Cody Bird

Town planner, town of Wellington

Cody Bird is the town planner for Wellington and is responsible for overseeing the planning and zoning department, building department, and all planning, development and building activities of the Town. Cody has a master’s degree in urban and regional community planning from Kansas State University, and is certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Cody served a similar capacity as the city planner for Derby, Kansas before relocating to Wellington in 2017.

Bob Choate

 Attorney, Coan, Payton & Payne

Bob Choate works primarily out of the Fort Collins office, but he has deep ties to Greeley and all of Northern Colorado. His practice is focused on real estate development and associated business transactions. Prior to joining Coan, Payton & Payne, Mr. Choate spent many years as corporate counsel for local governmental entities in northern Colorado, and has extensive experience navigating the permitting processes necessary to acquire and protect vested development rights in most every jurisdiction in northern Colorado. He has a successful track record of obtaining development approvals.

Mr. Choate received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and his Bachelors of Science from the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. A dedicated community volunteer, he currently services on the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Local Legislative Affairs Committee (LLAC), which is comprised of subject matter experts that advise and advocate on behalf of the Chamber. Mr. Choate has previously served for six years on the Larimer County Planning Commission, which regulates land use and subdivisions in the unincorporated area of the County. He is also a current member of the board of directors for Loveland Habitat for Humanity, and a volunteer and prior trustee for the Overland Mountain Bike Association, a local nonprofit dedicated to public lands and trail development.

Sarah Crosthwaite

Economic development director, town of Johnstown

Sarah Crosthwaite serves as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Johnstown. Her role as Economic Development Director includes establishing and leading all economic development activity for the Town including business retention, expansion, and recruitment. Specific focuses include development of key corridors along I-25, Hwy-60, and Hwy-34 along with the revitalization and expansion of Historic Downtown Johnstown. She is the 2022 recipient of the Economic Development Council of Colorado “Rookie of the Year” award. She is a California native and holds a master’s degree in public administration with a focus on local economic development from California State University of San Bernardino.

Brooke Cunningham

Regional housing officer, NoCo Foundation

Brooke was born and raised in the Denver area, but was lucky to be introduced to Northern Colorado while attending Colorado State University. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Brooke worked in marketing, communications and event planning before finding her calling to work in philanthropy. After seven years of raising funds and awareness for Neighbor to Neighbor, Brooke accepted the role of Regional Housing Officer with the NoCo Foundation. Outside of work, Brooke loves reading, knitting, paddleboarding, and biking to breweries. 

Clay Frickey

Planning manager, city of Fort Collins

Clay Frickey is the Planning Manager for the City of Fort Collins. Fort Collins has a vision of being a sustainable, connected, and inclusive community. Clay leads the Planning department in helping ensure our built environment in Fort Collins becomes the sustainable, connected, inclusive place that our community envisions. Prior to his work with the Planning department, Clay was the Redevelopment Program Manager in Sustainability Services. His work while the Redevelopment Program Manager focused on managing the operations of the Urban Renewal Authority. This work included supporting redevelopment projects, developing investment strategies with the community, and fostering development aligned with the community’s vision.

Josh Guernsey

Founder and Managing Partner, Vuelo Investments

Josh Guernsey is Founder and Managing Partner of Vuelo Investments and Waypoint Companies, where he matches his passion for real estate with extensive experience in founding, acquiring and growing great companies. Josh’s operational expertise has been paired with successfully overseeing billions of dollars of total transaction volume related to real estate investment, development, brokerage and consulting deals.

Josh began his career at Prologis managing institutional transactions across North America before becoming a Partner at Brinkman Partners, where he played a key role in the firm’s rapid expansion. Today, he focuses on building integrated investment ecosystems that create long-term value and meaningful community impact across Northern Colorado.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science in Real Estate Finance and Construction Management from the University of Denver, and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). He has a background in aviation, holding Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot licenses — an influence reflected in many Vuelo Investments names. Josh also actively serves on numerous boards and community-based causes that are close to his heart.

Jacob Hallauer

Senior vice president, CBRE

Jake Hallauer is senior vice presidnet of CBRE, and president of Affinity Real Estate Partners, Inc. (formerly known as Chrisland Inc.). The Affinity Real Estate Partners family of companies includes NAI Affinity, a Northern Colorado-based commercial real estate brokerage that is part of NAI Global, and Affinity Partners LLC, a real estate investment and development company. Hallauer’s prior experience includes serving as assistant project manager for Peak 7 Construction LLC, a Breckenridge-based general-contracting arm of a resort development and management company. 

Julie Jacoby

Economic development director, town of Firestone

Julie Jacoby serves as the Director of Economic Development for the Town of Firestone, Colorado. She is a seasoned economic development professional with more than 20 years of experience in retail development, strategic growth, and public-private partnerships, and brings a strong track record of delivering transformative economic outcomes for communities.

