Are you interested in serving on the State Personnel Board?
- The Board is comprised of five members: two are elected by certified state employees and three are appointed by the Governor.
- Each member of the Board must be a qualified elector of the state and may not be an officer or employee of the state or of any state employee organization.
- Board members serve three-year, overlapping terms and may succeed themselves once.
- Board terms conclude on the last day of the fiscal year, June 30, and new terms start on the first day of the new fiscal year, July 1.
Vacancies occurring for elected positions on the Board are announced in advance to employees in all departments of the State of Colorado and information is posted on the State Personnel Board website. In order to be on the ballot for an elected position, eligible candidates must obtain a minimum of 50 verified signatures of certified state employees on official petitions. Certified employees vote electronically for their candidate of choice. The candidate obtaining the most votes is certified as elected to the Board.
Vacancies occurring for appointed positions on the Board are filled by the governor. Individuals interested in a gubernatorial appointment to the Board must submit an application to the Governor's office of Boards and Commissions. Gubernatorial appointees are confirmed by Senate committee when the legislature returns to session in January.
Board Member History
| Membership | Gov. Appointment | Gov. Appointment | Gov. Appointment (Art. XII, ยง 14(2)(b)) | Elected | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Members | F. Robert Lee Second term: 7/1/2023 to 6/30/26. First term: 11/24/2021 to 6/30/2023. | Kimberley Dempster Second term: 7/1/2023 to 6/30/26. First term: 11/24/2021 to 6/30/2023. | Sarah Wager Second term: 7/1/2022 to 6/30/2025 | Euell Thomas First term: 7/1/2022 to 6/30/2025 | David Ruchman Second term: 7/1/2024 to 6/30/27. First term: 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2024 |
| Previous Members | Karen Niparko 7/1/2020 to 11/10/2021 | Roxane White 7/1/2020 to 9/13/2021 | Sarah Wager First term: 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2022 | Patricia Bangert 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2022 | Nora Kelly 7/1/2015 to 6/30/2021 |
| Archived | Michelle Palmquist 7/1/2014 to 6/30/2020 | Maurice Knaizer 7/1/2017 to 6/30/2020 | Neil Peck 7/1/2013 to 6/30/2019 | Vonda Hall 7/1/2013 to 6/30/2019 | Sally Yerger 7/1/2010 to 6/30/2015 |
Biographies
- Kimberley Dempster
In June 2023, Governor Jared Polis reappointed Kimberley Dempster to the State Personnel Board for a second three-year term. Dempster's second term is from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.
Dempster is currently an attorney with the international labor and employment law firm Fisher Phillips where she litigates and provides advice to employers on a wide range of employment laws. Her prior experience includes in-house counsel roles at a global telecommunications and cable service provider and at a Denver-based integrated healthcare company. Dempster is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado and served as Secretary for five years. Dempster also served as a member of the Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association.
Kimberley has a Bachelor's degree from Christopher Newport University and a J.D. from the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law.
- F. Robert Lee
In June 2023, Governor Jared Polis reappointed F. Robert Lee to the State Personnel Board for a second three-year term. Lee's second term is from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.
Lee is a real estate broker with Kentwood Company. Lee is serving a fifth term on the Board of Directors of the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District. Lee served as Chief of Staff to Governor Bill Owens and as the Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Bob is a graduate of Regis University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
- David Ruchman
David Ruchman was first elected to the State Personnel Board in 2021. Ruchman was elected to a second term in 2024, after being nominated in an uncontested statewide nomination. Ruchman's second term ends on June 30, 2027.
Ruchman is a retired state employee who served as a Hearing Officer for the Colorado Department of Revenue. Ruchman's experience includes serving on the Regional Transportation Board of Directors and on the First Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission. Ruchman also served on the Planning Commission and Park Board for Colorado Springs.
David has a Bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University, a Master's degree from Stanford University, and a J.D. from the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law.
- Euell Thomas
Euell Thomas was first elected to the State Personnel Board for a term beginning on July 1, 2022, after being nominated in an uncontested statewide nomination. Thomas' first term ends on June 30, 2025.
Thomas is a Staff Attorney for the Colorado Education Association and represents union members in labor, employment and collective bargaining matters. Thomas has litigated in numerous administrative settings, as well as in state and federal court. Thomas' past work includes the Western Area Law Department of the United States Postal Service, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance, and the Livelihood Law Firm.
Euell received a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Boulder School of Law and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Hendrix College.
- Sarah Wager
In June 2022, Governor Jared Polis reappointed Sarah K. Wager to the State Personnel Board for a second three-year term. Wager's second term is from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.
Wager is the Director of Internal Audit for the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Wager has 23 years of experience in state government having previously worked in the Colorado Department of Human Services as Interim Director/Deputy Director of the Office of Administrative Solutions and the Acting Director/Deputy Director of the Office of Community Access and Independence. Prior to DHS, Wager worked for the Colorado Office of the State Auditor as an Audit Manager.
A graduate of the University of Colorado-Denver with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Sarah is also licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. Sarah is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants. In 2016, the Office of Community Access and Independence awarded Sarah the Leadership and Innovation Award. In 2015, Sarah participated in the Governor's Performance Management Academy.