STATE BILL COLORADO

Everyone knows Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is a geek, but the official Colorado website provides confirming evidence, below.

The good thing is he’s also recreational, as the photo suggests. And that helps the ski industry.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced a four-day economic development tour through Colorado in the wake of his Tuesday inauguration as the state’s 42nd governor.

Gov. Hickenlooper to tour Colorado to promote bottom-up economic development plan

DENVER ­— Thursday, Jan. 13, 2010 — Gov. John Hickenlooper will tour Colorado over the next four days to promote a bottom-up economic development plan. He will meet with business leaders, community members and local officials in a series of meetings to discuss job creation, government efficiencies and economic development and recovery.

“We are focusing on the local talent and resources in all 64 Colorado counties,” Hickenlooper said. “We want to chart a course for economic revival from the bottom up, county by county. This trip is the start of that process.”

Traveling with the Governor will be Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia; Reeves Brown, Executive Director of the Department of Local Affairs; Al White, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office; and other members of the Governor’s senior staff.

All meetings are open to the public.

Friday, Jan. 14, 2011

10:00 a.m. Location: Singletree Community Center, 1010 Berry Creek Road, Edwards.

3:00 p.m. Location: Fruita Community Center, 324 North Coulson St., Fruita.

Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011

10:00 a.m. Location: Strater Hotel, Pullman Room, 699 Main Ave., Durango.

3:00 a.m. Location: Rio Grande Annex Community Room, 965 6th St., Del Norte.

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011

1:00 p.m. Location: Spradley Community Center, Pueblo County Conference Room, 1001 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo.

4:00 p.m. Location: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs.

Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

10:00 a.m. Location: Limon Community Center, 477 D Ave., Limon.

3:00 p.m. Location: The Ranch, McKee Community Building, 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Here’s the text of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s state of the state address.

