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State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education
Members of the Colorado State Board
SBCCOE members may be reached by email at SBCCOE@cccs.edu.
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John Trefny, SBCCOE Chair 7th District, (Unaffiliated) Term Expires: 12/31/2014 |
| Dr. John U. Trefny is President Emeritus of Colorado School of Mines, having retired in the summer of 2006. Read more » | |
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Rich Martinez, SBCCOE Vice Chair 6th District, (U) Term Expires: 12/31/2013 |
| President and CEO, Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Young Americans Bank, Denver, Colorado Read more » | |
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Maury Dobbie 2nd District, (R) Term Expires: 12/31/2016 |
| An entrepreneur all her life and long before it was popular, Maury started her first company at the age of 19. She quickly built and owned … Read more » | |
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Jim Johnson 5th District, (R) Term Expires: 12/31/2014 |
| On January 1, 1997, Jim assumed the role of President and CEO of GE Johnson Construction Company, a commercial general contractor with annual sales volumes in excess of $400 million... Read more » | |
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Bernadette Marquez At-Large, (D) Term Expires: 12/31/2015 |
| Bernadette Marquez is a Registered Nurse in a hospital setting working primarily in the Peri-Operative area with over 20 years of experience. Read more » | |
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Russ Meyer 4th District, (D) Term Expires: 12/31/2016 |
| Dr. Russell J. Meyer held a wide variety of teaching and administrative positions until he retired from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2011. At CSU-Pueblo he served as Provost… Read more » | |
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Theresa Peña At-Large, (D) Term Expires: 12/31/2015 |
| In November 2011 Theresa Peña completed 8½ years of service on the Denver Public School Board of Education, including four years as the Board President.. Read more » | |
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Ken Weil 1st District, (D) Term Expires: 12/31/2014 |
| Ken Weil served as Governor Ritter's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Initiatives where he was responsible for developing the legislative agenda and providing leadership for special initiatives. Read more » | |
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Jean White 3rd District, (R) Term Expires: 12/31/2013 |
| Jean White is an educator, an entrepreneur, and served as Senator for District 8 for 2 years. She was born and raised on a ranch in South Dakota… Read more » | |
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| Non-Voting Board Members | |
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Stephanie Irwin SFAC Representative Term Expires: 6/30/2013 |
| Stephanie is the lead faculty for the Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) disciplines and director of the cadaver lab facility at Front Range Community College… Read more » | |
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Ryan Manzanares SSAC Representative Term Expires: 06/30/2013 |
Ryan Manzanares plans on transferring to the University of Denver to study social justice and law and eventually earn a juris doctorate.. . Read more » | |
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State Board Member Bios | |
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| John Trefny, SBCCOE Chair | |
| Dr. John U. Trefny is President Emeritus of Colorado School of Mines, having retired in the summer of 2006. Prior to his appointment as President in 2000, Dr. Trefny served for nearly five years as CSM's Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty. Earlier, he served Mines as Professor of Physics and Head of the Department of Physics. Dr. Trefny has been active in pre-college education, serving for many years as Coordinator of Teacher Enhancement Programs at Mines. | |
| Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Dr. Trefny received his undergraduate education at Fordham University and the Ph.D. in Physics from Rutgers University. Subsequently he held appointments at Cornell University and at Wesleyan University before joining CSM in 1977. He has published widely in various fields of condensed-matter physics including amorphous materials, liquid and solid helium, high- and low-temperature superconductivity, and photovoltaics. He was recognized by the School in 1983 with the "Brown Innovative Teaching Award" and in 1984 with the "Amoco Outstanding Teaching Award." He has also received the "Excellence in Science Teaching Award" (1992) and the "Friend of Science Education Award" (1990) of the Colorado Association of Science Teachers. In 2006, following his retirement, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Colorado School of Mines. | |
| Dr. Trefny serves on the boards of the Golden Civic Foundation, the Community First Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Regional Center of the Institute of International Education and the Red Rocks Community College Foundation. | |
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| Richard E. Martinez Jr., SBCCOE Vice Chair | |
| President and CEO, Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Young Americans Bank, Denver, Colorado | |
| Young Americans Center for Financial Education is home to Young Americans Bank, the world's only bank specifically designed for young people. Young Americans also conducts hands-on lessons in free enterprise, global economics, and entrepreneurship. To date over 440,000 youth have benefited from the programs Young Americans offers. | |
