Speaker Bio & Info

Dave Zelenok is an internationally-recognized civic innovator, speaker and licensed civil engineer who founded the nation’s first municipal Innovation Team focusing on emerging transportation and smart cities technologies.

Dave has thirty years of senior management experience at the municipal, state DOT and federal levels as well as a consulting engineer managing the “full spectrum” of transportation service delivery and public works, including Aviation, Mass Transit, Civil Engineering, Toll Highway, Public Works operations.

He is the Founder and CEO of ZK Engineers, LLC where he consults with local governments and public sector agencies on emerging technologies, innovation processes as well as “smart” transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.

Dave served in a number of roles for the City of Centennial, (population 110,000) – including Interim City Manager, the government’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of Public Works. While with Centennial, he led the creation of its first-ever Public Works Department. Dave also helped lead a voter-approved initiative to authorize the deployment of municipal broadband throughout the community in partnership with the private sector, which passed by an unprecedented margin of more than 2:1

Dave also served as Director of Public Works and Transportation for the City of Colorado Springs, as City Engineer for the City of Wichita Falls, Texas and worked for the engineering consultancy HR Green

Founder & CEO of ZK Engineers, david.zelenok@gmail.com 

High energy Innovation and Technology leader with an expert background in strategy development, tactical implementation and customer support in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech, Manufacturing, Scientific, Consulting and Government business sectors. Outstanding history of aligning technology and services with business strategy and goals to achieve increased effectiveness, efficiency, performance and quality. Outcomes-oriented style based on collaborative approaches, partnership, institutionalizing innovation and transformational leadership.

Scott Blumenreich,  seblumen@comcast.net 

Dr. Carol Egele has over 16 years of State of Texas government experience and currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of Administration at the Texas Historical Commission. In this role, she is in the capacity of a chief operating officer, leading human resources, information technology, procurement and contract services, communications, and project management divisions. Her academic credentials are vast, with four college degrees, including a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governor's University and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. To supplement her education, she is also a Certified Project Management Professional and has a certification in Nonprofit Management from Oregon State University. Dr. Egele is passionate about building and developing leaders and has hired, managed, mentored, and supported hundreds of individuals in her professional career. She is a Texan, born and raised in the Lone Star state, married with one adult child. When she is not working or engaging in academic pursuits, she serves as a business consultant to small companies, helping them navigate common business problems. 

William Mitchell is a newly-hired intern within CDOTs Office of Process Improvement.  He recently retired from 28 years of service in the Army and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Business Information and Analytics at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. More information can be found at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchewd 

Bridget Clawson Braaten serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Colorado Department of Human Services. With a background as a lawyer and a Six Sigma Black Belt, Bridget has contributed significantly to the department's Results Driven Management System Evolution. She initiated the Division of Project Management five years ago, fostering its growth into a thriving team of 20 professionals. 

Having dedicated eight years to CDHS, Bridget's commitment to innovation and efficiency has been apparent throughout her tenure. Outside of her professional endeavors, Bridget finds joy in hiking with her beloved canine companions, often exploring new trails, and delights in the hunt for unique treasures as an enthusiastic thrifter during her downtime.

Val Cassano is the Director of Organizational Performance Management at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), where she actively contributes to the implementation of the Results-Driven Management System. With a decade-long tenure at CDHS, Val transitioned to her current leadership role in 2020. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Val enjoys spending quality time with her family, socializing with friends, traveling, and exploring new restaurants. 

Rai is a business executive with 45+ years of rich diverse experience across multiple industries.He started with very modest beginnings and earned his way through the ranks rising to C Level executive positions. His career has been interspersed with leadership roles in well known organizations (such as Sulzermedica, Applied Materials, DELL, DuPont) and entrepreneurship.

He came to the United States in 1981 as a student for graduate study in Materials Science at Arizona State University. He earned his undergraduate degrees in Mechanical and Production Engineering at Bombay University, which was followed by graduate study in Business Management.

Rai is a certified Lead Auditor (Medical Devices, ISO 9001, and 27001), and holds five certifications from ASQ – including CSQP and Six Sigma Black Belt.