Most of us have faced a faced a serious budget problem or another at some pivotal moment in our lives.
Certainly, this is not my first time at the deficit rodeo.
Almost 20 years ago to the day, a person who knew that I loved old buildings coaxed me down 70 miles south of here to look at the only registered historical landmark in downtown Colorado Springs.
It was scheduled for demolition.
I bought that building from the bank, but despite previous successes in Denver and Fort Collins, I could not attract investors to save the old Cheyenne Hotel.
After almost two years of work, when the bank was on the verge of repossessing the building, our general contractor, the man – the legend – Chuck Murphy, saw another approach.
He called a meeting of all the subcontractors who had bid on the project – the electrician, the plumber, the sprinkler guy, all of the others – to come listen to the same pitch I’d been giving to wealthy investors.
Despite my skepticism that small businesspeople would accept such risk, they put their money down. We raised the last $150,000 from the subcontractors. They become my partners.
From that point on, everything was different.
I’ll never forget when the electrician came and was concerned about lighting in the bar. He suggested that we replace the deluxe fan system in our plans with an equally durable fan that also featured lights.
I asked was the extra cost was going to be, and he said I’m your partner, “Why would I add an extra cost?”
That’s how we built the Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.
The stakes are a lot bigger now, but I’m here today to ask you to become our partners in transforming Our Colorado.
We have to deal with a $1 billion shortfall; we have to cut red tape; we have to create new jobs. No one could do this by themselves.
We need everybody in this room, everybody who is listening to this speech, every state employee, every farmer, every rancher, every small business owner and every worker across the entire state of Colorado to decide that we need each other and we are going to pull together in these hard times.
My thanks to the President of the Senate Brandon Schaffer, to the Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, and also to Senate Majority Leader John Morse, Senate Majority Leader Amy Stephens, House Minority Leader Mike Kopp, House Minority Leader Sal Pace and to every one of you serving in the Colorado General Assembly.
To Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, Attorney General John Suthers, State Treasurer Walker Stapleton, Secretary of State Scott Gessler and the distinguished members of the Colorado Supreme Court who are with us today, I thank you for your commitment to Colorado.
Thank you to our newly-elected Sen. Michael Bennet and Denver’s glorious new Mayor Bill Vidal – both are there today. Congratulations to you both.
I want to especially thank my wife, Helen, and our son, Teddy, my 84-year-old step-father Bill McDonald (who was still listening to OneRepublic at 11:30 Tuesday night) and brother Sydney Kennedy, who without pay helped build each of our restaurants in Colorado, and the members of my cabinet and Governor’s Office staff who are joining me in this journey of public service. And to all of the state employees, I look forward to working with you.
For those of you like me who are newly elected, I want to extend a special acknowledgement.
No matter what your party affiliation may be, your willingness to contribute to Colorado by putting yourselves forward for public service is honorable.
Without exception, we have been impressed that so many of you have reached out, expressing a sincere commitment to roll up your sleeves and work collaboratively.
The dictionary defines “collaboration” as “a process of working together for shared goals.”
If ever there was a time in our history calling out for a spirit of collaboration to solve big problems, it is now.
So it’s clear that we have a great deal of work to do in the next 119 days.
The only way we are going to succeed is if we work together.
JOBS
Our top priority must be jobs.
Sustainable jobs are created by the private sector.
Our task must be to support that job growth, while also maintaining the highest ethical and environmental safeguards.
Listening to Coloradans, understanding the vision every county has for its economic future, is the first step. We need to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive in Colorado.
The economic plan we are proposing is not a top-down, government mandated scheme. It’s a bottom-up, community-based initiative that will reflect the priorities of your constituents.
The global recession did not start in Colorado, but we are convinced we can end it here.
There are many reasons to feel hopeful. We have made huge strides with renewable energy and have the potential to grow more and greener jobs.
We’ve got the Colorado Advantage: a great quality of life and unlimited economic potential; people want to live here; and we have outstanding universities, vibrant culture, unmatched recreational assets – not to mention the stunning Colorado landscapes.
And the kind of people who choose to live here are themselves a resource – they attract companies to Colorado by providing the creativity and innovation that helps businesses grow.
On my first day as your new governor, I signed executive orders designed to spur job creation, attract investors and cut red tape.
In the days ahead, I would like to see if we could look at adding a regulatory impact statement to new legislation. Just as we require a fiscal note for every new bill that estimates the costs to state government, we could also include an estimation of the cost to businesses of additional regulations.
We also hope that every bill you consider passing will be viewed through the lens of its impact on our economic growth. This doesn’t mean we compromise our standards or put our land, air or water at risk, but it does mean that we’ll keep a fierce and even relentless focus on jobs.
For example, we know there are several bills you are considering that will establish a venture capital fund for small businesses. We will work with you on these proposals and look forward to working with you and helping create a strong public-private partnership.
We invite you to participate in the process we are charting to develop a new state economic strategy. Over the next four days, as I travel to your districts across Colorado, I would like your help in getting the support of local business and civic organizations to create these plans.
Your involvement, as a real partner with our administration, could mean the difference between success and failure.
BUDGET
Just like families across Colorado do at their kitchen tables, we have to sit down at this kitchen table and make difficult choices in order to pay our bills, manage our expenses and live within our means in obviously leaner times.
How we bring our budget into balance and put Colorado on a sustainable fiscal path will be perhaps the most important legacy of this legislative session.
The challenge is daunting. We are currently face a shortfall for the next fiscal year of roughly $1 billion.
We thank you for all the hard work that has been done so far. Now it’s time to take the next step.
I’ve met with the Joint Budget Committee and am encouraged by the leadership represented there.
Chair Mary Hodge, Rep. Cheri Gerou and all the members of the JBC, are knowledgeable and experienced leaders. We look forward to working with them.
We’ve done something unique to compliment the bipartisan spirit of the JBC and that is to create our own bipartisan budget team. My budget director, Henry Sobanet, worked for Gov. Bill Owens. My senior advisor, Todd Saliman, worked for Gov. Bill Ritter.
They are both experienced state budget experts and they also work well together and respect each other. We are proud to have both of them on our team.
Our state Constitution requires us to balance the budget annually. We can do better. We propose looking at the state budget challenge from a multi-year perspective, just like any business would do. We are working with our budget team to develop proposals that span more than one fiscal year and will share these ideas with you in the weeks ahead.
We view our task in three parts: making the hard decisions to balance the annual budget; improving how we spend the money we have; and restoring structural balance to our spending and tax rules.
We cannot fix all of these items this year or even in this building. But a long-term plan is critical to Colorado’s future.
We don’t doubt how difficult this work will be – no one in this room took office to cut programs that our needed and used by some of our most vulnerable citizens. No one wants to vote to support a budget that cuts education when clearly we need to instead find ways to better support our school districts and colleges.
This legislative session we are going to engage in very direct, very pragmatic conversations about what we can and cannot afford to do as a state government.
We are going to undertake a frank analysis of how and where government works – what is the real impact being realized in terms of tax dollars being spent. And for those programs and policies that while undertaken with good intent but have not proven to be effective. We are going to collectively make the decision on where to cut.
Our goal is to redefine the role of government to match what the people of this state can afford.
We have already directed my cabinet to identify savings, redundancies and efficiencies in each department.
We also have to look for meaningful consolidation. We’ve already begun this process in the administration already by combining some jobs and consolidating others. At the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, for example, we’ve combined the Chief Medical Officer position and the office of the Executive Director.
Thanks to Speaker McNulty, Minority Leader Pace and President Schaffer and Minority Leader Kopp, with the support of Rep. Swordfeger (swerd-fig-er) form Pueblo we are also making savings in the Lieutenant Governor’s office by authorizing our great partner, Joe Garcia, to take on two jobs – his constitutional role as Lieutenant Governor and leading the state’s Department of Higher Education.
We also want to express my sincere appreciation to Attorney General Suthers and his staff. They’ve been a great partner with us in all of these efforts.
EDUCATION
Education is the social bedrock for the hopes and dreams of our children and the foundation that is necessary for their future prosperity.
No community can have sustained economic growth without a good education system.
The link between education and economic development is clear. Ask any business leader thinking of moving or relocating a business to another state and she’ll likely tell you that tax incentives and public subsidies matter less than a state’s quality of life and the excellence of its schools.
Beyond economics, however, we have a moral obligation to the children of Colorado to do all that we can in the midst of this economic downturn to see that our budget decisions avoid compromising their future.
The past four years have marked Colorado as a leader in education reform and we have important work to see through – both the goal of ensuring a student-centered education system articulated in CAP4K and the creation of a fair and effective educator evaluation system. We must change the dynamic that a child’s potential not be predetermined by his or her ZIP code.
We cannot give you a magic prescription for avoiding cuts in K-12 education, or a sustainable means of funding higher education.
We have read, and commend to you, a strategic plan recently completed by Gov. Ritter’s citizen panel led by Rico Munn and co-chaired by Jim Lyons and Dick Monfort, outlining the stark choices we must make for higher education in Colorado.
We have asked Lt. Gov. Garcia to pick up where this important report leaves off and to work with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to help us make the tough decisions.
In the end, we believe we’ll need to engage all of Colorado in a serious conversation about the value of higher education. As somebody who chose to start a new business in the midst of a previous recession, let me tell you, this doesn’t have to be the time to limit our investments or our dreams.
HEALTH CARE
We have a different kind of challenge when it comes to health care. The changes made in Washington, whether you support the new law or not, have to be addressed by the states.
We are better poised than others to develop the architecture for health care exchanges. Decisions made by the last administration and the Legislature have created an opportunity for Colorado to do a better and a more efficient job of providing health care than many other states.
In fact, the new health care law includes some opportunities for innovation and redesign of our local health care system, in ways that can both save the state money and improve the health of our citizens. One such option is the creation of what are called “Health Care Homes” for individuals for chronic diseases.
By adopting new standards and designs, we can substantially reduce the state share of expenses that we provide for primary care. It will be strategies like this and the passage of last year’s hospital provider fee that both improve our system and reduce our financial burden.
WATER
Colorado’s future depends upon how we cultivate our intellectual treasures and our natural resources. Much attention has been devoted to a debate about energy, the right balance between developing natural gas, coal and renewable energies.
But the natural resource that may, in the end, have the greatest impact on Colorado’s economic growth, is water.
A recent report by the Inter-Basin Compact Committee makes clear that a “status quo” approach to water will inevitably lead to pressures that harm our environment and dry up precious agricultural land.
We cannot let that happen.
The IBCC and other water leaders and stakeholders across Colorado are ready to work in a comprehensive way to develop strategies, especially conservation, to ensure that our cities and rural communities are both protected.
We want this effort close to the Governor’s Office but to send a clear and unambiguous message that water is a top priority in this administration.
We’ll take this ethic of collaboration and the search for common-ground to other issues besides water. Protecting our environment, keeping our air clean, conserving the natural beauty that defines Colorado – these are values we cherish and we won’t sacrifice them.
In this regard, we are surely on the right path as we implement legislation that was signed into law last year, the Clean Air Clean Jobs Act. This law places Colorado at the forefront in reducing pollutants, creating jobs and while it hasn’t been without controversy, we shouldn’t move backwards.
EFFICIENCY
In each of the areas that I’ve discussed this morning – jobs, budget, education, health care and the environment – we believe we have an opportunity to build greater public confidence in good government.
We know that government is not the same as running a restaurant, but there are lessons from the private sector that have an application here.
Like the electrician who knew about the durable fan that also provided better lighting, you’re going to have ideas about how to make state government more efficient, more effective and more elegant. Let me explain what I mean.
Effective. Let’s measure every aspect of government to be sure it’s doing what it’s supposed to do. Let’s look at outcomes to judge whether our programs are successful.
Efficient. Services should be delivered in ways that are timely and effective. We will review every program, identify waste and duplication and measure for efficiency – at the lowest possible cost.
Elegant. When I say elegant, I’m not talking about fashion – you can tell that, just look at me. I’m talking about the delivery of state services in a way that elevates both the state employee and the person receiving state services. When someone applies for a driver’s license or inspection they shouldn’t feel disrespected by the interaction, and neither should the state employee. This is the essence of customer service.
All of these changes require a fundamental shift in the culture of government, and we have no more important partner in this effort than our state employees. Making government more effective, efficient and elegant means listening to our state employees and learning from them how we can do better.
We will visit state offices across Colorado in search of ideas for efficiency, and ways to re-design the delivery of services.
CONCLUSION
Members of the General Assembly, it’s a little warmer in here than it was on the steps of the Capitol on Tuesday.
Now as Gov. Ritter suggested I should get one minute of speaking for every degree in temperature. We checked the thermostat on the way in, and it’s about 70 degrees in these chambers which means I have another I’m about a third of a way let me check my watch just kidding. I have only one more point to add.
A lot of people don’t think the state can operate in a nonpartisan way for the benefit of Colorado.
We think we can do that even with something as politically charged as redistricting. We believe this process can be accomplished in this session given the bipartisan work you have already begun.
Colorado will be best served if lines are drawn to promote competitive districts, and we look forward to working with you to accomplish this goal.
We called our transition effort “Partners for Colorado” for a reason. We see each and every Coloradan as a member of our administration, with a stake in our decision-making and an invitation to share good ideas.
Like that general contractor in Colorado Springs who saved the Cheyenne Hotel, we are looking for people who want to make the project succeed.
That doesn’t mean we are always going to agree on everything. We know we will have our differences.
But the important thing is that we keep talking until we figure out the right solutions for Colorado.
Together, we have the opportunity to redefine the role of government and to redefine how we govern. I charge this collective body to believe that each of your colleagues is here with good intent and has undertaken the role of public service to do the right thing for the people of this state and for our future.
Together, we can work to show the people of Colorado that we are here to serve them, and that our efforts reflect the Western values of hard work, honesty and respect. And let’s not forget humor. Or the value of sharing a beer after a hard day’s work.
We have important work to do together.
Let’s get to it.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. John Hickenlooper was inaugurated as Colorado’s 42nd governor on Tuesday. Here’s how news organizations treated the story.

