NAVIGATING
ECONOMIC
TRENDS

Steering the School of Manufacturing, Automotive & Construction Technologies at Front Range Community College, my leadership extends to advancing Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in Optics Technology, Precision Machining, Welding, Automotive, HVAC, Automation & Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Highway Maintenance Management and Colorado LTAP. With over a decade at the helm of Longmont Downtown Development Authority and the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce, strategic planning and execution has become second nature, fostering urban renewal, local economic growth and innovation in workforce development initiatives.

My role encompasses nurturing cross-functional relationships and spearheading program initiatives that bolster workforce development. Our team’s efforts in experiential learning strategies and entrepreneurial approaches are pivotal in shaping career and technical education’s future, aligning with industry demands and contributing to the community’s prosperity.

Emphasis on areas of strategic planning, entrepreneurship, managerial leadership, team effectiveness, talent development, and operational management. Extensive experience in organizational leadership and entrepreneurial effectiveness. Wrote and defended a dissertation that studied the relationship among perceived and actual competencies performed of entrepreneurs of brick and mortar store locations. Success with leading and collaborating with teams to identify and build programs that addresses workforce development needs.

Results-driven professional with an exceptional record of achievement in consistently exceeding goals, increasing market share, growing profit margins and developing strategic thinking, talented leaders while reducing costs and shortage in rapidly changing environments. Field practitioner with broad experience in strategic planning, operational management, talent development and succession planning. History of success in developing people into winning teams through effective implementation of talent strategies; establishing and sustaining a culture of collaboration and inclusion; and improving profitability by producing remarkable results.

A trailblazer in AI, Liza Adams has over 20 years driving growth for tech companies. As Managing Partner at GrowthPath Partners, she provides strategic guidance as a fractional CMO, advisor, and AI consultant.

 

Previously, Liza held executive roles at leading tech companies including Smartsheet, Juniper Networks, Brocade (Broadcom), and Pure Storage in Silicon Valley and the West Coast, in addition to successful Colorado companies like Encompass Technologies and Level 3.

 

An engaging speaker and thought leader, Liza frequently writes and presents on AI adoption, responsible AI practices, the future of work, and ethical AI implementation. Her keynote will equip leaders to leverage AI as a transformative force.

Dr. Resnick is one of the co-founders of the Colorado Futures Center and serves as both executive director and lead economist. Her research spans macro-fiscal forecasting, analyzing fiscal and budget decisions and an expended portfolio focused on economic security for Colorado households.

 

She is the lead modeler for the center’s quarterly ColoradoCast, the state’s only short-term forecast of economic activity. Most recently, her work at the center has focused on housing, social determinants of health, neighborhood displacement, disproportionately impacted communities and other studies associating social factors with economic security.

 

As a volunteer and independent consultant in Africa, the MENA countries and east Asia, Dr. Resnick has worked with central and local governments as well as civil society on issues of macro-fiscal forecasting, tax policy analysis, open budgets and transparency, and fiscal decentralization. 

 

For her volunteer work she was recognized as the 2015 Volunteer of the Year from the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance.

 

Dr. Resnick holds an MA and PhD from the University of Colorado.

With over two decades of leadership at VaporTech, our team has delivered leading-edge technology to a broad international business audience.

VaporTech is a technology leader offering innovative solutions for two distinct industrial needs. Our core business lies in physical vapor deposition (PVD) equipment. PVD is a technique used to create microscopically thin coatings that enhance a product’s properties, such as increasing its strength, conductivity, or wear resistance. VaporTech’s PVD equipment caters to a wide range of industries, from automotive manufacturers to medical device producers, ensuring they have the customized solutions needed for their specific application. Furthermore, VaporTech goes beyond PVD by offering equipment capable of creating diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, known for their unmatched hardness. Notably, our systems can even apply both PVD and DLC coatings within a single chamber, providing a streamlined solution for companies seeking these advanced surface treatments. In essence, VaporTech serves a diverse clientele across numerous industries by offering cutting-edge technology for optimizing product performance.

As President, I embrace the values of integrity and collaboration, ensuring that our organization remains at the forefront of technology while serving the specific needs of our customers.

I began my career with FirstBank in 1994 and currently serve as Senior Vice President for the Longmont Market. I have extensive experience in residential and commercial real estate, construction, SBA and small business lending.

In addition, I also serve as Senior Vice President for FirstBank 1031 Corporation, a subsidiary of FirstBank. In this capacity since 2010, I have been involved in all facets of 1031 Corporation, with primary responsibility for corporate strategy, business development and personnel management.

FirstBank now has over $17 billion in assets and over 115 locations in Colorado, Arizona, and California. We’re still a growing company, but after 50 years, our commitment to our customers and to our communities has not changed.

Rich has 19 years of experience in all facets of economic development. He joined Upstate Colorado Economic Development in his current role as President & CEO in 2015. Upstate Colorado operates in Weld County in Northern Colorado where they have partnered with local communities to support the unprecedented growth making Northern Colorado one of the fasted growing areas in the United States.

 

Prior to joining Upstate Rich worked in Southern Colorado for six years. Rich has previously served as the Associate Director for the State of Colorado Small Business Development Centers for Former Governor Bill Owens and Bill Ritter. Prior to his appointment by the State he acted as the Director of Marketing and Community Affairs for the Boulder Technology Incubator (CTEK).

 

Rich spent his early career in the private sector in Washington DC after receiving degrees in Political Science and Communications from The American University.