| Martinez joined Young Americans in 1999 and has held several roles including VP/Audit, VP/Young Americans Bank, and Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer. He was named President and CEO in November 2007. Martinez is responsible for the oversight of Young Americans Bank and the nonprofit programs of Young Americans Center for Financial Education. | |
| He began his banking career in Colorado in 1990 as an intern at the Norwest Bank of Fort Collins (now Wells Fargo bank) while pursuing a finance degree from Colorado State University. During his two-year internship, he worked in all aspects of commercial bank operations. | |
| Upon graduation from college in 1992, Martinez accepted a position at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch as a bank examiner. His responsibilities included conducting examinations of financial institutions and inspections of bank holding companies to determine financial safety and soundness. He earned the commissioned examiner distinction in 1998. | |
| He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Regis University. His degree emphasis was in computer information systems. Martinez was appointed by Governor Bill Ritter to serve on the board of CollegeInvest, Colorado's 529 College Savings provider. Martinez also serves on the Colorado Nonprofit Association Board of Directors and the University of Denver – Bridge Project scholarship committee. | |
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| Maury Dobbie | |
| An entrepreneur all her life and long before it was popular, Maury started her first company at the age of 19. She quickly built and owned a commercial property, locating her business there. Maury has owned six diverse companies since 1977. She founded MediaTech Productions (an award-winning multimedia company) in Fort Collins in 1994 and sold it in 2010. In her early thirties, Maury wanted to earn a higher education degree. She started her first few classes at a community college and then went on to earn a Business Administration degree at a four year college. She felt the choice to get back into higher education, starting at a community college before transferring to a university, helped her succeed at a faster and more affordable rate. Her dedication and belief in higher education has been evident for many years as she has served her community in both community colleges and universities. | |
| Formerly, Maury was the President/CEO of NCEDC (Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation), a not-for-profit 501 (c)(6) organization dedicated to stimulating economic development by strengthening existing primary employers, support expansion projects and market to new primary employers. During that time she also served on the board of directors for the state-wide Economic Development Council of Colorado. Maury returned to her entrepreneurial roots in private industry and is a founder and Principal in SunHost Energy, a company focused on solar energy projects for large commercial rooftops, government and municipal rooftops and schools. | |
| Currently, Maury is the Assistant Director to the Center for the New Energy Economy. Founded in February 2011, the Center for the New Energy Economy is a privately-funded initiative to support the growth of a clean energy economy across the United States. The Center, a part of Colorado State University, is led by former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and is assisted by some of the nation's most important thought leaders in clean energy research, development and commercialization. The Center works directly with Governors, legislators, regulators, planners, policy makers and other decision makers with technical assistance to help them create the policies and practices that will facilitate America's transition to a clean energy economy. The mission of the Center is to incorporate best practices from around the nation and world to accelerate the development of a New Energy Economy. | |
| Maury has been a bi-partisan women business leader for over two decades, dedicating herself to working on programs that advance women, men and youth. She has been appointed in the past to state boards by a Republican Governor including Colorado Women's Economic Development Council and Motion Picture and Film Commission. She helped found "Young Women of the West?" with the Governor's Women's Business Office. The state-wide program focused on teaching young women between the ages of 15 and 18 how to think entrepreneurially and how to start their own businesses. | |
| Among many awards, Maury was named "1995 Woman Leader of Excellence" in Colorado, awarded "Emerging Entrepreneur" in Northern Colorado and Wyoming in 2002 by NCBR, selected as "Top 10 Women Making a Difference" in 2005, awarded a prestigious national award by Office Depot, "2005 Businesswoman of the Year", "Women in Business Champion" by Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2007, "Creative Vision for Women" award by Crossroads in 2008 and recently as a "Woman of Vision" by Colorado Women of Influence. | |
| In the mid-1980s Maury earned a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, a martial art she studied for 18 years, earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Taekwondo Team and traveling on a demonstration team. Maury is happily married with two grown children (daughter with a Masters in Social Work specializing in medical social work in hospitals and a son who is a decorated Marine serving his country in the Middle East) and five grandchildren. | |
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| Jim Johnson | |