The Pueblo Chieftain: There’s room for everyone at Colorado’s kitchen table, Gov. John Hickenlooper said during his inauguration on Tuesday. The challenge of the next four years will be keeping everybody fed.

AOL Politics Daily: They were swilling pints of Hickenlooper’s Inaugurale in Denver Tuesday, toasting John Hickenlooper, the former brewpub owner, mayor and now Colorado governor — a Democrat billed as a bipartisan solution in a purple state.

State Bill Colorado: Former Denver mayor and newly sworn in Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper wasted no time addressing the state’s economic woes, announcing in his inaugural speech three executive orders aimed at creating jobs.

The Denver Post: On a morning that demanded both sunglasses and long underwear, John Hickenlooper was sworn in Tuesday as Colorado’s 42nd governor, vowing to chart a bipartisan, business-friendly course and start work on improving the state’s anemic economy.

Associated Press: Hickenlooper joked after the address that he was so cold he couldn’t feel his fingers to turn the pages of his speech.

The Durango Herald: It was Jan. 12, 2010, when John Hickenlooper walked from Denver’s City Hall, across a park and up the steps of the state Capitol to announce his campaign for governor. He returned Tuesday, one day shy of a year later – this time with a military band playing “Hail to the Chief” – swore an oath on the Bible and became Colorado’s 42nd governor.

State Bill Colorado: Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, inaugurated today, elaborated on themes of civil discourse in the wake of the Arizona shootings and also gave more background on three executive orders he signed today.

State Bill Colorado: Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter appended this note for incoming Gov. John Hickenlooper to a painting in the governor’s office.

7News: New Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has a long first day in office.

The Grand Junction Sentinel: None of the state’s Republican congressmen attended the event, including newly elected U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton of the 3rd Congressional District.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Gov. John Hickenlooper, inaugurated today, signed a fourth executive order that creates an education leadership council.

It supersedes Executive Order B 003 07 creating the Governor’s P-20 Education Coordinating Council. That order was issued by Hickenlooper’s predecessor, Bill Ritter.

The announcement and the text of the order follow.

Gov. Hickenlooper signs Executive Order to create Education Leadership Council

DENVER ­— Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper attended a luncheon today for the My Colorado student contest winners and signed an executive order to create the Governor’s Education Leadership Council.

