South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce

	John Brackney, President & CEO Following a time-honored family tradition, John was born. This event took place in what is now Centennial Colorado, and he grew up a block from where he currently resides and attended Littleton high school. John continued on to the University of Northern Colorado, where he earned a Bachelors' degree in political science. Not yet drained from years of academia he attended the University of Denver where he received a law degree. His formal education completed, he embarked on repaying student loans. John enlisted in the Colorado National Guard and later attended Officer Candidate School, attaining the rank of Captain. He served as the Company Commander of the 147th Combat Support Hospital. During his 12-year tenure he was privileged to twice receive the Meritorious Service medal. John was elected to his first term as Arapahoe County Commissioner in 1996, and was selected as Freshman Commissioner of Year by his colleagues across the state. Re-elected to a second term, he served as chairman of the Arapahoe County Public Airport Authority, and as president of the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority. He was one of the founders of the City of Centennial, a city he is proud to call home. In his spare time he is a volunteer fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis society and serves on the Board for Littleton Public Schools Foundation. He enjoys yard work (really?) and, in an attempt to keep his weight down, runs an occasional marathon. No information about John would be complete without mentioning the people most important in his life, his wife Meredith and daughters Taylor and Jordan. Meredith has provided him with endless support and years of friendship (no small task), and his girls keep him on his toes and constantly entertained.
	Bart Sayyah, Director of Economic Development Economic Development Group * Legislative Action Committee Bart has lived in Colorado since 1977. A graduate of Colorado State University where he obtained a BA in Spanish Language/Minor in Economics and a MA in Spanish Literature along with a Teaching Certification in Secondary Education. Most of his professional career has been spent in the investment arena working for Kober Financial, Charles Schwab & Co and most recently, Instinet Corporation. He has been on the chamber staff since 2004 and currently leads the Chamber’s economic development and legislative activities. He currently resides in Roxborough with his wife Marsha, and three children, Madison, Lucas and Sydney.
	Marcia McGilley, Director, Small Business Development Center Marcia got her introduction to the business world by spending 10 years in various sales and marketing positions with Hyatt Hotels, The Lee Apparel Company and Showtime Networks. She also held leadership positions supporting those on the cancer journey at The Cancer FitSpa and QuaLife Wellness Center. In 1989, she visited the Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, KS, and started her first business - a marketing consulting firm with a business model of launching and growing companies … at the rate of 100 per year! She is a self-professed “business midwife” helping birth companies and guiding them through the subsequent growing pains. From this auspicious start, McGilley has continued her entrepreneurial drive over the past 18 years. She has owned six companies as diverse as a marketing consulting firm, a murder mystery theatre company and a motivational speaking and training company. Marcia is thrilled to serve as the Director of the South Metro Denver SBDC and to lend her entrepreneurial spirit and skills to the current and start up businesses in the South Denver Metro area. “Watching someone’s dream or passion come to fruition in the business world is one of my foremost joys.” As Director of the SBDC, she hopes to impact the community by teaming with the wonderful group of business consultants and trainers associated with the group. She is the past founder and president of Limelight Presentations, a creative firm specializing in helping professionals shine in the limelight. Watch your TV closely, because when not directing the SBDC, Marcia also does TV commercials and local theatre as a professional actor.
	Taren Shuck, Strategic Events Planner Helping Young Professionals Excel (HYPE) A child of the corn, Taren was born in Omaha, Nebraska and came to Colorado after a short period in California. Aurora, Colorado has been home for the past 14 years, so she feels like a native. Loving Colorado and wanting to stay close to family, she attended the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. Business being in the blood and winning International DECA awards for marketing/advertising as a high school senior, earning a bachelors degree in marketing with a minor in communications was the perfect fit. Since then she has employed her knowledge as the events coordinator at Bellco Credit Union and in a sales capacity for proprietary education with ESM. Taren is looking forward to taking the Chamber’s events to the next level; a level that will bring great value to the members while also drawing in the outside community to learn what this amazing chamber is about. Taren’s first love in life is her adorable son Riley, who has learned to share her passion for basketball and hockey, go DU Pioneers! Unwinding on the weekends is best done with a good movie (anything but horror please!). After living abroad in Rome as a student, Taren has also discovered a love of travel and plans on much more of it in the future; suggestions always welcomed.
