Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

OWENS APPOINTS 11 NEW MEMBERS TO COLORADO TOURISM OFFICE

DENVER – Governor Bill Owens appointed 11 new members to the Colorado Tourism Office: Eugene Dilbeck of Denver, Robert B. Weisenbach of Boulder, Terry Hunt of Carbondale, William A. Jensen of Vail, Kathy Palmeri of Estes Park, Kristi Nelson Cohen of Durango, Robert B. Hahn of Denver, Robert W. Keesler of Colorado Springs, Douglas L. Jones of Denver, Nancy E. Lewis of Colorado Springs, and Stephen J. Szapor, Jr. of Highlands Ranch.

Eugene Dilbeck will serve as a representative of cultural events and facility groups. Dilbeck is president and chief executive officer of the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. He received his master’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Robert Weisenbach will serve as an at-large representative of the tourism industry. Weisenbach owns and operates the Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast in Boulder. He received his master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Terry Hunt will serve as a representative of the destination marketing industry. Hunt is the president of Snowmass Resort Association and serves on the board of directors of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association.

William Jensen will serve as a representative of the ski industry. Jensen is the senior vice president and chief operating officer for Vail Resorts. He serves on the board of the National Ski Areas Association and Colorado Ski Country USA. Jensen received his bachelor’s from Pepperdine University in California.

Kathy Palmeri will serve as a representative of other outdoor recreation industries. Palmeri is the second vice chair of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. She serves on the board of the Estes Park Chamber Resort Association.

Kristi Nelson Cohen will serve as a representative of the tourism-related transportation industries. Cohen is vice president of sales and marketing for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. She received her degree from Kansas State University.

Robert Hahn will serve as a representative of the food, beverage and restaurant industry. Hahn is managing partner of The Manhattan Grill and president of Airport Services Inc. He is on the board of the Colorado Restaurant Association.

Robert Keesler is a representative of the hotel, motel and lodging industry. Keesler is director for hotel operations for The Broadmoor. He serves as vice president of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and vice chair of governmental affairs for the American Hotel and Motel Association.

Doug Jones will serve as an at-large representative of the tourism industry. Jones is the co-owner of RV Resorts, Inc., and serves as the chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas.

Nancy Lewis will serve as a representative of the tourism-related retail industry. Lewis is president and chief executive officer of the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center. She also serves on the executive committee for the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lewis received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.

Stephen Szapor, Jr will serve as a representative of the private travel attractions and casinos. Szapor is the president and owner of the Peak Management Group, Inc. Prior to January 1999, he was president and chief executive officer for the Colorado Gaming and Entertainment, Co. He has his bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

The Colorado Tourism Office consists of 13 members, 11 of whom are appointed by the Governor. Members serve four-year terms and need Senate confirmation. The members of the board of directors set and administer policies regarding expenditures from the Colorado Travel and Tourism Fund created to promote travel and tourism and related activities that benefit the state. The creation of the Colorado Tourism Office eliminated the Colorado Tourism Board and the Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority.

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