| On January 1, 1997, Jim assumed the role of President and CEO of GE Johnson Construction Company, a commercial general contractor with annual sales volumes in excess of $400 million headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Before becoming President, Jim served as Vice President in which primary responsibilities included business development and the formation of the Special Projects Division. Jim was born in Wichita, Kansas, however, grew up in Colorado Springs. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science in 1984 from Kansas State University. | |
| Jim is a current board member of the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region Foundation Board; Wells Fargo Bank-Colorado Springs Community Board of Directors; Kansas State University Foundation Board of Trustees; Kansas State University College of Engineering Advisory Council; Kansas State University Alumni Association Board of Trustees; Member Young Presidents Organization. | |
| Jim is past board member of the Downtown Partnership Board of Directors; Associated General Contractors-Colorado board member; Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; El Pomar Community Health; Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs; Penrose Hospital Foundation Board; Past Chair of the Penrose Foundation Capital Campaign; past member of the Workers Compensation Coalition; past member of the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation; Citizen's Goals Board Member; and a past member of the Southeast Denver Douglas County Economic Development Council. Jim served as President of Citizen's Goals in 1994 and was a member of the El Pomar Community Health Center Board of Trustees, serving as President in 1992-1993. | |
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| Bernadette Marquez | |
| Bernadette Marquez is a Registered Nurse in a hospital setting working primarily in the Peri-Operative area with over 20 years of experience. In addition, she manages the Community Partnership Program for an independent oil company which provides industry grants and is one of the founding board members of the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation creating, implementing and managing their grant process. Bernadette co-founded the Denver Scholarship Foundation, which works with Denver's high school students, and currently serves as the Chair of their Board of Directors. She is a member of the Denver Foundation's Health Committee which distributes grants to various health organizations. Previously, she has served as a member of the Santa Barbara Foundation's Health and Human Services Committee, Board Member and Vice President of the Lobero Theater Foundation, Family Service Agency and Noah's Anchorage in Santa Barbara, CA. | |
| Bernadette holds a BSN degree from Michigan State University as well as the CNOR – Certification Board Perioperative Nursing. | |
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| Russell J. Meyer | |
| Dr. Russell J. Meyer held a wide variety of teaching and administrative positions until he retired from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2011. At CSU-Pueblo he served as Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs for five years (including a two-month period in which he was both interim provost and interim president) and as Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences for six years. He was also the Chief Academic Officer of the CSU System for the three years prior to his retirement. | |
| Before moving to Colorado, Dr. Meyer was Chair of the Department of English at Emporia (Kansas) State University and, prior to that, at the University of Houston-Downtown. He began his teaching career at the University of Missouri, where he also served as director of both the composition program and of undergraduate studies. | |
| Dr. Meyer has his PhD in English from the University of Minnesota and his BA and MA (both also in English) from Ohio State University. He has published books and articles on English Renaissance literature and on developmental composition. | |
| From 2000 until 2009, Dr. Meyer was a member of the governing board of the Alliance of Universities for Democracy (AUDEM), a consortium of U.S. and Central and Eastern European Universities, founded shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union. AUDEM's goal is to work with academic institutions in the former Soviet bloc to improve education on both sides of the Atlantic. Dr. Meyer served as the American Vice President of AUDEM for five years and was editor of the organization's annual publication (Perspectives in Higher Education Reform) for eight years. | |
| Dr. Meyer has served on several community boards, including the Rosemount Museum and Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center (both in Pueblo) and the Kansas Humanities Council. | |
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| Theresa Peña | |
| In November 2011 Theresa Peña completed 8½ years of service on the Denver Public School Board of Education, including four years as the Board President. Prior to serving on the school board Theresa worked in the private sector for IBM and US WEST in finance, human resources, audit, operations, and marketing. Before joining the school board Theresa was the business manager for two small businesses, a veterinary practice and a clothing manufacturer, owned by her husband and brother. Currently, Theresa is a Senior Education Fellow for the Colorado Children’s Campaign working on the Integration Project. | |
| Theresa is a Denver native. She earned a BA from Pomona College and a MBA from Cornell University. She has two children in Denver Public Schools and her husband is a veterinary ophthalmologist. | |
