jeffco women to watch

Jeffco Business Women Share Insight and Offer AdviceBy Andrea W. DoraySpecial Contributor to CCM

If preferred, we could use clichés to describe these fi ve women: They have their fi ngers on the pulse of business in their communities; they have their ears to the ground. Or we could sim-ply say that Fran Coet, Loretta DiTirro, Kathy Hodgson, M.L. Richardson, and Dot Wright are women who know Jeffco business.

We recently talked with Coet, DiTirro, Hodgson, Richardson, and Wright about their perspectives on the business cli-mate of Jefferson County and what they see for the future, particularly for women in business.

Kathy Hodgson, who has served as Lakewood City Manager for more than three years, spoke for the group when she said, “I feel like there’s hope.”

Hodgson said, “There’s real optimism in Lakewood, with the rail line coming in mid-2013. Also, Lakewood citizens are working with government to form grassroots partnerships such as the new arts district near the rail stop at Lamar St. and Colfax Ave.”

Fran Coet of Coet & Coet, P.C. is a Certifi ed Public Account licensed by the state of Colorado. Coet said Jefferson County is “in a great place. This is a vital area with a good business environment.”

Dot Wright, President of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “Busi-nesses are more confi dent,” said Wright. “Groups of people, such as those in our Olde Town businesses, are joining to-gether to reach a greater market.”

M.L. Richardson is Director of Strat-egy and Sustainable Development with APC (Asphalt Paving Company), and Keller Farm Property, LLC. Richardson believes that the “boom” days are prob-ably over, but said that’s not all bad. “Businesses are getting rid of the excess and not over-extending themselves,” she said.

Loretta DiTirro, a Realtor® and real estate broker with Re/MAX Professionals serving Denver and West Jeffco com-munities, said that, although Jefferson county had “…suffered like the rest of the nation,” our strong communities helped keep the impact to a minimum. People want to live here for our quality of life,” said DiTirro.

Getting started…When asked how they got started in

their business lives, each woman had a unique story to tell: Kathy Hodgson started as a lifeguard for a swimming pool in Lakewood 30 years ago while still in college, before moving through the ranks of coordinator, manager, and director before taking on the role of City Manager.

Fran Coet, who laughed when she described her position as “having a lot of initials” (she is a CPA, CFF, CVA, and CFP), has worked in the accounting fi eld for more than 40 years and has owned her own CPA business with her husband for more than 26 years. Coet began her work life as a bookkeeper in business with her mother, helping to prepare tax returns.

Loretta DiTirro said she cut her teeth in corporate America, working for orga-nizations such as Citicorp and American Express, before becoming a real estate agent 11 years ago. Dot Wright was a business owner in Arvada who joined the Chamber for its business benefi ts. Wright served on the organization’s Board of Directors before being selected as its president more than four years ago.

M.L. Richardson said she was for-tunate to “get a great education” that helped her compete early on in the traditionally male-dominated mining industry. While advising attorneys in mining law for the federal government, Richardson decided to attend law school herself. After working with the largest molybdenum mine in the world, located here in Colorado near Leadville, she became an attorney for the Jeffco open space program before joining APC.

In fact, Richardson said one her greatest achievements was negotiating the part of the Clear Creek trail west of Youngfi eld St. to Golden. Dot Wright said that signifi cant events in her own career were two-fold, including building a network of great people to work with, as well as turning around a then-fl ounder-ing business into a success.

Fran Coet feels that sitting for her CPA license at age 40 was one of her greatest accomplishments. “My credentials as a CPA are powerful and precious to me,” she said. I was afraid of being ‘stuck’ be-cause I couldn’t go further in my indus-try without this license.”

Hodgson felt that attaining her mas-ter’s degree and becoming the fi rst fe-

male director in Lakewood’s Community Resources Department were signifi cant for her, and DiTirro described her own career path as “very different. My bosses were primarily women, which was un-usual in big business at that time. These strong, brilliant women took me under their wings and wanted me to grow.”

Mentoring others…Now, DiTirro returns the favor, en-

couraging women to work together in “quasi-mastermind” groups. However, DiTirro clarifi ed that, although women are “really great at networking,” this doesn’t mean women in businesses should consult only with other women. Her advice to women starting out in business or returning to the workforce? “Get a good education and acclimate yourself,” said DiTirro. “Learn the language and the technology of your industry.”