	Brian Bartony, Marketing & Visibility Consultant Renewable Energy Task Force Brian feels very fortunate to be a part of the South Metro Denver Chamber. Before joining the staff, Brian was a individual member and a proud volunteer of the Chamber Connection. Brian grew up in Dedham, Massachusetts. He attended The University of Maine, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, with a concentration in Marketing. During Brian’s college career he was a very active member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, on which he served a variety of leadership positions. Brian was also very active in student government, serving as a student senator, the President of The College Republicans, and was the campaign chair for various student government campaigns. Upon graduating college, Brian made the long trek across America to call Colorado his home, where he has lived for more than 13 years. Brian is married to his wonderful wife Victoria and has a son named Stephen who is exploring his world with little sister Jessica. When Brian is not working with South Metro Denver Chamber’s members to be incredibly successful, he can be found in tailgating in Lot M during the Denver Bronco’s season, cooking gourmet food in the parking lot. During the summer, Brian can also be found in the streams of the Colorado Mountains, prospecting for gold.
	Mary Kay McCarty, Marketing and Visibility Consultant Mary Kay has a long and storied history, with the Chamber that is. A member since 1988, she has seen three Chamber Presidents, two office relocations and one name change from Centennial to the South Metro Chamber of Commerce. After participating and volunteering for a while with the Chamber she was offered a position as a Membership Representative in 1992. Her response was "I'll give it six months since I have no sales training or experience" and the rest is history. She soon found that sales was definitely her niche. By 1996, Mary Kay was named one of the top three salespeople in the State of Colorado by Colorado Business Magazine. That same year the South Metro Chamber was named "Best Chamber" for the second year in a row, thus the reason our website name: www.bestchamber.com. Mary Kay, a.k.a. "Pit Bull" in her early days at the Chamber, loves sharing her sales stories. Her all time favorite is when she sold a membership to a door-to-door salesman that had stopped by her home to make a sale and walked away wondering "What's wrong with this picture?" Anyone that knows Mary Kay is aware of how important her family is to her. Married 45 years, she and her husband Larry are the proud parents of five children (all grown, married and living in the metro area) and very proud grandparents of ten grandchildren. Growing up in Kansas, her family moved to Houston where she attended high school and college, majoring in Elementary Education at the University of St. Thomas. After getting married and moving to CA, she taught 5th grade in San Diego before coming to CO in 1969. Mary Kay retired from the Chamber for a while in order to pursue her passion for traveling (she is still always packed and ready to go at a moment's notice) and her other hobbies as a pianist, seamstress and artist. She was coaxed out of retirement in 2000 to work part-time at the Chamber and still continues to enjoy her involvement with this very dynamic organization.
	Kevin Wong, Marketing & Visibility Consultant Diversity Program * Historic Downtown Littleton Merchants As a native of Taipei, Taiwan, Kevin has taken residence in Colorado since the age of 4. His education history consists of being an alumnus of Littleton H.S. and The University of Northern Colorado. During Kevin’s tenure at Littleton H.S. he majored in art and became a marketing major when arriving at UNC. Other than the (SMDCC) South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Kevin has been associated with the (AKL) Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, (AMA) American Marketing Association, and the (FMA) Financial Managerial Association. Kevin’s professional background is in marketing and is experienced in management. As a son of former restaurant owners, his business philosophy is based around relationship building, hard work, and integrity. Kevin’s professional goals are to provide value to those around him and become an asset to those who associate with him. As Kevin looks to the future, he expects to continue his personal and professional endeavors within Colorado. He aspires to have a long career connecting businesses together while joining any new organization with acronyms.