Prior to joining Firestone, Jacoby served as Deputy Director of Economic Development for the City of Thornton, one of the fastest-growing communities in the Denver metropolitan area. During her time in Thornton, she helped position the city as a regional destination by supporting the recruitment and development of major retail and entertainment projects including Denver Premium Outlets, Topgolf, Chicken N Pickle, Main Event, Malibu Jack’s, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Gordon Food Service, and Living Spaces. Her expertise in destination retail, entertainment, and mixed-use development supports Firestone’s vision for thoughtful and strategic growth.
Earlier in her career, Jacoby worked as an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Commerce City and spent eight years with General Growth Properties, one of the nation’s largest retail development companies.

She holds degrees in Communications and Political Science from Valparaiso University and earned the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council. Jacoby is also an active member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Economic Development Council of Colorado.
In her role with the Town of Firestone, Jacoby works to attract new investment, support existing businesses, and advance initiatives that strengthen the local economy and enhance the community’s long-term quality of life.

Julian Jacquin

Director of economic development and urban renewal, town of Erie

Julian Jacquin serves as Director of Economic Development & Urban Renewal (TOEURA) in the Town of Erie, Colorado. He joined the Town in September 2021 and brings 18 years of experience in economic development, including prior roles with the City of Wildwood and Economic Development Resources in St. Louis, Missouri. Julian holds leadership roles with ICSC, NAIOP Colorado, Downtown Colorado Inc., and the Economic Development Council of Colorado. His work focuses on public private partnerships, urban renewal, redevelopment financing, business retention and expansion, retail recruitment, and small business support. Julian earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri Columbia and studied at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Laura Moody

Redevelopment manager, city of Longmont

Laura Moody is the redevelopment revitalization manager with the City of Longmont and the Longmont Urban Renewal Authority. Moody has spent over 9 years in economic development and urban renewal and loves making an impact in her community every day. Prior to coming to Longmont, also worked with Commerce City, the City of Lakewood and the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority.

Robert Paulsen

Director, Development Services Department, city of Loveland

Bob moved to Northern Colorado in 2006 to become the Planning Manager for the City. He has always had a passion for planning, the built environment, and working collaboratively on innovative design ideas. He studied planning at the University of New Mexico and received a bachelor’s of arts in American Studies at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He has worked in both the public sector as a planner and planning manager for the City of Albuquerque and in the private sector as a planning consultant for URS and at his own planning consulting business.  Bob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and runs the City’s development review team. In his free time, Bob enjoys playing competitive handball and has participated in handball tournaments around the Front Range. He is also an enthusiastic spectator cheering for his children’s soccer teams.

Ryan Sahd

Colorado Regional President, Union Bank & Trust

Ryan Sahd, Colorado Regional President, joined Union Bank & Trust (UBT) in 2024 and oversees all Colorado operations. With more than 25 years of banking experience, Sahd previously served as Executive Vice President of FirstBank of Colorado where he managed a $1.1 billion portfolio and was responsible for overseeing loan growth, relationship management, business development, and four retail banking locations.

Now with rapidly growing UBT, Sahd will help establish and grow the bank’s wealth management, private banking, and business banking relationships as it becomes a part of the Northern Colorado community. 

Ryan says the decision to join Union Bank & Trust was an easy one “for a number of reasons, but at the core, it came down to values. As a family-owned bank, UBT has maintained a culture that genuinely cares about people — clients, employees, and the communities we serve — rather than focusing solely on maximizing profits.”

A graduate of Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Sahd serves the community as a board member for STEP Denver and Northeast Denver Housing Authority.

Ryan Schaefer

Senior vice president, CBRE

Ryan Schaefer is Senior vice president with CBRE, and CEO of NAI Affinity and manager of Affinity Real Estate Partners Inc.. Over the course of his 20+ year career, Schaefer has brokered hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of transactions, including residential and commercial land, investment sales, industrial facilities, anchor retailer transactions, restaurants and corporate office and medical buildings. Schaefer co-founded Chrisland Inc. in November 2003. Chrisland changed its name to Affinity Real Estate Partners Inc. in February 2019.

Dennis Schick

Managing partner, broker-owner, RE/MAX Alliance

Dennis Schick is a managing partner and broker/owner with RE/MAX Alliance. RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado has 300 brokers and an additional 700 brokers with Alliance throughout the Front Range. He also has ownership in Home Mortgage Alliance and Alliance Insurance.. Dennis has more than 30 years of new construction experience. He has been with RE/MAX for 17 years and represents builders, buyers and sellers throughout Northern Colorado. 

