Club Executives and Directors

Michael Gordon

President

Michael Gordon
Michael believes that a strong social and economic network has the potential to change people’s lives. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), he specifically sought out opportunities, and employment, in education (UNLV, Public Education Foundation) and economic development (Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance) to achieve this aim. During his time at the LVGEA, the organization was successful in luring the Raiders football team to Las Vegas, starting the movement in getting the Formula One race and Athletics baseball team to find a home in Las Vegas. While in Las Vegas, Michael was active in the non-profit sector receiving the Vegas Inc. “Volunteer of the Year” award for his years of service on numerous boards. Since relocating to Colorado, Michael has joined, or been elected to, the boards of Rotary Club of Broomfield, the Broomfield Area Chamber of Commerce and FRIENDS of Broomfield. He has served, or is serving, Rotary at the club, District, Zone, and international levels. Michael served District 5300 as Assistant Governor, District Trainer, District Conference chair, and Vocational Training chair and has served District 5450 as the chair of the Rotary Scholarship committee. Additionally, he served as the Assistant Rotary Coordinator (Membership) for Zones 26/27 from 2022-24. Currently, he serves on the international level as a member of the RI Joint Learning Committee which develops curriculum for the Rotary Learning Center courses on My Rotary. He met his wife Amanda when they both served as charter members of the Rotaract Club of Las Vegas. She later served as a District Rotaract Representative and attended four International Conventions. Says Michael: “She is a better Rotarian than me and she isn’t even a member of Rotary!” As a Rotary Foundation alumnus, Michael strongly believes in the impact every Rotarian can have through their continued donations to the “engine that drives Rotary service worldwide”. Together, the couple supports the Foundation as Benefactors, Bequest Society members, and Major Donors.

Redd Upton

President Elect

Redd Upton:
Redd joined Rotary just months before the pandemic hit that changed our outlook on the world. My initial meeting was in person with the following year in a zoom format. When the in-person meeting resumed, I enjoyed getting to know the Broomfield Rotary group becoming more involved over the past 3 1/3 years. The work with FISH, Epic Day of Service, and the annual Broomfield Rotary golf tournament to name a few have been wonderful. The community involvement and dedication are what make Broomfield a great place to live and serve.  My wife Elizabeth and I moved to Broomfield in 2014 from the Brighton area.  We have been operating a commercial HVAC business since 2005 in the greater Denver area. This has also led me to meeting and building strong relationships in Denver for going on 20 years.

Ben Vagher-Past President

President of Charitable Foundation

Ben Vagher
In 1973, I married Katherine and moved to Broomfield. Initially, I began my career as a schoolteacher and coach, which lasted for five years. However, I eventually transitioned to the world of road construction. Over time, I advanced within the road construction industry until I founded my own road construction company in 1995. Starting from scratch, we grew the company into a sizable operation with over 200 employees. In 2018, I sold the company and shifted my focus to supporting non-profits in Broomfield and beyond. In 2019, I joined the Broomfield Rotary after being asked several times to become a member. I’ve always been impressed by the contributions the Broomfield Rotary makes to our community, particularly its support for non-profit organizations. Saying “yes” to membership was an easy decision. Due to COVID, my term as President was extended to two years, during which I worked diligently to make a positive impact through our Club’s community service efforts.

Dennis Kennedy-President Elect Nominee

Webmaster, Director of Imagination Library

Dennis Kennedy
Dennis Kennedy is a new Rotarian having joined in March of 2023. However, he jumped in with both feet and took on updating the website and publishing a weekly bulletin. His favorite Rotary activity is promoting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library which benefits all children from birth to 5 years old in the Broomfield zip codes. He and his wife, Linda, attend local events with a tableful of sample books and a life-size cutout of Dolly. As a retired educator, Dennis is passionate about literacy and kindergarten readiness. With a BS and MA in math, Dennis taught at the junior high and high school levels. As a visionary he found his best use was as an administrator working with students and teachers as the Principal of Shadow Ridge Middle School., Dennis was also able to work closely with the architects in the design Shadow Ridge Middle School to encompass the middle school philosophy of pods. Adams County Five Star Schools used those architectural plans to build the two additional schools. It is rare that an administrator can help plan and open a new school. Dennis sees that as a highlight of his career. Rotary gives Dennis the opportunity to engage in his community of 30 years. While the raising of 4 children and 6 grandchildren never really ends, he finds as they are busy with their lives, he has more time to give back to the community that supported his family.