Dot Wright agreed, and harkens back to her own most successful moments in her advice to women in the workplace, saying, “Women need to continue to work hard, just like everyone else. Build networks, work with strategic partners, and keep up to date on what’s going on in your fi eld.”

Fran Coet said, “Women are so smart and capable; we have great gifts for engaging employees and bring fresh per-spectives to solve problems. My advice to women in the workforce is to use your talents—you’ve got them.”

M.L. Richardson advises women to “engage the people who know the most. Give people an opportunity to provide input and you’ll often also get their sup-port. You don’t have to do it all yourself.”

Kathy Hodgson urges women in busi-ness to “have the courage to be authen-tic. Recognize your strengths as well as your fear spots and know how you relate in the world.” Hodgson added, “That life/work balance? It doesn’t exist. Do what makes you happy at home and fi nd your satisfaction there. Then bring that person to work.”

Looking back…It’s not that these strong, success-

ful women haven’t stumbled, though. As each refl ected on “hiccups” in their careers, Fran Coet remembered relying too much on a single client who was a signifi cant part of their business, rather than nurturing a more diverse client

mix. “Inevitably, something will change,” said Coet.

Dot Wright said she learned the hard way that—despite our best efforts—our communication doesn’t always come across as we intended. “I used to assume that people just knew,” said Dot. “Now I’m especially careful to say exactly what I mean.”

Kathy Hodgson described her chal-lenge as becoming true to herself. “I didn’t need to imitate others,” said Hodgson, “and take on others’ character-istics. We all bring different skills to the workplace.

Loretta DiTirro said she learned valu-able lessons about giving too much of herself. “It’s okay not to be on top all the time,” she said. “You don’t have to be the best of the best. You’re really up against no one but yourself.” And M.L. Richard-son remembered a time when she was in the midst of a merger and her position was unstable. “I resolved to just do the best job I could,” she said. It worked.

Looking to the future…Fran Coet is confi dent that Jefferson

County will continue to see growth. “People are moving from both the East and West Coasts,” said Coet. “We have an attractive place to live and to do business.” Coet cited recent reports that named Colorado as the second best educated state in the U.S., and as the healthiest.

Kathy Hodgson is anticipating even more public/private partnerships that will continue to make Jefferson County a great place to live and work, and Dot Wright says that supporting local busi-nesses brings people together for even greater success.

M. L. Richardson believes that Jeffco businesses are seeing a whole new day. “We’re in the new normal,” said Rich-ardson. “We’re learning how to do more with less. We’re doing things better.”

Loretta DiTirro also sees improve-ment in the future. “Five years ago, Colo-rado was one of the fi rst states to be hit by the real estate crisis,” she said. “But strong leadership in our communities is a catalyst for growth. People live here for our health and stability. And it’s only going to get better.”

Andrea Doray is a full-time writer in Ar-vada on special assignment. Contact her at [email protected].

2012 Jeffco Women 2 Watch is a special supplement of Colorado Community Media, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Ste. 120, Golden, CO 80403, (720) 409-4764, www.ourcoloradonews.com. Colorado Community Media is the publisher of the following Jefferson County publications: Arvada Press, Golden Transcript, Lakewood Sentinel, North Jeffco Westsider, and the Wheat Ridge Transcript.

InsideThis fi rst annual Jeffco Women 2 Watch has been created during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Women’s Small Business Month to celebrate the inspirational women who own and infl uence successful businesses and non-profi ts in our communities. We thank the West Chamber Serving Jefferson County for allowing us to also recognize the honorees of their annual Celebrate Women Event. Please join us in supporting these businesses and organizations.

Jeffco

October 25, 2012

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Despite di� culties, military mom soldiers on She missed her daughter’s fi rst day

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Being a military mom takes the words “working mom” to a whole different lev-el. Sgt. 1st Class Sandy Dudley, 45, who started in the Army Reserve as a 17-year-old single mother, has been there.

“It’s not something you ever get used to,” she said about the extended ab-sences from her children. “I’ve missed so much of my kids’ lives. … But it was just my job.”

About 214,000 women call the mili-tary their job — whether in the Army, Air Force, Navy or other services. Many are mothers, some raising children on their own. Balancing roles has always been a woman’s dilemma: How to be the best you can be at work and at home.

