Leadership

Peter is a member of RWO’s business law practice group and has been involved in many community activities, including, former board member and current legal counsel for Geneva Glen Camp, current pro bono counsel for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Colorado, former member of the Admissions Committee of the University Club of Denver, former board member (2009 – 2014) of the South Metro Denver Chamber, and former board member of the Swallow Hill Music Association. Mr. Moore is included in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Corporate Law (listed since 2013), the 2018 edition of the Colorado Super Lawyers (for corporate Law since 2017), and has been rated AV-Preeminent (the highest rating) by Martindale-Hubbell since 1998. He received the South Metro Denver’s Leadership in Motion Award in 2013, and in 2014, he received the South Metro Denver’s Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year award.

Peter works on various projects for clients including the merger, purchase, sale of businesses, start-up companies, and operational agreements for mature businesses. Currently, he serves as outside general counsel for Major League Rugby, which is a new national professional league that began play in late April, 2018, and which features a "game of the week" telecast by CBS Sports, and regional, VOD, and subscription-only or limited market cable and streaming broadcasts by ESPN+, AT&T Sports Network, and Cox Media.

Peter received a B.S.F.S. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1978 with a concentration in international economics. In the summer of 1978, he attended the University of Heidelberg, in West Germany as a German Academic Exchange Fellow. In 1981, he received a J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law.

Gayle Dendinger is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CAP Logistics. He has been in the expedited freight services industry more than 30 years. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, CAP Logistics operates one of the most extensive and comprehensive domestic and international heavyweight and emergency transportation and distribution networks. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska and has done post-graduate work in entrepreneurship at the University of Denver. Recognizing the need for a venue for Colorado leaders to better work with each other, he founded The Colorado Business Roundtable in conjunction with the twenty-three state roundtables and the Business Roundtable in Washington. A great believer in the power of collaboration, he has established ICOSA Media, a media services company entailing publishing, video production and a radio program. Those services are made available to ICOSA collaborative partners to promote leadership, share the message of collaboration, and to Gayle was recognized with the 2011 Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year Award from the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. CAP Logistics received the 2008 Denver Metro Chamber Small Business of the Year award, the Governor’s Export Award in 2008, and the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service Corporate Stewardship Recognition in 2007. In 2005 they earned the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificate and the Colorado Ethics in Business Award. In 2004 the company earned the Colorado Performance Excellence Foothills Award (State-level Baldrige Award for Excellence in Approach).

Mr. Ray served as President of the National Association of Royalty Owners Rockies Chapter 2008-2011. He now serves as the president of the Colorado Alliance of Mineral and Royalty Owners (CAMRO). His family’s royalty and mineral interests lie in several states including Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, and Utah covering several hundred thousand acres, and over 11,000 oil and gas wells. Mr. Ray’s family has history in the oil and gas industry starting in Colorado in 1917. He has served as the Chairman of the Colorado State Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education, and has proudly served as a skills judge for the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). He has also served as a board member of the Scitex Graphics Users Association, and The Newspaper Systems Design Group. For 23 years, he was employed in the Newspaper industry in various management positions, owned a printing company and was president of R&R Research and Development Company. R&R held patents and developed prototypes for a novel two stroke engine, fuel injection system, and supercharging system. R&R also specialized in tool and die design, and pattern making for the aluminum and iron foundry industry.

Mike Dunafon’s refreshing new voice will resonate with millions of Americans fed-up with politics as usual. Imagine a world that is libertarian, secular, fiscally conservative, big-family, small-government, and decidedly pro-business. Imagine an America where the government’s role was focused on protecting your Liberty. A Colorado native, Mayor Dunafon has led the extraordinary 14-year transformation of the small City of Glendale into an entertainment capitol and internationally-known city. The transformation of Glendale began when Mr. Dunafon chaired the Strategic Planning Initiative in 1998, and it became clear that the Glendale citizens wanted a new identity – a more vibrant and entertaining Glendale. As Co-founder of the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Dunafon created a collaborative forum to align residents and local businesses behind a single vision. Mayor Dunafon was instrumental in establishing a community-wide newspaper, The Glendale News, which subsequently became The Glendale/Cherry Creek Chronicle, currently mailed to 85,000 homes and businesses in the area. Glendale became the first city in the United States to adopt rugby as the sole and official sport of the city, and today, Glendale has been re-branded and is now known around the world as “Rugbytown USA.” Dunafon has a B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado, where he lettered for four years and was part of the All-Conference team. He signed contracts to play with the Denver Broncos in 1976 and 1977. His rugby career began in 1978 with the British Virgin Islands RFC and continued until 1992. He has a USA Rugby Level 3 coaching certification.

Loren joined CACI in January 2008 and serves as the chief lobbyist at the State Capitol.  This role involves managing CACI’s engagement on State and Federal policy issues including:  energy and environment, taxes, health care, labor and employment, tort/civil justice and manufacturing.  Loren oversees the operations of the CACI lobbying team and staffs three issue councils:  Governmental Affairs, Tax and Labor & Employment Councils.  Loren also serves as a spokesperson for CACI on press/media inquiries.

