Mayor Names New City Attorney
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Denver District Court Judge Lawrence Manzanares to the position of City Attorney. Manzanares will assume his new post on Jan. 9, which is judicial term day, the day when judicial courtroom rotations take place. Manzanares brings a quarter-century of legal experience to his new role as City Attorney, including 10 years in corporate law and commercial litigation and 14 years on the judicial bench. A native Coloradan and alumnus of Littleton’s Arapahoe High School, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and received his law degree from Harvard University.

Mayor Appoints Deputy Chief Of Staff And Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Amy Mueller to the position of deputy chief of staff and the appointment of LaCharles Keesee II as deputy chief operating officer, both beginning on Jan. 2. Mueller has served as deputy manager of the Denver Department of Public Works since August 2004. In her new role, Mueller will implement the City’s broad agenda, supporting the functions of the Mayor’s Office, ensuring that long-term goals are accomplished and citywide budget goals are met, and serving as the administration’s labor liaison. Keesee is currently the debt administrator for the Denver Department of Revenue’s Treasury Division, where he has worked since April 2006. In his new role, Keesee will assist Chief Operating Officer Chris Henderson in transitioning the City’s financial structures and processes to the Chief Financial Officer model approved by voters in November.

Local Advisors Honored for Furthering Philanthropy
The Denver Foundation honored four professional advisors with its Philanthropic Leadership Award during a December VIP reception at American National Bank.
Congratulations go out to the 2006 award recipients: Laura Dinan and Arthur Hundhausen, attorneys at Holland & Hart; David Thomas, attorney at Sherman & Howard; and Steven Williams, trust specialist with Merrill Lynch. Winners were selected based on their ability to create a win-win situation: helping clients meet their legal and financial objectives while giving back to the Metro Denver community.
For more information, visit www.denverfoundation.org.

Lighter Side of Christmas Award Winners
The 2006 Lighter Side of Christmas Parade organizers John and Tracie Bennitt are pleased to announce the winners of this year's Woodland Park Christmas parade awards. The theme this year was "The Blizzard of OZ." The Grand Marshall award goes to the Girl Scouts Wagon Wheel Council. The Best Use of Theme award goes to the Mountain Community 4H Club. The Best Use of Lights award goes to Park State Bank & Trust. The Ingenuity award goes to the Pack 20 Cub Scouts. The Unique award goes to the Woodland Park High School Student Council. An Honorable Mention goes to Elizabeth Sumeril and AVON.
For more information, call Tracie Bennitt at 719-686-1820 x112.

Hosokawa And Peña To Receive ADL Civil Rights Award
William "Bill" K. Hosokawa and Federico F. Peña will receive the Anti-Defamation League's 2007 Civil Rights Awards. They will be recognized for their leadership and achievements in the areas of civil and human rights at a luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 11:45 am at the Adams Mark Hotel, 1550 Court Place in Denver. ADL's Mountain States Regional office's Civil Rights Committee, co-chaired by ADL Board Members Scott L. Levin and Nancy A. Levine, selected this year's recipients. Hosokawa is a veteran Colorado journalist who has written extensively about the experience of the Japanese Americans in the 20th century fighting against discrimination and bigotry. Peña was mayor of Denver from 1983 to 1991. He went on to serve as both United States Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Energy. Peña has consistently worked to build a society that respects diversity and rejects prejudice and divisiveness, most recently in the debate over immigration reform.
For reservations to ADL's Civil Rights Award luncheon or for more information, call Judy at 303-830-7177 x214 or visit www.adl.org.

Davis Joins Aurora 8 As News Director
Aurora 8 (KACT-TV Comcast Channel 8) has hired former FOX31 News anchor Pamela Davis as the station's news director. Davis will produce, direct and co-anchor Aurora News Weekly, the city's award winning news program. She'll also work on special projects and represent the station at events in the community. A longtime television reporter and broadcast veteran, Davis arrived in Denver in 2003 to help the local FOX affiliate launch its first foray in the local morning news fray, Good Day Colorado. She earned a Best Anchor nomination from the Colorado Association of Black Journalists.
Aurora News Weekly airs Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and repeats at different times throughout the week.
For a complete listings schedule or for more information, call 303-739-6588 or visit www.auroragov.org.

