KENNETH HAACK

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement 

I am a 32 year Arvada resident and small business owner. Renewable energy and sustainability are the cornerstones of my company, Mission Mountain Green. I was very fortunate to be involved in the early days of development of the West Arvada Dog Park which gave me my first taste of civic participation. Our interest in the dog park stems from my wife and I volunteering at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in their Pet Therapy program, with our dog, Cissy - who at 15, is the oldest dog in the program.

Why are you interested in serving on the Apex Board of Directors? 

Living and raising my family in Arvada has enabled us to take advantage of the many recreational opportunities Arvada has to offer.  Living just down the street from the Apex Center, we have witnessed the increased popularity and usage of the facilities. The Apex Board of Directors has done a wonderful job of bringing excellent recreation forums to fruition in Arvada. Now, with grandchildren beginning to make use of these facilities, I would like to get more directly involved in making Arvada even better (if that is possible) and help carry this momentum through to all parts of Arvada - especially the east side.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

Being a newcomer to the Board, I will bring with me fresh ideas, clear vision, no pre-judgment and excellent problem solving skills. I aspire to work with the other Board members with a common goal in mind - campaigning for, and raising money towards, expansion of the Apex Community.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

In the process of maintaining and setting policies that insure high-standard facilities, Arvada will attract additional cliental to the surrounding business communities, thus providing a win-win situation for Arvada, Apex and local business.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years?

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement:

Self-employed.  Major sponsor of the APEX Foundation Golf Tournament for the last 9 years. Sponsor local softball and soccer teams.  Corporate sponsor of the Denver Bronco Alumni Association youth charities.  Involved with local police charities and events. 

Why are you interested in serving on the Apex Board of Directors?

I have been on the APEX board for the last 8 years.  The past 8 years have given me the background and experience to work with city officials and APEX staff in moving ahead with the important issues facing the district and the community. 

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

There are some important issues coming up in the next four years that will need addressed.  Two major issues are an east side recreation center and the possible replacement of Meyers pool in the years ahead.  I want to work with community leaders and residents to put together a plan to have both facilities funded and in the process of being built in as short of time as possible. 

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

I alone won't make a huge impact.  The board as a whole can have an impact.  Having a strong Park & Recreation District with a wide range of programs benefit all local businesses  Local employers have healthier and happier employees.  It also attracts businesses to locate, build or expand in the area.  People are more apt to move into or stay in a community that has a wide variety of recreational activities for themselves and their families.  The district hires about 700 part time employees.  Most of the employees are from the local area and their spend money in local businesses.  Financially, local business benefit from the APEX  district as well. 

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years? 

A new recreation facility on the east side of Arvada.  Possible replacement of Meyers pool.  Keeping the district sound financially with minimum fee increases.  

• Myers pool needs major renovations to maintain the great quality it has upheld over the years.
• With the bond ending, the board needs to identify the communities concerns and wishes for their future. 
• To have local recreation available for all community members.

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement:

• Owner Skul Agency-Farmers Insurance
• President Arvada Colts Baseball Club
• Member of The Arvada Chamber of Commerce
• Member of Arvada Young Professionals
• Volunteer with Prescription Pet Program at Children's Hospital Colorado
• Volunteer at APEX Vision 2020 Committee
• Volunteer at North Jeff Junior Baseball
• Volunteer at Sand In The City
• Volunteer at Ralston House
• Volunteer at Boy Scouts of America

Why are you interested in serving on the Apex Board of Directors? 

I am an Arvada native.  I live and breathe Arvada with my beautiful wife Aimee and my three very sport-centric children.   Even little Taytum, 9 months old, rocks the Broncos nursery.  I am looking long term results for this community where I will raise my children and want to be a positive role model for them to see what it takes to give back to your community.  I know I can make a difference in within the APEX Recreation District.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board? 

Improve existing facilities that are in need of updating,  getting a recreation center built to service the residents on the east side of Arvada, work on the completion of the Long Lake Ranch project.

