Infraday Mountain States

2026 Venue

2027 W Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204

Point of Contact: Ken Bauco | 646-675-0171 | ken@infraday.com

The Big Picture

The 5th Infraday Mountain States 2026
June 2-3 | Denver, CO

The Mountain States region stands at the forefront of a new era in infrastructure — and Infraday is where public sector leadership and private sector innovation meet to shape what’s next.

On June 2-3, join hundreds of infrastructure leaders from Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and surrounding states for the 5th annual Infraday Mountain States — a full-day event packed with insights, strategy, and collaboration across the infrastructure spectrum. From water and energy to broadband, housing, and AI, this is where the region’s most pressing challenges are met with forward-looking solutions.

Through a single-track program of sharp, fast-moving panels and real-world conversations, this year’s agenda will cover:

Water resilience, drought mitigation, and regional infrastructure coordination
Broadband expansion, digital equity, and smart city innovation
Grid modernization, clean energy transition, and resilience strategies
Affordable housing, zoning, and equitable development
Data platforms, predictive analytics, and AI integration in public works
Freight, rail, and supply chain efficiency in a rapidly growing region
Innovative project delivery: P3s, value capture, and blended finance
Airport modernization, airspace planning, and advanced aerial mobility
Smart stormwater systems and climate adaptation infrastructure
The future workforce: policy, talent pipelines, and technology

Hear directly from government leaders, utility executives, and infrastructure experts from the City and County of Denver, Colorado DOT, Denver International Airport, Colorado Springs Utilities, City of Aurora, City of Greeley, Town of Vail, City of Centennial, Colorado Public Utilities Commission, FAA, and many more.

Whether you're focused on clean energy, housing, data-driven planning, or regional mobility — Infraday Mountain States 2026 is your essential gateway to the future of infrastructure in the West.

Point of Contact:
Ken Bauco | 646-675-0171 | ken@infraday.com
www.infraday.com

2026 Speakers Include

AJ Waters, Chief Evangelist, Kahua

AJ Waters is Chief Evangelist at Kahua and a leading voice in construction technology, focused on translating digital transformation into real-world project outcomes. With a background spanning product, program management, and industry solutions—including roles at Google and InEight—he brings deep expertise across the full capital project lifecycle. AJ is known for bridging the gap between field operations and technology, emphasizing adoption, process improvement, and data-driven delivery. Through his platform TheEngiNerdLife, he shares practical insights that help owners, contractors, and teams implement technology in ways that actually work on the jobsite.

Amy Ford, Executive Director, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, City and County of Denver

Amy Ford is the Executive Director of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure for the City and County of Denver, where she leads the planning, delivery, and operations of the city’s multimodal transportation system. She brings a global perspective from her previous role at AECOM, where she led surface transportation and mobility innovation initiatives focused on decarbonization, advanced mobility, and infrastructure strategy. Amy has deep expertise in designing people-centered transportation systems, integrating transit, micromobility, and complete streets to improve safety, equity, and economic vitality. She is also a national leader in transportation innovation, serving on the board of Intelligent Transportation Society of America and advancing data-driven, technology-enabled mobility solutions.

Brett Cavanagh, Director - Oil & Gas Energy, Weld County Government

Brett Cavanagh is Director of Oil & Gas Energy at Weld County, where he works at the intersection of local government, industry, and regulation to guide energy development and infrastructure decisions. With a background spanning land acquisition, right-of-way, and large-scale project development, he has secured and managed complex agreements across energy and infrastructure projects nationwide. Brett brings deep expertise in permitting, stakeholder negotiation, and navigating federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks. His work focuses on aligning public and private interests to advance responsible, efficient, and economically impactful energy development.

Cesar Alvarado, Sales Director, Aurigo Software Technologies

Cesar Alvarado is a Sales Director at Aurigo Software Technologies, where he leads enterprise SaaS growth across transportation and public sector agencies. He brings over 15 years of experience spanning infrastructure engineering, P3 project delivery, and cloud-based capital program management solutions. Earlier in his career, he supported multi-billion-dollar transportation projects across North America and LATAM, combining technical engineering expertise with commercial strategy. Cesar is known for driving large-scale government sales cycles, building strategic partnerships, and helping agencies modernize how they plan, fund, and deliver infrastructure.

