Experienced staff for every economic development need.

Joseph B. Blake
President and CEO
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation

Joe Blake has served as President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce since 1999, and serves as the President and CEO of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. Former Governor Bill Owens appointed Blake to serve on the Board of Governors of Colorado State University, and the Governor's Colorado Education Alignment Council. He is also a board member of The Denver Foundation, Denver Public Schools Foundation, Colorado Concern, and the Metro Denver Sports Commission. He previously chaired the Colorado Transportation Commission, and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Joe co-chaired the statewide "Yes on C & D" campaign to help assure Colorado's economic recovery in 2005, leading to the successful passage of Referendum C in November. In 2005, Blake received the American Jewish Committee National Human Relations Award, and an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University. A Denver native, Blake is a graduate of East High School, Dartmouth College and the University of Colorado School of Law.

Tom Clark
Executive Vice President
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

Tom Clark is Executive Vice President of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He has over 30 years of economic development experience at the state, regional, county and city levels. Tom's career spans four decades from Director of Commercial and Industrial Development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, through positions with the Fort Collins, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Denver Corporation, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Economic Council, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He holds bachelors degrees in speech and psychology from Minnesota State University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Illinois. Tom was the founder and first president of the Metro Denver Network, the Metro Denver region's first economic development program, for which he received the Arthur D. Little Award for Excellence in Economic Development. He was chosen as one of the nation's top economic development professionals by the Council on Urban Economic Development.

Holli Baumunk
Vice President, Economic Development

Holli is responsible for business recruitment and retention, public policy development, commercial and industrial land use, economic impact modeling, and demographic research. Before working at the Metro Denver EDC, Holli was Vice President at the Jefferson Economic Council (JEC) for seven years. Prior to JEC, she worked in several other economic development capacities including working under Governor Roy Romer as the Front Range Business Development Representative for the Colorado Office of Business Development and the Director of the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Group. Holli has been an economic developer for over 18 years and is a Denver native. Holli received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Colorado. She is also certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council.

Janet Fritz
Director, Marketing and Technology

Janet joined the Metro Denver EDC in April 2003 and directs all marketing and public relations strategies, including coordinating national marketing and advertising, creating promotional materials, special event coordination, development of new technology products, and directing the metrodenver.org Web site. She has 15 years of experience in marketing/public relations/communications management, having previously worked as Marketing Director at Jefferson Economic Council in Golden and as a Communications Specialist for the Public Relations/Marketing Department of Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD. Janet is a South Dakota native. She has a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications-Journalism from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD.

Randy Pye
Director, Investor Relations

Randy is Director of Investor Relations for the Metro Denver EDC. Pye's duties as Director of Investor Relations for the Metro Denver EDC include retaining existing investors, conducting investor briefings, organizing investor events, seeking business opportunities among investors, and providing back-up for prospect activities and trade shows. Pye is the Mayor of the City of Centennial, and he is also Chairman of the Metro Mayor's Caucus, a cooperative alliance of mayors from 31 cities and towns in the metro Denver region. Pye formerly served as Director of Member Services with the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce. He also writes guest columns for the Centennial Town Journal, The Centennial Citizen and The Villager newspapers. Randy and his wife Susan have been married for 22 years and resides in Ward III of Centennial, where they've lived for the past 14 years.

Laura Brandt
Manager, Economic Development

Laura is the Manager of Economic Development for the Metro Denver EDC. She assists with prospects, research, and business recruitment and retention. Prior to joining the Metro Denver EDC, Laura was an Economic Development Specialist for the City of Lakewood for six years. While at Lakewood, Laura coordinated the creation of two urban renewal districts and the relocation of more than 50 businesses that were displaced by the $750 million Belmar redevelopment. Laura brings more than 20 years experience in economic development, community organization, and marketing to the Metro Denver EDC. As Executive Director of the Rockford Central Area Corporation, Rockford, Illinois, Laura was responsible for the economic development and marketing of the city’s downtown. She served three terms as a member of the City Council in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. A Wisconsin native, Laura is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Platteville.

Annie Boeckman
Marketing Specialist

Annie started at the Metro Denver EDC in March 2006. She manages new content and updates for the metrodenver.org Web site and e-newsletters, organizes and attends trade shows, and assists with national marketing and public relations efforts. She has worked as a marketing coordinator for Tectonic Inc., a design and construction services technology company in Englewood, and as an assistant marketing coordinator for Red Robin’s corporate headquarters in Greenwood Village. Annie has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Technical Communications, with a concentration in public relations and business economics, from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. A Colorado native, she can usually be found hiking the foothills of the Front Range or navigating the streets of Downtown Denver.

Moné Duarte-Tucker
DIA Leadership Marketing & Program Administrator

Moné Duarte-Tucker joined the Metro Denver EDC in January 2008. She is responsible for the daily operations of the DIA Leadership Committee Program. Prior to the consolidation of the Denver International Airport Partnership with the Metro Denver EDC, Moné was the Director of Marketing & Communications with the Partnership. She has a diverse working background from the atomic to the botanic. Throughout her career, Moné has worked with various facets of communication and marketing; including desktop publishing, capital campaigns, special events, fundraising, and public relations. Moné has worked with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, Ernst & Young, LLP, Denver Botanic Gardens, and St. Mary’s Academy. Moné has her bachelor's degree in Communication from Regis University.

Steve Ambriz
Economic Development Specialist

Steve joined the Metro Denver EDC in March 2008 after three years as the Training Coordinator with the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center. He is responsible for the accounting functions at the Metro Denver EDC and maintaining the investor database. Steve also assists the staff with site selection research, meeting planning, and other administrative projects. Steve's work experience is in banking and mortgage lending. Originally from Oregon, Steve has called Denver home for the last 9 years.

Paula Larsen
Executive Assistant

Paula joined the Metro Denver EDC in September 2007. As Executive Assistant to Tom Clark, she schedules appointments and meetings as well as assisting Metro Denver EDC staff with special projects, research, and events. In addition, she supports the Chief Operating Officer of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce with day to day operations. Prior to joining the Metro Denver EDC, Paula worked in administration for the University of Colorado Denver and National Jewish Medical and Research Center.