Arvada Chamber Announces DEI+B KAPS Council to Advance Inclusion Best Practices

November 17, 2022 – ARVADA, CO. Today, the Arvada Chamber of Commerce announced a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging (DEI+B) KAPS Council to ensure that the Arvada business community is leading the way in taking meaningful action to improve DEI+B best practices. KAPS stands for Kick-Ass Problem Solvers and the business and community leaders on this council will work diligently to advance the Chamber’s DEI+B commitment.

Belonging is at the heart of the Arvada Chamber’s core values and work to serve the Arvada business community. By creating an inclusive environment, the Chamber’s vision in this work is to empower new perspectives, solutions, and opportunities for our local economy and serve as a champion for advancing all businesses and employees in Arvada. 

Members of the DEI+B KAPS Council include:

  • Jodye Whitesell, Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation
  • Jenny Macias, Hope House Colorado
  • Raven V. Faber, EngErotics, Inc./Faber Anderson Development and Design, LLC
  • Vanessa Kendrick, VK Signature Real Estate
  • Tina Hageman, Family Tree
  • Leslie Brezina, Regis University
  • Maya Oren, Talnua Distillery
  • Teresa YoKell, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
  • Terry Carter-Davis, Sooper Credit Union
  • Aurora Elicerio, Comcast
  • Elisa Thurston, Greater Colorado Council, Boy Scouts of America
  • Brianne Sheridan, SFinvest & The Square at Five Parks
  • Masaru Torito, Kokoro Restaurant
  • Joel Zigman, Deeply Rooted Music

Learn more about this council at www.arvadachamber.org/DEIB-KAPS-council.

The DEI+B KAPS Council is the latest step in the Arvada Chamber’s DEI+B focus over the last 21 months. In that time, the Chamber staff and board members have engaged in four distinct training experiences to help better understand internal and external opportunities to support businesses and the Arvada community. This includes working with Thriving Culture, a Denver-based consulting agency to audit, engage and educate the organization’s stakeholders and business leaders on DEI+B best practices and joining Colorado Inclusive Economy’s Cohort 5.

The Arvada Chamber will publish updates, resources, and programs from the DEI+B KAPS Council, as well as opportunities for business and community leaders to get involved.

0 Comments

Related Articles

Inclusion Spotlight: Brian Collins, Excalibur Outreach

Inclusion Spotlight: Brian Collins, Excalibur Outreach

Brian Collins, Director of Excalibur Outreach "We started Excalibur Outreach in 2020 to address the needs of the underserved in the Arvada community. I started by using my 'Platform' to collect toys for kids during the holidays, and the subsequent programs grew from...

read more
Nominations Open to Celebrate WOW Women of Arvada 2025

Nominations Open to Celebrate WOW Women of Arvada 2025

February 14, 2025 - ARVADA, CO. For the fifth consecutive year, the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce will lead a celebration of women leaders who work or live in Arvada as part of Women’s History Month. The Chamber will celebrate WOW Women of Arvada in business,...

read more

Subscribe to receive Arvada Chamber news, resources, and events!