	Craig Hakes, Marketing and Visibility Consultant Chamber Health & Wellness Initiative * International Trade Committee Originally from Kansas City and a big fan of the Jayhawks and barbeque, Craig has lived in Colorado since 1998, both on the western slope and currently in downtown Denver. He’s a Fort Lewis College graduate majoring in business with an emphasis in marketing. His professional track record varies from small business management and operations to client marketing and consultation. He knows the Rocky Mountain Region very well, spending his weekends there year round. Whether it’s snow sports or hiking, rafting or playing with his dog Denali, Craig loves Colorado, its active citizens and our economy. Craig also is a well-traveled gentleman who travels to all parts of Europe and even as far as China and Tibet. If you want to spark a conversation up with Craig, bring up international trade issues or Colorado’s resort and hospitality industry. He’s one of our Marketing & Visibility Consultants and vigorously works with his colleagues to grow our client’s businesses by utilizing our extensive network and connecting them with our other strong members.
	Ali Recek, Marketing and Visibility Consultant Women in Leadership Ali Recek graduated from the University of Colorado (Boulder) in 1986 with a B.A. in Psychology. She then went into a post-graduate program at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (San Francisco campus) to pursue a Merchandising & Marketing degree and was the recipient of the esteemed Cyril Magnin Award for Merchandising Excellence. Ali has spent many years as a B2B outside sales consultant specializing in providing practical and extraordinary printed marketing media. Although her career in printing was dynamic, she chose to apply the vast marketing experience that she gained in printing to expand her husband Art’s already successful real estate team. She first sought to create branding, logo recognition and a database for ongoing marketing. While assisting Art of The Recek Team at Keller Williams Realty it was necessary to become a Broker Associate, so she did so, and began her own successful “book” of clients. Ali joined the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce to help current and future investors of the chamber to build strategic relationship alliances with other businesses throughout Colorado. Her straight forward, friendly ability to grasp what people need, and then creatively bring together a plan of action will be an asset to everyone she consults with. Her capability to look at “the big picture”, allows her to remain a positive addition to all of her relationships. Alas, all work and no play is a bad equation. When not bouncing warm energy off the chamber walls, Ali can be found searching with her son, Alika, and husband, Art, for the deepest, steepest snowy mountains in Colorado, or frolicking on the beaches of her beloved islands of Hawaii. Hiking, mountain biking and snow shoeing are other ways Ali likes to unwind.
	Dan Kacerovskis, Marketing and Visibility Consultant Dan grew up in a large family (4 sisters and 2 brothers) in the South Suburban Chicago area. He honed his negotiating and conflict resolution skills by being the middle child! He’s made Centennial his home since 1999 with his wife Vita son Adam and daughter Kate. His family takes advantage of the fantastic recreational opportunities offered throughout Colorado. Dan is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University where he obtained a BS in Finance with a minor in Marketing. He was an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and had the enjoyable part time job managing a team at the ever popular Mother’s nightclub. Dan’s professional career has been spent helping businesses grow with an emphasis on providing lead generation solutions (in print, online and with one to one relationship marketing). His philosophy at the chamber is to always be looking for opportunities to deliver value to our investors. And the answer to the always present question "how do pronounce your last name" - catch-a-rose-kiss!
	Terry McElhaney, Manager of Communications Greater Littleton Youth Initiative Born and bred in Littleton, Terry has a real passion for his hometown. Graduating from Littleton High School in 1970, he had already completed 6 of the 27+ job descriptions he would eventually accumulate before arriving at the South Metro Chamber. After a stint in the Navy as a communications electrician on a minesweeper (“Yes… any ship can be a minesweeper – but usually only once.”), he followed his ambition of being a high school counselor to Adams State College. Somewhere along the line he discovered photography and from the little town of Alamosa, he went to the big city of Los Angeles. Graduating from the Art Center College of Design with a degree in photography, Terry returned to Colorado and began shooting everything from the brew to mountain panoramas to super models for Coors Brewery. He switched his focus to computer graphics in the early years when a single computer took up the whole room and watched as the computers shrunk while their capabilities grew. All the while, Terry maintained an entrepreneurial spirit by sprouting several home-based businesses and gaining a MS in Systems Management. In 1999, his sister convinced him to drop everything and become partners in the burgeoning coffee business. At one point operating four coffee bars throughout the south metro area, they have settled down and are now focusing their attention on Romancing the Bean. “Littleton’s Hometown Coffee Shop” is located at the downtown Littleton light rail stop inside the 135-year-old D&RG railroad station. Shifting gears back and forth from coffee to communications, Terry still spends a few hours a week making caramel mochas and true Italian machiatos as well as being actively involved in the Historic Downtown Littleton Merchants Association. He also occassionally gets in a scuba trip to 'big water', but now his passion is getting the word out about the South Metro Chamber and it’s bevy of great member companies.
