Well-known wife and state Capitol aide to Joint Budget Committee member Rep. Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, was sworn into a public office of her own on Wednesday. Joyce Rankin was all smiles as she recited her oath of office to Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Nancy J. Lichtenstein in the lobby of the Colorado Department of Education building. On her Facebook page two days before her swearing in Rankin posted, “First meeting and swearing in ceremony….. Wednesday. Who better to put the “fun” back into dysfunctional?” Those who know Rankin around the Capitol understand first-hand just what she meant through her always friendly demeanor and fun-loving attitude.

Later, she posted, “We [Rep. Rankin and I] both had meetings today in Denver. It’s hard to keep all those plates spinning right now.” Joyce Rankin was chosen to fill a vacancy in Congressional District 3 to replace CDE board member Marcia Neal, who resigned her seat due to what she called “board dysfunction” as well as health problems.

Because Neal had just been re-elected in 2015, Rankin will hold the board seat until it is opened up for a special election again on the 2016 November ballot, at which time she said she plans to run for election to the position.

First White House Demo Day features Colorado business

Czero Inc., described as an advanced engineering research and development services firm, located in Fort Collins, was an integral partner with one of only 32 businesses selected to appear at the White House on Aug. 4 at the first White House Demo Day.

At the White House, Onboard Dynamics showcased a “dual-function NGV engine that compresses natural gas from low-pressure lines, enabling any home or business with a natural gas line to serve as a refueling station.”

Onboard Dynamics CEO Rita Hansen used a 3D-printed model of the system, designed and printed by Czero, to demonstrate how the technology works.

In remarks at the event, President Obama said, “Here in this room, we’ve got some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs America has to offer, folks from all across the country who are working every day to transform the way we live and learn and communicate.”

Involved since the inception of the project, Czero’s R&D team is currently working with Onboard Dynamics on the next-generation design for commercial launch.

Prototypes of the system are currently being tested in labs in Colorado and Oregon. Onboard Dynamics is based in Bend, Ore.