I-70 corridor

chamber of commerce

2023 Board of directors

Becky Zierer | President

As president, Becky ensures that the Chamber is able to work for its members and community as you've come to expect from this great  association. Becky Zierer and her husband, Larry, have owned LaZyB Acres Alpacas, south of Bennett, CO, since 1998. She retired from Lucent Technologies in 2001 and began 15 years of volunteering for the Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies serving on the Board of Directors as President and Vice President. She was also the Manager of the Great Western Alpaca Show from inception in 2003 until 2016 and in 2008 created the Alpaca Show at the National Western Stock Show serving until 2016. In 2013 Becky started the Bennett Community Market and that market celebrated six years. Becky is the Vendor Coordinator for Bennett Days since 2014 and for Pedal the Plains in 2018. She is a member of the Bennett Art Council, the Corridor Creative Arts League, REAP’s Agritourism Committee and is a Director for REAP. Becky enjoys living in the I-70 Corridor and hopes to use her background in volunteering and organization to serve the I-70 Corridor Chamber of Commerce.  


Lindsey Wheaton | Vice President

Lindsay Wheaton, owner, Claws and Paws Pet Sitting has been a long time reliable volunteer, member, town representative,  and now Vice President.  She says, "after I sold the Veterinary Clinic in Bennett, I needed something to do! I had worked at a local boarding facility, and started looking for pets when the owners were unhappy with boarding their pets.(they were nice kennels, just some owners did not like that experience for their pets) I live in Bennett but serve the whole I-70 corridor. I enjoy our little neighborhood book club, taking the sewing class at the library and cooking. I also love my 3 cats! I hope to help make the Chamber more well known on the Corridor, and to participate and to assist in holding events along the corridor. "


angie bedolla | watkins representative

As the Local Government and Business Relations Manager, Angie will be responsible for managing and expanding CORE’s relationships with governmental partners and key accounts to ensure alignment and support through expanded programs, economic growth, and changing energy landscape.  She will also support efforts to identify future power needs for commercial and industrial members.

Angie joins CORE after five years at Xcel Energy, where she was an account manager focused on electric sustainability, energy efficiency, electric vehicle initiatives, and demand response programs. Prior to that, she was in corporate economic development at Xcel Energy and was an economic development specialist at Adams County Economic Development.

Angie served as Councilwoman for the City of Thornton, representing Ward 4 in 2020 and 2021, where she initiated and fast-tracked grant programs for businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic. She also supported redevelopment, business attraction and expansion, and business support services to the existing business community.

“Angie’s background in both the utility and economic development spaces is a tremendous asset to our cooperative,” said Rob Osborn, Director of Business Development at CORE. “Her ability to support stakeholders and key accounts will benefit not only CORE but the regions we serve now and in the future. Bringing talent like Angie to our team expands our ability to be a trusted energy adviser for our members.”





DIANA ELLIOTT | strasburg REPRESENTATIVE

Diana is a retired special education teacher and a life-long advocate for public education in rural Colorado. A Colorado native, married to a band and choir teacher, she is the granddaughter of two, one-room schoolhouse teachers, a graduate of Strasburg High School and Metropolitan State College of Denver (now Metropolitan State University) with a degree in Special Education, the mother of two SHS graduates and the grandmother of five granddaughters, three who attend Strasburg Elementary School. She has an investment in Strasburg School District and is serious in her work on behalf of its students, staff, and administration.

Before retiring in 2019, after 25+ years in Eastern Colorado schools, Diana served on East Central BOCES Transition Team working to improve her students with special needs transition into the adult world. She also worked with the Response to Intervention and Crisis Intervention teams, both in the schools and EC BOCES, as well as the District Accountability Committees. Diana has an extensive knowledge of education on many levels.

Diana believes in public education and currently dedicates her time at both the local and state level to improve outcomes for students. As well as serving as Secretary of Strasburg’s Board of Education, she is the Secretary of EC BOCES Board of Directors and a member of the Colorado Association of School Board’s (CASB) State Legislative Resolutions Committee.




