One of the best known radio personalities in the Denver-Aurora-Metro area, Rick Crandall has been a staple of the local broadcast community through his former role as Program Director and very popular morning host at KEZW-AM 1430, leaving the airwaves in 2021 after a 30 year career.
Board Members
Rick Crandall
CEO, CFM Foundation
During his time on the air Rick received a number of awards. He’s been honored by the United Veteran’s Committee of Colorado, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Regis University. They bestowed on him their prestigious Civis Princips Award for his work with seniors and military veterans. In 2012 Rick received the highest honor bestowed by the Colorado Broadcasters Association when he was named the Broadcaster of the Year.
Rick is best known in Aurora as the ‘maniac on a mission’ behind the Colorado Freedom Memorial. The potent combination of radio personality and former veteran fueled his fire to raise $1 million needed to fulfill his dream of creating a memorial dedicated to Colorado Veterans of all ranks and wars who died in service to their country since Colorado become a state. The Colorado Freedom Memorial became a reality on Memorial Day 2013. Now Rick’s attention has turned to building a Visitor/Education facility, the CFM Center, with fundraising underway. His goal is to dedicate the Center on Memorial Day weekend 2026.
As an Air Force veteran, Rick served as broadcaster with American Forces Radio in Guam and taught television production at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His wife of 48 years, Diane, was named as the Eastern Metro Area’s Unsung Hero for her quiet work done behind the scenes in the community and on the Colorado Freedom Memorial.
Rob Devall
Board Chairperson
Rob is a recent Air Force retiree with over a decade of experience in organizational leadership, specializing in development, operations, design, and change management. His last three assignments were right here in Colorado, serving in senior leader positions at the US Air Force Academy and Buckley Space Force Base. Rob’s excited to be leading the CFM Board as our campaign to build a new CFM Education and Visitor Center gains momentum.
George Peck
Board Vice Chairperson
George is a retired Air Force officer who moved on to positions in redevelopment, healthcare and finally as an Aurora Chamber executive. He currently serves on commissions or councils both for Arapahoe County and for the City of Aurora as well as the board of the Aurora Rotary. He is one of the longest serving Board members of the Colorado Freedom Memorial and is always present at CFM events.
Jim Clark
Board Treasurer
Longtime Colorado resident, Jim Clark, is honored to serve as Treasurer for the Colorado Freedom Memorial. He works full time in philanthropy as the Director of Development for Harmony Foundation International, whose nonprofit mission is to enrich lives through singing. A native Nebraskan, Jim’s family members have served in the U.S. armed forces as far back as the U.S. Civil War. Because of this family history, he understands the CFM’s vital objectives to educate coming generations about the sacrifices made for us by those we honor and remember at the Colorado Freedom Memorial.
Sonja Beyers
Board Secretary. Gold Star Mother
Sonja Beyers serves as Secretary to the board of the Colorado Freedom Memorial. Sonja joined the board along with her husband in an advisory roll representing Gold Star Families. Finding a “village” that continues to bring to the forefront the memories of those who have selflessly fought and lost their life fighting for freedom gives comfort to all families. To have input to the ideas and vision to continuing the efforts to honor and keep those veterans remembered is why Sonja loves being a part of the board, sharing in building the Colorado Freedom Memorial as that place of remembrance. Sonja and her husband Tim are the proud parents of Sgt. Nathan Beyers who’s name can be found on the panels of the Memorial, KIA Iraq 2011.
Jeff Anderson
Executive Committee At-Large
Among the many community groups Jeff Anderson volunteers with, he counts the Colorado Freedom Memorial as his favorite. Jeff oversees safety and security training for Advantage Security. He represents the segment of the population whose path did not include military service, but who is deeply patriotic and holds a profound respect for those who wear and have worn the uniform.