The KPI System Linkedin 

Katie Bockwoldt is a Performance Improvement Advisor in the State of Vermont's Chief Performance Office. Katie manages the statewide Continuous Improvement Training Program, coordinates the Continuous Improvement Network of over 1100 employees, and also works directly with teams on process improvement and strategy development. Prior to this position, Katie was a Continuous Improvement Program Manager at the Agency of Transportation, Environmental Analyst at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and research fellow at US EPA. Katie has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies from Roanoke College and a Master of Science in Freshwater Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

Justin Kenney has been the Chief Performance Officer for the State of Vermont since January 2022. Justin oversees the state’s organizational performance management systems, including performance-based budgeting and outcomes reporting, to better inform decision-making and resource allocation. Justin also plays a key role driving the adoption of continuous improvement principles, methods and tools throughout state government.  He believes that good government is only achieved through a combination of capable staff, clear direction, robust process and data management, and a strong understanding of how conditions are changing for the citizens of the state. 

Born and raised in Boston, MA, Kirby Hunter started her professional career in international education. After working a few years as a program manager for a homestay program, she moved on to work as the designated school official. administering I-20s for a university focused on medical programs. In 2018 she moved to Colorado to attend the University of Denver to obtain her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in data analytics and Master of Social Work. After graduation, she began her career for the state at the Office of Information Technology as a Business Analyst and has since been promoted to Senior Business Analyst. 

Matthew is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he majored in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. During his time at CU, Matthew was actively involved in the CU Rugby Club, serving as captain and volunteering on the CU Rugby Leadership Committee, all while balancing his role as a bouncer in the evenings and a part-time sales and project management intern in construction. Originally from South Africa, Matthew moved to Colorado with his family at the age of 16 and completed his secondary and tertiary education in Boulder.

During his internship, Matthew aims to leverage his skills in leadership, business analytics, and project management while deepening his understanding of process improvement methodologies. He is particularly interested in gaining insights into operational excellence and lean principles and is eager to learn from both CDOT and the broader state of Colorado.

In his free time, Matthew enjoys an active and fulfilling lifestyle. He has a passion for rugby, both playing and following the sport, Additionally, his love for the outdoors is reflected in his enthusiasm for exploring the stunning Colorado wilderness. Whether hiking through rugged trails or camping under the stars, he embraces every opportunity to connect with nature and embark on new adventures.

Aimee Resnick (she/her) is a Senior at Northwestern University studying Social Policy. During her time at Northwestern, she has enjoyed several research opportunities investigating in-school truancy, the wrongful deportation of American citizens, and online discourse around fatness. She is also co-founder of the Colorado Alliance for Size Equity and is dedicated to ending weight-based discrimination. Finally, Aimee is passionate about mental health and serves as a youth advocate for Mental Health America.

During her internship, Aimee is excited to learn techniques to streamline government functioning and improve resource utilization. In her future career, Aimee hopes to run for the Colorado State Legislature. 

Aimee also loves to quilt, embroider, cook, and press flowers. She is an avid Rotarian and enjoys community-building. On the average weekend, you can find her at Cherry Creek State Dog Park with her favorite pet.

Doug Oates has over twenty years of management and consulting experience serving primarily in the federal financial agency examinations, homeland security and public safety business domains. He has designed and implemented enterprise technology portfolio management on behalf of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management, as a program manager with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Doug current leads the Office of Project Management at the Colorado State Patrol. He holds active certifications in Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified Scrum Professional; and Certified Change Practitioner. 

Jesus Tomas is part of the OpEx team within the Office of Administration as a Research/Data Analyst, Jesus assists divisions within the Office of Administration in cleaning data, creating dashboards, maintaining dashboards, and assisting the OpEx team in process improvement projects. As one of the Tableau Experts, Jesus also provides assistance with questions to the State of Missouri Tableau community via virtual bi-weekly office hours, one on one virtual or in person help sessions and assisting with in-classroom training. Jesus is a Saint Louis Community College graduate where he received his Associate of Arts in Music and afterwards attended Southeast Missouri State University as Music Performance and Pure Mathematics major. During his academic career Jesus also held positions as Supplemental Instructor and Tutor in the Mathematics department.