For the most part, we decide that equilibrium ourselves, and even then it isn’t easy. But for women serving their country, that decision is often made for them and in ways that can wrench a mother’s heart.

Dudley’s absences from home, over the years, ranged from two weeks to nine months to two years. They were all diffi cult. But the roughest was the year in Iraq.

“The hardest thing I’ve ever done is leaving my kids to go into such an un-known.” Making it even more challeng-ing was her husband’s deployment to

Iraq at the same time. “You can’t expect them to understand that, no matter how old they are, and it was the two of us.”

An Army medic, she crossed from Ku-wait into Iraq in a Humvee in April 2003. Heat soared to 145 degrees. By May, she was in Baghdad. And although she and the children wrote each other letters, she was unable to call home for two months.

She shared a large room with the other nine members of her unit, eight of whom were men. Near the wall by her bed, she tacked up family photos and pictures drawn by her daughter.

“It was hard not to be afraid. You think about home a lot. It’s those kinds of thoughts that keep you going, no matter what kind of day you’re going to face.”

At home, Brittney — 11 that danger-ous year — watched the TV news and understood soldiers were dying. “Know-ing my mom might not come home … waiting to know if I was going to get a phone call or not — it was hard.”

But the key to making this particular

working-mom’s life work was a solid support system. Dudley’s family, espe-cially her brother, has always been ready to help and take in the kids, sometimes on a moment’s notice.

The kids knew it was going to be OK, the backup was always there, Dudley said. “They weren’t worried who was go-ing to take care them. … If I had lost any of my support, it would have changed everything.”

Col. Theresa Z. Blumberg, who retired from the Air Force in 2010 after 30 years, agrees.

Children know their mom will be in a situation where she might be killed or injured, Blumberg said. “That’s what makes a difference from other moms who travel in their jobs. … You have to have a very strong family support system.”

Blumberg was fortunate to have her husband at home — the best of support networks — to parent and care for the kids during her four-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2006. But her daughter, now 16, still tells her, “Mom, don’t do that again.”

Despite the challenges, Dudley made her situation work in three ways:

She focused on the positives. “You’re going to have this great birthday party before I go … and then we’re going to go to Water World when I get back.”

She meticulously planned. “You always have a plan and then have a backup plan for the backup plan.”

And she always kept her promises. Once, when bad weather canceled an outdoor excursion in Denver, she stayed up until 6 in the morning researching an alternative. “I could not let them down.”

Dudley, now administrative assistant to the Colorado National Guard state commander, still loves the job that has given her unimagined experiences. She walked the River Jordan while training medics in that country. She worked with troops in Slovenia. She provided basic medical care to the impoverished in Honduras and Peru. She has done all this within a strong military community.

If you ask daughter Brittney, the mom part worked out just fi ne, too.

The separations brought them closer, she said, and created a deep gratitude for family. But, mostly, she learned what being a good mother means.

“It makes me want to be just like my mom some day,” Brittney said. “She never quit or never stopped trying to provide for me and my brother. One day, I want to be like that for my kids. I know I can do it, knowing that my mom could do it.”

Ann Macari Healey is an award-winning journalist who has edited and published weekly newspapers with her husband, Colorado Community Media pub-lisher Jerry Healey. She can be reached at [email protected] or 303-566-4110.

2 2012 Je� co Women 2 Watch October 25, 2012

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2012 Je� co Women 2 Watch 3October 25, 2012

Each year, The West Chamber holds an event to honor outstanding women of Jefferson County. Our honorees are nominated by others in the community and selected based on their professional, personal, and community leadership. Over the last 10 years, the West Cham-ber has had the pleasure of honoring 99 women for their contributions to Jeffer-son County.

Evaluation CriteriaNominees are selected based upon:• Level of involvement in the Jefferson

County community• The impact of service on individuals

and the community• Inspiration to others• Professional accomplishments

These women have a drive that far exceeds the status quo. They inspire oth-ers, and are dedicated to the things in life that matter most to each of them. We are proud to recognize this year’s honorees. Each of these women makes a difference in the lives of others each day. They are part of the reason Jefferson County is a great place to live and work.