“Our state’s future is only as strong as our students and their ability to gain a world-class education,” Hickenlooper said. “By establishing this leadership council, we are building on past successful initiatives and ensuring a skilled workforce to compete in a global economy.”

The Governor’s Education Leadership Council will be housed in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and will replace the previous Governor’s P-20 Educating Coordinating Council.

“Under Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia’s leadership,” Hickenlooper said, “we will help current students and future generations find the best education, regardless of geographic location, social or economic background.”

This is the fourth Executive Order signed today by Gov. Hickenlooper:

B 2010-010

EXECUTIVE ORDER

Creating the Governor’s Education Leadership Council

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Office of the Governor of the State of Colorado, I, John Hickenlooper, Governor of the State of Colorado, hereby issue this Executive Order creating the Governor’s Education Leadership Council to be housed in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order B 003 07 creating the Governor’s P-20 Education Coordinating Council.

I. Background, Need, and Purpose

Colorado is a resource rich state, and its most vital resource is its people. Just as we cultivate our natural resources to make Colorado a more prosperous state, so too we must invest in and cultivate our citizens. Each successive generation must foster the development of its future teachers, entrepreneurs, farmers, small business owners, and professionals. To be competitive in the global marketplace, Colorado’s businesses and industries require increasing numbers of highly skilled employees. The state’s economic competitiveness and the prosperity and quality of life of its individual residents depend on the universal excellence and competitiveness of its public education systems. Colorado must educate its way to a stronger economy.

The 21st century talent pipeline must be inclusive, diverse, and reach all communities, regardless of their location, setting, or resources. It must be a seamless continuum from cradle to college, encompassing the state’s early childhood efforts at one end and world-class postsecondary institutions at the other. It must cultivate talent from the earliest stages of life, prepare students for successful entry into formal education systems, train students to be ready for entry into postsecondary or workforce pursuits upon completion of compulsory education, and ensure that only motivation and interest determine whether a student will enter into and complete postsecondary studies.

Between 2007 and 2010, the Governor’s P-20 Education Coordinating Council was successful in fulfilling the requirements of Executive Order B 003 07. The P-20 Education Coordinating Council created numerous recommendations for the improved alignment and design of the state’s early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary education systems. During this same timeframe, the Colorado General Assembly passed several additional laws and the Colorado State Board of Education passed rules with profound and far reaching implications for reforming the state’s education systems; the Colorado Commission on Higher Education prepared a forward-looking strategic plan and launched a statewide master planning process; and the Early Childhood Leadership Commission adopted the Early Childhood Colorado Framework as a strategic guide.

If implemented successfully, these initiatives hold the promise to align the state’s education systems, improve the quality of instruction throughout the state, and allow all students, regardless of their geographic location, ancestry, or personal wealth, to prepare for full participation in the increasingly demanding and competitive Colorado economy. The successful implementation of these laws is not the responsibility of one agency or board, but is a shared obligation of the executive and legislative branches of government, locally elected school boards and district administrators, educators in classrooms, early childhood providers, and postsecondary governing boards and administrators. Additionally, the ultimate success of these initiatives requires the involvement and support of parents, health care and human service providers, community partners, and the private sector.

Therefore, to deliver on the collective promise of the state’s recent education reforms and continue the cross-system dialogue that recently facilitated broad agreement on the direction of the future and functions of the state’s education systems, it is imperative that the Office of the Governor continues to provide a meaningful forum through which the state’s leadership can examine the current status of education policies, analyze the systems’ near-term opportunities and challenges, and make recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, and governing boards regarding potential long-term improvements to the state’s education systems that facilitate the goals of closing achievement gaps in schools, reducing the high school dropout rate, and dramatically increasing the number of postsecondary degrees and certificates earned by the state’s citizens.

For these purposes, the Education Leadership Council has been created.

II. Mission and Scope

A. The Education Leadership Council shall be housed in the Lieutenant Governor’s office. The Lieutenant Governor will be responsible for chairing the council, scheduling the meetings, setting the agenda, and reporting to the Governor.

B. The scope of the Education Leadership Council shall be to improve Colorado’s standing in the country as a leader in providing 21st century learning opportunities from birth through graduate school.

C. The purpose of the Education Leadership Council shall be to provide a forum for discussing the progress of the implementation and synchronization of the education reform initiatives recently enacted and any additional major reform initiatives that are enacted during the duration of the commission.

D. The Education Leadership Council shall also provide a forum to discuss policy initiatives that should be created, implemented or promoted for the purpose of addressing any of the issues identified in the Background, Need and Purpose statement of this Executive Order as well as efforts intended to address the following topics:

1. improving school readiness;

2. reducing dropout rates;

3. easing transitions between systems and institutions;

4. closing achievement gaps among members of different income, racial and ethnic groups;

5. reducing remediation rates for students entering higher education;

6. increasing student retention and graduation rates;

7. increasing the number of degrees and certificates awarded; and

8. removing barriers for entry into college and the performance of graduates.

E. The Education Leadership Council shall facilitate conversations to discuss the status of reform initiatives and, as needed, formulate recommendations, including possible legislative and policy remedies, needed for their accomplishment.

F. The Education Leadership Council shall guide the efforts of the governor to strategically and intentionally engage the private sector and foundation community to address current gaps in the education pipeline by leveraging their resources with existing public sector dollars.

G. The Education Leadership Council shall provide a report on its activities and recommendations to the Governor, General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Colorado Commission on Higher Education at the end of each calendar year of its formal existence.

H. The Education Leadership Council shall meet regularly and shall determine its own meeting schedule.

III. Membership

A. The Education Leadership Council shall be composed of members appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor.