Joe Kirby - has nearly 30 years of experience in the IT field. He is a University of Nebraska graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He began with the State of Missouri working Desktop Support. He then moved on to application development where he managed all phases of projects, including project management, business analysis, database design, coding, and training. In his role as Enterprise Information Architect with the Department of Conservation, he brought Business Intelligence through Tableau to the agency. Joe has a passion to help agencies use their data to make better, timelier decisions.

LinkedIn Profile 

Email: joe.kirby@oa.mo.gov 

Hope Moorhead is the Operational Excellence Coordinator for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. With a master’s degree in statistics and economics and a former background as a data analyst, she loves helping drive data-based decision making by problem solving and training Tableau creators, as well as helping leaders define meaningful measures. She enjoys tracking DMH progress on strategic direction initiatives and analyzing the outcomes. She is also a positive work environment champion, supporting appreciation and culture initiatives throughout the department. DMH OpEx is all about improved communication, continuous improvement, data-based decisions, and a positive work environment.

Ian is a Tableau Data Analyst for the State of Missouri. In this role, Ian assists various initiatives across the State of Missouri by cleaning data, developing dashboards, training end users of Tableau, and assisting with site administration. Ian provides technical assistance and training to users across the state, through informal emails and phone calls, structured classroom trainings, and user group meetings. 

Debra is a product manager at the Colorado Digital Service. At CDS, Debra has supported product management for the Universal Preschool team at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and for Colorado’s benefits experience. Before joining CDS, she worked as a product manager in the health, media and real estate spaces. 

Lauren Gase is a Senior Evaluator at the Evaluation Center.  With a background in public health, Lauren brings over 15 years of experience leading applied research and evaluation projects designed to improve health, educational, and social outcomes. She enjoys bringing stakeholders together to uncover new insights and use data to improve effectiveness and efficiency, tackle racial disparities, and enhance engagement with and accountability to the public. Lauren earned her PhD in Health Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master’s in Public Health from Emory University.  She is a member of the Emergent Learning Community Project and the Colorado Equitable Evaluation Collaboratory. 

I am a PhD Candidate in Criminal Justice Leadership from Liberty University.  I have been approved to defend my dissertation before April 30, 2024. At the time of the conference, I intend to be Dr. Kelly Kuhns

Dr. Kelly Kuhns (potentially) is a Wellness Concierge with the Colorado Department of Corrections with 11 years experience in the classroom and expertise in training and supporting staff around all aspects of wellness.  Kelly has demonstrated a strong commitment to understanding the importance of holistic well-being in today's fast-paced world of corrections. Throughout her career, Kelly has kept focus on proactive health management and lifestyle optimization, and excels in providing tailored guidance, resources, and support to enhance the overall quality of life and prioritizes cultivating meaningful connections, fostering a supportive environment, and empowering individuals to embark on their wellness journey with confidence and enthusiasm. Kelly holds a PhD in Criminal Justice Leadership from Liberty University. She is passionate about driving positive change through leveraging relationships in all areas of life. In addition to her professional endeavors, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family doing jigsaw puzzles, painting, and bingo. She is dedicated to her Correctional Sgt. husband of 30 years, their three daughters, all her coworkers, and her church family. Kelly is committed to making a meaningful impact for corrections workers throughout the nation by driving positive change, in new and novel ways, in a difficult work environment.

Heather Osborne currently serves as the Fatality Review Coordinator and as a Disaster Services Planner for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She has been with the Department of Mental Health since 2011, where she started out as a ward therapist for Southeast Missouri Mental Health Center. Her most recent role there was serving as the Director of Treatment Services-Adult Psychiatric Services. Heather has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in clinical counseling, both from Central Methodist University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Gerontology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is also certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a Master Change Leader. Heather recently received the Missouri Governor’s award for Quality and Productivity for her work as part of a team of certified Black Belts.