Leisha Talley

Economic development manager, town of Frederick

Leisha serves as the Economic Development Manager for the Town of Frederick, Colorado, where she leads strategic efforts to attract investment and create jobs, while supporting local businesses and strengthening economic vitality. With a background in industrial construction, innovation and technology, and natural resource efficiency, she brings a practical, solutions-driven approach to economic development. She holds an MBA in Corporate Sustainability and brings expertise in urban revitalization, infrastructure development, and community resilience, integrating data-driven strategy with real-world implementation. Leisha has a strong track record in business attraction, retention, and expansion, as well as experience with redevelopment, development financing, and public-private partnerships. Known for her collaborative leadership and big-picture thinking, she is committed to advancing sustainable, inclusive growth and enhancing quality of life for residents and businesses alike.

Don Threewitt

Interim director of economic development & urban revitalization, city of Greeley

Don Threewitt serves as Interim Director of Community Development and Economic Development & Urban Revitalization for the City of Greeley, Colorado. In this role, he leads a multidisciplinary team spanning economic development, urban renewal, real estate management, long-range and current planning, engineering development review, landscape architecture, building review, civil inspections, and related functions.
Don’s career includes transformative public-sector roles across Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, with experience in city, county, and state-level planning, land management, and economic development. He holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver and has completed multiple post-graduate certifications. His accomplishments include planning and management of more than 3 million acres of state trust lands, advancing utility-scale renewable energy projects, developing habitat banking programs, revitalizing urban areas through proven incentives and implementation tools, and leading comprehensive planning and economic revitalization initiatives.
He remains active in professional service with the American Planning Association and serves on community boards focused on arts, culture, and environmental empowerment. Known for results-driven, sustainable approaches, Don brings strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and a commitment to lasting community outcomes.

Kristen Todd

CEO, NoCo Foundation

Kristin leads the Foundation and guides our efforts as a service provider to philanthropists while helping to inspire impactful community projects. She is a lifelong proponent of philanthropy, and throughout her 25-year career, she’s experienced its ability to have a lasting – and meaningful – impact on communities. She previously served as executive vice president for the Daniels Fund, grew up in New Orleans (Geaux Saints), and earned her master’s degree from the University of Colorado. Her family relocated from Denver in the spring of 2021, and they are excited to spend time outdoors hiking, biking, exploring, and learning about Northern Colorado.

Beth Walker

Dean, CSU School of Business (EREC)

Beth Walker is the Dean of the College of Business at Colorado State University. Before joining CSU’s College of Business, Beth served as the Associate Dean, MBA Programs at the W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, where she was also the AT&T Professor of Services Marketing and Management. Beth is an award-winning researcher and teacher, whose research has been widely published in leading marketing journals. She is a recipient of the prestigious Harold Maynard Award, recognizing the most significant contribution to marketing theory and practice by the Journal of Marketing. She also received the Richard Beckhard Prize for her contribution to the MIT Sloan Management Review. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors, Better Business Bureau (Northern Colorado), and served on the American Marketing Association, Board of Directors, as well as the President, American Marketing Association, Academic Division. She has consulted on strategy issues for State Farm Insurance, IBM Global Services, Yellow Roadway Corporation, Lucent Technologies, Honeywell, and AT&T.

Kate Watkins

Demographer, State of Colorado

Kate Watkins is Colorado’s State Demographer. She leads the State Demography Office within the Department of Local Affairs. The State Demography Office produces population and economic estimates and forecasts for use by the business community, nonprofits, and state and local governments. Kate has two decades of experience analyzing economic and demographic trends in Colorado and beyond. Her career history includes serving as the Chief Economist for Colorado’s General Assembly, as an economist at the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, and as a private sector consultant. Kate holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University.

Evan Wendlandt

Director economic development, town of Windsor

Evan Wendlandt joined Windsor’s Economic Development in July, 2024 with the pleasure of leading the community’s dynamic team focused on economic growth in the Town of Windsor. Serving in this role he will help create regional plans and goals while facilitating conversations around growth and economic success for the region. Wendlandt has been in Economic Development since 2009 with experience in serving communities in Wisconsin and Colorado, and state-level economic development for Washington State. His educational background includes a degree in Urban Regional Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, and a minor in Business Administration.

Lawrence Yun

Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors

Lawrence Yun is chief economist and oversees the Research group at the National Association of Realtors. He supervises and is responsible for a wide range of research activity for the association, including NAR’s Existing Home Sales statistics, Affordability Index, and Home Buyers and Sellers Profile Report. He regularly provides commentary on real estate market trends for its 1.4 million Realtors. Yun creates NAR’s forecasts and participates in many economic forecasting panels, among them the Blue Chip Council and the Wall Street Journal Forecasting Survey. He also participates in the Industrial Economists Discussion Group at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. He appears regularly on financial news outlets, is a frequent speaker at real estate conferences throughout the United States, and has testified before Congress. Dr. Yun has also appeared as a guest on CSPAN’s Washington Journal. Yun received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park.