Adam Burg serves as the director of federal and state affairs for Mayor Mike Johnston and the City & County of Denver. Adam works with city leadership to solve problems and seek opportunities to advance Mayor Johnston's policy efforts and priorities for the City & County of Denver at the state and federal level.

During the recording of this podcast, Adam served as the vice president of government affairs for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Metro Denver EDC. In his role, Adam oversaw the government affairs activities and strategies for the Chamber and Metro Denver EDC and managed the government affairs department.

Prior to joining the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Metro Denver EDC, Adam Burg served as the legislative and government affairs senior advisor for one of the largest counties in Colorado (Adams County) where he managed the county's government affairs and legislative programs, working directly with the county manager, county commissioners, and other elected officials to advance the credibility of the county in federal, state, and local arenas

Adam has worked on numerous campaigns across the state of Colorado and served as a legislative aide at the Colorado General Assembly working for State Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno when Senator Moreno served in leadership in the Colorado House of Representatives. Adam also co-founded a political consulting firm where he and his business partner managed a successful client portfolio that focused on political consulting, government relations and business strategy.

Adam’s previous positions have allowed him to work on a diverse number of policy issues such as natural resources, housing, education, technology, growth and sustainability, energy, aerospace and aviation, infrastructure, transportation, and local government and state relations among other areas of policy.

Adam was born and raised in Colorado and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Denver.

Adrienne Sandoval joined EPA Region 8 as the Air and Radiation Division (ARD) Director in January 2023. As the ARD Director she works to ensure that activities within Region 8 are conducted in a manner that reduces emissions and air pollution in order to protect public health and the environment. Prior to joining EPA Ms. Sandoval worked for the State of New Mexico as the Oil Conservation Division Director within the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, where she enacted nationally leading natural gas waste rules based on robust stakeholder engagement, data and science, and re-structured the Division to build capacity, lower vacancy rates, and ensure the responsible development of oil and natural gas in the second highest onshore oil producing state. She also previously worked in the oil and gas industry at Marathon Petroleum and the Williams Companies. Ms. Sandoval holds a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Tulsa.

Ashley Valdez began working for Xcel Energy in 2015 as the Area Manager of Community & Local Government Affairs for Xcel Energy in Southern Colorado. She possesses over 25 years of experience in the utility industry, having worked in both the investor-owned and electric cooperative business arena.  She has successfully managed a wide range of projects in customer operations and community engagement with strong skills in public relations, communications, corporate sponsorships, and brand development.

Since joining Xcel Energy, Valdez has managed stakeholder engagement across a wide array of projects including approval of franchise agreements in seven communities as well as community engagement with the Pueblo Innovative Energy Solutions Advisory Committee for the replacement generation of Comanche 3, Colorado Power Pathway Project, the Rush Creek and Cheyenne Ridge Wind projects, 2017 Electric Resource Plan/Pueblo Community Advisory Council, and local engagement in Southern Colorado. As area manager, Valdez works to build positive relationships with local governments, partners with local non-profit organizations for social community engagement and fostering employee involvement in volunteer projects.  Her personal motto is “There are no problems, just opportunities for creative solutions.”

Valdez serves as chairwoman of the 2023 Pueblo Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors and served as chair in 2021.  She is on the executive boards for the Action 22 organization and the San Luis Valley Development Resource Group. Valdez is the Pueblo County United Way 2023 Campaign Chairperson and will continue in the role for the 2024 campaign year. Previously, Valdez was a member of the Colorado Workforce Development Council and numerous other boards in Southern Colorado. 

Valdez has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for work in communications within the utility industry and has led several state communication and stakeholder engagement initiatives. She has twice received the Xcel Energy Innovator award. In 2018, Valdez was named the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award for Mass Communication by Colorado State University – Pueblo and in 2012 was awarded the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Touchstone Energy National Brand Champion.