Chris Nicholson, Director — District A, Board of Directors, RTD

Christopher Nicholson serves on the Board of Directors for the Regional Transportation District in Denver, where he focuses on transit governance, financial sustainability, and system performance. He brings a hybrid background spanning policy, data, and technical operations, with experience building internal tools and analytics systems using Python, SQL, and modern data platforms. Earlier in his career, he co-founded Global EIR, helping immigrant entrepreneurs launch companies in the U.S. and raise over $40 million in venture capital through university partnerships. His work sits at the intersection of public policy, infrastructure systems, and data-driven decision-making, with a track record across government, startups, and political campaigns.

Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, Denver City Council, District 7

Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez is the council woman for District 7. She ran for city council in order to serve the community she grew up in and to be a catalyst for change for the sustainable growth of the city. She regularly attends all scheduled council meetings, is on the Finance and Governance, and Land Use and Transportation committees. Councilwoman Alvidrez is working on building relationships with the many city departments hosted within the city which is a passion of hers. Before coming to City Council, Councilwoman Alvidrez worked in real estate, engaging with the residents of the city to help them find housing. In her off time, Councilwoman Alvidrez regularly participates in yoga classes, enjoys painting, hiking, and attending museums with her son, Alex. If you get the chance, ask her about her ability to play the violin, or the improv theater shows that she performs in.

Elly Watson, Assistant Director- Finance and Capital Planning, Public Works, City of Aurora

Elly Watson is the Assistant Director of Public Works for Finance and Capital Planning at the City of Aurora, where she oversees budgeting, capital prioritization, and financial strategy for major infrastructure programs. With nearly two decades of experience in municipal leadership, she brings deep expertise in aligning project delivery with funding realities, resource constraints, and long-term planning. Her background spans financial management, project delivery, and policy analysis, giving her a practical understanding of how infrastructure projects move from concept to execution. Elly is known for her ability to balance competing priorities, communicate trade-offs, and ensure capital programs are delivered efficiently and responsibly.

Jacob Riger, Division Director, Transportation Planning and Operations, Denver Regional Council of Governments

Jacob Riger is the Transportation Planning and Operations Director at the Denver Regional Council of Governments, where he leads regional mobility strategy across the Denver metro area. He oversees long-range transportation planning, multimodal systems, and data-driven mobility initiatives that shape how the region grows and moves. Jacob has more than 15 years of experience in transportation planning, with deep expertise in transit development, regional coordination, and infrastructure investment strategy. He also serves on the Policy Committee of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, contributing to national transportation policy and federal reauthorization efforts.

James Lester, Senior Advisor, Transmission, Climate and Energy, Colorado Energy Office

James Lester is a senior energy policy leader at the Colorado Energy Office, where he focuses on transmission, electricity markets, and statewide energy strategy. He has deep expertise in utility regulation, having previously advised the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on complex proceedings related to distributed generation, storage, and rate design. James plays a key role in shaping legislation, permitting strategy, and grid planning to support Colorado’s clean energy transition. He also works closely with investors and climate tech companies to navigate regulatory frameworks and accelerate deployment of advanced energy infrastructure.

Jared Coleman, Project Engineer II, Aurora Water – Drainage Division

Jared Coleman, PE, CFM is a Project Engineer with the Jared Coleman, Project Engineer II, Aurora Water – Drainage Divisionspecializing in water resources, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and infrastructure project delivery. He brings experience managing multidisciplinary projects, coordinating across utilities, contractors, and public agencies, and delivering solutions ranging from floodplain management to water and wastewater systems. His background includes both public sector engineering and private consulting, with a strong focus on design, construction oversight, and regulatory compliance. Jared’s work sits at the intersection of infrastructure resilience, growth management, and water system performance in rapidly developing regions.

Jeannine Rustad, Planning and Business Development Director, City of Aurora

Jeannine Rustad is the Planning and Business Development Director for the City of Aurora, where she leads a multi-disciplinary team focused on long-range planning, development review, economic development, and capital planning. With over 30 years of experience across government and the private sector, she brings deep expertise in land use, zoning, policy development, and intergovernmental coordination. Trained as an attorney, she has a strong background in negotiations, legislative strategy, and aligning complex projects with regulatory frameworks and community priorities. Jeannine is known for her collaborative, big-picture approach to shaping growth, guiding development, and delivering practical, implementable solutions across cities and regions.

