Meet The Board of GPHC
New & Returning Board Members
Editor’s Note: The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill, provides resources, information and advocacy, and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood.
The Greater Park Hill Community board is comprised of volunteer representatives from the nine districts within the neighborhood and at-large representatives. They are elected during the September annual meeting of the GPHC. The board meets on the first Thursday of each month, at the GPHC office at 2823 Fairfax St. Everyone is welcome to attend these community meetings.
This year, members elected three at-large members, and representatives for Districts 2, 4, 6 and 8. The returning Board Chair is Tracey MacDermott. Unless otherwise indicated, the board members can be contacted via the Greater Park Hill Community office at 2823 Fairfax St. or at 303-388-0918. If you want to volunteer your time and expertise, contact Ms. MacDermott at the GPHC office.
Additional information, including longer interviews with returning board members can be read at http://greaterparkhill.org/about-us/board-members/
Board Officers
Board President: Tracey MacDermott
Occupation: Clinical Trials Manager for the department of surgery at the CU School of Medicine.
What is your favorite thing about Park Hill? The many individuals who are not afraid to speak up. Park Hill has been presented with many challenges and every time someone from this neighborhood has been a voice and a set of working hands to work through the issue.
Secretary: Bernadette Kelly
Occupation: Construction Project Manager for Jefferson County Public Schools
What you love about Park Hill? It feels like a small town in a big city with a great sense of community, cool locally owned businesses and restaurants, our parkways for walking or cycling, open space and a beautiful tree canopy.
Best contact: Via the GPHC office.
Treasurer: Bob Homiak
Occupation: I am retired from the U.S. Department of Justice, where I practiced environmental law.
What do you love about Park Hill? The neighborhood feel and the wide variety of people who live here.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? I’d love to see some creative measures employed to deal with the ever-increasing traffic within Park Hill, which is slowly degrading the feel of the neighborhood.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
Districts
1. Roger Kilgore
Occupation: I am a water resources engineer.
What you love about Park Hill? I love the diversity and the positive community spirit.
What addition would you like to see in Park Hill? More walkable commercial opportunities.
Best contact: Phone: 303-333-1408 or email: Kilgore.Roger@centurylink.net
2. Ryan T. Hunter
Occupation: Chief Operating Officer for GCH
What you love about Park Hill? I love the history, the diversity, the small-town in a big-city feel, and the trees!
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? Better-managed property development to ensure long-term socio-economic diversity of our residents.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead? I will focus on supporting GPHC’s efforts to feed Park Hill’s families that are challenged by hunger.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
3. Heather Shockey
Occupation: Director, Outsourced Consulting Services at Mountain States Employers Council.
What you love about Park Hill? The people, the architecture, the history, and the proximity to downtown and the mountains.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
4. Kevin Wiegand
Occupation: Architect and co-owner of Leasure Wiegand Design, LLC.
What is your goal for the coming year? To help the residents of Park Hill determine how our neighborhood will grow and evolve in a way that benefits both the existing and incoming members of our community.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
5. Blair Taylor
Occupation: Graphic Designer and Brand Strategist, MFA and MBA
What do you love about Park Hill? When my husband and I bought our home eight years ago we were attracted by the tree-lined parkways, architecture and embedded history. Being active in the community has brought with it many friendships, wealth of conversations on current neighborhood events, and the desire to retain our diverse and unique character.
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? With the increase in traffic, pedestrian and biker safety needs attention, especially surrounding schools along throughfares like Montview and 23rd. The displacement and isolation of residents that have lived here for 30-plus years needs to be addressed. We need to balance housing developments, affordability, and open space. I also see an opportunity for a city-run program serving repair/replacement of sidewalks, which many other cities do and could help with the maintenance and overall safety.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead with GPHC? Safe Street crossing, Retaining Diversity, Preserving Character and Open Space in Park Hill.
Best contact: blairntaylor@gmail.com
6. James King
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
7. Jon Bowman
Occupation: Works with Five Points News and BrotherJeff.com to keep the free flow of information alive in Denver.
What you love about Park Hill? Good neighbors, location, alleys, pocket shopping areas, and closeness to downtown, Cheery Creek, and to parks and recreation areas.
Best contact: Phone: 720.448.5551, email: Ibjb14@yahoo.com
8. Nam Henderson
Occupation: Healthcare Information Technology – Analyst at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
What do you love about Park Hill? The size of the neighborhood, the diversity of residents (both in age, length of residence, race and more) and diversity of architectural forms/styles.
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? I hope the community can shape discussions of the future of Park Hill Golf Course, new development and open space/parkland, in a way that results in our desired outcomes.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead with GPHC? Getting to know my fellow board members, neighbors and volunteering where I can with all the amazing GPHC programs.