Valdez resides in Pueblo West, Colorado and is married to husband Leroy for 31 years and has one daughter and three grandchildren. She has a passion for singing and is well known in Southern Colorado for performing the National Anthem, including at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention Gala in September 2017. 

Bonnie is the Executive Director of Drive Clean Colorado where she leads the charge toward achieving breathable air for everyone by advancing clean transportation and equitable mobility. Bonnie brings a deep knowledge of the market – from consumer EVs to alternative fuels to heavy-duty manufacturers and fleets, and a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle incentives arena across the U.S. – to her role. She is the co-chair for the Women of EVs Front Range chapter, and is a Board member of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Transit Enterprise Board. Her past experience includes nonprofit development and fundraising, grant writing and management, and events management, and she spent 11 years in public relations and marketing for Lightning eMotors, manufacturer of electric powertrains for medium- and heavy-duty buses and trucks. Her experience includes program management for CALSTART, a non-profit organization working to commercialize clean and efficient transportation solutions, where she led events such as a California policy summit, industry leader workshops, and utility engagement programs; and work she has worked as a development director for nonprofits in Denver and Washington, D.C.

Brian Hlavacek (MAS, REHS) serves as the Environmental Health Division Director for the Adams County Health Department.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health from Colorado State University and a Master of Applied Science degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. He is also a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the National Environmental Health Association.  Brian has more than 25 years of experience in Environmental Health working in and overseeing consumer protection programs such as retail food, childcare, recreational facilities, and vector surveillance to environmental programs such as solid and hazardous waste, superfund sites, onsite wastewater, air and water quality, land use, and industrial hygiene. He is currently working to implement a community air monitoring grant from the EPA designed to enhance community awareness and policy change around air quality issues.  Brian has a passion for the field of environmental health and enjoys making a difference in people’s lives by working to improve the environmental conditions around them.

Christy Woodward serves as the Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. She leads COGA’s regulatory strategy. Ms. Woodward has 24 years’ experience in civil and environmental engineering design and project management, including Clean Water and Clean Air Act permitting and compliance and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Wildlife and Cultural assessments for energy projects on Federal Lands. She is an Environmental Engineer and has provided technical support for the oil and gas industry, the homebuilding industry, mining industry, other private clients, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Her technical experience includes regulatory compliance, permitting, and agency negotiation; planning and implementation of surface and subsurface investigations and remedial evaluations; remedial design and implementation; design and implementation of hydrogeological, hydrological, and sedimentation studies; watershed management projects; and storm water control projects.

Dan King was a co-founder of Ecovate Inc (dba ReadyTalk) in 2000 and remained its CEO through 17 years of bootstrapped growth until the company was sold to PGi in 2017. Under Dan’s leadership, ReadyTalk was repeatedly recognized by CoBiz Magazine and Outside Magazine as a Best Company to Work for.  In 2008 Dan and his brother Scott were recipients of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Rocky Mountain region.

Dan is a long-time Colorado resident and received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he also lettered in track and cross country.  Dan is still a competitive masters runner. Since turning 60, Dan set seven American age group records covering distances from 1 mile to 1 hour, including breaking the world record for the mile with a time of 4:49 at the age of 61.

Dan is currently mentoring students, entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Boulder/Denver area. Outside of work interests, Dan loves spending time with his wife and two daughters, and enjoying the great CO outdoors!

Danny Powers grew up in Durango, Colorado and continues to reside there with his wife and son.  He graduated from Fort Lewis College in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geology and is currently working with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Air Quality Program as the Air Quality Program Division Head. Mr. Powers is responsible for the daily oversight and management of the regulatory and ambient air quality monitoring sections of the Tribe’s Air Quality Division including development and management of operating budgets, including obtaining and complying with federal Clean Air Act grants, including work plan development, progress reports, and budget tracking. 

Mr. Powers has been the primary author of tribal comments on federal Clean Air Act rulemakings and has assisted with representing the Tribe in a global Clean Air Act enforcement and settlement action against a regulated source with the Department of Justice and the EPA.  He has nearly 12 years of experience working in the air quality profession with previous experience working in the geology vocation.

