AGNC 2024 Economic Development Summit Speakers
Alicia Gresley is originally from Fremantle, Western Australia, and first arrived in Colorado in 2005 via the Amtrak California Zephyr train with a backpack and sense of adventure. Having traveled the world, Alicia knew the mountains were home as it was the only place she ever really missed. Now settled in Rifle, Alicia and her husband are active in their community and enjoy living the mountain life with their two daughters Tillie & Lucie and doggo Denali. Over the past 19 years Alicia has worked in the resort travel, outdoor, leisure and tourism industry gaining extensive experience and networks in luxury hospitality management & operations, business development, project management, leadership, strategic planning, community management, finance & local governance. Alicia is currently serving as the Director of the Colorado River Valley Economic Development Partnership driving their mission of Better Jobs Closer to Home, has her own business On Mountain Time, and is a current member of Rifle City Council.
Nathan Perry, PhD, is an associate professor of economics at Colorado Mesa University. His research interests include money and banking, and economic history. He has conducted several regional economic grant studies in the state of Colorado including economic impact/contributions studies, public land studies and has published a book chapter on deficits and debt. Dr. Perry writes quarterly economic newsletters for Mesa, Montrose, and Delta Counties. He teaches money and banking, econometrics, macroeconomics, and business statistics.
Che Sheehan has served in his current role as the Enterprise Zone Program Manager for the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) for the past two years. Che has worked at OEDIT since 2018 and during his time in the Office has managed a variety of different programs including the Rural Jump Start Program, Employee Ownership Tax Credits, CHIPS Refundable Tax Credits, Commercial Historic Preservation Tax Credits, and the Regional Tourism Act Projects. Che holds his B.A. in Economics from Colorado College. He was raised in Arlington, Virginia, and currently resides in Denver Colorado.
Tanya Perea Doose has over 30 years experience in management, banking, education, marketing, outreach, and business networks. This invaluable experience supports her role as Director of Programming where she creates and implements FSWCF’s programmatic strategy, fundraising for programs, partnerships, and ensuring a high standard of delivery across all programs. Born and raised in Colorado, Tanya has generational roots across the state, specific to our rural communities. As a Latina, she is passionate about advocating and supporting marginalized communities by implementing bilingual outreach and cultural level literacy. Throughout her career, Tanya enhances the value she brings to her work to develop educational resources relevant to entrepreneurs across the state. Tanya was raised in Western Colorado and resides with her husband, John, in Rifle where they raised their family. They have a son and daughter, both adults, and two beautiful grandsons! In her spare time, Tanya loves being “Yaya” and spending time with her family, dogs, and playing tennis.
Helen Roe moved to Grand Junction and returned to university, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Colorado Mesa University with a BBA in Marketing and a BS in Accounting, after more than two decades of experience as a successful serial entrepreneur on the Front Range. After an internship at the Business Incubator Center, she knew it was where she wanted to be, and jumped at the chance when an opportunity for employment opened up. Now, 17 years later, Roe is the Director of the Business Loan Fund of Mesa County, is part of the Business Incubator Center Management team, and a Small Business Coach specializing in accounting, finance, and strategic business planning. Roe’s professional certifications include Team Leader/National Center for Economic Gardening, Colorado NxLevel business planning instructor, 2011 state of Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Counselor of the Year, and just to round out her skill set, forklift operator. Roe is also a prior 7-year member of the Mesa County Executive Fair Board, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Grand Junction Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency program. “The most rewarding part of my job is providing resources to address challenges and celebrating achievements of start-up and expanding companies as they overcome the hurdles of creating a successful and sustainable business.”
Margie Joy joined Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) as a Community Relationship Manger for the Western Slope in 2020. She brings to the role a strong career background in community engagement and economic development. As Community Relationship Manager, Joy is an ambassador for the organization, engaging with communities throughout the Western Slope to learn and help address their needs, challenges, and opportunities. Prior to joining CHFA, Joy served as the Information and Marketing Director for Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker, Colorado; conducted outreach programs as a state liaison for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; managed community engagement for the North Front Range Metropolitan Organization; and worked in investor relations for Northern Colorado Economic Development. Joy currently serves on the HopeWest-Meeker Advisory Board, Meeker Chamber of Commerce Board, and Colorado Northwest Community College Foundation Board.
Terrance Grady is part of the CHFA Business Finance team that is responsible for management of a variety of economic development programs that provide options for the financing needs of businesses throughout Colorado. He has over 9 years of experience in economic development and small business finance.
Erin McCuskey is the Regional Director for the Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She joined the SBDC with a background in workforce and organizational development to focus on rural strategy and how to improve access to SBDC services, which is best known for no-cost consulting and a network of more than 200 business experts. She enjoys working with community-minded partners to meaningfully address the challenges facing Northwest Colorado businesses. Erin is actively preparing to sit for the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) exam.
Dalida Sassoon Bollig, is the CEO of Western Colorado Business Development Corporation, fondly known as the Business Incubator Center (BIC). The BIC is a key economic development organization in our region specializing in building entrepreneurial ecosystems and helping small businesses and startups thrive through an ecosystem of resources and support. Dalida is an experienced strategist with demonstrated work in international affairs. She has worked as an executive strategist for the nation of Sweden, and she has done policy and strategy work at the European Union in a wide range of areas including public policy, trade, economic development, and entrepreneurship.