Lauren Robydek

Secretary

Lauren Robydek
Lauren has enjoyed being a Rotarian for more than 17 years. She cherishes the relationships that have blossomed in this time, and she loves the access to community service opportunities that membership provides. Lauren belonged to the Rotary Club of Green Valley (District 5300) from 2006 - 2015, serving multiple years as Treasurer and one year on the District Conference Committee.  She was honored to receive her club’s “Rotarian of the Year” award in 2013.  
After purchasing a Nothing Bundt Cakes bakery and relocating to the Denver area, Lauren joined the Rotary Club of Broomfield (District 5450) in 2016.  She is currently a Paul Harris Fellow +2, and she has served as Club Secretary since 2018.  In addition to Rotary, Lauren is active in the non-profit organization 100 Broomfield Women Who Care. 
Lauren and husband Scott met playing soccer in 2008, and they have been happily married since 2012.  Now the proud parent of two children and two bakeries, Lauren spends the bulk of her time chasing kids, working, and fantasizing about sleeping. 
 

Brian Forman - Second Year Board Director

Director of Public Image

When I think about my life and what I would call my passions, three things come to mind: health and fitness, home building, buying, and designing, and family. I am a Colorado native, and I love this state with all its glory. I grew up learning about construction and property development from my father and had the opportunity to witness the home building process from start to finish. I have lived in many different areas of Colorado and have enjoyed second homes and cabins in various mountain areas. Each area has unique characteristics and I enjoy exploring this state in its entirety. I completed my undergraduate education at UNC Greeley and earned my Masters and Doctoral degrees from Regis University. These degrees allowed me the opportunity to provide physical therapy to thousands of patients in a variety of settings. It was an honor and a privilege to help my patients for many years. The relationships I built will always be treasured. Having had my real estate license for years, the connections with my clients and the experience of helping them achieve their dreams inspired me to move into a full-time role as a Real Estate agent. Many of the skills necessary in Real Estate are skills that I needed in Physical Therapy. Common threads in both professions are the ability to actively listen to clients, educating clients as needed, advocating for clients, helping clients formulate a plan, problem solving, and working in a collaborative relationship towards a desired outcome. My wife and I have two grown children who we enjoy traveling and spending time with. I love many outdoor activities in Colorado, especially hiking, biking, golf, fitness, and camping. I take my job as a Real Estate agent seriously. I know that buying a home is one of life’s biggest decisions and I value my clients and our relationships. I will always strive to not only meet, but to exceed, their expectations.
 