B. Required members of the Education Leadership Council shall include, but not be limited to the following members:

1. the Lieutenant Governor, who will serve as Chairman of the Council,

2. the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education or his or her designee from the Department of Higher Education,

3. the Commissioner of Education or his or her designee from the Department of Education,

4. the Chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education or his or her designee from the CCHE,

5. the Chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education or his or her designee from the SBE,

6. the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee or his or her designee from the Senate Education Committee,

7. the Chairman of the House Education Committee or his or her designee from the House Education Committee,

8. the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Leadership Commission or his or her designee,

9. the Executive Director of Health and Human Services,

10. at least one member who is a member of a local school board,

11. at least one member who is a school superintendent or building principal,

12. at least one member who is a classroom teacher,

13. at least one member who is a board member of or administrator at a public charter school,

14. at least one member who is a postsecondary administrator representing the two-year sector,

15. at least one member who is a postsecondary administrator or instructor representing the four-year sector,

16. at least one member who represents private businesses or industries in Colorado,

17. at least one member who represents an organization that supports or has expertise in infant health and development, and

18. any other citizens of the State of Colorado that the Governor considers suitable for the council.

C. The Education Leadership Council may create subcommittees as needed to address specific issues and may, at the discretion of the Council, invite experts, consultants, and ex officio members to support the work of the subcommittees.

IV. Staffing and Resources

Staff in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and Office of the Governor shall provide to the Education Leadership Council necessary support, information, data, analytical information, and administrative support.

The Education Leadership Council shall have the power to accept money and in-kind contributions from private entities and persons only to the extent such donations are necessary to cover its expenses. Any money contributed to the Education Leadership Council shall be directed to the Office of the Governor and deposited with the Treasurer of the State of Colorado in an account within the Office of the Governor’s budget. Members of the Education Leadership Council shall serve without compensation, but may, at the discretion of the chair and approval of the Office of the Governor, be reimbursed for any actual expenses incurred.

V. Directive

The Governor’s Education Leadership Council is hereby created. . This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order B 003 07 creating the Governor’s P-20 Education Coordinating Council.

VI. Duration

This Executive Order shall remain in force unless modified or rescinded earlier by a subsequent Executive Order

GIVEN under my hand and the

Executive Seal of the State of

Colorado, eleventh day

of January, 2011.

John W. Hickenlooper

Governor

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Photo: Jamie Cotten, State Bill Colorado

STATE BILL COLORADO

Former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter appended this note for incoming Gov. John Hickenlooper to a painting in the governor’s office.

The painting is of a peaceful Colorado mountain scene featuring an angler on a trout stream.

Ritter drew an arrow towards the angler. The note reads: “John, I’ll be easy to find. Bill.”

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Video: 9News

Editor’s Note: The text of Gov. Hickenlooper’s speech follows this report.

By Matt Masich, STATE BILL COLORADO

Former Denver mayor and newly sworn in Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper wasted no time addressing the state’s economic woes, announcing in his inaugural speech three executive orders aimed at creating jobs.

The first is an initiative for all 64 Colorado counties “to chart a course for economic revival from the bottom up.” Hickenlooper said he will on Friday begin a four-day trip across the state to kick start the program.

The second executive order will create a governor’s trade and tourism ambassador program, in which volunteer ambassadors will spread the word about “the Colorado advantage” to the national and global business communities, branding the state as one that welcomes entrepreneurs.

The third executive order is designed to streamline the state’s relationship with its counties.

Hickenlooper promised a government that is lean, yet efficient and effective. He learned budgeting and the value of a dollar from his mother, a child of the Great Depression. Everything in his administration will be measured, Hickenlooper said. In a moment of levity, he mentioned he had even measured the number of steps it took to walk across Civic Center Park from his old office in the City and County Building to the State Capitol — 663.

But Coloradans shouldn’t scale back their ambitions along with their budget, he said.
“While we recognize the limitations of government, we don’t’ have to, nor should we limit our dreams of what Colorado can be,” Hickenlooper said.

Education is critical to making the state attractive to business. Colorado has one of the most highly educated workforces in the country.

A large crowd turned out in chilly weather for the inauguration, which also featured the swearing in of Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, Attorney General John Suthers, Secretary of State Scott Gessler and Treasurer Walker Stapleton.

Former Gov. Bill Ritter spoke briefly, noting that he should as a rule not speak longer in minutes than the temperature in degrees, adding, “It’s four degrees.”

Hickenlooper took the reins of government with his trademark good humor, tempered by a recognition of the solemnity of the occasion.

“A wise man told me humility has at least two essential ingredients. It’s knowing that any aspect of your life can collapse in an instant, and sincere gratitude that it has not,” he said.

“I came here to study rocks and ended up selling beer. I could not be more humbled to be your governor and am deeply, deeply grateful.”

John Hickenlooper was sworn in Tuesday as Colorado’s 42nd governor.

Here is the text of Hickenlooper’s inauguration speech as prepared for delivery:

A wise man told me: Humility has at least two essential ingredients – it is knowing that any aspect of your life can collapse in an instant, and sincere gratitude that it has not.

Some might say I am not your traditional elected leader. I struggled in school, was laid off when my first career collapsed, and had to work many years of long hours running restaurants.

I came to Colorado to study rocks … and ended up selling beer.

I could not be more humbled to be your Governor, and I am deeply grateful.

So to the people of Colorado, I want to first say, thank you.

We face challenging times and I am proud that we will face them together. We are Coloradans. We are not daunted by a little cold weather. We don’t shrink from high passes or hard work. With the current challenge comes a great opportunity to put aside our differences and work to make Colorado – Our Colorado – a model of prosperity and good government.

Helen and Teddy and I would like to express our warm appreciation and gratitude to the people who have taken this journey with us. First among these is my running mate, Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, and his wife, Claire, and their family. Joe’s leadership and keen insight into the educational needs of the next generation will serve our state well.

Let me congratulate those who take office in this term: Attorney General John Suthers, Treasurer Walker Stapleton and Secretary of State Scott Gessler. I know we share the same love for this state and belief in its better future.

We have such strong partners with us today – Sen. Mark Udall and Sen. Michael Bennet, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Congressman Ed Perlmutter and Congressman Jared Polis – working for Colorado in Washington. And here at home, our partners are Senate President Brandon Shaffer and Minority Leader Mike Kopp House Speaker Frank McNulty and Minority Leader Sal Pace – and all the members of the Colorado legislature. We look forward to the work ahead and we appreciate the commitment that’s been shown already to governing together. I also want to acknowledge members of the Colorado Supreme Court who are with us today.

