About Union Station Advocates

Information about Union Station Advocates--the organization, the people, and their mission.

Dana Crawford is an award-winning preservationist who pioneered the redevelopment of Denver’s historic Larimer Square in the mid 1960s, creating a festive shopping area from the neglected and abandoned buildings of Denver’s original main street, and establishing a prototype for the revitalization of forgotten main streets and architectural landmarks throughout the country. Since the 1960s, Dana has redeveloped more than 800,000 square feet of historic property in Denver including the Oxford Hotel, the Acme Lofts, the Edbrooke Lofts, the Cooper Flats, and the Flour Mill Lofts. In addition to her business accomplishments, Dana served for nine years on the Board of Directors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and for fifteen years with Preservation Action. She presently serves on the national board of Project for Public Spaces. Locally, Dana is a vital member of the Denver community, serving on the board of the Downtown Denver Partnership for more than thirty years and active with organizations such as the Platte River Greenway Foundation, the Denver Art Museum, Historic Denver, Inc., the Colorado Historical Society and Foundation, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Dana is an honorary member of the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and has been awarded a Doctorate of Humanities by the University of Colorado. In recognition of her civic contributions, business successes, and her positive influence on the architectural character of Denver, she was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 1997. That same year, in honor of her many years of community service, she was presented with the prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award, also known as the “Colorado Nobel Prize.” In 1998, the Denver Business Journal recognized Mrs. Crawford as one of twenty people who have made a difference to Denver’s business success in the twentieth century.

Luke O'Kelley has over thirty years of marketing and management experience in the technology profession. Luke is the former Executive Vice President of Innovative Business Solutions, and also served as the Vice President of Marketing for Scientific Software Intercomp, and held previous marketing positions with IBM Corporation in New Orleans, Louisiana and Education & Economic Systems in Boulder. Currently, Luke is a free-lance writer, citizen advocate, and active LoDo resident. Luke's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from Tulane University in New Orleans. Luke's community work includes participation in local Denver programs of the Institute of International Education, a State Department-sponsored organization involved in promoting international understanding including hosting of Fulbright scholars and other foreign visitors to the United States. He also has also been involved in leadership roles with the Beyond War Foundation, a grassroots organization educating about alternatives to war for resolving conflicts.

Vicki Godbey has extensive experience in fund-raising, marketing, strategic planning, management, community relations, and special events. Vicki owned and operated a historical tour company and served as the first public relations director for Denver's Brown Palace Hotel before serving as the Executive Director of 9Health Fair, a non-profit organization providing free and low cost health screenings to thousands of citizens throughout the region. Additionally, Vicki oversaw the 9Give ‘Em Health school-based student health fair program, created and developed the year-round 9Corporate health fair program, and maintained fiduciary responsibility of 9Cares/Colorado Shares food and clothing drive for 9News. Vicki is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Jones Real Estate College, and the American Hotel & Motel Association Educational Institute, and her community involvement includes the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Denver Health and Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Public Relations Society of America, Colorado Healthcare Communicators, and the Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce Communications Council.

Rick Anstey is the retired President and CEO of Oxford Networks, a 108 year-old telecommunications firm headquartered in Lewiston, Maine, and currently serves as the company's non-employee Chairman of the Board. During Rick's 38 years in business, including 34 years in the telecommunications profession, he held various positions with Nortel and Frontier Corporation before leaving Frontier in 1998 to lead Oxford Networks. Rick has served on boards of the United Way, Chambers of Commerce, and various telecommunication trade associations throughout his career. In addition to his position with Union Station Advocates, Rick is also a member of the Board of the Downtown Denver Residents Association. A native of Medina, New York, Rick is a graduate of Kent State University and he and his wife, Francine, lived in New York, Pennsylvania and New England before moving to Denver's Central Platte Valley in 2007.

Anne Hayes is a Vice President and Project Manager for Westfield Development Company, Inc., a locally owned commercial real estate development firm specializing in office and retail projects, and has a total of 25 years of commercial development experience in areas of loan procurement, construction project management, project accounting, public relations, and sales and marketing. At Westfield, Anne is responsible for the management of the construction phase of Westfield's core and shell and tenant finish projects, from project bidding through build out, for maintaining project budgets, and for the electrical and telecommunication infrastructure and transportation/transit aspects of the company's development projects. Anne has participated in a variety of organizations that benefit the community including Habitat for Humanity, the US 36 Transportation Management Organization, Transit Alliance Action Fund, and Jefferson County’s Transportation Committee. Anne received a B.S. in Business and Master degrees in both Urban and Regional Planning and Urban Design from the University of Colorado. Anne is also currently serving on the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for RTD.

