Founder & Executive Director

Tammy Rudden Krause knows first-hand the power of play. The original Bag of Fun was created for her daughter Gabby shortly after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 5. As the mother of 4 and having a background in Special Education, Tammy understood the importance of play especially for kids in special circumstances. Gabby took her Bag of Fun to all of her treatments and hospital visits and asked “why don’t other kids have a bag?” Shortly after Gabby passed away in Sep of 2004, Krause reached out to her network and asked them to help start The Gabby Krause Foundation with the signature project being Bags of Fun. Tammy is committed to bringing Bags of Fun to every child in Colorado fighting a life threatening/ long term illness and to expanding the organization across the country.

Tammy is a Denver native, mother to Madison, Kennedy, Gabriella and Zachary and step mom to Cooper and Colton. She loves going to all of her kids’ activities and any sporting events. Summer when everyone is home is her favorite time of the year! She graduated from TCU in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Joe Parker is in his third year as Director of Athletics at Colorado State University. A proven athletics administrator with experience at some of the nation’s finest collegiate programs, Parker was hired on March 17, 2015 by CSU President Dr. Tony Frank.

Parker, who had been the deputy athletics director at Texas Tech of the Big 12 Conference since April 2011, also has served as senior associate A.D. at the University of Michigan (Big 10), the University of Oklahoma (Big 12), Washington State University (Pac-12) and the University of Texas (Big 12).

In Parker's first two-plus years in Fort Collins he has skillfully and thoughtfully guided the athletics department and the university through the construction of Colorado State's 41,000-capacity multipurpose stadium, which opens on-time and on-budget for the 2017 football season. The state-of-the-art facility houses all aspects of the Rams' football program and includes general classroom space, the Collaborative for Student Achievement and the Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center.

Parker has led the department of athletics through the successful process of selling out all premium seating inventory in the stadium. Comprised of private suites, loge boxes, indoor club and outdoor club seating, the entire premium seating inventory sold out in October 2016, nearly a year before the stadium's opening. Season ticket sales continue to pace at record levels, and memberships sold out in May 2017 to the stadium's two VIP areas—the New Belgium Porch and Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies Field Club. In addition to the memberships selling out, both partnerships by prominent Fort Collins companies illustrate the tremendous connection between the university and the community, and demonstrate great enthusiasm for partnering with Colorado State and investing in its future.

In just his first two years in Fort Collins, Parker has overseen tremendous success by the Rams' athletics programs in competition, and continued growth of Colorado State Athletics. The Rams had the Mountain West's highest average finish in 2016-17 (3.94) across its 16 sport programs, claiming three conference championships and six second-place finishes. The Rams were represented in 10 NCAA postseason competitions, and including the two basketball programs competing in their respective National Invitation Tournaments and football’s bowl game, 13 of the 16 CSU athletic programs wrapped up their year in postseason events.

CSU's volleyball and women's basketball programs both went undefeated in their 18 Mountain West contests during the 2015-16 academic year, making CSU just the fourth school in NCAA history to have dual undefeated conference seasons, and the first time in school history. The CSU football team has qualified for its third and fourth consecutive bowl games and the Rams have claimed eight total MW championships since Parker's hire.

In Parker's tenure he also has signed an extension of Colorado State's multi-year agreement with Under Armour to be its official apparel provider through 2021, as well an enhanced, long-term multimedia rights partnership with Learfield, both of which position Colorado State for continued growth in its profile and stature nationally.
 

Kendra Black took office as the Denver City Council Member representing District 4 in southeast Denver in July, 2015.

Kendra is a proud Denver native, born and raised in southeast Denver. She grew up working in her family’s small business. Kendra is a graduate of Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School, and has a BA in history and political science from CU Boulder and an MA in history from CU Denver. Kendra is passionate about southeast Denver where she and her husband have raised their three children.

Kendra has been actively involved in our community for more than two decades, successfully advocating for schools, students, neighborhoods and parks. Her professional experience includes work in non-profits, education and community outreach, including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, CU Denver and George Washington High School. A strong believer in community based solutions, Kendra created a neighborhood park at Slavens School that serves as a gathering place, a school playground and an athletic field. Combining her passions—history, education and community--Kendra grew the fledgling National History Day in Colorado program to one of the top social studies and literacy programs in the country for middle and high school students.

As a councilperson, Kendra is working to connect our neighborhoods and activate our community. She is collaborating with Public Works and CDOT to improve our transportation options, making our District safe and walkable, and our light rail stations more accessible. She is working with residents to create a 21^st century vision for the district, and to create plans to guide future development. Strengthening community connections among neighbors, schools, seniors and businesses is a top priority.  Since being elected, she has established the Senior Series: informational events that provide seniors with resources, education and socialization. She’s working to preserve and improve the High Line Canal and trail, the Wellshire Golf Course and our parks.

Kendra has served on numerous committees and boards, and currently serves on these Council committees: Finance, Infrastructure and Culture, and Neighborhoods and Planning Council. She also serves on the boards of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, the City of Denver’s Children’s Cabinet Safety Net Committee, Denver’s State Legislative Planning Group, the Denver South Economic Development Partnership, Transportation Solutions, the Governors’ Residence Preservation Fund, CU Denver-National History Day in Colorado, the High Line Canal Working Group, and the High Line Canal Conservancy. Kendra continues to collaborate with the Denver Public Schools and is a strong supporter of—and partner with—Thomas Jefferson High School and all of the schools in southeast Denver.

Kendra is committed to serving her constituents, advocating for them and ensuring that they have a voice. She knows that together, we will keep Denver strong and moving in the right direction for everyone.

Colman Coaching will talk about the importance and the "how to's" of effective public speaking in our current times.

Heppe to introduce

Heppe to introduce

Mike Andrews from Valor Bridge (www.valorbridge.org) is a leadership and career development program for transitioning military men and women.