As Denver Water approaches its 100th anniversary, it will do so with two new people in key leadership roles. Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock has appointed Craig Jones and Gary Reiff to our Board of Water Commissioners.

Jones and Reiff bring wide-ranging experience in government, finance and strategic planning to their roles, which is critical, given Denver Water’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, excellent operations and satisfied customers.

“Denver Water’s work to provide a reliable, sustainable water supply is essential to helping Denver and our people continue to thrive,” Mayor Hancock said. “The Board of Water Commissioners plays a role in the delivery of this service and thus this board requires exceptional people to provide leadership. I have no doubt that Craig Jones and Gary Reiff are the right additions to the board and I know they will serve our residents well.”

“We are more than a water utility. We are a water resource manager,” said Denver Water CEO Jim Lochhead. “From the lands around our source waters in the Rocky Mountains, to the taps at our customers’ homes and businesses, we manage a large, complex system full of variables and challenges. I’m excited that both Craig Jones and Gary Reiff have agreed to help guide our organization through those challenges.”

Denver Water’s Mission Statement speaks to managing a vast array of natural resources for the benefit of a larger community. Jones and Reiff are accomplished individuals with broad visions to set the course forward, Lochhead said.

Jones is a managing director of The Colony Group’s Rocky Mountain Region and serves as co-president of Colony Sports and Entertainment, where he provides wealth management expertise to active and retired professional athletes. He has a background in finance, tax and strategic planning from years of experience working at Mellon Bank, PepsiCo, Price Waterhouse and EW Scripps. Jones is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor and earned a Juris Doctor and MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, where he double-majored in economics and political science.

Reiff is managing director of Black Creek Group, a Denver-based private equity firm. He has extensive government and civic experience as well, currently serving on the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission. He also has served as the chair of the Colorado Transportation Commission, the Board of Trustees of the University of Northern Colorado, and the Board of Trustees of the State Colleges of Colorado. He graduated with honors from Stanford University with a B.A. in economics, and a M.A. from the Food Research Institute (economics of development), while also graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.

The Denver Board of Water Commissioners is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the mayor, who serve staggered six-year terms. Jones and Reiff replace Tom Gougeon and Penfield Tate, whose terms expired earlier this year.