As part of the executive management team at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Jeanne Oliver has many responsibilities. She handles corporate communications, market-ing and fund development and is the Center’s Public Information Offi cer and a member of its Political Action Network. Jeanne has be-come known as an expert in responding to mental health needs after community crisis. She has been instrumental in helping com-munities following the Columbine shootings,

the recent wildfi res and the Aurora movie theater tragedy. She has presented nation-ally on crisis communication. Because of her leadership, the Jefferson Center has seen sub-stantial growth in donations in recent years. This non-profi t has been better able to serve the mentally ill in our community during these hard economic times with expanded services because of her concerted efforts to secure private donations and grants.

Honoring outstanding women in Je� erson County2012 Honorees

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 11th Annual Celebrate Womenin Je� erson County Breakfast

WHERE: Denver Marriott West1717 Denver West Parkway, Golden

WHEN: November 9, 20127:30 – 9:30 a.m.

INFORMATION: Tickets $40 per person, register at www.westchamber.org

Jeanne OliverJe� erson Center for Mental Health

For fi fty plus years, Betty has been a fi erce champion for any one of us who would fi nd ourselves between the rock and the preverbal hard place. Regardless of the circumstance, Betty and the organization she founded 30 years ago, Helping Hearts and Hands, have been a port in the storm for many facing evic-tion, utility shutoff, needing help with a life saving prescription, or a car repair to get to work. Thanks to Betty, thousands have been

given a second chance. Upon her retirement

as a caseworker, she began to work full time

with Helping Hearts and Hands, for no pay.

Her kitchen table became her offi ce and the

place where she would fi eld hundreds of re-

ferrals from both Denver and Jefferson Coun-

ties. In 2011, at the age of 80, she decided to

retire for the second time. Now, she volun-

teers and advocates on behalf of seniors.

Betty ProctorHelping Hearts and Hands/Betty Proctor Fund (a program of the Action Center)

Senator Cheri Jahn is a single mother and small business owner from Wheat Ridge. She has proudly been the owner and operator of Colorado Housekeeping Services, LLC for over 30 years and has grown the business into a cornerstone of the community. She received her Paralegal degree from the Community College of Denver while running her business and raising her three children. She used her success in the business world to launch her career in the state legislature. Her proudest

recent accomplishment was passing a bill to save businesses hundreds if not thousands of dollars on their Unemployment Insurance Premiums.

Cheri JahnColorado Housekeeping Services, LLC/General Assembly-State of Colorado

Honorees continues on Page 5

GERARD HEALEYMIKKEL KELLYBARB STOLTE

JANICE HOLMESMARK HILL

MICHELLE JOHNSTONMICHELLE PATRICK

SCOTT ANDREWS

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For more than 40 years, Betty Proctor has dedicated her life to helping the most vulnerable people in our

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Dr. Lina Kulkarni believes fi ercely in her commitment to Jefferson County and our families. She grew up in Jefferson County schools, attending grade school in Arvada and high school at D’Evelyn High School. Giving back to the community is very important to her. Having competed in gymnastics in Jefferson county and earning level 10 (Junior Olympic) compe-tition level as a youth, she coaches gym-nastics today at Bear Creek High School and also serves on the Education Founda-tion Board of Directors at D’Evelyn High School.

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Nancy Crego was an early pioneer in the world of woman-owned businesses in Colorado. Founder and owner of Ad-West Consulting, Inc., her fi rm has built its foundation from living and working in Jefferson County and serving regional and national accounts.

“The biggest change I’ve seen in the area of woman entrepreneurs is the on-going support and encouragement from other women business owners,” explains Crego. “There really weren’t that many woman-owned businesses when I started my business in the 80s…thankfully that’s changed.”

AdWest, established in 1986, specializ-es in niche publishing, community brand-ing and video/Web work through a series of strategies that maximize the most posi-tive aspects of a company. The AdWest vi-sion has always been to help companies develop new business and grow existing accounts, according to Crego.

“What is important about our vision is that everyone who works on our team is concerned about the client’s needs now, and tomorrow. We all work towards what is best for our clients, our community and our planet,” she says.

Crego is proud to be the publisher of the 2013 Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce 25th Anniversary magazine and directory. “Women entrepreneurs are brining innovative ideas to the corpo-rate world. And, in the corporate world, business women continue to be not only effi cient and productive, but trusted and caring,” says Crego.