| She is a board member of the Denver Scholarship Foundation, the Public Education Business Coalition, the Denver Preschool Program, and the Latino Community Foundation of Colorado; she was a member of the Colorado Governor's P20 Council and the Colorado Higher Education Steering Committee. Theresa formerly served on the Council of Great City Schools, a national coalition of the nation's largest urban public school systems, Denver Public Schools Retirement System and the Mayor's Latino Advisory Council. | |
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| Ken Weil | |
| Ken Weil served as Governor Ritter's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Initiatives where he was responsible for developing the legislative agenda and providing leadership for special initiatives. | |
| Before joining the Ritter administration, Ken served as Chair of the Ritter for Governor Campaign where he managed the policy team and chaired the Finance Committee. | |
| He was the founder and president of Rose Biomedical Research and Rose Biomedical Development Corporation (RBDC). He worked in health care for nineteen years, including extensive experience in coordinating the activities of physician and engineer teams in medical technology development and clinical research. | |
| Before his years in health care and medical research, Ken served as a policy advisor to former Governor Richard Lamm. | |
| Among his community activities, Ken served on several boards of non-profit organizations. He served for thirteen years on the Board of Trustees of Jewish Family Services, and was the Chairman of the Board in 2003 and 2004. | |
| Ken received a B.Ph. from Miami University and a MPA from George Washington University. | |
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| Jean White | |
| Jean White is an educator, an entrepreneur, and served as Senator for District 8 for 2 years. She was born and raised on a ranch in South Dakota and graduated from South Dakota State University with a BS Degree in Education, and a minor in Fashion Design and Merchandising. After working as a county extension agent in charge of 4-H programs, she taught junior high science and senior high home economics. In 2001 she enrolled in the Interior Design Program at ACC which launched her career as an interior designer. | |
| Jean and her husband, Al, spent 25 years in the ski business as owners and operators of several full service ski shops, a bike shop, and a mountain lodge. They have been married for 34 years, and have two children. | |
In addition to an active political life, Jean currently owns and operates an interior design company, and serves on the following Councils and Boards:
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Non-Voting Board Member Bios |
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| Stephanie Irwin, SFAC Representative |
| Stephanie Irwin is the incoming Chair of the State Faculty Advisory Council (SFAC) for the Colorado Community College System. |
| She is the lead faculty for the Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) disciplines and director of the cadaver lab facility at Front Range Community College (FRCC) Larimer Campus. She teaches Basic Anatomy & Physiology, Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, and Pathophysiology. Yearly nominations for the Master Teacher award make evident her passion for excellence in all aspects of teaching and learning. |
| Stephanie received her Bachelor's degree in Environmental, Populational and Organismal Biology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and her Master's of Science degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Colorado State University. Prior to landing at the beautiful FRCC campus in Fort Collins in 2000, Stephanie participated in pharmaceutical research at two biotech companies in Boulder, Colorado. She also taught full time at the Community College of Denver, and part time at FRCC and University of Colorado Denver. |
| The vast majority of A&P students intend to become nurses or other health care providers, and Stephanie has recognized a link between improved quality of learning experience in the A&P discipline, and success in allied health training programs. To that end, Stephanie has developed numerous curricula and programs that improve the success rate of students. These include Facilitated Study, in which former excellent A&P students mentor and guide current A&P I students. She designed and manages a new state-of-the-art cadaver lab on the Larimer Campus, to bring real human anatomy into the classroom. Additionally, she implemented outreach programs for community partners to experience the cadaver lab for anatomy education. Stephanie authored a Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual with Photo Atlas, which has been adopted for use by colleges across the nation. |
| Stephanie lives in Erie with her family and animals. One of her children is pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy, another will enter the Air Force this year, and the third is passionately studying Japanese and Chinese languages. Stephanie enjoys reading fiction, camping, and trail rides with her mustang horse, Maverick. |
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| Ryan Manzanares, SSAC Representative |
Ryan Manzanares is a full-time student at the Community College of Aurora and is on track to earn her Associates of Arts degree in the spring of 2013. |
| Volunteering has always been a huge passion for Ryan. She enjoys volunteering at various homeless shelters and animal rescues in the Denver/Aurora area. |
| Ryan is currently serving as the President for the Student Government Association at CCA and Vice President of Leadership for Phi Theta Kappa. |
| She plans on transferring to the University of Denver to study social justice and law and eventually earn a juris doctorate. |
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