Community Spotlight

Spinster Sisters Co. is dedicated to being a force of positive change in Golden— “We are trying so hard every day to eliminate that plastic usage in our packaging. Better for people, better for the planet.” Kelly Perkins, Founder & CEO, is a Colorado native who has been making consciously crafted soaps and skincare for decades.

For Chris Cone, Golden’s strength lies in the balance it has managed to maintain over time. As the owner of the historic Buffalo Rose, Chris has helped sustain a place many locals consider the “pulse of Golden,” while also staying deeply engaged in the life of the community around it. 

Traci Neuman Lacey is a Goldenite who values our community's strong sense of belonging. She believes that the generosity of individuals and businesses alike helps preserve Golden’s character and strengthens the connections between residents, visitors, and local organizations.

Lynn Conrad is a local business owner dedicated to the community that has shaped her life for 27 years. When deciding where to put down roots, Golden was the perfect mix of city and mountains for Lynn and her husband, Pat. Golden has since become the place where work, creativity, friendships, and a sense of belonging have all grown together.

Jennine Tarpley describes her role as Principal of Welchester Elementary School as a privilege. With over a decade of experience at the school, Jennine has witnessed the powerful collaborative spirit of Golden firsthand — donating food and supplies, hosting low-cost holiday markets, and curating kid-friendly art & history experiences are just a few ways the community shows up for Welchester students.

My investment in the Golden Civic Foundation comes from a time and place far away - my high school and college years in the northern suburbs of Boston.  Those years shaped the person I am today, and from that time and place I bring a cautionary tale.   

When Jen Toohill is in the room, the room lights up. Jen brings enthusiasm, optimism, and a contagious can-do spirit — and no one champions Golden's young people quite like she does.

When Joy and Jack Brandt stopped for gas in Nebraska over five decades ago, a gas station attendant told them to find Henie Foss and the Foss Company when they made it to Colorado. That stranger’s advice now looks like 53 years calling Golden home.

DD Rockwell of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Colorado Real Estate works to help people find their place in our community. Her commitment to connecting people — to homes, resources, local businesses, organizations, and one another — creates a stronger Golden.

Darden Coors attended her first GCF gala with her parents in 1993. More than three decades later, she returns as one of our 2026 Honorary Chairs. A fifth-generation Coors family member, Darden believes "we all have a responsibility to use our time, treasure and/or talents to serve our community.”

Mark Pattridge is a Goldenite through and through — Earle Johnson Elementary, Golden Junior High, Golden High School, and five summers giving tours at the Coors Brewery. After medical school, he came home to open a family practice where he cared for Golden families for 32 years.