Loren previously served as the Legislative Director for the CO Department of Personnel and Administration and worked with the Governor’s Office and General Assembly on state workforce issues.  In Jan. 2002 – Sept. 2005, Loren worked as a lobbyist for Floridian Partners on behalf of clients that included municipalities, businesses and trade associations with legislative, budget and regulatory interests ranging from insurance, public safety, telecommunications, IT, business regulation and tort reform.  Prior to that role, Loren worked as a legislative analyst in the Majority Office of the Florida House of Representatives.

Loren served as the Board Chair of the Colorado Civil Justice League (2014), the private sector Co-Chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council (2013 & 2014) and a Board member of the Colorado Association of Professional Lobbyists.

Loren was named as one of Colorado’s Most Influential Women: Up and Coming (Denver Post, 2012), and as a Top Business Newsmaker (Denver Business Journal Power Book Awards, 2013 and 2014).  Loren holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Florida State University.

Robert Golden is the president and CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber. Prior to accepting the Chamber president/CEO position, Golden served as president of Golden Solution LLC, a Denver-based association consulting firm.  He previously served the REALTORS® Association in executive leadership positions for 17 years in Colorado, Vermont and Florida.

One of Golden’s key strengths is the creation of effective public policy infrastructure and outreach. He is also a skilled strategist with experience in coalition building, financial stewardship, and public relations.  He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Realtor Certified Executive (RCE).

Kevin Hougen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aurora (Colorado) Chamber of Commerce. A native of Western, North Dakota, he is a graduate of the University of North Dakota where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance in 1979.

Following graduation in ‘79, Hougen went to work for Frontier Airlines in Denver as a customer service and sales representative and served in Wyoming and California, finally settling back in the Denver metro area in 1983.

In 1984, Hougen went to work for a United Van Lines Agency in Denver and was named vice president and general manager of the organization. He became co-owner of the agency in 1990. He also opened and operated a travel agency and international freight forwarding company. After selling his interest in the United Van Lines agency, he served as the vice president for sales for Atlantic North American Van Lines. He joined the Chamber in 1996 as executive vice president and moved to his current position in 1998.

An influential leader in local and state politics, Hougen has twice served on the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Executives’ Board. He currently serves on the board of the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI), the state Chamber. Kevin also sits on the board for Denver Mile High United Way. In Aurora he actively participates on the boards of Aurora Vistas, Arapahoe/Douglas County Work Force Development, the Aurora Education Foundation, Air Force Space Command Advisory and the Community College of Aurora Foundation and Advisory Board. He is also a past president of the Aurora Rotary Club and a Co-Commander at Buckley Air Force Base.

Under his leadership, the 105-year-old Aurora Chamber of Commerce, representing nearly 1400 businesses and over 190,000 employees in the eastern Metro area, has grown steadily. He has actively engaged the Chamber in all aspects of business, organizing the Eastern Metro Transportation Coalition to address the issues of infrastructure growth in the area.

Hougen and his wife Barbara, an administrative assistant in Aurora Public Schools, have three children: Tessa, 29; Matt, 26; and Sammy, 21. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys golf, bike riding and skiing as well.

Kittie is Managing Director at Newmark Knight Frank and is a Colorado native and has been in the Denver area for over 30 years. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of Corporate Services for Cassidy Turley Colorado.

Kittie Hook grew up in Fort Collins and went to Colorado State University (basketball scholarship) and worked at the First National Bank of Fort Collins for 5 years. She worked for First Interstate Banks in Metro Denver for 5 years, Greater Denver Corporation Economic Development 3 years and Jefferson County EDC 3 years.

Current Community Involvement: Executive Board for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Chair of Site Selection committee for MDEDC, MDEDC Board Liaison for Metro Denver Network, Board of Trustees for The Denver Botanic Gardens, Board Member of the Hundred Club of Denver, Board Member for National History Day in Colorado.

Past Community Involvement: Past Board Member for The Denver Sports Commission, Chair of the LOC for the Denver Women’s NCAA Final Four Tournament, Past President of Denver Metropolitan Commercial Board of Realtors (DMCAR), Past President of the Metro Denver Realtor Foundation, Past President Denver Property Database Corporation, Leadership Denver Class of 2000, Founding Chair for Rocky Mountain Real Estate Expo. Serve on many Special Task Force committees for the Metro Area Economic Development agencies, Cities, Counties in the Metro Denver area and the State of Colorado.

Memberships: Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (MDEDC), Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Denver Sports Commission, NAIOP, DMCAR, Downtown Denver Partnership, CoreNet, Jefferson Economic Council, Broomfield Economic Development Corporation, Castle Rock EDC, Leadership Denver Alumni Association, ICSC.

Special Awards: Special Recognition for Volunteerism for Metro Denver EDC 2012, DMCAR Realtor of the Year in 1998, Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce-Chamber Champion 2003 & 2004, Power Broker for Denver Business Journal 2009-2010, Colorado Business Magazine top 25 Salesperson-2010 & 2011.