Jim Graebner is an internationally recognized expert in all aspects of public transportation. He is the founder and President of the Lomarado Group, a Denver-based firm providing consulting services to transit authorities, state and city governments, and private firms throughout the world. Jim's expertise covers virtually all transit modes and runs the gamut from planning and design to safety and security, commissioning and startup. Jim's experience spans almost fifty years and includes former positions as the CEO of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Santa Clara County Transit (now VTA), and the Transit Construction Authority in Denver. Jim received his B.A from Valparaiso University and his M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University and twice has received the Urban Mass Transit Administrator's Award. He has also served as President of the American Public Transportation Association and was the founding Chair of that organization's subcommittee on Streetcars and Vintage Trolleys. Jim currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Denver Union Station Advisory Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lower Downtown District, Inc.

Ken Schroeppel is a project manager and urban planner at Matrix Design Group, a LoDo-based consulting firm offering professional services in urban planning, transportation, infrastructure engineering and design, and environmental sciences. At Matrix, Ken specializes in downtown revitalization, urban renewal, and urban redevelopment planning. Ken received his Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of Colorado - Denver and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Urban Land Institute, and has served as a Lecturer at the University of Colorado's College of Architecture and Planning. Ken is the creator of the award-winning DenverInfill.com website and blog, which tracks urban infill projects in the greater Downtown Denver area and offers news and commentary about Downtown's planning, growth, and development. Ken is a member of the Board of Directors of Denver Civic Ventures, the Downtown Denver Partnership's public purpose corporation that focuses on civic design and development initiatives, and is also active with the Partnership’s Center City Housing Council and the Congress for the New Urbanism.

Jorgen Jensen - Board Member

Jorgen Jensen is a registered broker with Blue Moon Financial, a LoDo-based firm that provides alternative investment strategies for registered investment advisors, money managers and high net-worth accredited investors. At Blue Moon, Jorgen markets capital ventures, including real estate, water rights, raw land acquisition and other private equity investments. Jorgen is the co-chair of the LoDo, Inc. Young Professionals Committee, which provides LoDo, Inc. members in the 22-35 age group with opportunities for civic engagement, mentoring, social interaction, and networking. His work within the Young Professionals Committee includes spearheading the committee’s Recycling Initiative for Lower Downtown. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Jorgen graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a minor in Design Studies. Jorgen was also elected into the Denver Metro’s Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber 100 program which involves early-career business leaders in the activities of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Denver metro business community.

Have a question about Union Station Advocates? Here's the place to look for the answer. But, if you can't find the answer you're looking for or if you have a comment, correction, or suggestion, please send us an e-mail to: info@unionstationadvocates.org.

Where does USA stand regarding the Union Station Master Plan?
USA supports the September 2004 Denver Union Station Master Plan and we are actively participating in the review of the draft 2008 Supplement to the Plan. Master Plan documents are available in the Resources section.

What is USA’s position on the planned “wing” buildings next to Union Station?
USA believes that the proposed wing buildings are a fundamental component of the Union Station project for three primary reasons:

USA also believes that, while critical to the Union Station plan, the wing buildings must be designed with a height, scale, orientation, and footprint that is consistent with and respectful of the historic station, and an exceptional architectural design that is worthy of a highly visible civic location.

How do I become a Member of USA?
You can become a Member of USA by sending a check in the amount of $50 to:

or, you can pay your membership fee with your credit card online on our Membership page!

Why should I join USA?
USA is a not-for-profit entity that relies on member dues and other donations to cover the cost of serving Denver citizens as their advocate for exceptional public spaces at Union Station. By becoming a member, your contribution helps USA pay for this website and keep it updated with the latest information about the Union Station project. Your contribution helps USA sponsor public meetings, workshops, and other events that give you the opportunity to influence the design of Union Station’s pubic spaces and their construction, management, and maintenance. Your contribution demonstrates your civic interest in our historic Union Station and its rebirth as a transportation gateway to Downtown and a prominent public gathering place.

What initiatives does USA have planned for 2008?
Union Station Advocates is planning:

In a nutshell, what is the current plan for the Union Station redevelopment?

What is the process for public input into the Union Station redevelopment?
USAC and associated Break Out Group meetings, a presentation by the UCD School of Architecture and Design on May 13, 2008, and other public meetings, some sponsored by USA.

How can a citizen participate in the public process?
Attend the above mentioned public meetings and workshops, or submit comments to USA which we will be passed on to USAC, the Project Management Team, and the Master Developer.

What is the current schedule for USAC public meetings?
See the News > Public Meetings page of this website.