Some of Crego’s publishing projects include re-launching Coloradobiz Maga-

zine and creating a magazine for General Growth Properties/Southwest Plaza. She also created and developed the award winning Wellness Living Magazine and re-launched the Best of Business Directory/Magazine for the West Chamber now in its 11th year. She has developed over 100 suc-cessful business initiatives over the years.

On the video front, AdWest has created videos for Jefferson Economic Council, Carma Colorado, Inc./Solterra, Belmar/Continuum Partners, The West Chamber, Jefferson County Public Library, Jefferson County Workforce Center, Lakewood City Commons , Jefferson County Commis-sioners and Propp Realty.

Before starting AdWest she was the marketing director for Scripps Howard Business Journal, now The Denver Busi-ness Journal.

Crego supports her community and presently serves on the Wheat Ridge Busi-ness Association Board and the Financial Planning Committee for Mount Vernon Country Club Metropolitan District. She is a past chair and member of The West Chamber Board of Directors. She is also a co-founder of The West Chamber’s Cel-ebrate Women Event with Amy Sherman and a founding member of the Rooney Valley Association. She recently complet-ed the Vail Leadership Institute program.

Crego lives in Mount Vernon Country Club with her husband George and they spend time exploring the Rocky Moun-tains and the world.

For more information about AdWest Consulting, Inc., contact Nancy at 303-526-5564 or [email protected] or Adwestinc.com

We invite you to meet the women leaders at FirstBank in Je� erson County

FirstBank started in Jefferson County almost 50

years ago. Today, 3 of our banks in Jefferson County

are led by women. Jodi Thomas, Market President in

Arvada has been with FirstBank almost 20 years, as has

Emily Robinson, our West Market President. Denise

Waddell, Market President in Wheat Ridge, has over

25 years with FirstBank. Together, these three women

oversee 11 branches, 150 employees, and deposits of

$2 billion. We owe our success to the core values we’ve

held since we were founded in 1963. Ever since, we’ve

maintained a strong commitment to convenience,

friendly and intelligent customer service, and loyalty

to our employees. FirstBank has grown through con-

sumer and commercial lending, innovative banking

products and services and a high regard for communi-

ty investment. If you are looking for a strong banking

relationship with a commitment to service, stop in any

our 11 branches that are led by Jodi, Emily, or Denise.

You can also get that level of service at over 125 branch

locations in Colorado, Arizona, and California. We’re

still a growing company, but after nearly 50 years, our

commitment to our customers and to our communi-

ties has not changed.

2012 Honorees

Lynn Johnson is the epitome of a collabo-rator. She works hard to ensure bipartisan-ship and that organizations can fi nd com-mon ground with which to discuss not only their differences, but opportunities to work together. In 2009, Lynn rallied the support of her local county Commissioners and Com-missioners from across the state, to look for ways for state agencies and local governments to be less adversarial and more collaborative. As a result, a new program called “REAL Colo-

rado” is starting to take hold. Lynn is work-ing on two new initiatives at Human Services. The Jeffco Prosperity Project, a partnership with Jeffco Public Schools, addresses the ef-fects of poverty and the AddONE Campaign, which is a grassroots effort designed to gener-ate jobs and boost the local economy.

Lynn JohnsonJe� erson County Department of Human Services

Continued from Page 3



If you enjoyed this section,please look for

Salue toBusinessComing February 2013

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In May 2009, Cheesecake Therapy opened in Olde Town Arvada with one major goal; to provide a pleasant atmo-sphere with homemade, lovingly prepared treats that comfort the souls, and quiet the minds of our dear friends and neighbors.

Some may defi ne our specialty as cheesecake, and yes, we do have a wide variety of smooth, creamy, rich but not too sweet, decadence for you to delight in, but we feel that our specialty is a little some-thing more. A roaring fi replace to warm the bones on a snowy winter’s day. A twin-kle lit patio to languish with friends under the bright stars of a summer’s night. The simple pleasure of putting worries aside to just relax, and enjoy!

All of our desserts are lovingly crafted.

You will fi nd no culinary degrees on the wall, nor prestigious internship claims. What you will fi nd is a case fi lled with more than just dessert. It is a case built of tradi-tion and love. Our childhoods were spent in the warm, sweetly aromatic, kitchens of our mothers and grandmothers. Each day, we call upon the techniques and fond memories of our matriarch teach-ers, and prepare every single creation with the same love and thoughtfulness as the women before.

