RiNo Art District Names Sarah Cawrse Director of Urban Strategy & Design
RiNo Art District, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to fostering a welcoming, creative community where a diversity of artists, residents and businesses thrive, announced the hire of Sarah Cawrse, who will join the organization as director of Urban Strategy & Design.
“Working in city planning for almost a decade, Sarah is a recognized expert in implementing forward-thinking place-based strategies that prioritize both community and environmental benefit,” said Charity Von Guinness, executive director of RiNo Art District. “Her commitment to exploring how city investments can mitigate impact on displacement and how development can be achieved with an eye towards equity will be an enormous asset to RiNo’s work.”
Prior to joining RiNo Art District, Sarah served as a principal city planner and urban designer for the City of Boulder. She also spent five years at the City and County of Denver as a senior city planner and urban designer. Her work in local government has included developing plans and policies, innovative community engagement efforts, managing complex regulatory projects, and working with a wide range of stakeholders, departments and agencies to develop consensus, implementing recommendations to reach goals.
Prior to her work in the public sector, Sarah was a landscape architect and urban designer at Design Workshop — a landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm — and was involved in a variety of projects ranging from urban planning to site design with a focus on master plans for mixed-use development, parks and open space.
“As someone who is passionate about ensuring my work guides development that truly serves the community, I am beyond thrilled to join the RiNo Art District team,” said Cawrse. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to lead RiNo’s efforts to foster a healthy, welcoming and inclusive art district, and collaborating with the community to improve the public realm through art, infrastructure, mobility and green initiatives.”
Sarah received a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from California Polytechnic State University and a Master of Arts in Urban Design from Newcastle University in the UK.
Stonebridge Cos. Welcomes Jim Sega as Senior Vice President of Operations
Stonebridge Cos., a Denver-based, privately owned, innovative hotel operator and owner, announced that Jim Sega joined the firm as senior vice president of operations. Sega’s role as Stonebridge’s leading operations executive further strengthens the company’s management team and its commitment to its diverse hotel portfolio.
“We are delighted to have Jim join our team and utilize his more than three decades of hospitality and leadership experience to head our hotel and F&B operations,” said Tom Brinkman, president and chief operating officer of Stonebridge. “Jim’s depth of experience in management and dedication to cultivating a culture of excellence, teamwork, respect and integrity are a perfect fit for the team and culture at Stonebridge.”
In his new role, Sega will be directly responsible for leading and developing Stonebridge’s hotel management teams, as well its sales, marketing and revenue management teams. As Senior Vice President of Operations, Sega also will be responsible for creating and shaping the future of Stonebridge’s management platform as the company carries out its next phase of expansion. This includes growth through new hotel management agreements, platform mergers and acquisitions, and hotel acquisitions.
“I am excited to join the team at Stonebridge and be a part of the firm’s continued growth and commitment to innovation and distinction,” said Sega. “I am thrilled for the future of Stonebridge and the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Sega brings 30-plus years of hospitality management experience to Stonebridge through his time with TPI Hospitality, Pillar Hotels & Resorts, and Crescent Hotels & Resorts. His experience includes leading both hotels and restaurants, with extensive oversight of full-service properties, destination resorts, as well as select service and extended stay properties across the U.S. Sega also brings an entrepreneurial mentality and focus, most recently serving as chief operating officer for Up & Away Adventures, a subscription box company that provides a family-friendly, educational virtual travel experience.
Sega is the latest addition to Stonebridge’s C-suite team and is part of the firm’s plans for significant growth, both in its portfolio and company composition. Last year, Stonebridge announced plans to acquire more than $1 billion in hotel assets with a focus on third-party management opportunities with an investment by TowerBrook Capital Partners and other private investors.
AE Design Adds a Senior Engineer and Marketing Coordinator
AE Design has recently expanded its team by welcoming Len Kusovac as its senior A/V engineer and Katie Piccirillo as its new marketing coordinator. The lighting, technology, and electrical design firm is investing in a larger technology team after seeing demand for full systems integration among architects and developers. The firm is also supporting its core value of providing education and real-world experience in the industry by kicking off its internship program for the summer.
