring from that position in 1997. In 1971 Groswold joined Fuller and Company as vice president and general counsel. In 1961 he joined the Transamerica Title Insurance Company and later became vice president. He joined the law firm of Fuller and Evans in 1955 after working with Tweedy and Fowler in 1954. -
Steven C. Halstedt
Managing Director, Centennial Ventures
Steven Halstedt is a co-founder and managing director of Centennial Ventures, a private venture firm formed in 1981. From 1976 to 1981, he was president of Daniels & Associates, an investment banking firm specializing in the cable television industry. Previously, he was an investment manager in the Private Placement Department of the Travelers Insurance Corporation. Before that he was a combat engineer platoon leader and a battalion assistant operations officer in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He attended the University of Connecticut School of Law. Mr. Halstedt was the recipient of an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Rocky Mountain region in 1999. He received the Robert Goddard award from Worchester Polytechnical Institute (WPI) in 1998. Mr. Halstedt received a B.S. with Distinction from WPI, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. He received an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School of Dartmouth College, where he was a Tuck Scholar. -
Dr. Jay W. Helman
President, Western State College
Jay Helman became the 13th President of Western State College in February of 2002. He joined Western in 1989 as Assistant Professor in Kinesiology and Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Three years later, in addition to his coaching and faculty responsibilities, he was named Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Recreation. He was named Vice President of Academic Affairs in 1996. As President, Dr. Helman has guided the College through difficult times, including coping with fiscal challenges related to eroding state support for higher education and changes in governance. Under Dr. Helman’s leadership, the College has been successful in attracting more students in spite of these issues. In addition, he has worked hard to communicate effectively with Colorado legislators, area and national opinion leaders and with area residents about the College’s challenges and goals. The College was highly praised during a recent visit by a North Central Association accreditation team, who stated unequivocally their belief in the overall strength of Western and its future. Dr. Helman has written a number of articles for academic publications and made presentations to a variety of organizations. His .A. degree in English Literature is from Santa Clara University in California. E also earned an M.A. in Psychology from California State University at Sonoma and a Ph.D. in Exercise and Sport Science from The Pennsylvania State University in 1988. -
Wilson (Bill) Kendall
President, Center for Business & Economic Forecasting
Wilson (Bill) Kendall is President of the Center for Business and Economic Forecasting, Inc. (CBEF). CBEF is a private firm which, since 1982, has specialized in analysis of the regional economy. Clients include major corporations, small business, private investors, utilities, banks and governments. CBEF has prepared forecasts of the Colorado economy for more than 20 years. Mr. Kendall studied economics at M.I.T. and the University of Colorado. He served in the Colorado governor’s budget office where he was responsible for economic and revenue forecasts and tax analysis. He has taught economics in the MBA program at the University of Denver, has worked as an economic consultant in transportation and public finance and served as a bank director. He has been on numerous local task forces concerned with economic forecasting and development and has written articles for Denver newspapers about the local economy. -
Kim Patmore
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, First Data Corporation
Kim Patmore is executive vice president and chief financial officer for First Data Corp. In that role since February 2000, she oversees all aspects of the company’s financial areas and settlement operations. In addition, she oversees First Data’s integrated payment systems business, which offers commercial checks and money order products to financial institutions and consumers. Patmore joined First Data in June 1992 as a controller after 11 years with the public accounting firm Ernst & Young. -
Stanley M. Solodky
Managing Director, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.Since joining A.G. Edwards’ Denver public finance office in 1990, Stanley Solodky has been manager, co-manager or financial advisor on more the 250 issues totaling more than $6 billion in bonds and $1 billion in notes. He has also worked with all the major rating agencies and bond insurers as well as international credit banks. Mr. Solodky’s completed transactions have included international credit banks. Mr. Solodky’s completed transactions have included generally property taxes, revenue bonds, tax increments, special assessments, intergovernmental agreements, and lease payments as the security for repayment of the bonds. Before joining A.G. Edwards, Mr. Solodky spent six years in the investment banking department at United Bank of Denver (now Norwest Corporation/Wells Fargo). Before becoming an investment banker, he was the manager of economic analysis and fiscal research for the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budgeting for the State of Colorado. His responsibilities included analyzing and forecasting the economy, projecting tax revenue, and recommending fiscal policies. Mr. Solodky received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland in 1973 and his Master of Science in urban affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1979.
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Phil Vaughan
Founder, Phil Vaughan Construction Management
Phil founded Phil Vaughan Construction Management in 1989 after graduation from the University of Denver in 1988. PVCM is a Design/Build/Construction Management company that specializes in Commercial and Industrial land development/construction and land planning and permitting in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Phil has served as a member of the Garfield County Planning Commission since 1991 and has served as chairman since 1997. Phil has also served as a board member of Club 20 since 1991 and has served as the Club 20 Business Affairs committee chairman from fall 2004 to present. Phil has been married to Denise Alaux Vaughan from Erie, CO since 1990. -
Thomas Williams
Williams Group LLC
Thomas Williams is president and CEO of Williams Group LLC and Williams Realty Group LLC, and is managing partner of BMW (Barry, Minor, Williams) Realty Group LLC. Williams Group LLC was formed to aggregate progressive women- and minority-owned firms to increase their project capacity and overall business competitiveness. Williams Realty Group implements commercial and residential real estate management and development projects. BMW Realty Group LLC pursues and implements commercial and residential real estate development in the context of the Denver Stapleton Redevelopment Area. As a principal and founding investor, Williams also serve as executive vice president of the Prospect Institute for Educational Finance, the nation’s only Section 529 college savings plan supermarket. Prior to forming his current ventures, Williams served as president, CEO and majority owner of Mile High Properties LLC, and vice president and general manager of western operations for TIAA-XCREF, the world’s largest pension fund. -
Jonathan (Jon) F. Zeschin
President, Essential Advisers, Inc.
Jon Zeschin is the president and found of Essential Advisers, Inc., a wealth management and investment advisory firm with more than $100 million in assets under management. Before founding Essential, he was the managing partner of JZ Partners LLC, a business-consulting firm for investment management companies. Prior thereto, Zeschin held senior executive positions with Founders Asset Management, INVESCO Funds Group and Stein Roe & Farnham. He is a Certified Financial Planner Certificant and holds a CPA certificate from the State of Illinois.
