About Us
United to Advance Health and Care
Our commitment to health innovation began a century ago when the U.S. Army opened Fitzsimons General Hospital to treat soldiers returning home from World War I. The hospital built on Colorado’s reputation as a destination for lung care and specialized in treating soldiers with devastating lung diseases due to mustard gas and tuberculosis exposure. In the 1990s, the Army decommissioned the hospital and base, making way for the current Fitzsimons Innovation Community and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Hope for a cure brought patients from all over the world to Fitzsimons 100 years ago. This rich history inspires our community as we work to transform the future of health and care.
Meet the Team
Lyle Artz
Site Manager
Lyle is the Site Manager for the Fitzsimons Innovation Community. He has over 22 years of experience in Medical Logistics, Facilities, and Management in the US Amy prior to joining the FIC in 1996. Lyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a Master Degree in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Lyle is happily married to his wife Sylvia and they have three children and four grandchildren. In his free time, Lyle enjoys skeet and target shooting.
M. Ann Dennis
Executive Assistant
Ann joined the Fitzsimons Innovation Community in September 1999 as the Executive Assistant. Ann has extensive experience in the Customer Service field. Her experience spans a variety of industries including medical & transportation.
Ann has two children and one grandson. She has resided in Denver for over 30 years and has traveled and lived in many places such as Taiwan. Ann loves the outdoor lifestyle and enjoys professional sports. Ann is an avid equestrian and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two sons, grandson and her horse Cody.
April Giles
VP, Business Development
April recently joined the Fitzsimons Innovation Community as their Vice President of Business Development. Prior to this role, April served as the President & CEO of the Colorado Bioscience Association where she led community partnerships, provided strategic guidance growing the industry in Colorado, and led advocacy on behalf of the industry at both the state and federal levels.
In her free time April enjoys Soccer and skiing when her and her family are not on the soccer fields. April is happily married to her husband Greg and they have two children Ella & Nathan.
Alicia Madrid
Accounting Manager, Operational Accounting
Alicia started with Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority in July 2018. She is an experienced accounting and finance professional with over 20 years of experience in corporate and technical accounting in a variety of industries including hospitality, commercial real estate, software development, restaurant and food distribution. Alicia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Accounting from Regis University.
In her free time Alicia enjoys spending time with family, soccer, camping, fishing and jigsaw puzzles. Alicia is married to her husband Angelo; they have two children Joshua and Joseph, and a chocolate lab, Fozy.Thomas E. Smith Jr.
Vice President of Operations & Finance
Thomas serves as the Vice President of Operations & Finance for Fitzsimons Innovation Community. Thomas has over twenty-five years’ experience in finance, accounting, payroll, human resources, shared services and IT. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Memphis and a Master of Business Arts in finance from Golden Gate University. He is a licensed CPA in Oregon and Tennessee.
In his free time Thomas enjoys playing adult competitive sports including volleyball and soccer. He is an avid outdoorsman and pursues activities including rafting, hiking, alpine mountaineering, hunting and riding his Harley.
Steve VanNurden
President & CEO
Steve serves as President and CEO of the Fitzsimons Innovation Community. He is the Associate Vice-Chancellor of Biotechnology at the University of Colorado/ Anschutz Medical Campus. He started CU Innovations 3 years ago to reinvent the way technology transfer is conducted at a University. Prior to coming to Colorado, Steve was Chair of Mayo Clinic Ventures, the commercialization arm of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Under Steve’s direction, the program resulted in the formation of over 50 companies with a positive return on investment back to Mayo Clinic.
In his free time, Steve enjoys golfing and skiing. He is happily married to his wife Brenda and they have three sons.
Board of Directors
The Fitzsimons Innovation Community Board of Directors is made up of leaders in the bioscience industry, University of Colorado and the City of Aurora.
Chair
Don Elliman
Chancellor, University of Colorado
Denver Anschutz Medical Campus
Chair Elect
Michael Komppa
President, Corum Real Estate Group
Secretary/Treasurer
Marsha Berzins
Councilwoman, Aurora City Council
Board Members
Mike Coffman
Mayor, City of Aurora
James C.T. Linfield
Partner, Cooley LLP
Chris Gessner
CEO, University of Colorado Hospital
Shar Matin
Chief Operating Officer, ViewRay, Inc.
Allison Hiltz
Councilwoman, Aurora City Council
David Perez
Retired President & CEO, Terumo BCT
Mark Kennedy
President, University of Colorado
Daniel L. Ritchie
President, Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation