Former Colorado Secretary of State Bernie Buescher is joining the Keystone Policy Center as a senior policy affiliate, Keystone president Christine Scanlan announced this week.

Buescher, a former state representative from Mesa County, was one of former Attorney General John Suthers’ chief deputies and served as a member of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s Colorado Oil and Gas Task Force, which was facilitated by Keystone.

“Bernie has been on the frontlines of public policy at the state and national level for decades,” Scanlan said. “Throughout that time he has crafted collaborative solutions to some of the most vexing public policy challenges, including how to better develop our energy resources. Bernie’s extensive experience will help the Keystone Policy Center continue our mission of helping individuals and companies rise above entrenched positions and reach common higher ground.”

Buescher said in a statement that he was honored to start work at Keystone, an endeavor aimed at helping solve problems collaboratively.Buescher is a 1971 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a 1974 graduate of University of Colorado Law. He was president of West Star Aviation, Inc., and executive director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance under Gov. Roy Romer.

Karen Pelzer passes

Weld County Republican Party chair Karen Lynn Pelzer died May 31 at Hospice of Northern Colorado. She was 57.

Pelzer was born March 30, 1958, at Weld County General Hospital in Greeley to Ramon Carl and Marijane Moore. She was raised in Greeley and was in the first class to go from Kindergarten through 6th grade at Brentwood Elementary School, graduating from Greeley Central High School in 1976. She graduated in 1980 from the University of Northern Colorado, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority and served on the Student Representative Council.

Following a career in human resources, working at Security Life of Denver, Western Mobile and RR Donnelly, she and her brother Carl Moore opened Wm. Moore Jewelers in Greeley.

Pelzer loved camping, fishing and spending time with family and friends in the mountains, often saying she felt closest to God when sitting alone on a mountaintop. An avid gardener, she enjoyed canning and cooking, particularly for holiday celebrations.

Pelzer was elected to the first of her three terms as chair of the Weld County GOP in 2009 and served on the state Republican Executive Committee since 2010. She was elected as a delegate from the 4th Congressional District to the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and served on the Credentials Committee.

A devout Christian, Pelzer devoted time and resources to helping organizations in the community who shared her faith.

She is survived by her husband, Neil J. Pelzer of Greeley; her mother, Marijane L. Moore of Greeley; two brothers and their families; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Services are at 11 a.m. on June 5 at the Calvary Church of Greeley. Memorial contributions may be made in Karen’s name to the Weld Food Bank, Hospice of Northern Colorado or the Pregnancy Resource Center.

Gibbs named Marshall Memorial fellow

Summit County Commissioner Dan Gibbs, a former state lawmaker, was named one of 76 fellows for this year’s Marshall Memorial Fellowship.

Since 1982, the fellowship has encouraged emerging leaders from Europe and the United States to better understand global diplomacy. Fellows must be younger than 40 and be nominated by a previous fellow. The program includes a three-week trip to five countries in Europe in the fall.

Nordbergs welcome daughter

The Capitol Baby Boom is alive and kicking. State Rep. Dan Nordberg, R-Colorado Springs, and his wife, Maura, this week announced the birth of their daughter Claire on the morning of June 2. She weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21 inches long.

CIO magazine honors SOS

IDG’s CIO Magazine named the Colorado Secretary of State’s office as among its 2015 CIO 100 Award winners for the Go Code Colorado program this week. The list honors 100 organizations each year that have used information technology to boost business value. The Secretary of State office’s award will be presented at the Broadmoor Hotel in August.

“We are truly honored to receive this award,” said Secretary of State Wayne Williams. “This award, among the several given to Go Code Colorado, shows our desire for innovative, technology-based solutions that make government more open and transparent, and deliver new services to our citizens and customers.”

Go Code Colorado is a program initiated by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and the Office of Information Technology, to make public data managed by the state easier to access on the Colorado Information Marketplace portal at www.data.colorado.gov. The program is known as a pioneer in the open data movement, with a civic app challenge that gives entrepreneurs and developers the chance to build data-driven apps to help businesses make better decisions.

