Meet CWEE’s New Board Members!

The team at the Center for Work Education & Employment (CWEE) is growing. We are delighted to welcome five new leaders to the CWEE Board of Directors.

Collectively they bring expertise in finance and banking, legal compliance, community outreach, workforce development and public-private partnerships.

Our new board members bring skills that will help CWEE further advance our work to bring together employers in need of talent with workers eager for opportunities. CWEE’s new board members bring expertise that reflects the diversity of the Denver Metro economy. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to our team!

Meet CWEE’s new board members.

Marpessa Allen
Campaign Advisor for John Hickenlooper 2020

Marpessa is a workforce development expert who is currently part of the team advising former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper on job training and career development strategy. Marpessa looks forward to leveraging her connections to community program partners and industry professionals to increase CWEE’s visibility and the impact of our anti-poverty programs. As an active CWEE alumna, Marpessa will provide insight into the participant experience and engagement. Marpessa holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and Broadcast Journalism from the University of Colorado at Denver. Among her other talents, Marpessa brings event planning expertise and experience managing and coordinating volunteers, skills that are highly relevant to CWEE’s work. Marpessa also supports women and families during childbirth in her role as a doula.

Michael Hartman
Senior Director – US MSO Relations at Canopy Growth Corporation

Michael has a personal connection to CWEE’s mission and looks forward to lending his expertise and professional network in order to increase opportunities for CWEE and help us continue to innovate within a regulatory system. Michael was appointed by the Governor of Colorado and led the Colorado Department of Revenue from 2017 to 2019. Michael has been described as the classic finance guy with a twist – taking his many years of experience in finance and banking and applying it to a government agency. Despite working in a complicated world of enforcement, rule-making and regulatory activities, Michael finds ways to bring innovation to his work. He successfully builds public-private sector partnerships and brings stakeholders together to make innovative and impactful changes.

LaTonya Keaton
Asset and Credit Review Examiner at CoBank

LaTonya will combine her financial expertise and experience in nonprofit board service to help CWEE continue to diversify our revenue sources. LaTonya has over 20 years of credit and banking experience, including six years with PNC Financial Services and 14 years with JPMorgan Chase. She has extensive board and nonprofit volunteer experience including as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), service on the Parent Advisory Council at Brandeis University, and as a board member of VOX ATL, a publishing platform for Atlanta teens focused on race and LGBTQ issues. LaTonya holds an MBA with a concentration in Leadership from Butler University and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Keith Peterson
Director of Community Benefit at UCHealth

Keith is a community health expert who brings visionary and strategic thinking and planning skills to CWEE. Keith will assist CWEE with the integration of increased health services and supports for participants, while also helping us to develop more external opportunities for partnership and impact. In his role as Director of Community Benefit for the University of Colorado Hospital, Keith is responsible for the hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment, implementation planning and community outreach. Keith is an active participant in numerous community organizations. Among other community leadership roles, Keith serves on the board of directors for the Aurora Health Alliance, the Aurora Chamber and Visit Aurora.

Charlton Rugg
Chief Compliance, Legal and Technology Officer at Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel, LLLP

Charlton brings legal and IT expertise to CWEE, as well as a pragmatic perspective and a deep commitment to strengthening families. He is committed to applying his many skills to advance CWEE’s operations for maximum efficiency and results. A licensed attorney, Charlton once operated a solo law practice. Before moving to Denver, he conducted regulatory investigations of registered entities and individuals in the securities industry as senior counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement. Prior, he investigated and prosecuted financial frauds and other federal crimes as an assistant United States attorney.

CWEE’s new board members join a committed group of leaders on our Board of Directors, including:

  • Joe Barela – Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
  • David Craig – Vice President, Finance and Business Execution, Danone
  • Katie Dix Eisner – Senior Legal Counsel, Hitachi Data Systems
  • DaLinda Grimm – Vice President, Learning and Development Manager, Wells Fargo
  • Ethnie Groves Treick – Community Leader and Volunteer
  • Susan Hill – Sullivan Hill Consulting LLC
  • Bart Spaulding – Managing Partner, Parkwood Real Estate Partners
  • Diane Stanek – Community Leader and Volunteer
  • Chris Weeks – Regional Vice President of Technical Operations, Comcast Colorado

CWEE’s Board of Directors is growing at a critical moment just as our team prepares to launch a comprehensive strategic planning process to map the next chapter of CWEE’s growth and development. The combined expertise of CWEE’s board leaders will allow our organization to continue to innovate and expand our skills training and supportive case management services to address the root causes of poverty for Denver families.