Best contact: namhenderson@hotmail.com
9. Stephanie Ceccato
Occupation: Attorney specializing in real estate litigation
What do you love about Park Hill? Park Hill is a true “neighbor”hood filled with lots of diverse people. As I’m out walking, I always get a wave or a friendly hello from those sitting outside or working in their yard. On my block, we all check in on each other, share pet sitting and goodies from the gardens.
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? I would like to see cars slow down. There are people that speed in between two stop signs within one block of each other. The sidewalks in Park Hill are often narrow with no grass separation from the street. We should be encouraging safer driving so that children, pedestrians and bicyclists all feel comfortable.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead with GPHC? I want to continue meeting my neighbors and learning what issues matter to them. I will continue volunteering in the neighborhood and getting out the word about the good work that GPHC does, including the food access initiatives (food pantry, weekend food program and free farm stand) and the sustainability efforts.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
10. Colette Carey
Occupation: Vice President, Marketing Operations – AXS TV
What do you love about Park Hill? The strong sense of community and diversity. I love the fact that Park Hill is steeped in such storied history.
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? I would like to see the community take on a more activist role in regard to some of the (sometimes unwelcome) changes creeping in on us – unnecessary or overblown development, increased traffic problems, etc.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead? Keeping an eye on new development, ensuring that it makes sense for the community and helping keep Park Hill safe.
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
At Large
George Dennis
Occupation: Retired.
What you love about Park Hill? Park Hill’s setting is just perfect for us. Close to downtown with a cleaner, more human feel. We’ve lived in cities and on mountaintops and lots of places. Each was a mixed blessing. Park Hill is where we are meant to be because it combines what we want, what we need and what we look forward to.
Best contact: Email is gdennis67@centurylink.net, phone contact should be through the GPHC office.
Louis Plachowski
Occupation: Owner/Managing Broker of the real estate company, DenverWelcomeHome.com LLC.
What do you love about Park Hill? I love Park Hill’s beautiful streets and charming homes. I enjoy my friendly neighbors who are from all different backgrounds and I like to shop at the lovely, quaint shops that are not part of corporate chains. I especially enjoy the close proximity to City Park.
Best contact: Via the GPHC office.
Other Board Members
Melissa Davis: Public Information Chair
Occupation: Newspaper Manager, Greater Park Hill News
What you love about Park Hill? I love the mature trees, the diversity of people and homes, the proximity to City Park and the sense of community.
Best contact: newspaper@greaterparkhill.org.
Lynn Kalinauskas: Education Chair
Occupation: I work for the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia and teach Chinese civilization at UC Denver.
What you love about Park Hill? It’s never boring.
Best contact: 303-394-4627 or lkalinauskas@hotmail.com
Geneva Goldsby: Safety Chair
Occupation: Retired from the University of Colorado
What you love about Park Hill? Diversity
Best contact: Through the GPHC office.
Keith Brown: Health & Human Services
Occupation: Catering chef for Peoples Community Food Projects.
What you love about Park Hill? That I have lived here for most of my life and have always found that the people stick together as a community for the benefit of the community.
Best contact: 303.333.5839 or Kbtree2000 @gmail.com
Fundraising Chair and Home Tour Organizer: Lana Cordes
Occupation: Realtor
What do you love about Park Hill? The diversity and beauty in everything from the neighbors to the trees to the architecture.
What addition or change would you like to see in Park Hill? I would love to see more food; both grocery/market and restaurant.
What do you plan to focus on in the year ahead with GPHC? I hope to continue to grow our fundraising efforts through our current channels and by exploring new opportunities.
Best contact: lana@denversweethome.com
Youth Chair: Justin Petaccio
Occupation: Mortgage Loan Officer at AmeriFirst Financial
What you love about Park Hill? The people! And a distant second is the wonderful tree lined streets, along with the great architecture. I also love how it is a great blend of a quiet oasis while having access to what the city has to offer.
Best contact: jpetaccio@amerifirst.us
Human Relations Chair: Beth Bean
Occupation: I work for the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
What do you love about Park Hill? My girls and I never tire of walking around the neighborhood looking at the unique homes full of multifarious neighbors. I love the trees, local businesses, decorated alleys, the 4th of July parade, block parties, bike lanes, and watching the raccoon that visits my neighbor’s porch for a midnight snack.
Best contact: beth.w.bean@gmail.com
Church Delegates:
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church – James Groves
• Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church – Bob Homiak
• St. Thomas Episcopal Church – Julianna Overland
• Temple Micah – Helen Spiegel