And to Gov. Bill Ritter: Thank you.

Thank you for defining Colorado as the epicenter for renewable energy and for keeping the education andhealth of our kids at the top of your agenda.

Thank you so much for all of your service to Colorado. Your administration has provided us with a smooth and complete transition. We are grateful to them and to you.

On behalf of all Coloradans, we thank you and Jeannie for your service and wish you Godspeed in your new endeavors.

As Helen and I walked over from Denver’s City Hall this morning, I was reminded that we made nearly the same walk 365 days ago to announce our campaign for Governor.

It was only a few steps – well, actually, 663 steps to be exact … we will measure everything in our new administration – but it was also the beginning of a great journey that took us to every county in Colorado. We visited feedlots and fish hatcheries, cheese plants and cracker companies, and wind farms and gas fields. We even found our way to more than a few brewpubs.

We saw old friends and made new ones. From the red rocks of the Book Cliffs to the cherry orchards of the North Fork, from high ranches in the Flattops to the high plains of Hugo, the Flatirons to Grand Mesa, we experienced the extraordinary beauty and diversity that all of Colorado has to offer. Along the way, we found ourselves sitting at a number of kitchen tables.

The kitchen table is where household decisions are made. It’s where parents write grocery lists and kids do their homework. It’s where families share their laughter and concerns, their joys and sorrows. There, in the heart of a family’s home, you could hear the heartbeat of Colorado.

Let me tell you, that heartbeat is strong.

Even in these most difficult of times, the people of Colorado persevere and grow stronger.

This economic downturn goes beyond statistics and forecasts. It’s personal. All of us know someone who has lost a job. We know someone who went back to work after retiring because their nest egg cracked along with Wall Street. And we know someone burdened with anxiety and fear about the pink slip that might appear tomorrow.

As Franklin Roosevelt reminded my mother’s generation, fear is both contagious and debilitating.

My mother knew something about hard times. In the middle of the Great Depression – when she was just 13 years old – her father’s business, the Old Orchard Distillery, went bankrupt, changing the family’s fortunes forever. My mother lost two husbands, one to war … one to cancer. And yet, I never heard her complain or feel sorry for herself. She never blamed anyone.

The lessons she learned were brought home to our kitchen table. My older sisters Betsy and Deb, and my older brother Sydney, traveled great distances to join us today. As kids, we all learned that you don’t spend what you don’t have; you don’t use up your savings on things you may want but don’t need; and while no one would call my mom an entrepreneur, I learned a lot about business from her.

Even in adversity, she was an optimist. She was good at pinching a penny and above all she believed that hard work could overcome almost anything.

My mother’s story is not unique, nor is her wisdom unfamiliar around Holyoke or Cortez, Craig or Walden. Our families may all sit at different kitchen tables but the talk is much the same. Our need for meaningful work, and our desire to see our children prosper and be healthy … it’s the same at every kitchen table across Colorado. To make those dreams come true, we need jobs.

Our first task, our highest priority, is jobs.

We will help businesses expand and protect the jobs we have, we will attract new jobs, and we will unleash the entrepreneurial spirit that has always defined Colorado through her history.

We will also face our budget challenge squarely. We will make the hard choices necessary to balance Colorado’s budget just like families do at their kitchen tables.

Today, I will sign several Executive Orders. The first order requires state government to join in partnership with local communities in creating jobs and designing economic development plans that are uniquely suited to these communities. This effort, focusing on the use of local talent and resources, is an initiative for all 64 counties – from Dolores to Douglas, from Mineral to Morgan … and all the places in between. We will chart a course for economic revival from the bottom up, county by county. On Friday, I will embark on a four-day trip around the state to begin this process.

Our second Executive Order places a new emphasis on global opportunities as an engine for job creation. Business is about relationships. This order will create the Governor’s Trade and Tourism Ambassador Program. We intend to enlist Colorado-related businesses and individuals living in other states and countries who have a stake in Colorado. These volunteer ambassadors will spread the word about Colorado, brand us as a state that welcomes innovation and new investment, and help us spur international tourism and export opportunities.

A third Executive Order begins the task of making the State a more effective partner with our counties. It provides for more flexibility and less bureaucracy; more freedom with fewer mandates. It also sends a message to the private sector that we mean to cut red tape, make licenses and regulations more rational and easier to understand, and that we mean to do it as a partner with local communities.

By taking specific actions today, we want the people of Colorado to know that we heard you and we shareyour urgency to get Colorado back to work. We also heard you want a leaner and less partisan government. We recruited people for our Cabinet, independent of political backgrounds, who will put our state first and bring the commitment needed to meet our fiscal challenges. We chose them because they share our values of competence, integrity and compassion.

Their job will be to help us shrink government while still being effective and efficient. They have not been asked – nor will they be expected – to provide a partisan perspective. Their work will define Colorado as a beacon of good government, where innovation and customer service is part of the daily exercise of every state employee. As business is attracted to excellence, this emphasis on good government must be a cornerstone of our economic revival.

We will measure everything we do and make changes where change makes sense. We will protect our land and water and preserve the natural beauty that helps define Colorado. Above all, we will focus on education as the social bedrock for the hopes and dreams of our children and the quality of their jobs.

In these most challenging of times, while we recognize the limitations of government, we don’t have to – nor should we – limit our dreams of what Colorado must be.

Colorado must be a place known for embracing young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas and innovative ventures.

Colorado must be a place where kids get a world-class education preparing them for the rigors of leadership and the jobs that will define prosperity in the 21st century.

Colorado must be a place where our college degrees and the learning they signify are the envy of every other state.

Colorado must be a place where we are known, not only for the beauty of our landscapes and wonders of nature, but also for the advance of new technologies and new ways of powering the economy.

Why Colorado more than any other place? We have one of the most highly-educated work forces in America. We have perhaps the highest percentage of any state, of people who came here not for a job or promotion, but for our quality of life. And they have kept coming even through this long, hard recession.

Plus, we have the best beer. Rest assured, we will be obsessive in spreading the word about the Colorado advantage.