Joseph Rasmussen, Manager of Water, Wastewater, and Gas Infrastructure Planning, Colorado Springs Utilities

Joseph Rasmussen, P.E., PMP, is the Manager of Water, Wastewater, and Gas Infrastructure Planning at Colorado Springs Utilities, where he leads long-term planning across critical utility systems. With nearly two decades of experience, he has managed large-scale water infrastructure projects, including major pump stations, transmission systems, and treatment assets. His work focuses on aligning capital planning, system reliability, and growth across water, wastewater, and energy networks. Joseph brings deep expertise in infrastructure delivery, utility operations, and planning for long-term system demand.

JoyAnn Ruscha, Director — District B, Board of Directors, RTD

JoyAnn Ruscha is a member of the Board of Directors at the Regional Transportation District in Denver, where they focus on transit policy, performance metrics, safety, and accessibility. They bring over a decade of experience as a communications and public policy advisor, leading advocacy efforts for LGBTQ rights, disability access, and economic equity across local, state, and national campaigns. In parallel, they lead Ruscha Public Affairs, advising nonprofits, government offices, and political leaders on strategy, communications, and legislative initiatives. Their work sits at the intersection of infrastructure, governance, and human-centered policy, with a strong emphasis on inclusive systems and public accountability.

Kim Swearingen, Senior Engineer, Water and Wastewater Vertical Design, Colorado Springs Utilities

Kimberly Swearingen, PE, MBA is a Senior Water and Wastewater Engineer at Colorado Springs Utilities, with extensive experience across public works, utility operations, and infrastructure delivery. She previously served as Director of Public Works for the City of Cañon City, where she led capital planning, system design, and municipal infrastructure programs. Her background spans project management, contract negotiation, and utility system design, giving her a practical, end-to-end perspective on how infrastructure is planned and delivered. Kimberly combines technical expertise with leadership experience to help utilities navigate growth, regulatory requirements, and long-term system resilience.

Lori Bird, Director II, US Energy - Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition, World Resources Institute

Lori Bird is the Director of the U.S. Energy Program at the Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition at the World Resources Institute, where she leads efforts to advance a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future. With over two decades of experience, including nearly 20 years at NREL, she has been a leading voice in renewable energy markets, grid integration, and energy policy at the state and federal level. Lori has authored nearly 150 publications and advised governments, utilities, and organizations on scaling clean energy deployment and modernizing the power system. Her work focuses on tackling real-world challenges such as grid constraints, energy affordability, and the rapid rise in demand driven by electrification and AI.

Mark Baker, Director of Facilities, Denver Art Museum

Mark A. Baker is Director of Facilities at the Denver Art Museum, where he oversees operations, maintenance, and infrastructure management across a major cultural campus. He brings extensive leadership experience from Denver International Airport, where he managed large-scale airport infrastructure, teams of hundreds, and complex capital and maintenance programs. Mark specializes in operations integration, facilities management, and continuous process improvement across aviation and public infrastructure systems. A former senior military leader, he combines strategic planning, organizational leadership, and hands-on execution to drive performance across large, mission-critical operations.

Patrick Riley, Vibrant Bond Program Manager, Department of Finance, City and County of Denver

Patrick Riley is the Bond Program Manager for the City and County of Denver, leading the $950M Vibrant Denver Bond Program from development through governance, scheduling, and strategic delivery. He brings over a decade of experience managing large-scale public infrastructure programs, with a background spanning transportation, capital projects, and city-led development initiatives. Patrick has played a key role in advancing major projects including the National Western Center and citywide transportation improvements. His work focuses on aligning capital planning, program execution, and stakeholder coordination to deliver complex infrastructure at scale.

Rachel Romero, Strategic Partnerships Lead and Senior Engineer, National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR)

Rachel Romero, PE is a Strategic Partnerships Lead and Senior Engineer at the National Laboratory of the Rockies, where she leads partnership development and helps translate advanced energy research into real-world infrastructure solutions. With over 15 years of experience, she has led major initiatives across energy systems, high-performance buildings, and national programs like the Solar Decathlon and Smart Labs. Rachel combines deep technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement, working closely with government, industry, and research partners to advance resilient and sustainable energy systems. She is also an active leader in ASHRAE, focused on mentorship, workforce development, and shaping the future of the built environment.

