Grand Valley BOCES

Lori Buck and her family have resided in the Grand Valley spanning four generations. After graduating from Fruita Monument High School, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Colorado State University. For 11 years, Lori lived on the eastern slope of Colorado receiving an education and working in her chosen profession of forestry.

In 2001 she moved back to Fruita where she is administrative manager at Bighorn Consulting Engineers – a local mechanical and electrical engineering firm. Buck has served the public for most of her career and took an interest in government while working for the City of Fruita Planning Department. During this time, she learned about growth management, policy and planning.

She has served on the Fruita City Council since 2006, and was mayor from 2012 to 2018. Due to term limits she now serves as mayor pro tem and is back on City Council. Buck has also served on the Police Commission, Senior Task Force, Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Board, Tourism Board, the Arts & Culture Board and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership Board. She currently serves on the Southwest BLM Resource Advisory Council, The Grand Valley Regional Transit Committee and the El Pomar Northwest Council.

Buck is an avid promotor of tourism and outdoor recreation. She believes her local community knowledge and service as an elected leader can provide a strong, local perspective to the CMU Board of Trustees.

Bob Wilson is a retired accounting professional who brings a wealth of community service and leadership experience to the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees.

Upon completing his Associate of Arts degree at then Mesa College in 1961, Wilson completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting at Western State College in Gunnison, Colo. After spending 14 years as an accountant and eventually partner at Dalby Wendland & CO in Grand Junction, Wilson worked as Business Manager at the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel and then as a private business consultant through the 1980s. From 1987 until 2005, he worked in varying capacities at Rocky Mountain Health Plans including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Vice President.

While Bob retired in 2005, he is very involved with numerous community organizations including Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, the Walker Foundation, the Mesa County Victims Compensation Board and Industrial Development, Inc.

Since 1989, Diane Schwenke has served as president of the Grand Junction, Colorado, Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization with approximately 1000 business members. She came to this position by way of a winding career path. After receiving her BA in Speech Therapy and Elementary Education she took a position with the Nebraska Department of Roads where her background in Elementary Education proved particularly beneficial in dealing with government officials. It was also helpful in her next post with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development where she assisted communities ranging in size from 100 to 20,000 populations with their community and economic development efforts. She served on staff at the Greeley, CO Chamber of Commerce for one year and as CEO of the Beatrice NE Chamber for four years before coming to Grand Junction.

A graduate of the Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, she has served on the Board of Regents for the West Institute and as the Chair. She is also a Past Chairman of the Western Association of Chamber Executives, an organization of 800 chamber professionals in fourteen states. Diane is a Certified Chamber Executive and a Certified Economic Developer. She has taught basic economic development courses, primarily aimed at Chamber staff for the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Institute program and the WACE Chamber Academy program. She also frequently facilitates board planning sessions for other chamber of commerce organizations in the Western United States.

Her volunteer activities include service on the El Pomar Foundation Northwest Regional Council, the Rocky Mountain Health Plans Board of Directors, a six year term on the Community Hospital Board, and various volunteer leadership posts with her church.

She is married to Bruce Schwenke and is the mother of two children in their twenties.

Curtis Englehart is the Director of the Mesa County Workforce Center and a proud alumni of Colorado Mesa University. He has been with the workforce center for over seven years and has a passion for connecting local talent to local businesses. Curtis spearheaded the Work Ready Community Initiative in Mesa County which allows the community to objectively map the skill level of the local and regional workforce by utilizing the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Mesa County is currently the only certified Work Ready Community in the state of Colorado. Curtis believes that communities thrive when community partners and leaders collaborate, and that is why Curtis serves on the GVBOCES board. Curtis and his wife Sara have been married for ten years and have two little girls, Ava (7) and Addley (6).

Andrew Golike is the plant manager for CoorsTek in Grand Junction. Mr. Golike has held diverse responsibilities including global multi-site management. Mr. Golike holds a BA in Business Management from Colorado Mesa University. He is a life long resident of western Colorado.

Paul Pitton has served on the Mesa County Board of Education for the past 5.5 years. He has been a high school educator for 41 years and was a high school football and track coach for over 30 years. Paul currently serves on the CASB Federal Relations Network and the CHSAA Legislative Council.

Mr. Pitton is a CSCS Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Rebok Test Product Evaluator. He has a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from NAU and has held a School Administrator license since 1989. Paul is married and has four grown sons.

Born and raised in Grand Junction, Colorado. Received a BSN from Loretto Heights College in Denver, CO in 1972. Received a technical teaching certificate in 1984. Served as the first Med Prep instructor when the program was located on the CMU (then MSC) campus (first classroom was over the racket ball court!).