We can be hopeful about our future. We can be bold. We will come through this rough time because we have emerged from rough times before – because we are resilient and undaunted. We’ll do it by working together in the best tradition of the West. Like every river runner knows, when you get into rough water everybody paddles.

There’s a Yiddish word, “landsman” (londs-man) which, roughly translated, means “a fellow villager” – a stranger, perhaps, but still someone you welcome because you know they share a common connection in the village of your ancestors.

I think we can learn from this Yiddish expression and the warmth it evokes.

This value doesn’t spring from government. But it can teach all of us to govern together. I feel that every Coloradan is member of our administration.

As we traveled the state this last year, we didn’t speak ill of those who disagreed with us – and we refused to make personal attacks.

Today, perhaps more than ever, our relationships must be defined by respect, our discourse must be civil and tolerant.

And so, I invite you all to join us at Colorado’s kitchen table and to plan our future. Because this is Our Colorado.

God bless the state of Colorado.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

The HR chief for Kaiser Permanente locally is John Hickenlooper’s choice to succeed Rich Gonzales at the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration.

The full press release follows.

Kathy Nesbitt named Executive Director of Department of Personnel and Administration

DENVER ­— Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011 — Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today Kathy Nesbitt will be Executive Director of the Department of Personnel and Administration.

Nesbitt is now Director of Human Resources for Kaiser Permanente in Denver. She is an attorney who has more than 14 years of Human Resources and leadership experience.

“Kathy is a true human resources professional whose experience includes negotiating, labor relations and workers compensation,” Hickenlooper said. “She shares our commitment to providing outstanding customer service and we are pleased to have her as part of our team.”

Nesbitt is now a key member of the Kaiser leadership team that provides human resource services to more than 5,000 employees in the health care organization.

“It is essential that the Department of Personnel and Administration support the state’s workforce in the most cost-efficient and effective manner,” Nesbitt said. “I look forward to helping to ensure the state remains a great place to work.”

Nesbitt earlier worked as a staff attorney for Mountain States Employers Counsel and an employment attorney at Qwest Communications. She also worked as a staff attorney at Kaiser before returning later as a human resources leader and counsel.

Nesbitt, a native of Denver, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and a juris doctorate from Southern University Law Center.

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About the Department of Personnel and Administration

The Department provides centralized human resources for the state’s approximately 38,000 employees, as well as the information, tools, resources and materials needed for Colorado state government to function. The Department provides much of the infrastructure to support the operations of state government agencies and departments. Led by its executive office, the Department operates through five divisions: Finance and Procurement, Central Services, Human Resources, Office of the State Controller, and Office of Administrative Courts.

About Partners for Colorado

Partners for Colorado is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation created to engage a diverse group of people from all over Colorado; ensure a smooth hand-off from the Ritter administration to the Hickenlooper administration; review the current performance, challenges and opportunities of each major area of state government and develop recommendations for improving practices within these areas; provide recommendations to the incoming administration for specific executive and legislative actions that can be pursued during the administration’s first 100 days; and recruit and evaluate candidates.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

On his last full day in office, Gov. Bill Ritter announced a number of college-board appointments.

Those appointed include outgoing Democratic House Speaker Terrance Carroll to the Metropolitan State College board and outgoing Democratic Rep. Buffie McFadyen to the Adams State College Board.

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO HIGHER ED BOARDS

Gov. Bill Ritter today announced appointments to various boards overseeing state colleges around the state, marking the final appointments of his term in office. Since January 2007, Gov. Ritter has named more than 3,200 people to state boards. Today’s nominations:

Colorado State University Board of Governors

Leonard W. Gregory of Pueblo West, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Bonifacio A. Cosyleon of Pueblo, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education

Anthony L. Leffert of Denver, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

James M. Johnson of Colorado Springs, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

John U. Trefny of Golden, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees

Matthew S. Wassam of Sedalia, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Peter R. Decker or Ridgway, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Adams State College Board of Trustees

Liane “Buffie” McFadyen of Pueblo West, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Timothy L. Walters of Alamosa, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Metropolitan State College of Denver Board of Trustees

Terrance D. Carroll of Denver, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Ellen S. Robinson, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Michelle M. Lucero of Littleton, re-appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Western State College of Colorado Board of Trustees

Linda A. Clark of Denver, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

Todd M. Wheeler of Castle Rock, appointed to a term expiring Dec. 31, 2014

For more information about Colorado boards and commissions, or to obtain an application, visit the Boards and Commission website, e-mail boards@state.co.us, or call 303.866.6380.

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STATE BILL COLORADO

Incoming Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia will do double duty this year, acting as No. 2 to Gov. John Hickenlooper and also serving as head of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.

Garcia, who will be inaugurated tomorrow, was most recently president of Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Hickenlooper, who made the appointment, said it’s unclear whether legislation will be required for Garcia to serve in both posts. The governor-elect is working with both the General Assembly and the Attorney General’s Office on that front.

“Higher education is critical to work force development,” Garcia said. “I am committed to making sure that we are ready to retain, expand and attract jobs to Colorado with a well-educated work force and we can’t achieve our goal of remaining competitive without high quality, affordable colleges and universities.”

The full press release follows.

Lt. Gov.-elect Joe Garcia named to lead the Colorado Department of Higher Education

DENVER ­— Monday,  Jan. 10, 2011 — Gov.-elect John Hickenlooper announced today Lt. Gov.-elect Joseph “Joe” Garcia will also serve as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education.

“Joe Garcia is in a unique position to wear two hats in state government,” Hickenlooper said. “He is a known leader with tremendous expertise in education. He also understands the challenges facing higher education because he’s led a community college and a university. Allowing Garcia to serve in two roles will save money and serve the taxpayers of Colorado without compromising the work of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office or the Department of Higher Education. Joe will bring wisdom, experience and passion to the job.”

Garcia most recently worked as president of Colorado State University-Pueblo and energized the campus by considering nontraditional solutions to longstanding issues. While there, he helped the school overcome stagnant enrollment, a mediocre reputation and financial difficulties.