Tara Yates works for the Missouri Department of Mental Health as the Director of Quality Management in the Eastern Missouri region for two adult psychiatric hospitals and one children’s hospital. The Quality Management team consists of regulatory compliance, medical records, life safety, data analytics, patient safety, and performance improvement.  Tara graduated for the University of Missouri- Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. During her time at Mizzou, she worked at Mid-MO Mental Health Center where she first began working with individuals with mental illness. She started her career as a recreational therapist at St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. Tara frequently volunteered for root cause analysis teams, and which helped her discover her passion for performance improvement. She went on to earn in master’s in healthcare administration from Lindenwood University in 2020. Tara earned the following certifications: Black Belt, Master Change Leader, and Professional in Healthcare Quality. Tara recently received the Missouri Governor’s award for Quality and Productivity in the Efficiency/Process Improvement category for her work as a certified Black Belt.

Michael’s Mantra? If you’re not having fun, something needs to change! His professional journey began with a childhood passion for crafting soapbox cars, sparking a lifelong passion for innovation. Starting in private sector roles within various industries, he championed collaboration, empowering front-line ideas that sparked transformative results.

This philosophy propelled him to become a leadership coach, advising thought leaders across diverse industries. Engaging with government officials in Western Colorado who faced significant economic challenges, Michael was charged with leading an economic recovery project in Western Colorado, helping to boost community funds for essential resources.This work fueled his passion for public service.

Michael's expertise expanded to providing consulting services to federal, state, and municipal entities, empowering people to revolutionize processes like Medicaid services and advising the Governor's Office of Colorado on strategic development and deployment. Today, he serves as a beacon for problem-solving at Denver International Airport, emphasizing the power of building powerful networks to architect innovative solutions across the agency and community.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mike finds solace in outdoor pursuits with his wife, Melissa, embracing new cultures and experiences through travel.

Chandra is currently a Supervisor within the Division of Project Management at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).  She graduated from University of Colorado Denver with a Master of Public Administration in 2013 and has since been developing performance-based management systems for state and local governments.  Her experience in strategy deployment, operational planning, and process improvement provides a big-picture perspective on project management.  Chandra is a self-proclaimed “dork” who loves to volunteer in the community. For fun, she enjoys great dining and outdoor experiences.  

Patrice Williams-Lindo is a seasoned Corporate Strategy Leader with over two decades of expertise in the field of strategy management consulting. Currently serving as a Senior Manager at Accenture, she specializes in transformational strategies and organizational change, particularly in the government sector. Patrice is recognized for her ability to navigate high-stakes projects and advise senior-level executives, demonstrating a profound understanding of complex organizational dynamics.

With a background that spans roles at leading consulting firms such as KPMG and Deloitte, Patrice has developed a keen insight into M&A transactions and strategic capability building within organizations. Her leadership acumen is further enhanced by her deep commitment to team building and talent development.

Patrice holds a Master of Education in Instructional Technology and a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Psychology from American InterContinental University. She is also an accomplished executive coach, revered for her ability to mentor C-suite executives, offering invaluable insights into leadership effectiveness and strategic decision-making.

As a speaker and thought leader, Patrice is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and experience to foster growth and innovation in the public sector. Her efforts are driven by a passion to make a meaningful impact, helping organizations and leaders adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving business landscape.

Hi! I began my career in accounting before moving into technology business development with a focus on the public sector. During my years interacting with technical professionals, I continually noticed how much was lost in translation and how often I would hear vastly different feedback on the SAME MEETING from the techs and the non-techs. Often, the technical professionals would feel a meeting had gone “really well” while the non-technical stakeholders would feel there had not been much value. 

It became my passion to learn how to bridge this tech/non-tech language barrier. It was so clear to me that the technical professionals had such good things to say … they just didn’t know how to say them. 

In 2021, I began contracting with the State of Colorado, helping translate tech to non-tech. In 2022, I worked with  the Colorado Chief Data Office to complete a Data Inventory Project where more than 20 state agencies agreed to participate, completing the momentous project in three and a half months. We used storytelling (Data as a Transportation System) and tech-translation to get remarkable buy-in from non-technical stakeholders all across the state for that project. 