Improve the relationships with employee's of APEX, youth organizations, and build the momentum of the bond, that will need to be voted in, so  APEX can make much needed improvements in existing outdated facilities, and see new projects from start to completion to meet the community's growing recreational needs.

I will continue to build relationships with the citizens of Arvada, youth organizations, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, the City of Arvada, City Council, City Manager's Office, and  Arvada Economic Development Association as all of the go forward plans are going to take collaboration.

Continue to build on an environment that generates public input and needed feed back.  Have a business like approach to getting the job done.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role?

Having strong recreation facilities will attract families, businesses, and weekend warriors to Arvada having a direct impact on the businesses in Arvada.  I believe 100% with the Live, Work, Play philosophy and APEX is an very important part and look to grow those relationships.  I will develop the relationships with organizations, that host tournaments at the APEX facilities, to reach out to our business community to build awareness and revenue for Arvada and the local businesses.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years?

     1.  Getting and keeping all facilities updated.

     2.  Getting the bond extended/passed.

     3.  Balancing the elderly to youth population recreation needs/wants. 

JIM WHITFIELD

Current Employment, Activities, Board Seats, Community Involvement

I am a partner of Hi Country Wire & Telephone (www.hcwt.com) that provides phone systems and networks to local and federal governmental agencies, academic institutions, and business across the USA.   I am currently and active board member with AEDA, APEX Park and Recreation, and the Special District Association of Colorado (SDA).    The Colorado SDA provides oversight for the special districts in Colorado.

Why are you interested in serving on the Apex Board of Directors?  

I have been a board member of APEX for the past eight years.   We have accomplished a lot over that time period.    We first got the District back on a good financial footing so it could maintain the facilities it owned.   As Apex Board President we then renewed our cost sharing agreements with the City, saved the District's tax payers over $1,000,000 by refinancing the bonds that built the APEX center,  and made sustainability improvements at all of our facilities.    Recently we made state award winning collaborative agreements and water rights exchanges with the City and added two new facilities to the District without any tax or fee increases.    We were also able to get the Jefferson County Commissioner's to change their policy and they will now deed property to special districts when appropriate.   I would like to complete achievements like these over my third and last term.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time on the Board?  

The bonds that were issued to build the Apex Center will soon expire.  The need for recreation in our District has continued to grow and so the pursuit for an East-side recreation center continues.     I feel I have the proven qualifications and experience to help with the effort of assembling a winning proposal.   The Meyers pool will also need to be replaced soon. Discussions need to start with all stakeholders with regard to its replacement.   We have learned from the past that discussions are an early necessity. A new pool needs to be designed to benefit both its local neighborhood and surrounding areas. Our outdoor turf sports like football, soccer, rugby, and lacrosse are eager to have more year round fields.  Our baseball and softball facilities continue to provide a great venue for tournaments but need updating.   Lastly, Pickleball continues to grow in popularity and requires continued support.

What impacts do you think you can make on the business community through this role? 

Over the past eight years our partnerships with local business have continued to grow.   We have started wellness and exercise programs for local businesses and their employees.   These programs were started with the intent of reducing healthcare expenses and improving employee productivity.   Our sustainability improvements have significantly offset energy increases and are available for area businesses to reference as they start to implement them.  We have installed solar thermal units on the roof of the Apex Center to heat our pool and new lighting fixtures have improved lighting efficiency at all of our facilities.   Should the voters approve a bond issue we will be looking for local businesses to help with the design and construction of new facilities, athletic fields, and parks. We will always hope to continue our relationship with the Arvada Chamber and will host the taste of the chamber for years to come.

What do you see as the top three challenges facing the district in the next 5 years?  

Our motto is that "fun is good" and "get active and stay active".  The challenges of the next four years are to keep up with the demand for increased recreation and fun.   With luck on our side it is hopeful that a "renewal" of the Apex Center bonds will gain a majority approval.    However, there are issues like the economy and world events that are beyond our control and may have an affect on what can be accomplished in the next four years.   If I can earn enough votes and be re-elected I hope to work collaboratively with other stakeholders to the benefit of our community.