FORMER GOP CHAIR WADHAMS JOINS STATE COLLEGE REPUBLICANS ADVISORY BOARDFor those wanting to know what Dick Wadhams is up to, here’s some news about the former Colorado Republican Party Chairman.Wadhams has accepted an invitation to join the advisory board for the Colorado Federation of College Republicans, according to Troy Ard, the state chairman of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans. 

“Mr. Wadhams’ new role with Colorado’s College Republicans will provide the College Republicans of Colorado with unmatched experience, leadership, and wisdom,” Ard said. “During his tenure as State Chairman of the Colorado GOP, he was one of the strongest supporters of College Republicans. His continued partnership as a member of our advisory board will allow us to benefit even more from his phenomenal leadership in such a vital effort: preparing to make College Republicans a potent fighting force for Republican victories in 2012.” 

The constitution of the Colorado Federation of College Republicans allows the state chairman to appoint members to a special advisory board, which in turn allows veteran leaders of the Republican Party who aren’t college students to provide the College Republicans with the wisdom of experience.

Wadhams served as Chairman of the Colorado GOP from 2007 until this year when he did not seek re-election after two full terms. Prior to being chairman, Wadhams was a nationally recognized veteran campaign manager.

“[Wadhams] has been an inspiration to my political career as he has been to countless other young activists of the Republican Party,” Ard added. “His journey started when he was the youngest county GOP chairman in Colorado. At the time of his election to State Party Chairman, I was the youngest member of the Colorado Republican Central Committee which elected him to his post and is a fellow alumnus of Colorado State University- Pueblo. At the time of his re-election, our executive director, Evan Yost, was the youngest county party chairman in Colorado. His journey should inspire any College Republican. It has been an honor working with him these last few years and I can’t wait for all of us to benefit from his advice as an advisor to CRs.”

Ard is serving his second term as state chair. Other officers of the College Republicans include : State Vice Chairman Colton Lee Vaughn, Mesa
 State; Secretary Nathan Pesch, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs;
 Treasurer Carl Healy, Colorado School of Mines; Executive Director Evan Scott Yost, CSU-Pueblo;
 Political Director Caleb Bonham, CSU-Ft. Collins; and Steering Committee member Andrew Struttmann, Denver University.

SEN. BENNET NAMED TO U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY’S BOARD OF VISITORSColorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, has been named to the Board of Visitors of the United States Air Force Academy by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. This announcement comes on the heels of a visit Bennet made to the Air Force Academy in late April.

“The Air Force Academy is both a premier educational facility, which provides cadets with a world-class education, and a vital component of our national security,” said Bennet. “The Academy represents the future of the officer corps, and I look forward to working with the Board on how to ensure these outstanding young Americans continue to receive a 21st century education.”

The Board is similar to a Board of Regents at a civilian university and inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy which the Board decides to consider.

Board members appointed by the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee sit on the board until they resign, are relieved or are no longer in office. Bennet will join current members of Congress serving on the board, including Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Reps. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.).

UDALL, TIPTON ANNOUNCE COMMUNITY WORKFORCE GROUP TO EXPLORE FUTURE OF COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENTU.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo. and U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-CD3, announced the formation of a community group to consider turning the Colorado National Monument into a national park. The group comprises 16 community leaders who will represent Western Colorado interests in exploring the future of the monument.

There are important considerations that must be discussed, and Udall and Tipton believe the local community’s input is critical to any decision impacting the treasured monument. The group will encourage conversations and public meetings to obtain all the information needed to make the best decision for the community.

Udall, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, says this group will be a chance for people to voice their support and/or concerns about the national park designation and how it would affect the community. The Senator says the change wouldn’t be quick or easy and would require many months of hard work.

“Visitors to the area may think of a monument and, unfortunately, expect to see a stone marker, so a national park designation could better reflect the stunning land Coloradans cherish. But any changes to public lands need to be a locally led effort,” Udall said. “We want this group to be a mouthpiece for the people, so there can be a consolidated recommendation for the monument’s future.  It is simply essential to hear others’ perspectives to ensure a balanced policy for the community.”

“This is a community driven effort to determine the best options for the future of the Colorado National Monument. This committee, assembled with the lead of CLUB 20 and the Chamber of Commerce includes the business owners, ranchers, educators and residents who call the region home,” Tipton said. “We will look to them for guidance on what the next steps should include, and for information and data on what the best outcome would be for the community.”

One hundred years ago, a beautiful series of red-rock canyons and towering rock spires became the Colorado National Monument, protecting it for generations. The monument’s landscape is both unique and undeniably Western, and it is a truly iconic backdrop for Mesa County that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This group will be a community-led effort to examine its re-designation as a national park.

Members of the Colorado National Monument working group include : Tom Kenyon, mayor of Grand Junction; Barb Bowman, director of sales and division manager, Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau; Diane Schwenke, president and CEO, Grand Junction Area Chamber; Ken Henry, mayor of Fruita; Roger Granat, mayor of Palisade; Jack Neckels, vice chair Colorado National Monument Association and former Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park; Bonnie Petersen, Club 20 executive director; Owen O’Fallon, president, Colorado Canyons Conservation Area Association; Jay Seaton, publisher, Daily Sentinel; Scott McInnis, former U.S. Representative; Lynn Grose, Glade Park Community Association; a member of the Glade Park ranching community; Greg Mikolai, Mesa County District 51 School Board, producer for Rocky Mountain PBS; Dr. Bill Hood, nationally known geologist; Dr. John Redifer, professor, Mesa State College; and Steve Acquafresca, Mesa County Commissioner.

GREENBERG TRAURIG WELCOMES OBERFIELD AS SHAREHOLDER IN DENVER OFFICEGreenberg Traurig Managing Shareholder Dave Palmer announced that Neil Oberfeld has joined the firm as a shareholder in the real estate department. Oberfeld brings a wealth of legal and transactional expertise in real estate and sustainable development to the firm and will concentrate his practice in the areas of acquisitions, development, financing, leasing, and property tax assessments. He was previously a shareholder with Isaacson Rosenbaum.

“Neil is a highly respected member of the Denver business community, and we are pleased to welcome him to the firm,” said Palmer.

Oberfeld concentrates his practice on real estate acquisition, development and finance transactions; retail, office and industrial lease transactions; secured and commercial loan transactions; broker transactions and compliance; corporate and business organization, acquisition and finance; and property tax assessment. He is often involved in property tax protests.

In 2010, Oberfeld earned a spot among Law Week Colorado’s Lawyers of the Year for his extensive work in green leasing and, in 2005, received the Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award from the Denver Bar Association.

He is a frequent speaker on sustainability topics and most recently addressed audiences at the 2010 International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Law Conference and the 2011 U.S. Green Building Council Colorado Sustainability conference. He is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar associations. His community involvement includes serving on the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, the ICSC National Law Committee, the board of trustees of the Rose Community Foundation and the regional board and national commission of the Anti-Defamation League.

Oberfeld completed his undergraduate work at the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned his law degree at the Boston University School of Law.