RMEOC’s mission is to change the current economic system to a system of inclusion by providing pathways to and advocating for employee ownership!
RMEOC takes an active leadership role in advancing employee-ownership in the Rocky Mountain region as a means of preserving & building strong local economies, and alleviating wealth & income inequities . We consistently seek out opportunities to galvanize the employee-ownership efforts in the region through engaging in education and outreach to key communities and stakeholders. We consult directly with business owners to assist them in transitioning their business to employee-owned. Additionally, we enact a government affairs program to stimulate favorable legislation. We are proud to work alongside several fantastic organizations in Colorado who share our dedication to employee-ownership.
C. Paul Bindel, Communications Coordinator
Originally from New Mexico, Paul came to Denver to teach composition, and after five years in education, he transitioned into full-time writing, bringing editing, copywriting, and team-building skills to successful projects in marketing, PR, journalism, grants, curriculum, and social media. He first encountered employee ownership through living in housing cooperatives, where he learned to facilitate discussions, listen, negotiate, and find consensus. Paul finds joy in bringing people together, particularly in service of building healthier communities and more resilient economies.
720.316.8220
Halisi Vinson, Executive Director
Halisi brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong skill set developed through her work in business development, marketing, consulting and over half of a decade in the venture capital industry. Halisi spent the last seven years as a strategic consultant and has worked extensively in and with large and small companies, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. Her pioneering ideas have led to the creation of innovative strategic plans, effective crisis communications messaging, and dynamic process optimization plans. Halisi earned her Bachelors degree from Loyola Marymount University and her MBA from FW Olin School of Business at Babson College.
303.550.1247
Greg Weiss, Chair
Greg Weiss is a CPA who works on the sexier side of accounting: valuation, fraud investigation and forensic accounting. With 7-years in the investment industry and 11-years in public accounting, Greg has a broad base of experience that helps him get to the bottom of the issues at hand and communicate his findings in a way that is easy to understand and truly provides value.
303.486.0010
Bill Kirton, Treasurer
Bill Kirton is a retired Methodist minister with more than 40-years of experience in community-based, organizational development, including non-profits. He is an experienced writer and communicator. Bill’s interest in and involvement with local schools, local government and local business organizations have played a major role in his professional and service activities.
303.916.3128
Kyle Huelsman, Secretary
Kyle co-founded the Food Rescue Alliance, where he serves as Executive Director. This non-profit organization provides crucial financial, administrative, and technical support to their “direct-to-shelter” Food Rescue chapters in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs. He also works as an aid for State Representative Jessie Danielson providing research, office, and intern supervision support.
303.328.5638
Ahad Ghadami
Ahad Ghadami is a corporate iconoclast, who has worked with organizations in over 30-countries with the objective of catalyzing organizational evolution by eradicating old paradigms. Ahad can get anybody to talk and is highly skilled at creating open environments, where people postpone all judgement and rationale/linear thought. Ahad is Managing Partner at Core Work Capital LLP.
347.559.7558
Andrew Lemley
Andrew Lemley is the government affairs representative for New Belgium Brewing Company and as such he is responsible for their direct lobbying efforts at both the state and federal level. As a former faith leader and campaign organizer, Andrew sees problems and issues as opportunities to bring people together and arrive at solutions that meet the needs of as many stakeholders as possible.
970.412.3237
Michael Sanchez
Mike Sanchez is a Member in Sherman & Howard who practices employee benefits, tax and healthcare law. He counsels his clients on planning and structuring employee benefits plans. Mike often serves a legal adviser to professional services entities and coordinates with other Sherman & Howard attorneys to address these clients’ diverse legal needs.
303.299.8114
Abdi Buni
Abdi is a transportation entrepreneur and the founder of two of the largest taxi cooperatives in the country.
303.761.0111
Richard Eidlin
Richard has worked in the sustainable business field and on triple bottom line issues for thirty years. He is a Co-Founder and Vice President of Policy and Campaigns with the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), a national coalition of over 200,000 businesses committed to building a vibrant and sustainable economy. He directs ASBC’s policy and advocacy campaigns on Capitol Hill, the White House, state legislatures and to various regulatory agencies.
Richard consulted to the United Nations Environment Programme in the early 1990’s, worked for New York City government as a senior policy analyst, helped to launch the Community Capital Bank in Brooklyn and spent ten years working in the solar energy industry. He teaches an Environmental Policy course as adjunct faculty at Denver University and is a member of the Social Venture Network. Richard lives in Denver.
303.478.0131
Dick Peterson
Dick Peterson spent most of his career as a real estate broker. During this time, he started three employee owned companies, including Re/max of Cherry Creek. In 2009 Dick realized the need for an organization that supported the creation of employee-owned companies so he — with the help of Bill Kirton and Larry Dunn — founded the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center. The rest is current history.
303.919.1356