Grateful to have had a wonderful and fulfilling career spanning 46 years and continuing still at St. Mary’s Hospital. Currently volunteer on various community and state boards. Hobbies include watercolor and fly fishing. Married, no children, one blue heeler-Babe.

Born in Connecticut; raised in Wisconsin; oldest of 7 children in a large Catholic family. Married my high school sweetheart and proceeded to have 3 biological children; 1 adopted child and 1 foster child. Received a BSN degree from Marquette University (home of Al McGuire!). Worked part-time on a locked psychiatric ward while raising my young children and golden retrievers.

Moved the family to Grand Junction in 1981 and had a variety of positions at Hilltop Rehab Hospital, most notable of which was being part of the team that created the first-of-a-kind residential program for brain injured adults. Was recruited to the San Francisco Bay area to start similar programs in 6 states for a venture backed start-up company. Left CA in 1991 and returned to Hilltop and my non-profit roots.

Worked on a variety of community collaborations including Hospice and Home Care of the Grand Valley. Became CEO of Hilltop in 1998 and retired in 2010. Now am content to be a mentor, meddler, golfer and grandma.

Diana Sirko, PhD, is in her 43rd year as a Colorado educator, she is teaching graduate principal and teacher leadership classes at Colorado Mesa University, coordinating the Educational Leadership program and teaching an undergraduate methods class to students preparing for student teaching in mathematics. Before coming to CMU, Sirko served as Deputy Commissioner of Education at the Colorado Department of Education overseeing all topics related to curriculum, assessment and instruction at the state level, including the implementation of Colorado Academic Standards, the Educator Effectiveness legislation, statewide accountability systems, statewide assessments and educator licensure. She was a superintendent of schools in Colorado for 12 years, deputy and assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and instruction for 7 years, principal for 6 years, professional development supervisor for 2 years and taught math and science for 13 years. Her experience includes working in urban, suburban and rural school districts, from 1,600 to 32,000 students.

Before being employed by CMU in her current position, Sirko was also a part-time adjunct professor since 1988 at CU-Colorado Springs, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, Adams State University, University of Phoenix and the previous three years at CMU-teaching one to two classes a year. Sirko believes in strong student engagement by actively involving students in the learning process and promoting a healthy balance in every classroom between teacher talk and student discussion and presentation.

Sirko loves to read educational and leadership research, play golf, ski and watch high school, college and pro football.

At a time when many teenagers were playing games on their computers, Jon learned how to be a savvy businessman on his. He has since embraced his passion for starting new companies and now owns several, including ProVelocity, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Progressive Business Consulting and Spin City, among others. As a licensed multi-engine pilot, Jon transformed his love of flying into another successful venture, Crestone Aviation. An Eagle Scout himself, he is working with the regional Boy Scouts of America to develop an aviation merit badge based on Crestone’s offerings.

Jon is involved in entrepreneurship programs through the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Junction Business Incubator Center as a way to share what he has learned over the years through trial and error.

Dr. Brian Hill was hired as Mesa County Valley School District 51's Assistant Superintendent in 2019. Prior to joining the district, Dr. Hill worked for the Austin Independent School District for 11 years in the following roles: Special Assistant to the Superintendent, Administrative Supervisor, Principal, Assistant Principal, and Teacher. Dr. Hill holds a B.A. in Theology from East Texas Baptist University, an M.A. in Educational Leadership Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Hill received the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association's TEPSAN of the year award, was nominated for Austin Independent School District's Assistant Principal of the year, and was recognized as a Teacher of the Year in AISD. Dr. Hill currently serves as the Executive Board Chair of the Colorado Student Leaders Institute; a Board of the Governor of Colorado. Dr. Hill was unanimously selected by the D51 Board of Education as the Superintendent Designee and moved into the D51 Superintendent role on July 1, 2022.

Angela Lema serves as a Director and Board Secretary of the Mesa Valley School District 51’s Board of Education. After growing up in Moab and spending two decades in Denver, she returned to Grand Junction to establish The Salon Professional Academy. As the business owner of several enterprises including post-secondary trade schools, Angela played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of over 3000 students, providing them with comprehensive training and preparation for state licensure and successful careers.

Serving for two terms as president of a trade school association, she played a vital role in steering the association towards success, advocating for the importance of trade schools, and contributing to the broader educational landscape.

Her multifaceted background, from entrepreneurship and experience in post-secondary education, brings unique experience to the BOCES Board. Angela’s career path reflects a steadfast dedication to creating opportunities and empowering individuals through education.