The state of Colorado has been an incredible partner to me as I have grown as a professional, in my passions for storytelling, and as a female small business owner serving public sector. I have now started a company focused 100% on bridging this tech/non-tech language barrier called The Idea Garden.

Vinny joined GTO in June of 2022 after working for nine years at the Arizona Department of Transportation in various roles, including serving as a senior Lean coach and administrator of the Office of Continuous Improvement. At ADOT, he played a leadership role in embedding the state’s continuous improvement program, the Arizona Management System, into the culture. Vinny had oversight of all of ADOT’s employee engagement programs, including mentoring,1:1 coaching, recognition and new employee onboarding. 

Vinny is a graduate of Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he majored in business administration and management. After growing up in Boston, Vinny now enjoys the warm Arizona weather by staying active outdoors and spending time with his wife, two college-age children and a black Labrador Retriever named Brady. 

Jesse is a Lean/SS Black Belt with a passion for lean leadership / coaching, strategic planning, problem solving, and process improvement. Jesse was raised in a large family on a dairy farm in Alaska where he learned the values of grit, discipline, and commitment – and the importance of working as a team and learning early how to lead through productive conflict. He has over 30 years of senior leadership experience in manufacturing and banking / service industries – and multiple functional areas – Engineering, Operations, Product Management, Executive Sales and Business Development, General Management, and Continuous Improvement. He holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Science in Operations Management, an MBA, and served in the US Army for eight years as an officer and helicopter pilot. Jesse has taught Lean Leadership and Operational Excellence through the Omaha Metro Community College, Midland University MBA program, and served as ASQ-1302 Board Chair. He was a Committee Member for the Iowa Lean Consortium, Board Member Value Stream Management Consortium, and is Partner in Growth Guru. Jesse is the founder of The 5L Performance Group, a Lean Leadership Coaching and Consulting practice and he is a Vistage executive coach providing leadership coaching, mentoring, and consulting services to clients throughout the Midwest. 

Emily Vandenberg is the Data Analyst and Researcher for the Division of Regional Centers (DRC). Her role within DRC is to manage and organize all known data, provide subject matter expertise on all projects with a data collection or analysis component, and to take initiative to identify and propose solutions for problems found within DRC from her analysis. She has held her current role for just over a year.

Prior to working at DRC, Emily was a systems developer and research associate for the Pardee Center for International Futures, where she was involved in Integrated Assessment Modeling and International Studies research. Her work at Pardee has been used to inform decision making for the United Nation's Development Programs in Yemen and Ukraine, the African Union, USAID, and United Nations Women, among other major international organizations.

Nicole Foucher, B.S.W., M.S.I.O. serves as the Career Pathway and Partnership Supervisor within the Division of Employment and Workforce Support under the Division of Office of Economic Support at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). During her tenure with CDHS, Nicole has grown an employment and training network for Colorado’s public assistance recipients across urban and rural communities, ensuring that Colorado’s most underserved populations are prioritized.

Before her role at CDHS, Nicole was a key member of Colorado’s workforce development system, where she led Denver workforce center teams in delivering integral employment and training services to hundreds of underserved youth and adults. Her work contributed greatly to developing a talent pipeline for Denver’s construction, hospitality, information technology, and healthcare industries. 

Today, Nicole currently leads a team to procure and connect partners who have a passion for uplifting low-income individuals through employment and training opportunities. Nicole is dedicated to ensuring everyone, regardless of their background, experience, and location has easy and quick access to employment and training opportunities throughout Colorado.

Sarah King, M.S.W., L.S.W., serves as the Project Sustainability Manager at the Division of Regional Centers (DRC). In this role, Sarah oversees the long-term implementation of programs following project closure. A member of the DRC Strategy and Deployment Team, she handles strategic communications and elevates the organization's marketing and branding initiatives. Sarah has accumulated four years of experience within the Division, previously serving as the Program Assistant, Data Analyst, and Project Coordinator.