With over 38 years of professional experience in the oil and gas business, Michelle Smith has been with The Quiat Companies since 1991 focusing on acquisitions, divestitures, and coordinating successful drilling joint ventures. As Vice President of Land, she is instrumental in managing the nationwide assets of our  oil and gas limited liability companies.

Ms. Smith’s professional experience includes Davis Oil Company (Denver, Colorado) and Anderman Oil Company (also in Denver) as well as acting as an Independent Land Negotiator. She is a Past President of the National Association of Royalties Owners (NARO) Colorado Chapter, a board member of Vital for Colorado, a member of both the American Association of Petroleum Landman, (AAPL) and the Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen (DAPL), and a graduate of Cypress College (California) with a AS degree. Ms. Smith has been selected to the 2015 class of “Top Women in Energy” by the Denver Business Journal. She was also nominated for a 2015 COGA Summit Award. She also enjoys her newest role as a policy advisor on energy for the Heartland Institute.

As an organic based farmer and rancher in her own right, Ms. Smith understands the critical connection between responsible oil and gas development and land stewardship. She is passionate about educating  the public with the facts regarding oil and gas development, fostering positive relationships between the mineral owner and the producer, and is a strong advocate for private property rights. She loves to speak on all these issues through public speaking opportunities.

Dana M. Svendsen is a Counsel Member in Sherman & Howard’s Denver office where she practices in the Safety and Health OSHA/MSHA and Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Ms. Svendsen represents industry in matters relating to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and other state and federal health statutes in the areas of compliance, policy, legislative and regulatory matters, civil and criminal enforcement issues, accident investigations and special investigations on both state and federal levels.  She regularly appears before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judges.

Ms. Svendsen also handles litigation matters from pretrial discovery to post trial appeals.  She has participated in numerous serious and fatal accident investigations through conclusion of the investigation and subsequent litigation.

Ms. Svendsen has been admitted to the Colorado Bar and is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association.  She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska.

Jeff served on the Board of Directors and as Board President for Highlands Ranch Community Association for 10 years. He helped create the Highlands Ranch Chamber of Commerce and has served on the Board for the Lone Tree and Castle Pines Chambers. He currently Chairs the Business Leaders for Responsible Government group and the Legislative Action Committee for the South Metro Denver Chamber, and is the chamber’s Vice Chair for Public Policy. He also serves on the Littleton Firefighters Board and is very active in his community as well as on the political front. Jeff Wasden is an owner of PROformance Apparel in Littleton, Colorado. PROformance has been providing custom uniforms, professional signs, and banners, and unique specialty items for high schools, police and fire departments, and youth sports for many years. Jeff spent 15 years in the education arena before purchasing PROformance with his wife and sister-in-law.

Chad Vorthmann was born and raised on a fourth family farm in southwest Iowa.  He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, studying Journalism and competing on the livestock judging team.

In 2013, Chad was appointed executive vice president for Colorado Farm Bureau, the state’s largest agricultural organization. He oversees the association’s efforts in public policy, membership services, communications and the many program areas that Farm Bureau offers. In addition to Colorado Farm Bureau, he has worked for the North American Limousin Foundation, Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Chad was selected as a 2011 McCloy Fellow through the American Council on Germany, is on the Colorado FFA Foundation board and is active in Christ Lutheran Church. He was recognized nationally in 2013 as one of the 40 leaders in agriculture under 40 years of age by Vance publishing. Chad enjoys working out and big game hunting on the family’s cattle ranch in southwest Colorado. He and his wife Garin have two daughters.

Lynn Granger is the Director of Operations for Colorado Concern.

Her career began as a Soldier in the United States Army. She went on to serve as a Civilian for the Department of the Army in South Korea and Germany. Her service includes Strategic Communications Advisor to the Commander of United States Army Europe, a 3-star billet, based in Wiesbaden, Germany. In that position she conducted research and strategic analysis, authored papers, drafted executive correspondence and developed engagement synchronization plans for the Commanding General. Initiatives tied directly to transforming military communities, shaping strategic and operational environments, and informing U.S., NATO, and regional leaders. Of note, Lynn worked extensively on “Operation Atlantic Resolve”, a reassurance mission for our NATO partners after Russia annexed Crimea. She also proactively coordinated media opportunities with The Rachel Maddow Show, BBC and The Wall Street Journal resulting in positive coverage of our troops in Europe.

Before joining Colorado Concern, Lynn was the Communications Director for the Colorado Department of Revenue. There she served as the senior point of contact and subject matter expert for all agency (both internal and external) outreach, media contacts, website content and management; and public relations efforts to articulate and promote the Department of Revenue’s mission and policy priorities including: Taxation, Division of Motor Vehicles, Colorado State Lottery, and Enforcement of the Auto, Gaming, Liquor, Marijuana and Racing industries.

Lynn has fulfilled professional training with Georgetown University’s Strategic Communications and Social Media Seminar, the Department of Defense’s Defense Information School, and the U.S. Army’s Management Staff College to learn the principles of communication, leadership, and strategic thinking.