Tyler Stanfield
Singer and Songwriter
From Tyler,
I grew up in a small town surrounded by music. I started playing classical piano at a young age, eventually moving to guitar, singing and then songwriting. My style is a melting pot of every bit of music I have absorbed in my life. Everything from blues to rock to Americana.
As a songwriter, could you expand on the transformative power of music?
There’s an emotional honesty in music that is deeper than everyday conversation. You can say things in a song you might never say otherwise. That vulnerability creates connection. Someone can hear your song and feel understood. That’s a very powerful thing.
What message do you want to share through your art?
I don’t write songs with a specific purpose; I write them because I have to. It’s about pulling whatever’s inside of me to the surface and making sense of it. If it resonates with others along the way, it makes it that much better.
What do you love about the community of Parker?
The small-town feel. It’s one of those places where people still look out for each other, and it is a really safe, grounded place to raise a family.
Jeff Briere
First off, we want to say thank you for your service. Could you share about your career and passion for serving 30 years in the Air Force?
I entered the Air Force Academy in July 1985, went to pilot training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas, and KC-135 school in Merced, California. I served on base at Griffiss AFB, then Grand Forks AFB. After teaching cadets how to fly and preparing them for pilot training, I joined the Nebraska ANG in Lincoln, Nebraska, to serve out the rest of my commitment at the nearest KC-135 base to Colorado Springs. I was hired by United Airlines in March 2000 to fly the 737 out of Denver.
Following the September 11th attacks, I was furloughed, and I packed up the family and moved to Lincoln for the next 15 years, where I served as an instructor in the KC-135 as Chief of Safety. I was incredibly fortunate that I got to travel to six continents, 40 countries and all 50 states, as well as serve alongside some fabulous people that have become my friends for life.
You mention you're focusing on your health after a cancer scare. How has that changed your perspective?
In November 2020, I suffered a stroke while walking up the jet bridge at DIA following a flight. After 37 years of flying, it was now time to find something else to do. Then, during a routine test in March 2024, Mantle Cell Lymphoma was discovered that had spread to my bone marrow and lymph nodes, making it Stage 4 by definition.
The cancer diagnosis changed my perspective on two things. First, as an Aircraft Commander in the military, you are responsible for a crew and aircraft as well as the mission at hand, and you rely on your training and experience to keep everyone safe and bring the mission to a successful conclusion. With a cancer diagnosis, my sole task became following Dr. Michelle Levy's treatment plan through Rocky Mountain Cancer Center. It was definitely different to be on the receiving end and have people care for me.
Secondly, you realize that tomorrow is not guaranteed, and you’d better take advantage of the time you have. I consider myself extremely fortunate that my wife, Pam, and I have the ability to travel, see amazing sights and make memories together. We've toured the Canary Islands, Morocco, Gibraltar, Spain, Corsica, France, Italy, Greece, her islands, Turkey, Cyprus and the Caribbean, with upcoming trips to Scotland and the Baltic countries and the Adriatic coastal countries.
How do you like to spend your time with friends and family?
Pam still works full-time overseeing her growing culinary empire with West Main Taproom & Grill, Ovest Via Ristorante, Villa Parker and Elevated Taste Catering, so while she's at work, I occupy my time with woodworking. I have built all the furniture in my house, a cedar strip canoe, a koa rocking chair, a myrtle wood dining table and a few items for West Main like the hostess station, the tap handles, the community table, the beer flight boards and the pizza peels at Ovest Via, to name a few.
Do you have a favorite quote or word of advice that you like to live by?
Despite the events of having a stroke, cancer and heart failure, and the great fortune of having commanded jets and crews around the world, I try to follow the Golden Rule. Treat people the way you want to be treated. No matter where I've traveled in the world, I've found that people endure the same daily struggles.
Darren DeLaup
Musician and Instrumental Music Educator
As the Band Director at Sierra Middle School, what do you love most about your job?
Seeing the students grow from barely making a sound on their instruments to making music in an ensemble at a high level is so rewarding. After teaching at the high school level for over 20 years, it is very clear that with teaching middle school, you get to see students grow very rapidly into musicians.
You have an incredible background in music. Can you share about that?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, attended the University of New Orleans and earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education. I also attended the University of North Texas and earned a Master's in Music in Tuba Performance with a two-year course study toward a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Tuba Performance as well.
I have been teaching since 1998, and have taught in Louisiana, Texas and Colorado at all levels of music, including teaching in college workshops and clinics. I have performed in many different capacities throughout the United States, Europe and Mexico.
I was always passionate about playing in all sorts of situations, like solo, orchestral, wind band, brass quintet, jazz and even rock band! I feel that music is not what I do, but it is a major part of who I am. There is something about performing music that takes one away from everything going on in the world and shields that feeling with being surrounded by music.
What is your encouragement for young musicians and those in the arts?
Playing music brings you on a whole new journey. I want to encourage young musicians to push past young stereotypes and see that the people who are looked up to the most in our world are those who make music! If you enjoy it, don't stop doing it, no matter what anyone says.
Playing music and participating in the performing arts is something one can do for the rest of their life. You do not have to major in music or become a professional musician to do it. There are so many opportunities for people of all walks of life to indulge in performance. Just keep in mind that if there were no musicians, we would not have music in our world, for a world that needs it more than ever right now!
