Jeff is the Chief Economist for the City and County of Denver, and works directly in Denver’s Office of Economic Development. He assists in setting the policy and program direction for community economic development programs for Denver. He and his team

Jeff is the lead staff in working with Mayor Hancock and the OED Executive Director, Eric Hiraga, to attract, retain, and expand companies in Denver, including DaVita, TIAA, Panasonic Enterprise Solutions, Johns Manville, and Optiv (formerly Accuvant) and a growing number of fast growing technology businesses. He works on a number of initiatives and business and community development projects, including addressing involuntary displacement (gentrification) and catalytic development. He was the city staff lead on the establishment of the Denver, now Mile High, TOD Fund, the CGR Impact Fund (New Market Tax Credits), and other innovative financing tools.

Previously under Mayor Hickenlooper and Mayor Vidal, he served as the Director of Business and Housing Services and led the Business Development team. In these roles, he directed the business attraction and development, affordable and workforce housing production and funding, and neighborhood development program activities of the integrated community economic development program.

Prior to joining the City, Jeff was on the economic research faculty of the Leeds School of Business, at the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Chief Economist at the Maricopa Association of Governments (Phoenix metro) and the Denver Regional Council of Governments. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in micro- and macro-economics, economic development, urban market analysis and public policy.