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Booty Barre Class $10.00One time only

for the U.S. Department of the Interior (USDOI), representing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), where she rose through the ranks for 33 years until her retirement last year.

As a senior attorney for FWS, she took on ex-tremely controversial and signifi cant cases, passionately protecting wildlife, endangered spe-cies, and their habitats in Colorado and nation-ally. Locally, she chaired the effort to create the Lookout Mountain Water

District, was a founding member of Plan Jeffco in 1972, and was a leader in the initiative to create the Jefferson County Open Space Program. As a ne-gotiator/moderator, Mar-got facilitated a settle-ment on the acquisition and protection of North Table Mountain and was a founding member of Canyon Area Residents for the Environment (CARE), which works to protect the foothills and mountain backdrop of Jefferson County.

Margot ZallenRetired Attorney for the US Department of the Interior

2012 HonoreesContinued from Page 5

After completing her J.D. at D.U College of Law, she immediately moved into a cutting-edge legal position as an attorney

county. She quite possi-bly has the distinction of being the only elected of-fi cial in Jefferson County history to be elected to three separate county of-fi ces – county commis-sioner, treasurer, and, clerk and recorder. Faye is extensively involved in multiple community ini-tiatives. She is currently serving on the Urban Drainage and Flood Con-trol District Board, the Head Start Policy Council, the Rocky Flats Steward-ship Council, the Child and Youth Leadership

Commission, the E-911 Board, and the Noxious Weed Advisory Board. She is an alternate on the Boundary Control Com-mission, the Jefferson County Economic Devel-opment Corporation, the Criminal Justice Strategic Planning Committee and the C-470 Corridor Coali-tion.

Faye Griffi n was the driving force behind the Child and Youth Leader-ship Commission and pioneered the statute that brought the commission into being.

Faye Gri� nJe� erson County Commissioner

She was elected Jef-ferson County Commis-sioner in November 2008 and represents District 1 in the northern part of the

Commission, the E-911 Board, and the Noxious Weed Advisory Board. She is an alternate on the

mission, the Jefferson

opment Corporation, the Criminal Justice Strategic Planning Committee and

Faye Griffi n was the driving force behind the

Kathy HodgsonLakewood City Manager



Cindy FreedingPilates Movement for Life

Pilates Movement for Life is celebrat-

ing its 8th anniversary and relocating to

Olde Town Arvada at the end of October

2012. Using the Joseph Pilates Method,

our state-of-the-art studio offers physi-

cal conditioning/post-rehabilitative Pi-

lates through private sessions and classes.

Postural problems are corrected, muscle

balance is restored and mobility, fl ex-

ibility, and strength are increased allow-

ing your body to function better in daily

activities. We are excited to launch four

new programs: “The Booty Barre” a fast-

paced cardio workout using weights, balls,

therabands and the barre for the ultimate

workout; “The Orbit” a roll through full-

body workout using circular and linear

movements while continuously engag-

ing the abdominals; “Golf Fitness/Injury

Prevention” a series to improve your golf

swing and prevent injuries; and “The Pink

Ribbon Program” a Pilates-based recovery

program for breast cancer survivors. For

more information, contact Cindy Freed-

ing at 720-280-7697.

Hanne JespersenHosihanna

As a native Scandinavian (Dane) I

learned at a very young age to knit, sew

and embroider from my grandmothers.

I wanted to open a shop fi lled with the

unique and beautiful items that refl ect

the quaint villages of my homeland. In

my shop you will fi nd baby and children’s

clothing, as well as women’s clothing and

accessories, many of them handmade and

all with a very special attention to detail. In

addition to handmade items I carry cloth-

ing and toy lines from Denmark and Swe-

den with years of success behind them.

All of the companies I chose go hand in

hand with the spirit of my boutique. The

welcome I have received from the other

Arvada businesses owners and customers

has been wonderful. I know Olde Town

Arvada will be a wonderful home for my

new venture. Please stop by and say “hel-

lo” and feel free to give me ideas on other

products you would like me to carry.

We Celebrate Women!Dedicated to seeing well, looking good, and

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Congratulations to all Honorees of the 2012 Celebrate Women of Jefferson County!