He also worked with local alumni and parents to raise private funds to bring back a football program that had been abandoned in 1984. The effort, coupled with several new student-oriented facilities to make the campus more attractive, contributed to a two-fold increase in freshman enrollment at the school.

“Higher education is critical to work force development,” Garcia said. “I am committed to making sure that we are ready to retain, expand and attract jobs to Colorado with a well-educated work force and we can’t achieve our goal of remaining competitive without high quality, affordable colleges and universities.”

While it’s unclear whether legislation may be necessary, Hickenlooper is working with leaders in the General Assembly and the Attorney General to clarify that the Lieutenant Governor can concurrently serve in a Cabinet position if appointed and confirmed by the Senate.

Garcia would be serving in an unusual but not a unique role. His predecessor, Barbara O’Brien,  also focused on education by co-chairing, with Garcia and Bruce Benson, the P-20 Task Force. She also led the state’s effort to acquire Race to the Top funding and she was an active leader in education reform.

Garcia, however, would also take on the responsibility of running an executive branch agency along with his Lieutenant Governor duties. His experience in running an executive branch agency under former Gov. Roy Romer and his decade of service as the president of a community college and a state university makes him both uniquely qualified to take on the additional responsibilities and well-suited to fully and diligently perform the duties of both roles.

Before he worked at CSU-Pueblo, Garcia was president of the second-largest community college in Colorado, Pike’s Peak Community College. There, he oversaw three campuses that serve more than 16,000 students annually. He earlier worked for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies as the Executive Director. In this capacity, he managed and maintained budgetary responsibility for such Colorado divisions as Banking, Financial Services, Real Estate, Insurance, Civil Rights, Securities, and Public Utilities Commission. Garcia was appointed by Romer.

Garcia has continuously participated in community and non-profit organizations throughout his professional career. These experiences taught him to find solutions, not by driving a partisan agenda but by working with all stakeholders to reach a common ground. He and his wife, Dr. Claire Garcia, became deeply involved in public education when their own children entered grade school in Colorado Springs. Garcia served in roles as varied as PTO President to Legal Counsel for the District 11 School Board.

Dr. Claire Garcia is a professor of English at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She joined the school in 1989.

Born into a military family with deep roots in northern New Mexico, Garcia has lived in cities ranging from the Western United States to Western Europe. Garcia earned a business degree from the University of Colorado. He returned to Colorado after earning a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School because of the quality of life found here. An avid mountain biker and mountain climber in the summer and snowboarder in the winter, Garcia could not imagine calling anywhere else his home – and hopes to pass that tradition onto his children and grandchildren.

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Garcia’s appointment to serve as the Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education has received widespread support from other campus leaders throughout the state:

Bob Schaffer, chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education

“Having Mr. Garcia serve in a dual role as Lt. Governor and Executive Director of CDHE is a very good idea. It wholly utilizes Mr. Garcia’s talents while establishing a direct and tight linkage between higher education and the Governor’s Office. The move clearly signals that higher education is a top state priority in an effective, efficient and economical way. I think it’s a great opportunity and I’m glad the governor-elect is taking advantage of this.”

Joe Blake, Chancellor of the Colorado State University System

“Having worked with Joe Garcia during his tenure as President of CSU-Pueblo, I can personally underscore his passion for hard work and commitment to higher education, particularly in the areas of access and affordability. Colorado and higher education are extremely fortunate to have Joe Garcia in place as the leading voice for higher education. Indeed, he a is great voice for Colorado.”

Bruce Benson, president of University of Colorado

“When Joe Garcia was announced as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor, I knew that he would also be the ideal choice to be the Executive Director for the Department of Higher Education. He has experience running campuses and he knows the challenges we face as our enrollments continue to grow while state funding has not kept pace. Joe Garcia, Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, and I co-chaired the P-20 Council, so I know he has both a statewide perspective and a working knowledge of each institution’s unique role and mission and how we can work together to serve Colorado’s workforce needs. I am pleased that Joe Garcia was picked for this role, and I am excited for the future of higher education.”

Tim Foster, president of Mesa State College

“I believe Joe’s experience leading both CSU-Pueblo and Pikes Peak Community College gives him an appreciation of the importance of having accessible, affordable, high quality institutions in all regions of the state. His knowledge of state government and his collaborative nature are exactly what Colorado higher education needs today.”

Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System

“I am delighted that Gov.-elect Hickenlooper chose Lt. Gov.-elect Joe Garcia as the next Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The Lieutenant Governor-elect brings a unique perspective to this job, having been the President at Pikes Peak Community College and the President of Colorado State University-Pueblo. He understands the needs of students in both the two-year and four-year colleges and has always placed the needs of students foremost in his decision-making. I look forward to working with Joe on important issues affecting Colorado higher education students, including transparency in transfer of courses between two-year and four-year colleges, affordability of higher education, and sustainability of higher education opportunities for Coloradans. I have known and worked with Joe for the last nine years and have a great deal of respect for his integrity and commitment to Colorado students.”

Jim Polsfut, chairman of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education

“In the past, the CCHE has worked extensively with Joe Garcia in his capacity as a campus CEO. I’m certainly looking forward to working with Joe Garcia in his new capacity, as Colorado faces the challenge of maintaining a high quality yet affordable system of public higher education in an environment of diminishing resources.”

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About the Colorado Department of Higher Education

The Department coordinates policy and state resources for the state’s 28

public institutions, its private not for profit colleges, and its proprietary colleges, trade schools,

and bible colleges. The Department of Higher Education oversees one major federal loan

program and a 529 investment plan. The Department is divided into seven divisions: Colorado

Commission on Higher Education, College Assist, CollegeInColorado.org, CollegeInvest,

Colorado Historical Society, Colorado GEAR UP, and Division of Private Occupational Schools.

About Partners for Colorado

Partners for Colorado is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation created to engage a diverse group of people from all over Colorado; ensure a smooth hand-off from the Ritter administration to the Hickenlooper administration; review the current performance, challenges and opportunities of each major area of state government and develop recommendations for improving practices within these areas; provide recommendations to the incoming administration for specific executive and legislative actions that can be pursued during the administration’s first 100 days; and recruit and evaluate candidates.

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