Daniel Zimmerle is the Director of the Methane Emissions Program in the Energy Institute at Colorado State University. Zimmerle was a principal investigator on seven major studies of methane emissions in the natural gas supply chain, including studies of upstream, midstream, and distribution systems at a national and/or regional scale, and leads the Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center, one of the largest test facilities for natural gas leak detection solutions.  Zimmerle’s group conducts research on natural gas emissions including studies of equipment and pipeline emissions, field studies, and fundamental investigations of commonly utilized methods.  Recent work has branched into agricultural and waste emissions area.

Additionally, Zimmerle also works on energy access and development in rural communities in the developing world and the integration of distributed generation into power systems.

An ‘accidental academic,’ Zimmerle’s pre-CSU experience is all industrial.  He served as the Chief Operating Officer at Spirae, Inc. and 20 years at Hewlett Packard and Agilent Technologies including experience as both a division general manager and R&D manager, leading organizations in multiple businesses and organizations that included personnel in the US, Ireland, Singapore and other countries. 

He holds a BSME and MSME from North Dakota State University.

Delphine Farmer is a Professor of Chemistry at Colorado State University, where she runs a research group studying atmospheric and indoor chemistry, with particular focus on understanding how human activity impacts climate, ecosystems, and human health. She received her BSc in Chemistry from McGill University, her MS in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California at Berkeley, and then her PhD in Chemistry from Berkeley. She held a NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder before moving to her current position at CSU in Fort Collins. She is a recipient of the 2013 Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Award, the 2022 CSU Interdisciplinary Scholarship Award, and the 2022 AGU Ascent Award.

The DSST: Montview High School CubeSat team exists to build an A3Sat* CubeSat Emulator and launch it on a high-altitude balloon in order to empower communities, create opportunities to apply skills and knowledge, and gain insight on the future of aerospace. 

*A3Sat - Low cost satellite emulator that runs on solar panels and batteries, transmits UHF radio telemetry, has a 3D printed frame, and can be extended by additional sensors and modules.

Ean is active in Denver Public Affairs, Colorado Public Policy, and Federal Environmental Policy. He has worked for three branches of local government, worked at three levels of American government, run for Denver City Council, and has directed many local and state political races. Currently, he serves as the Colorado State Director for GreenLatinos. Ean has received recognition for his work from the Denver Regional Council of Governments, the Denver Regional Air Quality Council, named a River Hero by the National River Network, and was recently elected the Co-Chair of the Colorado Environmental Justice Action Taskforce. He loves to dance whether it be at a concert or in politics! As Mr. Denver, a local music DJ and radio host, he uses the media to uplift locals in the community. Follow Ean @believeEan on all platforms.

Ean is a water protector that holds a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in Native American Studies, a Water Studies Certificate, & Early Childhood Education Certificate from Metropolitan State University of Denver as well as a Horticultural Therapy Certificate for Colorado State University.

Ephraim Milton has worked for Denver Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) since 2020 and has been the Outreach and Education Coordinator for the Love My Air Program. Before working for DDPHE, Ephraim worked in Virginia’s Fairfax County Schools, working with special needs students for 15 years. After moving to Colorado, he worked for the state’s Youth Services for two years mentoring and coaching youth. While working for the Love My Air program, Ephraim has helped his team and DDPHE with continued outreach and engagement with local community groups, DPS, and local clinics. He is a strong advocate for our communities and wants to empower people by introducing them to Love My Air and providing resources and information so they can make informed decisions. 

Gabi Pfister’s general research is in studying the composition of the troposphere using satellite and in-situ observations (e.g. aircraft and ground-based measurements taken during field campaigns) in conjunction with regional and global atmospheric models. In her work she is addressing the link between local pollution processes and regional and global pollution. Gases and aerosols emitted into the atmosphere from local human activities, in addition to natural sources, might change atmospheric composition on inter-continental or even global scales coupled through mixing, transport and chemical transformation. This makes local air quality a global issue and, as further consequence, also a factor in climate change.