Go Code Colorado last month also won the International Association of Commercial Administrators Merit Award, and the Colorado Technology Association gave Go Code Colorado its Technology Project of the Year Award late last year. It’s also been recognized as a Bright Idea by Harvard’s Kennedy School and is a finalist for this year’s IDEAS award, presented by the National Association of Secretaries of State

Froelich announces bid for House District 3 seat

Former Greenwood Village City Council member Meg Froelich announced this week that she’s seeking the Democratic nomination for the competitive House District 3 seat currently held by term-limited state Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village. The south-metro district includes Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village and Sheridan.

“We are so fortunate to live, raise our families, and work here,” Froelich said in a statement. “It is important to me to expand the economic growth we are experiencing while preserving our open spaces, recreational amenities and Colorado way of life.”

Froelich is a co-producer of “Strong Sisters,” a documentary about the history of elected women in Colorado.

She and her husband have three children in Littleton Public Schools, where she has been a volunteer and fundraiser. Froelich has taught at the secondary and college levels and says education is a passion. “We have been so fortunate in the wonderful education our children have received through Littleton Public Schools but there is still work to do to ensure adequate funding and educational opportunities for all students,” she said.

She served two terms on the Greenwood Village City Council and has been executive director of the Colorado Institute for Leadership training.

The campaign kicks off on the afternoon of June 14 at the Bateleur Clubhouse in Greenwood Village.

Campaign veteran Jeff Bridges is also seeking the HD 3 nomination. His father, Rutt, for a time sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006 and was among the wealthy benefactors who funded Democratic efforts in the last decade.

Kagan is running for the Senate District 26 seat that will be open after state Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, faces term limits next year.

Menon named CSU Ag dean

Ajay Menon has been selected the dean of Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the school announced this week. He’s been dean of CSU’s College of Business for 13 years, guiding it to the top ranking among businesses colleges in Colorado. Menon was also the state’s first chief innovation officer, a cabinet-level position created by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

“Our state’s agricultural industry is in a period of enormous innovation and change, and that aligns directly with Ajay’s expertise in business and the global marketplace,” said Tony Frank, president of CSU and chancellor of the CSU System, in a statement. “He also understands the importance of vision and strategy in moving an academic college forward. In short, he has the right experience on the business and academic sides – and the right relationships with major producer and commodity groups on the agricultural side – to lead our faculty and prepare our students to compete effectively in an evolving global marketplace.”

“Ajay Menon understands innovation and entrepreneurship as well as any person in Colorado,” Hickenlooper said. “Colorado has the real opportunity to become the Silicon Valley of agriculture, and Ajay Menon would be a great person to help lead us there.”

Named Colorado’s chief innovation officer in 2011, he helped develop COIN, the Colorado Innovation Network, and continues to serve on its board.

“It is a great honor to take on this new challenge as dean of CSU’s historic College of Agricultural Sciences,” Menon said. “This college has always been vital to the advancement and development of the state’s economy, and I look forward to working with our faculty to position the college to continue building and growing a spirit of innovation within Colorado agriculture and beyond.”

The College of Agricultural Sciences offers nine undergraduate majors and 39 graduate degree programs. Faculty and researchers are internationally recognized experts in food crops, food safety, human-disease prevention, livestock and the environment, renewable energy, risk management, and organic agriculture.

Menon takes over on July 1 from outgoing Dean Craig Beyrouty, who is heading east to be dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland.

Denver Bar honors lawyers admitted to practice in 1965

Former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart was among more than two dozen attorneys honored this week by the Denver Bar Association for having been admitted to practice law 50 years ago. The lawyers, who must have been members of the Denver bar for at least a decade, were feted at the Seniors Spring Banquet at The University Club in Denver.

The honorees were Andrew S. Armatas, Robert E. Benson, Alan H. Bucholtz, E. Michael Canges, Jay H. Chapman, Michael L. Cheroutes, William V. Cox, James B. Dean, Richard A. Finke, David W. Furgason, Gary W. Hart, William A. Hillhouse, Michael R. Homyak, William J. Hunsaker, William G. Imig, Dennis M. Jackson, Frederick O. Jolley, Richard D. Judd, Howard M. Kirshbaum, Dennis H. Markusson, H. Michael Miller, Robert N. Miller, Declan J. O’Donnell, John D. Pearson, Jeffrey J. Scott, Robert M. Vinton, Donald E. Wilson and Sanford Zisman.

Gettin’ hitched? Young’uns on the way? Tossin’ a hat in the ring? Let us know at wayposts@coloradostatesman.com