Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF MAY 29, 2025
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 43
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Jeffco EDC president and CEO to leave for Georgia Board of directors will select replacement BY ERIC HEINZ ERIC@COTLN.ORG
Jansen Tidmore, the president and CEO of the Jeffco Economic Development Corporation, West Metro Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Jeffco, is stepping down after five years and will take a position in Columbus, Georgia. Tidmore recently announced his departure in the newsletter distributed by the EDC. He first arrived for his interview for the job in March 2020, right before Covid restrictions were put in place and shut down many businesses. “You think back to that period and how different, we knew it would take at least two weeks to flatten the curve; who knew that we were about to have this two years ahead of us?” Tidmore said. “But what I told people is, ‘There was a blessing that came out of that,’ and we got to be very intentional about the internal focus of our organization. We got to be intentional on how we partner and grow the organization, uh, to be a community asset, not something that’s a liability along the way.” Tidmore described his and his family’s five years in Colorado as a “blessing,” but he said it was time to get closer to the rest of his family but that they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “I think one of the things that when I came in five years ago, we talked about keeping up economic development and knowing that the cornerstone to a healthy community is access to quality jobs, and we wanted to create those jobs and provide those opportunities for all of Jeffco’s residents,” Tidmore said. Tidmore said the economic development success was shown in $5.2 billion in new capital, the creation of 10,000 jobs in the last
WINDOW Warren Tech grads chart courses in aviation WESTMINSTER
Warren Tech seniors Michael Metzger, Keegan McCray and Kora Redenbarger stand inside the aviation hangar where they spent the past year (or two) PHOTOS BY SUZIE GLASSMAN preparing for careers in aerospace and aviation.
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SUZIE@COTLN.ORG
For three graduating seniors at Jeffco Public Schools’ Warren Tech, high school wasn’t just about finishing assignments and earning credits. They spent their time logging simulated flight hours, learning the ins and outs of aviation and aircraft maintenance technology, designing aerospace components and gearing up for careers in aviation and aerospace. Kora Redenbarger, Michael Metzger and Keegan McCray are among the 2025 graduates of the district’s career and technical education campus. Each has completed a specialized pathway in fields ranging from aviation management to aircraft maintenance, advanced 3D printing and business administration. “It’s (Warren Tech) a program
MINSTER
that gives students real-world exposure and real opportunities,” said Sophia Rodriguez, instructional coach for Warren Tech’s science and aerospace programs. “These kids are not just preparing for college. They’re preparing for careers in high-demand industries.” From airport operations to aviation management
For Redenbarger, the path to aviation management began with a fascination for how airports function. After interning at Denver International Airport, she discovered a passion for operations and logistics. Redenbarger, who is hard of hearing in one ear, said she found confidence in the program’s supportive environment. She described learning to adapt in noisy cockpit simulations and emphasized the importance of her customized headset.
Another pivotal moment came during a dinner with two professional pilots. “Just hearing everyone’s progress and their paths — it was really motivating,” Redenbarger said. “That was when I realized this is totally what I want to do.” Outside of class, she plays the tuba in the Front Range Youth Symphony and her home school’s marching band. She will attend Western Michigan University to study aviation management and operations, with hopes of one day returning to DIA in a leadership role.
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VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | SPORTS: 18
Taking off with business and a pilot’s license
Metzger, a recent recipient of his private pilot’s license, pursued a dual pathway in business administration and aviation technology. He completed his flight hours at Centennial Airport and trained on flight
simulators that replicate the exact plane he flies. “It was a huge help to have the simulators,” he said. “They prepared me for the real thing.” Metzger said the class gave him the foundational knowledge to pass the FAA’s written knowledge test and the confidence to fly solo. “It was weird at first,” he said. “Just being able to walk out, get in the plane and take off. It felt surreal.” He has already taken friends and family on flights around the Denver area, including sightseeing trips over the city. Metzger plans to attend Auburn University and continue flying while pursuing a degree in aviation. He said the combination of hands-on learning and academic rigor helped him feel ready for the next step. SEE AVIATION, P8
SEE REPLACEMENT, P2
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