Latina Dealership Owner Breaks The Mold
A self-made woman and daughter of Cuban immigrants, Ivette Dominguez, 39, is owner and president of Alpine Buick Pontiac GMC. As an Hispanic female business owner, Dominguez is in a class by herself. One of a select few females to own and operate a successful car dealership, Dominguez uses her experience to break down stereotypes within a male-dominated industry. Dominguez first purchased the dealership in 2005, and increased revenues nearly 40 percent in the first year of operation. Using her own experience, Dominguez caters her service and sales department to the ever-growing female buying population, implementing sales techniques and inviting female salespeople, technicians and service professionals to join her winning team. Bilingual herself, Dominguez also has added a number of Spanish-speaking professionals to the Alpine staff, a move that has brought national attention to her dealership.

CCO Appoints New Artistic Consultant
Central City Opera’s (CCO’s) General/Artistic Director Pelham “Pat” G. Pearce is pleased to announce that CCO has appointed Paul Curran as the company’s Artistic Consultant. In the new position created for him, Curran will assist with scouting talent, specifically in Europe, and will aid Mr. Pearce in regards to planning repertoire for future festivals. An internationally-renowned stage director, Curran will also direct upcoming opera productions for Central City Opera, beginning in 2008. Celebrating its 75th year in 2007, the Central City Opera House Association continues to pursue its four-part mission to present artistically excellent professional opera; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community service programs; and to preserve and maintain the Opera House and 30 other Victorian-era properties.
For more information, call 303-292-6700 or visit www.centralcityopera.org.

Hispanic Annual Salute Receives National Service Award
The Boy Scouts of America bestowed the National ¡Scouting...Vale La Pena! Service Award to the Hispanic Annual Salute. The Salute won this award based on promoting and encouraging volunteerism, post-secondary education, and unity among Colorado’s Hispanics, which aligns with the Boy Scouts of America’s core values. The ¡Scouting...Vale La Pena! Service Award has three overall purposes, including recognizing Hispanic contributions, creating awareness of Scouting programs, and raising revenue necessary to support Scouting initiatives. This year’s other honorees include: the Honorable Federico F. Peña; Polly B. Baca, President and CEO of the LARASA; and Michael J. Shaw, President of Shaw Automobiles.
For more information about the Hispanic Annual Salute, call 303-699-0715 or visit www.hispanicannualsalute.org.

Excecutive Officers Elected at Howard Dental Center
Howard Dental Center has elected Dr. Chris Ott to be President of the Board of Directors at Howard Dental Center for HIV/AIDS Oral Health. Additionally, Dr. Ron Van Wechel and John Miller were elected Vice-Presidents; Joe Mauro, Treasurer; and Dr. Dan Wherley, Secretary. John Serfling has also been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the organization that provides comprehensive oral health care to men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS. 

Artists Selected For Justice Center Public Art Commissions
The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Program is pleased to announce the selection of two artists, Dennis Oppenheim and Martin Donlin, to receive the first commissions for Phase I of the Justice Center public art project. Oppenheim has been recommended as the artist to provide art that will unite the various buildings of the Campus, including landscape elements and monumental sculpture in the Justice Center plaza. Donlin (East Sussex, England) has been recommended for a commission to provide glass artwork for the Post Office building canopy.  He will begin a collaborative process with the architects immediately for this building, which already is under construction.
For more information, call 720-865-4313 or visit www.denvergov.org/publicart.

American Humane Society Announces New Board Members
The American Humane Association announced that David Gies of Denver and Pat Devin of Austin, TX, have been elected chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the national nonprofit organization’s board of directors. Dan Whittemore of Denver was elected to a second term as treasurer. Gies is the executive director of the Animal Assistance Foundation, based in Denver. Devin is a health and human services consultant in Austin. Both have served on American Humane’s board of directors during the past three years and bring a wealth of experience in protecting and serving the interests of animals and children. Whittemore, who has served as treasurer for the past three years, began serving a second four-year term  which runs through September 2010.
For more information, visit www.americanhumane.org/board.         
 
Yesterday’s Heroes Honored Today
The Denver Police Department honors a man and woman for their actions in helping save the lives of others and for assisting authorities in capturing three extremely desperate and dangerous criminals more than 30 years ago. On March 11, 1973, three armed men entered a grocery store just before 10:30 a.m. Betty J. Bradley, the head cashier at the time, telephoned police to report the robbery.  Denver Police Officer Robert Simmons received the call from the dispatcher and was the first officer to arrive at the scene. When Officer Simmons exited his vehicle, Leslie David Van Cleave directed the officers attention to a car parked in front of the store, in which the store manager and assistant manager were being held at gunpoint by the suspects. Van Cleave came to the rescue of a Girl Scout selling cookies, who had not made it inside the store when the suspects opened fire. Bradley and Van Cleave were honored during a press conference Dec. 14 at the Safeway Grocery Store at 6th Avenue and Corona.