Thom Sheffel
Board Member, Legal Advisor
Thom Scheffel serves as Colorado Christian University’s General / University Counsel, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and Secretary of the CCU Endowment Foundation. In these capacities, he reports to both the Office of the President as well as the Board of Trustees. Thom has been General Counsel for almost thirty years and has served as University Counsel since 2019. Thom earned his Juris Doctor at Southern Methodist University and his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University. He maintains a private practice, TNS & Associates, PC, in Denver, Colorado. Thom continues to serve on various boards and committees, including serving as a legal advisor and Lt Col for the Civil Air Patrol.
Amy Larson
Board Member, PR Advisor
A brand-focused, strategic marketing and communications pro, Amy has been telling stories and building brands for more than 20 years. Based in Denver, she pivoted her focus from the consumer, tourism, retail, and real estate industries to Colorado’s nascent adult-use cannabis industry in 2015. Speaking regularly on the topics of marketing and branding for the cannabis industry, Amy also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Since being introduced to the CFM through her work with Visit Aurora in 2012, Amy has supported the work of the Colorado Freedom Memorial as its PR Advisor and member of the board.
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee
Board Member, Education Advisor
Dr. Mordecai Brownlee proudly serves as the president of the Community College of Aurora (CCA). Under his leadership, CCA has deepened its engagement with the community, particularly through its support of the Freedom Memorial, which honors Colorado’s fallen military veterans. His tenure at CCA was marked by a dedication to student success, community partnerships, and honoring those who served the nation.
Gary Smith
Board Member
A senior manager in several customer facing service areas and educator has allowed Gary the privilege of helping others to grow in their careers and provide them with the support and skillsets to succeed. Experiences across multiple client environments, both private, public, and global, offered welcome challenges that were particularly useful in the creation of realistic class curriculum for the benefit of his students. An Air Force Veteran, Gary strives to continue his service to the military community and their families by serving on the board of directors of the Colorado Freedom Memorial Foundation. Gary is retired from careers at Hewlitt Packard and Regis University and handles the database of names on the Colorado Freedom Memorial website and works to insure the Memorial has repairs when needed.
Tim Beyers
Board Member, Gold Star Father
Tim Beyers is a metro area small business owner who joined the board along with his wife in an advisory roll representing Gold Star Families. Tim finds being a part of the board of the Colorado Freedom Memorial gives him the opportunity to share the need for Gold Star Families to have a place to reflect about their loved ones that is beautiful and peaceful along with bringing a need to continue to honor and remember as a community those who lost their life in the fight for all of our freedoms. He and his wife, Sonja are the proud parents of Sgt. Nathan Beyers who’s name can be found on the panels of the Memorial, KIA Iraq 2011.
Brian Chochol
Board Member
Brian is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer now working in the Prosthetics Dept. at the VA Medical Center helping improve the quality of life for all veterans. He first became involved with the Colorado Freedom Memorial when Rick began sharing his vision for the memorial on his morning radio program. Brian volunteered at one event and has been showing up ever since. He was honored when Rick invited his wife, and fellow board member, Kathy and himself to become members of the board. Brian believes our mission to educate the next generations is the best way to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms that we enjoy today.
Kathy Chochol
Board Member
While attending her first event at the Colorado Freedom Memorial years ago, Kathy found herself immediately drawn to the overwhelming significance of the memorial and the love and dedication of all those behind it. Kathy’s a proud U.S Navy veteran. For more than a decade she’s had the honor and privilege of serving veterans, their families and care providers every day on staff with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Kathy’s humbled to be a part of this great group of individuals who come together for this uncommon cause. She, and the Board, share their time and talents with great enthusiasm to ensure the memories of the lives of all those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy are more than their names on the panels.
Tristan Wyatt
Board Member
Tristan Wyatt is a proud resident of Aurora, Colorado and a wounded combat Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom (lost right leg in Fallujah 2003). Since retiring from the U.S. Army he has dedicated his life to Veteran health care in both the public and private sectors. Tristan served as a senior consumer reviewer & programmatic reviewer for the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). He also served as a city commissioner for the Veteran’s Commission of San Francisco. He contributes to prosthetic related non-profits in his spare time. Tristan is proud to serve on the Colorado Freedom Memorial Board in honor of those who gave all.