Manish Kumar to Lead Denver’s Community Planning and Development
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has announced the nomination of Manish Kumar to lead Denver’s Community Planning and Development, pending city council approval. In this role, Kumar will work with residents and local businesses toward equitable and effective growth and development across the city.
“I’m thrilled to announce Manish Kumar as the new head of Community Planning and Development,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “As a Denver local and veteran community planning expert with uniquely diverse experience, Manish understands what it takes to provide great customer service and deliver world-class projects for our city. I couldn’t be more excited to have him on the team.”
Manish Kumar is an established leader in community planning who brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role. Before joining Mayor Johnston’s administration, Kumar held a distinguished career as a United States Diplomat, successfully planning and managing over $6.5 billion in projects across diverse global environments, including Haiti, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Colombia.
Prior to his diplomatic service, Kumar honed his skills on high-profile and complex projects within the Regional Transportation District’s $5.4 billion Public-Private-Partnership FasTracks initiative, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and a private construction company. Kumar also has on-the-ground experience working in Denver, as he has successfully undertaken several residential development projects throughout the Denver area under his company, LHI Development Group LLC.
Kumar holds several professional accreditations, including licensure as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado, LEED Accredited Professional, and Project Management Professional. Moreover, he holds Class A and C General Contractors Licenses, underscoring his comprehensive skill set and commitment to excellence.
Manish earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering with an emphasis in Construction Management from Stanford University, and an executive Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg–WHU program administered by Northwestern University and WHU–Otto Beisheim School of Management.
He will officially begin his role in April.
Evergreen Devco Promotes Erika Shorter to Principal
Evergreen Devco, Inc., a leading retail, multifamily, and industrial development company, announced the promotion of Erika Shorter to principal. As one of only eight principals at Evergreen Devco, the strategic move further strengthens Evergreen’s growth outlook and reflects the company’s confidence in Erika’s capabilities and leadership in and outside of Evergreen.
As Principal, Shorter will continue to focus on acquisitions in the Colorado market, collaborating with landowners, brokers, tenants, consultants, and municipalities to develop retail and mixed-use projects that enhance local communities, while taking a more active leadership role in executing Evergreen’s strategic vision.
“Erika is a very capable and inspiring leader who consistently delivers outstanding results,” said Tyler Carlson, chief executive officer of Evergreen Devco. “She brings a unique perspective, vast knowledge, significant network, and strategic thinking to identifying development opportunities. From site planning to deal structuring, Erika’s expertise is instrumental to achieve our goals. She is an invaluable member of our leadership team.”
Shorter, who joined Evergreen Devco in 2013, brings more than two decades of experience in commercial real estate to her new role as Principal. Prior to joining Evergreen, she worked in the finance and real estate departments for Wild Oats Markets, Inc., and served as vice president at SullivanHayes Brokerage specializing in tenant representation and landlord leasing. She is a member of several professional organizations including DMCAR, where she is Past President, ICSC, and NAIOP. Shorter also serves on the property board of the Volunteers of America of Colorado (VOA).
“I am honored to be part of the Evergreen Principal team,” said Shorter. “Evergreen is a special company with incredible people, and I am proud to help continue its legacy of developing successful projects, cultivating our unique culture, and working with all of our partners and stakeholders.”
Piper Sandler Promotes 3 in Denver
The Piper Sandler Special District Group, a specialty financing team with more than 30 years of experience working to help special districts fund public infrastructure for new construction and redevelopment, announced the promotion of three employees in the Denver office.
Katie Cooksey has been promoted from Senior Associate to Assistant Vice President in the special district group at Piper Sandler, specializing in special district financing. Prior to joining Piper Sandler, Cooksey was a senior deals consultant at PwC specializing in Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, large-scale divestitures, and initial public offerings. Cooksey is a Certified Public Accountant. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from The College of William & Mary and a Masters of Accounting from The College of William & Mary.
Jack Oliver has been promoted from Senior Associate to Assistant Vice President in the special district group at Piper Sandler, located in the Denver office. Jack’s primary responsibilities are financial modeling and quantitative work centered around special district debt. Jack’s career began as a Product Development Engineer in the railroad industry where his curiosity for business and finance led him back to school for his MBA. Post graduation, he worked in Financial Planning & Analysis at MAXAR Technologies, modeling satellite image movement in cloud-computing environments before joining the special district group in March, 2022.
Blaine Hawkins has been promoted from Associate to Senior Associate in the special district group at Piper Sandler, specializing in special district and tax increment financing. Blaine joined the firm out of undergraduate school where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration with a concentration in finance from Central College. During his time at Central College, Blaine also played quarterback on the football team. He capped his college career by throwing an NCAA single season record 63 touchdown passes and was awarded the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy. This award recognizes the top Division III football player in the nation, honoring excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.