Before joining DRC, Sarah earned her Master's Degree in Social Work and Gerontology from the University of Denver, specializing in macro-level policy implementation. She honed her skills as a Bi-Regional Administrative Policy Intern with the Federal Administration on Aging, where she spearheaded comparative data analysis research on the efficacy of State Ombudsman Programs. Her background encompasses Music Therapy with older adult populations, case management, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life in long-term care settings.

Michelle Zapapas received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University and completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Nebraska Medicine. Her passion for pediatrics brought her to Children's Hospital Colorado, practicing as a clinical pharmacist and pharmacy supervisor before transitioning to a role in process improvement. Michelle obtained her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt certifications through Children's Colorado's Process Improvement Academy and now serves as a Process Improvement Lead, leading improvement work across the organization. She is also well-versed in Change Management with certifications as a Prosci Change Practitioner and a Change Style Indicator/Change Navigator instructor 

Ploy is a Team Lead at the Colorado Digital Service. 

At CDS, she leads the Hub team that is responsible for work across agencies in the executive branch. Ploy is a multi-disciplinary designer, researcher, and facilitator who loves to knit value to humans into technological interactions. 

Outside of work, she plays video games with her husband, walks her dog, Duke, and can likely be found watching hockey somewhere with her little family.

Hilary Herrmann is dedicated to fostering continuous improvement in the City of Fort Collins as a Senior Specialist with FC Lean.  In this role she empowers colleagues across the City by facilitating continuous improvement efforts, supporting organizational change management, and leading learning.  Hilary embraces the challenges of change and continuous improvement by leveraging expertise in Lean methodology, Design Thinking, communication, and adult learning. Her professional experience includes leading professional development for a school district, instructional coaching, teaching and consulting.  Hilary guides teams towards innovative solutions by leveraging creativity and joy in problem solving. 

Amy Leneker is an optimistic, joy-seeking, recovering workaholic. She is also a Leadership Consultant, a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, and a self-proclaimed public service nerd. Amy spent over 20 years working for the State of Washington, including six years working for the Washington State Legislature. While working for the Legislature, Amy earned her Masters of Public Administration with a focus on public policy and leadership development. She is a first generation college student and is the happiest when she is learning (and laughing) alongside others. Amy and her husband have two wonderful kiddos, two wacky dogs, and zero guinea pigs despite her daughter's powerpoint presentation on why they couldn't live without one. They make their home in the Pacific Northwest. 

Terry Rubin is a seasoned communication expert who has spent his career helping individuals perfect their message and presentation skills.  

Since 2011, Terry has provided independent consulting to a range of individuals and companies looking to elevate their preparation for major presentations, interviews, and other public speaking engagements.

Terry’s experience includes nearly two decades as an award-winning producer with the PBS Newshour.  As a journalist he covered major stories across the globe including the war in Kosovo, Hurricane Katrina, and four Presidential elections. These experiences provided deep insight into what makes a good interview, how to be prepared for video appearances, and yielded essential strategies for successfully presenting in high-stakes environments.  Throughout his career, Terry worked with on-air talent to enhance their communication techniques.

For 17 years, Terry also coached and directed a nationally ranked Speech and Debate program where his students competed in events judged on public speaking, poise, and presentation. Most importantly, they learned valuable skills that led to successful careers in business, law, academia, communications, and marketing.

Terry is a graduate of Indiana University’s College of Arts and Sciences with degrees in Political Science and Telecommunications. He lives in Denver with his wife, son, and daughter.

Caitlin Casassa is the Director of Sustainability in the Department of Personnel and Administration for the State of Colorado. She first developed a passion for sustainability while serving in the Peace Corps in Madagascar where she witnessed a resourceful circular economy. Prior to joining DPA, she worked as an Operations Advisor for Natural Resources and Renewables in the Governor’s Office of Operations and an Auditor for the City and County of Denver. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT-Austin and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. On the weekends you can find her performing improv in Denver, rock climbing, or searching for fresh powder on her snowboard. 