The additions to the team not only contribute to AE Design’s goals for continued growth and development in Colorado and across the nation but provide valuable support to the entire firm, fostering a collaborative and dynamic environment.
“With a steadfast dedication to driving innovation and propelling our organization to new heights, AE Design is committed to creating a culture of curiosity and attracting top talent. We are paving the way for exciting opportunities to deepen our investment in our core services and capabilities,” said Jon Brooks, principal and co-owner of AE Design. “As our firm focuses on sustained strategic growth, both internally and externally, these professionals will undoubtedly excel in driving project success, coordinating with clients, and nurturing strong relationships within our team and partners.”
The addition of Len Kusovac will support the versatility and adaptability of the firm, particularly in the integration of A/V with lighting, control, and electrical systems, and the design of state-of-the-art theatrical rigs. Kusovac’s deep experience in project management, complex A/V and control system design, theater systems, architectural acoustics, RF, CATV, and satellite signal distribution greatly enhances AE Design’s capabilities. In his role as a senior systems engineer, Kusovac will directly contribute to AE Design’s innovative approach to creating memorable, immersive experiences.
To support the continued growth of the firm and best serve its client partners, Katie Piccirillo will bring her passion for storytelling and creative expertise to AE Design as its new marketing coordinator. As a valuable member of the team, she plays a pivotal role in proposal management, awards and thought leadership, media, and branding, and actively contributes to the corporate social responsibility and DEI groups. Piccirillo’s background in fine art and event design, combined with her dedication to values-aligned partnerships, parallels AE Design’s commitment to pushing the boundaries between art and technology.
As AE Design welcomes interns from Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this program reinforces the firm’s commitment to ongoing education and the development of young talent. Through the internship program, aspiring designers and engineers will explore lighting, electrical and technology design, and have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the application of AE Design’s core services.
Bounce Empire Names Bradley Roulier as Director of Entertainment and Head of Expansion
Bounce Empire, a recently opened 50,000-square-foot venue in Lafayette, is excited to announce the addition of Beatport.com Co-Founder and Beta Nightclub Founder Bradley Roulier to its team as the director of entertainment and head of expansion. With his impressive entrepreneurial and marketing skills, he will build and maintain the company’s position as a leading entertainment destination, help guide the company’s expansion plans and ensure its success in new markets.
“Having Bradley join the team was instrumental to ensuring Bounce Empire will provide unforgettable experiences for families and individuals alike,” said Bounce Empire Founder James Hay-Arthur. “With his phenomenal background in growing massively successful entertainment and direct-to-consumer businesses, Bradley will lead the company’s expected rapid growth, which includes the construction of a second location in Centennial, Colo.”
Roulier is a successful serial entrepreneur and marketer with a strong background in electronic music events and promotions. He co-founded Beatport.com, which quickly became the world’s leading electronic music retail brand and sold it to SFX for $60 million in 2013. In 2008, Roulier founded Beta Nightclub, which was named the number-one nightclub in the U.S. by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the “top 25 nightclubs of all time” by Billboard Magazine. He also previously had a successful DJ career as one half of Manufactured Superstars, performing over 600 shows globally and producing over 50 original tracks and remixes for artists such as Katy Perry, David Guetta, Tiësto and Bruno Mars.
In 2019, Bradley stepped away from his music career and co-founded direct-to-consumer popcorn brand Opopop in June 2021, which has appeared on Good Morning America and the Today Show.
In addition to his role at Bounce Empire, Roulier is also pursuing his passion project: the MettaDenver Performance Center. This world-class facility will provide wellness-focused visitors with a 10,000-square-foot spa and recovery center, a 5,000-square-foot space filled with yoga and meditation domes, and a 20,000-square-foot athletic performance center.
