A Panoramic Perspective
Taloma Principals

Tamra J Ward
“There is a point at which public and private sectors intersect. Being mindful of that dynamic, and preparing in advance, results in stronger outcomes. Looking to the horizon and planning ahead drives my work.”
Tamra has played an active role in the public affairs and issue management arena for nearly three decades. Most recently, she served as Chief External Relations Officer for the Denver Zoo. There, she was responsible for visioning, managing and executing strategic local, state and federal government relations efforts, ballot issue and bond campaign engagement, community outreach and action, marketing, communications and public relations for the iconic and beloved 120-year-old organization.
Highlights of her engagement include the successful passage of SCFD funding, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of the Zoo’s operating budget, and her work as institutional lead through a city-wide bond process and campaign. The latter resulted in $20 million in general obligation bond funding for vital campus improvements. The Denver Zoo continues to be one of Tamra’s consulting clients.
As President & CEO of Colorado Concern, a business advocacy association of more than 115 chief executives, she helped grow membership revenue by 25 percent. She also spearheaded a coalition that successfully passed landmark legislation to strengthen the state’s ballot issue process.
For more than a decade Tamra served the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, more recently as its Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications. Her responsibilities included development and execution of a local, state and federal government relations policy that met the needs of the organization’s 3,000 member businesses.
Since 2005, Tamra has led efforts to raise $28 million for successful campaigns to support or defeat statewide ballot issues viewed as helpful or harmful to Colorado’s economic climate.

Lori Fox
“Navigating complex issues—from legislative and policy issues to corporate challenges—has been a constant in my work over the past 20 years. It’s part of my DNA.”
Lori has served in wide-ranging leadership roles for high-profile private and public organizations for more than two decades. Following her professional experience in Washington, DC—where she worked on Capitol Hill, at two cabinet agencies and in the White House—the Colorado native returned home. She has been an active member of the community, participating on numerous business and Nonprofit Boards, as well as being elected to serve on the Regional Transportation District Board of Directors.
Lori was Regional Director of Corporate & Public Affairs for United Airlines for nearly a decade. In this role she represented the international airline, driving business and policy efforts, as well as corporate reputation and expansion campaigns.
Pinnacol Assurance brought Lori in to serve as Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs. Her work helped the Workers’ Compensation insurer address reputational and legislative challenges while improving communications team operations.
An unexpected vacancy in the office of Governor John Hickenlooper resulted in Lori’s serving as his Interim Legislative Director. Working with both sides of the aisle, as well as with business and community advocates, she led some of the most controversial issues of the session.
Most recently, Lori has served as a policy and stakeholder engagement consultant for Panasonic’s new CityNOW headquarters in Denver, where she supports their Smart Mobility and Smart City efforts. She also represents other clients on economic development projects.

Maren C Stewart, JD APR
“Identifying common goals and engaging stakeholders as partners is critical to the success of any major initiative. Collaboration is key and essential to my approach.”
Maren is a respected and effective leader with significant executive experience in the nonprofit sector and strong community connections in the nonprofit, business and civic communities. She was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1993.
Maren served as Vice President of External Affairs for Children’s Hospital Colorado, the region’s premier pediatric provider. As a member of the Executive Senior Management Team, she led efforts in the areas of public policy, advocacy, strategic communications, marketing, branding and community relations. Maren successfully developed nationally recognized advocacy campaigns and public will-building partnerships; created the hospital’s first-ever community benefit program; led communications in support of the move to the Anschutz campus, and established the hospital as a national leader in child health policy and advocacy.
Those achievements took her to LiveWell Colorado, where she served as the organization’s first president and CEO. It was an opportunity to build Colorado’s first statewide organization focused on healthy eating and active living from the ground up—from strategy and branding to board development and stakeholder engagement. Under her leadership, LiveWell Colorado launched the only statewide, comprehensive, multi-sector obesity prevention movement in the nation.
Maren was hired to significantly grow a sole practitioner’s consulting business into a full-service firm. As the Chief Engagement Officer, she recruited a senior-level team, created a brand, and increased the client base in both breadth and depth. In addition to representing the firm externally and expanding its reach and visibility in the community, Maren directed efforts on public engagement campaigns and initiatives.
Most recently, Maren has provided strategic counsel and support to a variety of clients, including the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), Metro State University of Denver and the Civic Center Conservancy, where she served as Interim Executive Director.
Taloma in Our Commmunity
The Principals of Taloma Partners have had the privilege of serving as past or current board members of many leading Colorado organizations including:
- ARC Thrift Stores
- Aurora Chamber of Commerce
- Aurora Economic Development Council
- Colorado Business Community for the Arts
- Colorado Community College System
- Colorado Nonprofit Association
- Colorado Succeeds
- Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- CU Denver School of Arts & Media
- Denver Chamber of Commerce
- Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs
- Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation
- Downtown Denver Partnership
- Global Livingston Institute
- History Colorado
- Komen Colorado
- Mile High United Way
- Porter Adventist Hospital Foundation
- Regional Transportation District
- SCL Health
- Share our Strength National Advisory Council
- Swallow Hill Music
- The Next Stage
- Transition Teams for Mayors Hancock and Hickenlooper and Governors Ritter and Hickenlooper
- Visit Denver
Awards and Recognition
- 40 under Forty – Denver Business Journal
- 50 for the Future – Colorado Statesman
- Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce – Board Member of the Year
- Livingston Fellow, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
“One to Watch” – Element Magazine - Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Accreditation
- Top 25 Most Powerful Women – Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- Women of Distinction – Colorado Girl Scouts
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