Five Coloradoans Honored By USTA Intermountain
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Intermountain Section would like to congratulate and thank this year’s award honorees for all their hard work and support. This year’s Organization of the Year Award goes to South Suburban Parks & Recreation in Centennial. The Media Excellence Award was awarded to the Rocky Mountain News. Stephen Jacobs of Colorado Springs received the Nikos Ridle Award. Andy and Julie Cleary of Denver won the Barbara Clark Multicultural Community Service Award. The Developmental Coach of the Year Award went to Carey Brading of Littleton. The 2006 Honorees were recognized at the USTA Intermountain Annual Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Dec. 2 in Denver.
For more information, visit www.usta.com.

Ritter Announces Two Senior Staff Appointments
Governor-elect Bill Ritter announced the appointments of two additional members of his senior staff: Stephanie Villafuerte as deputy chief of staff for community outreach and administration, and Kenneth C. Weil as deputy chief of staff for policy and initiatives. Villafuerte will ensure that all communities across Colorado have access to the governor’s office through formal channels, such as boards and commissions, or less formal means, such as communities of interest. She will also oversee some internal management aspects of the governor’s office. Weil will work with the governor to develop a comprehensive policy agenda and carry out various policy initiatives. He will work closely with the legislature, state agencies, citizen groups and other organizations to help fulfill the Colorado Promise for all Coloradans. 

New Nonprofits Join Community Shares
Community Shares of Colorado, a nonprofit cooperative that provides operating funds and raises awareness for more than 122 local charities, announced that it approved eight new nonprofits as members for 2007. The new agencies are: Colorado Symphony Orchestra; Art Students League of Denver; The Delores Project; Denver Children’s Home; The Carriage House; Denver SCORES; Pikes Peak Crime Stoppers; and Judi’s House. Community Shares of Colorado is a non-profit that provides funding, raises awareness, and marshals resources for over 122 Colorado based charities.  In 2006, it raised over $1.43 million dollars.
For more information, call 303-861-7507 or visit www.cshares.org.

New Faces At Children’s Museum
The new year will begin with a new board chair and a new face on the board of directors, as well as a new senior manager of guest services at the Children's Museum of Denver. R. Dan Magill, VP Marketing, Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, has been voted in as the Chair of the Board of Directors. He has served on the Children's Museum Board for nearly four years, and served as Vice Chair before being elected Chair. Sara Carpenter, MD, has worked in children’s health for more than 10 years as a physician and a public health advocate. She is currently directing the Foster Care Clinic at The Children’s Hospital and is actively involved in the Denver Cooperative Preschool and University Park Elementary School. Jon Handwork is the new Senior Manager of Guest Services at the Children’s Museum. He comes to the Children’s Museum with six years of experience as a volunteer manager at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and will oversee the front desk, gift shop, volunteer program, special events and other guest services, including memberships, facility rentals and more.
For more information, visit www.mychildsmuseum.org.

Macy's Appoints New VP Minority Supplier
Cheryl Monroe has been appointed vice president minority supplier and vendor development for Macy’s. Before her recent promotion, Monroe was vice president store manager for Macy’s Wheaton. In her newly appointed position, Monroe will focus on supplier diversity and vendor development, making multicultural spending a priority in retail and non-retail. This will enable Macy’s to connect with the needs of customers in all communities. Macy's, the largest retail brand of Federated Department Stores, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.
For more information, visit www.maceys.com.

Harley Hires Two African American Directors
The Harley-Davidson Motor Company has added to their diverse employee base with the new hires of Deborah Ashton as the director of diversity and Lynn Bonner as the director of market outreach. Ashton has joined the Harley-Davidson human resources team as the director of diversity and is responsible for managing all of Harley-Davidson’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Ashton spearheads Harley-Davidson’s diversity strategies for their workforce, suppliers and community involvement. Bonner, director of market outreach within the customer relations and motorcycle product planning group, is responsible for creating, promoting and implementing strategic close-to-the-customer programs and targeted actions for the Motor Company. Bonner is focused on ensuring Harley-Davidson’s reach and relevance within the African American and Hispanic markets.