	Ken Wyble, Executive Administrative Assistant to John Brackney Ken Wyble is a former Executive Admin. at First Data Corporation, Operations Controller at Merrill Lynch, Marketing and Communications Specialist at EMG, Marketing Associate for First American Heritage Title Company, Technology Specialist for Kinko's (now FedEX Office) and more but still a chef, father of 2, husband, artist and REALLY passionate community organizer.
	Danielle Findley, Administrative Assistant Small Business Development Center One of the newest employees of the Chamber, Danielle is a born and bred Coloradan. Raised in Aurora, she graduated from Rangeview High School before moving to Greeley to attend the University of Northern Colorado. During her four years at UNC, Danielle became actively involved in the campus community. She pledged and was inducted into Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, where she held numerous leadership positions, including Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Alumni Relations. Danielle also worked for two years as a Student Manager in the Colorado Business Resource Center. Throughout her time in the CBRC, Danielle trained over 120 student volunteers to work in the office and help entrepreneurs find the resources they needed to open their businesses, while also assisting potential small business owners in performing feasibility analysis on their business ideas. After graduating from UNC’s Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business in 2009 with her BS in Business Administration (Management emphasis), Danielle returned to the Denver area to be closer to her family and to begin working with the SBDC. In addition to her work with the CBRC, Danielle’s previous experience includes internships in the front offices for both the Colorado Mammoth and Denver Outlaws lacrosse teams, five summers with the Golf Division for the City of Aurora, as well as ongoing work with the State of Colorado’s Board of Law Examiners. She enjoys spending her free time travelling, playing volleyball, and going to or watching any professional or collegiate sporting event she can.
	Laura Martin, Administrative and Client Support A South Denver native, Laura attended Cherry Creek High School and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts. A month after graduating from college, she moved to the other side of the world to teach English in Wenzhou, China for two years, solo. While there, she traveled around parts of the country and visited other parts of Southeast Asia including Laos and Malaysia. With an interest in travel and local tourism, she returned home to begin an internship with the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce in November for the Events and Visitors Bureau as well as the Non-Profit/Philanthropy Committee with Cristin Tarr. In March, she accepted a position with the Chamber as part of the Administrative and Client support team. In her free time, Laura enjoys the pursuit of an active lifestyle, whether jogging or biking at the Cherry Creek Reservoir. She also enjoys reading and submits writing pieces to a literary magazine as well as articles for the Chamber magazine and local newspaper. She loves to learn and is always seeking new outlets for her creativity. Investors.
	Sandy Teigen, Reception Sandy's bio will be up as soon as Michael Crichton finishes writing it...
	Cory Belcher, CPA, Controller Belcher Deductions, Inc. In 1994, shortly after earning a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in finance from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, Cory was drawn to live in our Colorado mountains. Cory spent 7 years as controller of a hotel & restaurant in Vail while perfecting his snowboarding skills. In 2002, he moved to Denver in to pursue his CPA licensure while holding a 5 year controller position for a successful commercial / industrial HVAC contractor. In 2007, he left private industry to practice public accounting, and went on to start his own business in 2009. His business, Belcher Deductions, is a proud member of the Chamber as well as AICPA and the CO Society of CPAs. “To make the transition from career accountant to business owner, I knew I needed to get out from behind the cubicle to interface with other business owners. The Chamber was and is the perfect mechanism that has bridged me to the terrific relationships I’ve developed. I’ve learned more on how to run a business just through informal chatting with Chamber investors who are real business owners than from a formal teaching environment for hire.” If Cory is not spending his free time with his wife and sons, you’ll find him out running, snowboarding, or golfing.