Air quality issues are also linked to public policy applications because many of the pollutants emitted by human activity are known to have detrimental impacts on human health and also on natural and managed ecosystems with a direct bearing on human welfare and environmental quality. Some of her research topics include e.g. the intercontinental transport of pollution across the Pacific and how it impacts regional and local air quality over North America, the impacts of wildfires on air quality and climate, or the role of emissions and weather on ozone pollution.

Jamie is a multicultural native of Pueblo, Colorado and a parent and grandparent with education in Electronics Technology and Psychology. He began his environmental justice work in 2015 as a volunteer Digital Organizer and has since expanded the scope of his work and turned it into his career. He is now the Colorado Senior Organizer for a mother-founded, mother-led climate justice organization called Mothers Out Front that works toward the goal of a livable climate for all children. Jamie also serves as an appointed member of Colorado’s Environmental Justice Action Task Force. His activist background is primarily in racial and economic justice movements and he considers environmental justice a natural progression that’s become his passion and he therefore, approaches all his work with equity, justice, and inclusivity in mind.

Jana Milford is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Environmental Engineering Program. Her research and teaching interests focus on air quality modeling and data analysis, thermal sciences, environmental impacts of energy systems, and environmental law and policy.  She was the founding director of the Environmental Engineering Program and founding faculty advisor for the Engineering GoldShirt Program.

Professor Milford served as a member of the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. She is a past member of the Board of Environmental Studies and Toxicology of the National Academy of Sciences and the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Professor Milford has previously worked as a Congressional Fellow and Analyst at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut, and Senior Scientist and Staff Attorney at the Environmental Defense Fund. She holds a B.S. in Engineering Science from Iowa State University, a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Ph.D. in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, and a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Jason Schroder is the Program Manager for the Air Toxics & Ozone Precursor Section [ATOPS] within CDPHE-APCD. He holds a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, and has nearly 15 years of experience working on complex atmospheric and air quality monitoring challenges.

Jeremy Neustifter is the current Director of Air Quality Policy in the Air Pollution Control Division within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Jeremy has fourteen years of private and public sector experience working in the field of air pollution control and is the former Director of Environmental Boards and Commissions for the department where he worked primarily on air and water quality issues within Colorado.  

Kyler Brown lives in the San Luis Valley of Colorado with his wife Emily and two kids, Elijah and Olivia.  He farms and ranches with his in-laws russet potatoes, Coors barley, and cattle.  Kyler sits on several boards and likes volunteering in the community. He enjoys the outdoors and having grand adventures with his family and friends. 

Dr. Lisa Cicutto has participated in research focused on asthma, lung health, and environmental health, primarily air quality, for the past 30 years with studies spanning bench-to-community. Since completing her doctorate, Dr. Cicutto’s research has focused on optimizing the management of asthma and lung health for patients, families, communities and health care professionals.  Her passion is supporting informed decision making and action to optimize health on multiple levels, individual, family, organization and community.  She has 30 years of experience working with community to conduct meaningful and responsive community engaged research projects. Through community engagement,  responsiveness and partnership she has worked alongside community to study air quality and environmental literacy in Globeville, Elyria and Swansea and determined that indeed spikes/exceedances in particulate matter levels in the San Luis Valley results in increased urgent care and hospitalizations for asthma and other lung health conditions to develop effective, acceptable and understandable displays to share real time air quality monitoring and messaging for action in Denver schools. Working with residents and local community-based organizations she has come to understand the concerns, strengths, resources, and needs for building capacity for contextualized and informed personal action and community mobilization to build resiliency regarding air quality.

She is active in her communities by participating in community and professional educational initiatives, as well as, serving as guest instructor/professor at rural higher education institutions, such as Adams State University, Otero Junior College and Trinidad State College. She is a fourth generation Coloradoan who is committed to preserving and restoring its health. She received her BSN from University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, her Masters of Science from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Nursing, and her PhD from the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto.