Roch Labossiere, Civil Engineer IV, Public Works, City of Greeley

Roch Labossiere is a Civil Engineer IV with the City of Greeley’s Public Works Department, where he is involved in the planning, design, and delivery of municipal infrastructure projects. His work focuses on transportation and public works systems, supporting projects from early development through construction and implementation. He brings hands-on experience in coordinating across departments, managing project constraints, and ensuring infrastructure aligns with community growth needs. Roch is known for his practical, detail-oriented approach to delivering projects efficiently within the realities of budgets, timelines, and public sector requirements.

Russ Sands, Director of Local Climate Solutions, Colorado Energy Office

Russ Sands is Director of Local Climate Solutions at the Colorado Energy Office, where he leads statewide efforts to help cities, counties, and communities advance climate, energy, and resilience initiatives. With over a decade of experience across water planning, sustainability, and public policy, he has worked at the intersection of local government, infrastructure systems, and long-term resource strategy. Russ previously served in leadership roles at the Colorado Water Conservation Board, focusing on water supply planning and statewide resilience. His work centers on aligning policy, funding, and local implementation to drive practical, community-level climate solutions.

Official Partners – 2026

Aurigo

Aurigo builds software that helps build the world. Aurigo provides modern, cloud-based solutions for capital infrastructure and private owners to help them plan with confidence, build with quality, and maintain their assets efficiently. With more than $300b of capital programs under management, Aurigo’s solutions are trusted by over 300 customers in transportation, water and utilities, healthcare, higher education, and the government on over 40,000 projects across North America. Aurigo helps capital program executives make better decisions based on proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. Aurigo is a privately held US corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas, with global offices in Canada and India. Learn more at www.aurigo.com.

Kahua

Kahua helps you manage processes, documents and cost on your construction programs and projects from inception to closeout. Purpose-built solutions for owners, program managers, general contractors and subcontractors help you minimize time-to-value and enhance user adoption. Kahua enables collaboration between all project participants to streamline communication and improve efficiency. Eliminate waste and rework by keeping everyone on the same page with the latest design and scope information. And with Kahua’s comprehensive dashboards and reporting, you get the visibility and control you need to minimize risk.

Kahua is a lifecycle solution, with applications for capital planning, sources of funds, design review, bid management, document management & control, cost management and asset handover. Kahua is available on all mobile devices to easily connect field to office.

Kahua apps are built on kBuilder, an Enterprise Low-Code Application Platform which enables Kahua partners and customers to rapidly build new apps or customize existing apps to extend or enhance Kahua solutions. This gives you the agility you need to adapt as your business needs evolve. To date, over 600 private and public apps have been developed on kBuilder, and public apps are available to the Kahua community on the kStore app marketplace.

Procore

Procore is a cloud-based construction management platform that streamlines project workflows. It connects all project stakeholders—from owners and contractors to subcontractors—on a single, collaborative platform. For public sector projects, this means improved transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Procore facilitates real-time communication, document control, bid management, and cost tracking, helping ensure projects stay on time and within budget. It enhances collaboration, reduces risk, and provides valuable data insights for better decision-making throughout the project lifecycle, ultimately benefiting taxpayers.

Salto Wecosystem

Salto Wecosystem is focused on enabling access to more… more doors, more opportunities, more data.

Salto Wecosystem delivers secure, scalable, keyless access purpose-built for utilities and critical infrastructure, where assets are remote, outdoor, and mission critical. Through IP-rated, wire free locks, electronic padlocks, and centralized digital management, utilities gain real-time control, auditability, and compliance across thousands of access points. The Salto Wecosystem also expertise in identity management, workforce safety, and asset protection for high-risk environments. Together, they help utility operators reduce risk, eliminate mechanical keys, improve operational efficiency, and ensure continuity across distributed, critical assets worldwide.

Trusted worldwide SALTO WECOSYSTEM supports more than 40,000 installations and over 40 million daily users, with operations in 40 countries and a global partner network delivering scalable, integrated smart access solutions at any scale.

The Big Picture

2026 Speakers Include

Official Partners – 2026

2026 Agenda