David Manley-Second Year Board Director

Director of Membership

David Manley
  • David and his wife Cindi have two adult daughters: Elizabeth and Megan
  • David and Cindi both graduated from the University of Colorado
  • They have lived in the Broomfield/Boulder/Westminster area since 1971
  • David was a Commercial Banker in Community Banking for 35 years prior to beginning work as a Financial Services Professional in 2013
  • David was recognized for his community service by receiving the Gene Frank, Heart of Broomfield Award in 2020
  • David was President of Eagle Bank in Broomfield for 8 years
  • Eagle Bank won the Independent Bankers Community Service Award for Colorado in 1997
  • David coached girls’ soccer for 15 years with Broomfield Junior Soccer and the Broomfield Blast Soccer Club
  • Member and Past President of the Broomfield Rotary Club
  • Past President and member of the Broomfield Community Foundation Board of Directors
  • Member of the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce and past member of the Board of Directors
  • Member of the Colorado Conservatory of Dance Board of Directors
  • Winner of the Broomfield Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 1991
  • Past Chairman of the Board and Treasurer of the Broomfield Economic Development Corporation
  • Past member of the City and County of Broomfield Citizens Housing Task Force
  • Additional Community Service as a past board member for Bal Swan Children’s Center, Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center Foundation, Broomfield Swim and Tennis Club, City of Broomfield Citizen Parks and Recreation and Transportation Committees, Broomfield United Methodist Church.
My objective is to help people and business owners create, implement, protect and ultimately execute their retirement plan by minimizing the effect of taxes** on their retirement income through tax diversification strategies which can efficiently grow their wealth and supplement their retirement income.  Trust, Integrity and Empathy are my foundational values.
*Summit Financial Solutions is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Co or any of its affiliates.
**Neither Summit Financial Services and its employees, New York Life or their affiliates provide tax advice.  Please consult your own tax professional regarding your situation.

Jack Castellano, Second year Board Director

Director of Club Administration

Jack Castellano
Jack joined Rotary in 2021 to get more involved with the community he serves as part of his professional responsibilities with Scouting Colorado, the local Council of Scouting America. Born in New Orleans, he graduated from high school in Houston Texas and earned Eagle Scout in 2011. He then moved to Colorado to attend CU Boulder and received a BA in Geology in 2015. He worked in the Environmental Consulting field for several years but wanted to give more back to the community and transitioned to the non-profit sector by joining Scouting Colorado. Continuing his commitment to community and the environment, he joined the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Broomfield and the Board of Directors for the Colorado Wildlife Federation in 2022. Though he currently lives in Littleton, he has found community with volunteers, civic leaders, and groups like Rotary in Broomfield and Adams County. The areas of focus closest to his heart are Maternal and Child Health and the Environment, seeing Scouting as united with Rotary in building stronger and more resilient communities.  

William Sheridan, First Year Board Director

Director: Rotary International Foundation.

William Sheridan

William Sheridan is a real Estate professional with over 40 years’ experience as a developer, property manager and asset manager, acting primarily as an investor of multifamily and commercial properties.

Sheridan is the President of SFinvest, California and Colorado investors, operators and brokers of Commercial Realty.  He is also an Adjunct Faculty Member of the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business in the Franklin Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management where he is the Property and Asset Management class instructor. 

He holds both California and Colorado Real Estate Broker licenses, is a CCIM Certificate Holder, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  Formerly, Sheridan was a Certified Property Manager®, a Past President of IREM Sacramento Chapter, and a Regional Vice President of IREM Region 11.

Sheridan earned his MS in Real Estate and the Built Environment from the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and within the University of Denver, where he was an honors student.

Bill and his wife Geralyn are both Rotarians, and major investors of Rotary International.  Bill is a member of the Broomfield Colorado Rotary where the Sheridan’s have their businesses.  Geralyn is a past president of Sunrise Rotary, and in 2023-2024 served as the Assistant Governor of District 5160.  Literacy is a cornerstone of both clubs’ programming and Bill is a supporter of the Imagination Library of Broomfield, funded by the Broomfield Rotary Charitable Foundation, Inc.  The Sheridan’s have homes in California and Colorado, and have two wonderful grown children, Brianne and Evan.

 

John Gilfedder-First Year Board Director

Director of Youth Programs

John has over 25 years of financial industry experience to help his clients realize and achieve their dream of home ownership. He understands the importance of taking a holistic view of every client and finding the most appropriate loan program to fit their needs. He joined Elevations Credit Union so that he can offer the best products and exceptional service to his clients to make the mortgage experience a great one.
Born and raised in New York, John moved to Colorado in 1990 where he currently lives in Broomfield with his wife and two children. He spends free time with his family, golfing, watching sports and playing with his two toy Australian Shepherds.