Lucy Molina is a mother and advocate for her community of Commerce City. Whether it’s at the Capitol advocating for environmental justice, testifying for bills to help Colorado move into the clean energy age, or speaking up for the health and safety of the community, Molina is there to stand up for the people. She is a former candidate for city council of Commerce City.

Michael Ogletree is the Division Director for the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Before becoming Division Director, Mr. Ogletree was the air quality program manager for the City and County of Denver, where he led Denver’s overall efforts to improve air quality. Michael Ogletree is an experienced leader with a passion for using technology to create positive change. With a strong background in leadership and a track record of driving successful initiatives, he has a natural ability to bring people together and drive meaningful change. Since being with Air Pollution Control Division, Mr. Ogletree has been instrumental in major initiatives that focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from trucks and cars and prioritizing the uptake of zero-emission vehicles, creating strides towards public protections from toxic air contaminants, prioritizing Environmental Justice communities in engagement and permitting decisions, improving data transparency, and integrating the next-generation of air monitoring technology. Mr. Ogletree is dedicated to making a difference and creating a better future for us all.

Michael Silverstein is the Executive Director of the Regional Air Quality Council which serves as the lead air quality planning organization for the Denver metropolitan area and the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Non-Attainment Area. Mike’s primary area of expertise is in air quality planning, which involves working with industry, government agencies and citizens to develop approaches for improving air quality and managing environmental initiatives.

Previous to his work for the Council, Mike served as the Administrator and Technical Secretary for the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, the Colorado Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe/State of Colorado Environmental Commission from 2011 through mid-2018. Mike coordinated the activities of these Commissions and advised the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on air quality matters. Mike began working for the State in 1992 as an air quality planner for the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division and became the Division’s deputy director and manager of planning and policy in 2004. Previous to his work for the State, Mike was an environmental scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 8 offices in Denver from 1986 to 1992. Mike also has worked as an environmental consultant in Florida and with the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado. Mike holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geography from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Boulder campuses.

Molly has been the youth services librarian for the Bennett, Colorado branch of Adams County Anythink Libraries since 2019. She received her master's degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2013 and has been working in a variety of public library roles ever since including adult services and reference but most favorably as a children's and teen librarian. She is a new member of the Colorado Association of Libraries legislative committee and is most excited to assist public library advocates during the annual Library Lobby Day at the state capital in 2024.

Natalie Smith is a Physical Scientist and Lead investigator for the Community Air Toxics  (CAT) Mobile Lab at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in Denver, CO. She received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry at Appalachian State University and received her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. Natalie’s research has focused on characterizing the chemical composition and physical properties of various atmospheric aerosols as well as the chemical composition of volatile organic trace gases in ambient air, using various mass spectrometry techniques. Her research has culminated in several journal articles on these topics. At CDPHE her primary role is to perform routine on-road air quality monitoring using the CAT mobile lab in disproportionately impacted communities throughout Colorado.

As a clinical scientist, Stephen Holgate has contributed greatly to the understanding and treatment of allergic and respiratory diseases, including asthma, COPD and COVID-19. His contributions span science, medicine, public health, and policy initiatives, all for the benefit of patients and society. As a true physician-scientist, he has contributed to the promotion of respiratory and environmental health at multiple levels: discovery of new scientific principles; translating these to more effective therapy not only for asthma and COPD but also for COVID-19; forming and leading organizations that promote lung health and chairing committees that write reports aiming to influence Government Policy for promoting health both in his own specialty and beyond.

Environmental justice and social change have long been at the heart of Velma’s activities, beginning with her childhood in the segregated South during the civil rights movement that caused her to pursue transformation and social change. She appreciates the organizing style and philosophy that solving the climate crisis requires, addressing the combined effects of systemic racism, classism, and corporate welfare. She loves to be engaged with energized and committed members of her community, state, and beyond.