Taner Kodanaz, Board President
Taner is the Head of Foundation/Corporate Philanthropy Alliances for Promethean, Inc., a global leader in interactive learning technology. During the past 20 years, Taner has been responsible for industry and technology practices nationally, including marketing programs, business development initiatives, and delivery mechanisms. In addition to chairing the Board of Directors of RAFT Colorado, Taner chairs the Morgridge Family Foundation Grants committee and currently sits on the Development Board of National Jewish as head of the Corporate Relations committee. He is also involved with other local organizations, including The HeartLight Center and Families First.
Peter Van Veen, Vice President and Secretary
Peter served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Knowledge Learning Corporation, a leading national child care company. Peter transitioned to KLC during KLC’s acquisition of ARAMARK Educational Resources, Inc., (FKA Children’s World Learning Centers) where Peter had been serving as Chief Counsel and Executive Vice President. Prior to his employment in the child care industry, Peter was an attorney in the Denver office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. In addition to serving on RAFT Colorado’s Board of Directors as Vice President and Secretary, Peter is a board member of the Winter Park Highlands Homeowner’s Association and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Child Care Association.
Lloyd Sweet, Jr., CPA, Treasurer
Currently a consulting and tax partner at Eide Bailly, Lloyd has worked in the accounting industry since graduating in 1972. Lloyd specializes in working with entrepreneurs and business owners in structuring business transactions and entity formation, assisting with business succession planning, and working with management on a variety of tax and business matters. In addition to serving as RAFT Colorado’s treasurer, Lloyd is the President of Adam’s Camp’s Board of Directors and serves on the board and executive committee of Developmental Pathways. The Colorado Society of CPAs recognized Lloyd as their 2006 “Everyday Hero.”
Ginger Hecht
Ginger has been with Denver’s Office of Economic Development for four years, partnering local businesses with workforce programs to support urban youth training and career pathway programs. Ginger has an extensive background in corporate business, opening the cellular telephone markets in Denver, Bakersfield, and San Diego, and working with Lockheed Martin to translate HR needs into IS programming.
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson has more than 22 years of national commercial real estate experience. He is currently a principal at Radius Commercial Real Estate and became acquainted with RAFT Colorado and its mission in his tireless work to procure a location for our resource center. Dave is a member of Colorado Healthcare Strategy and Management Organization and the past chair of the Denver Cable Television Board in 1999-2000, which advised the City Council on the renewal of Denver’s Cable TV franchise.
Barry Kluger Bell, PhD
Barry is currently an Inquiry Science Education Consultant with a national practice. Before moving to Boulder in 2009, he spent more than 20 years at the San Francisco Exploratorium’s Institute for Inquiry. Barry received his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics from UC Berkeley and his PhD in Physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has written numerous articles about inquiry-based science education and his work has received financial support form the National Science Foundation.
Chris Myers
Chris is a social entrepreneur in the field of education, now launching a new venture, Myers Learning. Previously, Chris founded and served as CEO of the non-profit organization OpenWorld Learning, an award-winning after-school program that uses creative learning technologies developed at MIT to teach computer programming, engineering, and creative thinking. Chris began his career as an elementary school teacher and introduced the British Primary model to the Denver Public Schools.
Stephanie Welsh, Executive Director & Assistant Secretary
Stephanie is the current Executive Director of RAFT Colorado. Prior to accepting the position with RAFT, Stephanie served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Logan School in Denver, where she played a pivotal role in the success of the school’s $5 million capital campaign. Earlier in her career, Stephanie served as Assistant General Counsel of ARAMARK Educational Resources, Inc., where she advised and trained field and corporate management throughout the United States. Prior to that, Stephanie was employed as a litigation attorney with Holland & Hart, a prominent regional law firm.