Jenna Battson is the Outdoor Water Conservation Coordinator in the Water Supply Planning Section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. She manages the State's Turf Replacement Program and worked with the Urban Landscape Conservation Task Force as they identified practical ways to advance outdoor water conservation and transformative landscape change. Before joining CWCB, Jenna earned her Master's Degree at CU Boulder in natural resources policy, focusing on water law, governance structures, the Colorado River, and conservation strategies with an emphasis on turf replacement efforts in the Southwestern states. 

Pamela Cornelisse is the Landscape Architect Section Manager for the Colorado Department of Transportation. She has over 18 years’ experience in design, project management, and construction administration of parks, trails, and open spaces. Memorable projects include work on the redesign of Mather Point at Grand Canyon National Park, design of the first phase of a Santa Fe Style columbarium and committal shelter at Sunset Memorial Garden in Albuquerque, NM and design and coordination in the historic restoration of the Jules Jacque Benedict designed Baerden summer house in Jefferson County, Colorado. She has conducted botanical surveys for the Bureau of Land Management’s Seeds of Success Program throughout the beautiful state of Colorado. She holds a B.S. in Botany and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Megan McConville is the River Watch Program Manager and Water Quality Specialist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. With her position being directly linked to an invaluable resource, water, she has long been an advocate for keeping the resource clean and sustainable. Reducing waste and reusing materials when applicable has been a practice she has used throughout her career. She advocates, encourages, and educates her colleagues to be active stewards of their natural resources. 

Garrett Hoffmann is the Mailroom Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife at the Headquarters Campus. He is inspired by his passion for the outdoors to be a steward of all of Colorado’s Natural Resources. Because of this passion, he would like to see the agency put its best foot forward in reducing the amount of waste that is created from start to finish. For his position, this includes reducing the carbon footprint by consolidating packages, utilizing paper-based materials instead of plastics, and encouraging others to follow suit! 

Ginny Sednek supports the Education, Partnership, and Volunteer Section as the Program Assistant for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In addition to being energetic about education, Ginny has a zest and zeal for sustainability.  She is the local expert for friends/family/colleagues for ‘What bin does it go in?’.  This skill set and drive led her to become an Eco-leader, with Eco-cycle, and also become a part of the National Association of Interpretation’s Sustainability Section. 

Margaret Taylor has worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (formerly Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation) since 1995, starting as a seasonal employee to her current position as a Capital Development Program Manager. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biological Science from Colorado State University. Her current job responsibilities vary, including heading the construction, capital development planning, and dam safety programs for the division. She is also the lead for both the CPW public facing and fleet vehicle Electric Vehicle Charging Station installations and various Greening Government initatives.

Howard Ray is the Fleet Manager with the Colorado Department of Transportation. 

He has been with CDOT for 16 years and has 40 years of fleet experience. 

DeLynne Southern is the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives & Finance for the Colorado Energy Office. Her role is to facilitate emerging energy markets through development of action-oriented funding programs. Her everyday work supports building efficiency, electrification, renewable energy, carbon management, and various market research. Current passion projects include: Sustainable Aviation Fuels, Embodied Carbon, and grid reliability. She is a Certified Energy Manager and has earned graduate certificates for Sustainable Business Strategy, and Sustainable Investing. 

Leslie Akin Houghton is a Senior Quality and Performance Improvement Consultant at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. She supports the department through quality improvement, performance management, and change management, and manages the department’s Accreditation program and Innovation mini-grant program.  Leslie has been with the State Health Department for over 16 years in various roles at the Division and Department levels. Prior to the State, she worked in the private sector in the Human Resources and Information Technology fields. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University, a Master of Arts degree in Christian Formation and Soul Care from Denver Seminary, and a Lean Green Belt and Black Belt Certification. She enjoys project management, data analysis and continuous improvement to help an organization be successful. Leslie has resided in Colorado for over 19 years and enjoys music, volunteering, hiking, playing co-ed softball, traveling, and being a wife and mother in her blended family of 6. 