Kristy Funk | Treasurer

Kristy has been a long time member of the I-70 Chamber of Commerce, and we couldn't do it without her!  Her expertise in finances keeps us on track.  She works with her husband, Lance, at Grothe Financial Services in Bennett.  She volunteers for practically everything and is now on the Pickleball team at the Bennett Rec. Center!


Nathan Sumner | Bennett Representative

Welcome to our newest board member, Nathan Sumner.  Nathan joined the chamber last year after his ribbon cutting.  He has been an avid supporter of the community and Chamber since then.  SUM Financial Services Group is located in Denver and Bennett, CO. We service clientele along the whole I-70 Corridor. In addition, we utilize virtual meeting options to service clientele in various other locations.

Regardless of your life stage, income or goals, we can work with you to create a financial plan to help you manage your short-term goals, long-term aspirations and work toward meeting your financial targets.


Deb Stone | Byers Representative

Another new Board member, Debbie Stone joined us this year, 2022.  She has worked for Bijou Telephone Co-op for 16 years.  She says, "I do mostly customer service but also a little bit of the accounting and I also work with Bijou’s advertising team. My husband and I also owned Rollin Stone Auto Sales for 18 years in Strasburg. We sold it in 2020. We live in Bennett and have for 41 years. I like to go camping, jet skiing and paddle boarding. I hope to help in the Chamber of Commerce where ever it’s needed. Thank you!"


Robbin Schincke | Deer Trail/Agate Representative

Robbin has been an integral volunteer and member representative of Morgan Community College in the Chamber for several years.  In addition to her responsibilities as the representative for her home town of Deer Trail, she is Director of Regional Community Outreach at Morgan Community College, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Bennett Center, an MCC satellite campus.  

Her job duties include community outreach, identifying courses of interest to the community, and recruiting, advising, registering, and supporting students. Morgan Community College has graciously provided the I-70 Corridor Chamber of Commerce a place to meet, and have events, which has been a great donations of tiem and energy For more information about Morgan Community College, please email her at Robbin.Schincke@MorganCC.edu or go to https://MorganCC.edu for further information about how Morgan Community College supports the I-70 Corridor.



Julie Lewis |  Representative At Large

Julie Lewis, Owner of Integrity Insurance /Five Rings Financial has been a member with the I-70 Chamber for several years. She loves being a part of this community and volunteering. She has served the community for 23 years in the insurance industry educating clients on their policies for home, auto, life, business insurance, workers comp and tax-free retirement. She believes education is a key element for every one’s future to understand what they did not learn in school about insurance and money. She serves the entire I 70 Corridor and beyond. She loves spending time with family and friends and grandchildren.


Elizabeth Carlson | Member at Large

Elizabeth is a long time Chamber member and volunteer and has been serving on the board for the last year.  Elizabeth owns Lighthouse Bookkeeping, and prepares everything for your accountant. This is what she says about her work: ”Everyday I get the opportunity to offer help and support for businesses through innovative networking, marketing and leadership opportunities! Plus our chamber is an AMAZING community!"  


Becky Zierer 

President

Owner of LaZyBAcres Alpacas

Bennett


lzbalpacas@aol.com


lindsay@netecin.netLindsay Wheaton  

Vice President

Paws & Claws Pet Sitting

lindsay@netecin.net


Kristy Funk
Treasurer             

Grothe Financial Services

Bennett

kristy@grothefinancial.com


Giselle Rowe 

Coordinator

officei70ccoc@gmail.com


ABOUT ASSOCIATION

The I-70 Corridor Chamber of Commerce has assisted growth and successful economic development of Eastern Colorado in Watkins, Bennett, Strasburg, Byers, Deer Trail and Agate since 1993.

CONTACTS

officei70ccoc@gmail.com 

720.731.1954     

Address: PO Box 386, Strasburg, CO 80136

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