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1116 Washington Avenue ❧ Downtown Golden303-279-8100 ❧ www.babydoesclothing.com

Nancy Taylor MasonBaby Doe’s Clothing, Artisan Jewelry & Fine Cra�

Nancy Taylor Mason, owner of Baby Doe’s Clothing in Golden acknowledges that while not part of the original business plan, creating Baby Doe’s has also created a unique community of women.

“Baby Doe’s is a gathering place for women in the community to enjoy one another’s company and exchange ideas.” Nancy says. “Women stop in just to say hi, to chat or share something about their lives.

Baby Doe’s Clothing opened in 1999 in downtown Golden and, in 2002, moved to an historic building at 1116 Washington Avenue. There you will fi nd a unique se-lection of fun and casual clothing, where good fi t, style and value defi ne what our customers look for to fi t their casual Colo-rado lifestyle.

At the center of Baby Doe’s community of women is a staff with a total of 60 years of combined experience with the store. Nancy and her staff are committed to the boutique, their customers, and the Golden community. Nancy is active in the Golden Chamber and Dowtown Merchant’s As-sociation. She has been the marketing chairperson for the Golden Fine Arts Fes-tival since 2004. This year Baby Doe’s was an offi cial sponsor of the Chihuly Glass Exhibit at Foothills Art Center. Nancy has been a spokesperson for Downtown Gold-en with the media and has been active for over 13 years in downtown economic growth. Baby Doe’s is proud to have been voted 1st place Boutique for Best of Jeffco in 2011 and 2012.

Asana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaAsana Studio YogaClothing ~ Yoga Accessories ~ Books

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At Asana Studios, we provide an oppor-tunity for you to step into a calming space and leave behind the worries of the world. We have created an atmosphere for physi-cal and spiritual healing without judg-ment. Each instructor brings something unique yet we all share the common goal of providing a nurturing environment for personal growth. The aim of practicing yoga is quite simple: to encourage you to integrate yoga, in all its forms, into your life! Feel more joy when you stop; breathe; and bring awareness to the moment you are in that will enhance your well-being and enrich every part of your daily experi-ence.

For those who have no experience we offer Very, Very Gentle classes and a Be-

ginner Series Workshop every month. If you would like to take your practice to a deeper level we offer 200 hr and 300 hr Yoga Teacher Training Programs.

We offer classes at 5701 Yukon Street in Arvada and 16399 South Golden Road in Golden . Both studios offer massage ther-apy and a variety of classes including, Pre and Post Natal and Toddler and Me. The Arvada studio also offers Skin Care and Acupuncture.

In 2002, the fi rst Asana Studio opened in Golden and our second studio in Olde Town, Arvada opened September 2010. Last year we were honored to receive the Outstanding Business of the Year Award from the Arvada Economic Development Association.



attracting new businesses

to the city. She stewards

major policy initiatives

through Lakewood City

Council, including the re-

writing of the City’s zon-

ing ordinance. Kathy’s

collaborative spirit was

demonstrated when she

spearheaded an effort to

keep a Lakewood Middle

School from closure. To-

day, that school is part

of the International bac-

calaureate program and

home to Jefferson Coun-

ty’s fi rst Boys and Girls

Club. Kathy is president

of the Metro City and

County Management As-

sociation – an organiza-

tion comprised of 40 to 50

metro area city managers,

sits on the Jeffco Schools

Capital Asset Advisory

Committee, and serves

on the Red Rocks Com-

munity College Presi-

dent’s Advisory Council

by appointment of Gov-

ernor John Hickenlooper.

Kathy HodgsonLakewood City Manager

During her tenure, the City’s fi nancial reserves have reached historic lev-els. She has been success-ful in leading her team in

has leveraged her busi-ness success to reinvest in the community by supporting many differ-ent causes that make Jef-ferson County a better place to live and work. Dr. O’Rourke was commend-ed by US Congressman Ed Perlmutter in 2009 for “her sense of global and local volunteerism and dedication to bettering the lives of those from all social classes and nations through health care.”

Dr. O’Rourke has vol-unteered on ten cata-ract surgery projects in Latin America with Vi-sion Health International

(VHI), whose mission it is to provide vision health care services and sight-restoring surgery—free of charge. She donates her time and talends to Stout Street Clinic which provides ophthalmic and optometric care, as well as general and primary medical care, to home-less families and indi-viduals—free of charge. She serves on the Red Rocks Community Col-lege Foundation Board of Directors and Northwest Eye and Essence Laser & Wellness have supported over 25 local charities.