Thuyvi Vo is a Quality and Performance Improvement Consultant at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. She supports the department through quality improvement, performance management, and change management consulting. Thuyvi has been with the State Health Department for just a little under a year; prior to this, she’s worked in corporate health care, non-profit organizations, and higher education. Thuyvi holds a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and dual Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work degrees. She is passionate about influencing systems of health through a health equity and quality improvement framework. Beyond that, Thuyvi enjoys spending time with her loved ones (family, friends, and pets), playing games, living that indoorsy lifestyle with occasional outdoor activities, and sharing jokes and puns (because seven days without a pun makes one weak…). 

Dr. Alexis Harper graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Doctorate in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2016. She has served in several roles over her career as a professor, researcher, advisor, and scientist supporting evidence-based criminal justice policy and practice to promote individual and community wellbeing. She grew into her current role in 2023 as Criminal Justice Project Manager with the State of Colorado’s Division of Criminal Justice in the Office of Research and Statistics. She also teaches as an Adjunct Professor within the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Dr. Harper loves her work, adventure, traveling, learning about new places and different cultures, and living and Jeeping in Colorado's great outdoors. 

Starting in the fire service in 2004 Beau starting his childhood dream of a life in the fire

service. Volunteering with numerous agencies across Colorado Beau had exposure to diverse fire service

techniques. Beau also spent time in private contracting and with the BLM in wildland firefighting. After a

few years abroad in the Colorado fire service Beau came back to the Western Slope of Colorado and

moved into a career firefighting position in a large area fire district with a significant diverse call volume.

Eventually prompting to the level of Lieutenant Beau was afforded the opportunity to perform incident

command on a number of all hazard incidents. While operating on the Western Slope beau achieved

numerous certifications and an AAS in Fire Science. Enhancing his ability to understand fire ground

operations Beau found a thirst for knowledge in any area of firefighting operations. Currently with DFPC

Beau began and the Western Slope Regional Training Officer and moved into the Unit Chief of Training

position which granted the opportunity to work with the training team to create training opportunities across Colorado.

My 27-year career has allowed me to develop my skill sets in large-scale organization and change management for individuals and large/small systems. Having a medical and behavioral health background, lived experience and 12 years of education have sharpened my skill set with many continuous improvement efforts and team culture shifts that I have had the honor of participating, facilitating, and leading the efforts of needed change. 

I have grown my leadership experience in a culturally responsive way, drawing on previous knowledge of trauma-informed modalities and change management drivers. Also, I can grow my EDIA lens while implementing a milieu of evidence-based project management practices while engaging in policy-making and critical decision-making opportunities since becoming employed with HCPF.

Previously, my positions and appointments have been in Patient Navigation and Care Coordination for special or hard-to-reach populations, a more "boots on the ground", no time to do anything type of provider. Where time and efficiency were of the essence and time was a rarity.  Collaboration and inclusion often took a back seat in these settings, with everyone siloed into their tasks, making the important work processes in between suffer.

This is where I first realized the need for more formal processes for certain things and flexibility in others to achieve a true work-life balance with employees and find their true essence. Showing results through data is something I love to do. Painting pictures with dashboards from entering data to creating a true user experience is empowering. But most satisfying of all is when someone is challenged by technology and you as a designer build something user-friendly. You build something that is not only easier to use but also makes them like it because it gives the results they want and it's compliant, priceless. Making the work fun through employee collaboration, inclusion, and sharing a psychologically safe workspace is ambitious and has been shown to contribute to employee satisfaction and retention. This is what I hope to share with our audience today, using tools that make our daily lives easier so we can focus on more important matters.

As one of the five winners of the 2023 Governors Innovation Champion Award, for the CHP+ Employee Connection Trello Board, our team would like to share how this collaborative project uses tools learned at this conference to show true innovation in team-building practices. For our team, this was the origin of a vision for an Inclusionary Workplace Culture project as we all share a remote workspace. Feeling connected is essential in such a diverse workspace. This ability to collaborate through these innovative tools has allowed our team to connect on lighter issues for our remote team-building efforts.