Renee Martinez-Stone

INITIATIVE DIRECTOR

Renee is working to align resources, critical assets, leaders, and investments in west Denver with the goal of moving community priorities and integration opportunities from concept to implementation. Renee’s prior work includes many Denver metro infill redevelopment projects where she has provided master planning, site development studies, and revitalization strategies for more than 20 years as a private consultant.

Renee’s “community-based” approach has creatively incorporated community stakeholders into plans and award-winning built projects with meaningful community outcomes. Renee is a fifth generation Colorado native, wife, and mother of two daughters.

Chala Mohr

Project Manager

As WDRC’s ADU program manager, Chala’s aim along with a skilled team is to help Denver homeowners accomplish their dreams of building an ADU. She is working to empower homeowners through education about the program’s assistance opportunities, and subsequently the impact each individual homeowner is making when they decide to build an affordable rental.

She has worked in the housing industry since 2008 with experience in residential real estate, property management, affordable housing, and renovation. She was born and raised in the Denver Metro area and has lived in West Denver since 2009. In seeing the cost of living continue to rise she is excited to play a part in this affordable housing solution that is mutually beneficial to individual homeowners, their tenants, and the city they live in.

Anyssa Juarez

Project Manager

Anyssa is working to build collaborative partnerships and programs in west Denver with the goal of connecting people, small businesses, and organizations with culturally-relevant, reliable, and accessible resources. She is currently supporting the West Denver Community Connector program and Small Business Coalition to advocate for more community-driven solutions.

She has been working in multi-disciplinary community and economic development projects across the world since 2014. Anyssa has earned her M.S. in Food Security and Development while holding her PMP certification. Her biggest dream is to build her own homestead that contributes to a more ecologically and economically sustainable food system.

Ian Sharkey

GIS Technical analyst

Ian is responsible for the creation of Geographic information system (GIS) assets. This includes the execution of demographic and spatial analyses, custom mapping, aerial photography analysis, and geocoding. He enjoys being able to make maps and graphics that can help people understand complex issues.

Ian has been working with GIS since 2017 and has used his skillset for ecologic restoration, wildfire management, and demographic analysis. He earned his DU GIS Certification in 2020 and is working on his Masters of Geographic Information Systems at The University of Denver. He is a military brat, and has lived in Germany, Indiana, Utah, and Colorado. He enjoys hiking, camping and freestyle dance.

Esther Rivera

Special project liason

Esther has been working at the community level for more than 34 years in the Midwest and Colorado. She worked for four bilingual publication businesses within Chicago and Denver to develop the outreach, promotion, and advertisement to small businesses. Currently, Esther is continuing her work in community development and outreach throughout west Denver.

Esther graduated from the American Real Estate College in 2005 and has worked with real estate and mortgage lenders since 2009. Additionally, she was a member of the National Association of the Hispanic Publications and National Association of Hispanic Businesses as well as was on the Board of Directors of Cinco de Mayo in Chicago.

West Denver Community Leadership Committee (WDCLC)

Work Plan & Initiative Oversight