Dr. Melinda O’RourkeNorthwest Eye Center, P.C. & Essence Laser and Wellness

Dr. Melinda O’Rourke is a community-minded business owner who has contributed to the lo-cal community through her business growth. She



works tirelessly to iden-tify the staffi ng needs of Jeffco businesses, and collaborates with Jeffco’s Career Center to match qualifi ed job-seekers with those businesses. Recently, Ms. Bohl was instrumental in the de-velopment and imple-mentation of AddONE, an initiative to gener-ate local jobs. Through her visionary leadership she was able to bring to-gether elected offi cials,

economic development professionals, business leaders and specialists, and process engineers to create the AddONE pro-grams. She sits on the Ad-visory Council of the Jef-ferson County Business Resource Center, the Jef-ferson County Advanced Manufacturing Council, and serves on various tac-tical teams related to the Governor’s Blueprint and targeted industries in the State of Colorado.

Priscilla BohlJe� erson County Workforce Center

Priscilla Bohl has a passion for business and economic development,

led to signifi cant growth in the chamber’s mem-bership, during a time when most chambers have held steady or even worse, seen a decline. Dot created the Jefferson County Business Edu-cation Alliance (JCBEA) in 2011, with the goal of developing a stronger trained workforce for the business community by partnering business own-ers and students for edu-cation, internships and job shadowing opportu-nities. Her vision led to collaboration with the Jefferson County Depart-

ment of Human Services, who funded a full-time position to expand the outreach of this program county-wide. Dot is in-volved with many com-munity organizations such as the Arvada Colts Board of Directors, Ar-vada Economic Develop-ment Association, Arvada Jefferson Kiwanis Club, Arvada – Wheat Ridge Ambassadors for Youth, Congressman Perlmut-ter’s Small Business Advi-sory Committee member, and Historic Olde Town Arvada Board of Direc-tors.

Dot WrightArvada Chamber of Commerce

Dot has been the Presi-dent and CEO of the Ar-vada Chamber of Com-merce since 2008. Her dedication to the Arvada business community has

in business consulting with ActionCOACH has allowed her to help cli-ents grow their business, create new jobs, and see tremendous results. She also owns and operates Joni Inman Consulting which focuses on legisla-tive lobbying, strategic and business planning, small business support with government regula-tions and public relations strategy. Prior to becom-

ing a consultant, Joni was the Deputy City Manager for Lakewood, she pio-neered the City’s com-munications and sustain-ability programs, oversaw Economic Development and served as the City’s legislative lobbyist. She was a behind-the-scenes force in the development of Colorado Mills, Bel-mar, and the St. Anthony Hospital Campus in Lake-wood.

Joni InmanJoni Inman Consulting, LLC & ActionCOACH Business Coaching

Joni has been a leader in the Denver area for de-cades. Her current role

mission is to recruit, train

and manage community

volunteers to advocate as

offi cers of the Court for

the best interests of child

abuse and neglect vic-

tims. Leah has increased

the organization’s rev-

enue by110%, increased

staff by 60%, enabling

the program serve more

children. Leah has cre-

ated numerous partner-

ships with the Courts

and Human Services to

better utilize CASA vol-

unteers, and serve youth

in need. Leah serves on

numerous committees

and boards including Re-

wired, Inc., Leadership

Jefferson County Alumni

Association, Jefferson

County Good News Co-

alition, Jefferson County

Best Practice Court Team,

and the Emancipation

Court Steering Commit-

tee. Leah was honored as

Staff Person of the Year in

2010 by the State Associa-

tion of CASA programs,

Colorado CASA.

Leah VarnellCourt Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Je� erson &Gilpin Counties

Leah Varnell was in-strumental in the creation of Court Appointed Spe-cial Advocates of Jefferson & Gilpin Counties (CASA Jeffco/Gilpin) in 2000. Its


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Kathy Hodgson2 0 1 2 C e l e b r a t e W o m e n o f J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y H o n o r e e

Through her work as Lakewood’s first female city manager, her commitment to the community and her personal and professional accomplishments, Kathy Hodgson is an inspiration to all who know her.

The City of Lakewood Congratulates

480 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 | www.Lakewood.org

Connecting YOU to the Jefferson County community.

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