May 30, 2024 — CJI members elected officers, including a new board chair, and four new board members at the CJI Annual Meeting, held May 29 at Polsinelli PC in downtown Denver.
CJI's new board chair is Thor Nelson, an attorney and partner at Holland & Hart whose practice areas include utility law, telecommunications law, antitrust law, and environmental law. Nelson earned his undergraduate degree at Saint Louis University and his law degree at the Georgetown University Law Center. He takes over as CJI board chair from Don Samuels, an attorney and partner at Polsinelli.
Keo Frazier and Jeff George were re-elected as CJI board secretary and treasurer, respectively.
CJI also elected four new board members.
Jim Carpenter runs Freestone Strategies, a strategic public affairs and communications firm. He brings much political experience, having worked in high-level roles for Colorado politicians including Bill Ritter, Roy Romer, Ken Salazar, and Timothy Wirth. He also worked in public affairs for the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, now known as National Jewish Health. Carpenter is currently a citizen member of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, and previously he served on the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission and the 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission. He has also been active in the non-profit community, serving organizations such as Bright by Three/Bright by Text, Mile High United Way, Denver Academy, and more. Carpenter is a Colorado native and earned his undergraduate degree at CU Boulder. He and his wife Nancy have two adult children.
Joe Kennedy brings over 30 years of business development and executive experience within the legal technology vertical including his current role at Stenograph. He also volunteers with several nonprofit organizations, including Her Justice, Metro Caring, and Project Angel Heart. Kennedy grew up on a farm in northwest Kansas and earned his undergraduate degree at Kansas State. After graduation, he moved from the Little Apple—Manhattan, Kansas—to the Big Apple of New York City, where he lived for many years before relocating to Denver.
Judge Andrew Luxen is a district court judge in the 2nd Judicial District and has served in that role since January 2023. Previously he served in various district attorney roles in Denver. Luxen earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Shawna Seldon McGregor is a public relations executive and founder of Maverick Public Relations. She participates in industry organizations such as the Public Relations Society of America, where she serves on the Colorado chapter's DEI committee, and also the Publicity Club of New York and the Crisis Ready Institute. McGregor also has served on nonprofit boards including Climate Ride and a Colorado-based dog rescue organization called Saving Dobermankind. She lives in Mountain View—on the eastern border of Jefferson County—with her husband and her dogs Maverick and Leo.
CJI welcomes its new board chair and board members!