Andrik Nelson
Instrument-Rated Private Pilot
Student at Baylor University
Could you share about your experience at the Legacy Campus?
I was a part of the first class to ever attend The Legacy Campus. I thought it was a super cool opportunity to get a head start on becoming a pilot. In my junior year, I learned a lot about weather, aircraft instruments and the fundamentals of flying. We would fly in simulators and learn the basics of flight. This led me to actually begin flying my senior year of high school and eventually obtain my Private Pilot’s license. Legacy is a really good way for people to explore if flying is truly for them.
What drives and inspires you each day?
Tyler Harvey is who drives and inspires me every day. Tyler was one of my best friends and the guy I did everything with throughout high school. Right as I began flight training, Tyler was diagnosed with NTRK Fusion Sarcoma. It’s a rare type of Sarcoma with no cure. He was an incredible athlete, committed to playing D1 baseball at UNLV. I always promised him that I would take him flying once I got my license. He always joked that I would be flying his private jet one day, once he was in the MLB. Tyler was an extremely driven and hardworking kid who never cared what others thought about him. On days when everything is going wrong, working hard in a way I know Tyler would, is what inspires and drives me. The reward for my hard work is having the opportunity to fly in the clouds, knowing he is alongside me.
What are you most excited about now that you're going to Baylor University in Texas?
I am most excited and thankful for the guaranteed flight time we get. My current goal that I am pursuing is to fly for the airlines. Flying for the airlines means I can do what I love every day, and be a smiling face for everyone I interact with. With this goal in mind, every day I am working as hard as I can with every task at hand.
Do you have a favorite quote or word of advice that you like to live by?
Isaiah 43:2
Mayor Joshua Rivero
Could you share about your background as a longtime Parker resident and elected official?
I’ve been fortunate to call Parker home for decades, raising my family here and building both a business and a life rooted in this community. Before serving as mayor, I spent 12 years on the Town Council, working alongside residents, business owners and civic leaders to thoughtfully guide Parker’s growth. That long-term perspective matters. It means I’ve seen Parker evolve from a quieter town into a thriving community, all without losing the values that brought people here in the first place. As both a public servant and a small business owner, I approach decisions with a practical lens: what helps families succeed, what supports entrepreneurs and what keeps Parker a place people are proud to call home.
We have a rich community of local businesses (yours being one of them). Can you illuminate how the Town Council supports them?
Local businesses are the backbone of Parker’s identity and economy. From the Town Council’s perspective, supporting them means more than just cutting ribbons; it’s about creating an environment where they can succeed. We prioritize streamlined processes, reasonable regulations and infrastructure investments that make it easier for businesses to operate and grow. We also actively engage with our business community, listening to their challenges and adapting where we can. As an owner of Fika Coffee House, I understand firsthand the risks, long hours and passion it takes to run a small business. That perspective helps ensure our policies aren’t just well-intentioned but that they’re practical and grounded in reality.
We love how Parker is growing vibrantly while still maintaining a small-town charm. Could you share your passion for preserving this?
Parker’s growth is something we’re proud of, but it has to be managed with intention. The goal isn’t growth for growth’s sake. The goal is smart, balanced growth that enhances quality of life. Preserving our small-town charm means protecting open spaces, supporting locally owned businesses and fostering a sense of connection among residents. It’s in our events, our parks and the way neighbors still look out for one another. My passion is making sure that as Parker continues to grow, it never loses that “hometown feel” that makes it so special. For me, it’s not about the size of the community, it’s about the people and the way of life we’re fortunate to enjoy every day.
Ronald Hammers, MD, FAANS, Board-Certified
Neurosurgeon with Neurosurgery One-Parker
What would you like the Parker community to know about your medical practice?
We are a group of neurosurgeons and interventional pain management physicians with an office in Parker and five other offices in the Denver area. We handle nearly every type of neurologic issue: brain, spinal cord, spinal nerves and peripheral nerves, as well as movement disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. When someone presents with a neurological issue, we evaluate the whole picture because all these systems are interconnected.
Between the 11 neurosurgeons in our practice, we cover just about every neurological condition and every neurosurgery procedure. Within our practice, we have informal case discussions happening constantly through emails and text threads. If a case is unusual or particularly challenging, we immediately tap the expertise in our group. The advantage is that our patients get access to specialized knowledge that might otherwise require a referral to a different specialist.
You work with the AdventHealth hospital system, yet maintain your independence as a private practice. How does that balance work?
We are a physician-owned practice, yet partner with AdventHealth on the operations of our clinics and, of course, we perform surgery in AdventHealth hospitals, including AdventHealth Parker. This combination gives us the best of both worlds. It involves the support and resources of a hospital system alongside the nimbleness and flexibility of a private business. We can make decisions quickly, adopt new technologies and approaches rapidly, and stay ahead of emerging trends.
What’s your message to someone in the community who’s having neurological concerns but isn’t sure whether they need to see a neurosurgeon?
It’s never too early to get something checked out. Whether it’s a spine issue, a headache or anything else affecting your nervous system, we’re here to take a look. You can always start with your primary care doctor, but know that we’re available and happy to see you. We’ve expanded our practice because demand has been strong, which means we can usually see patients within days, not weeks. That’s what we offer this community: expertise, accessibility and the time to listen.
Tony Mango
I operate Mango Capital Corp. We are a residential mortgage company and also a commercial property manager.
Can you please share a little bit about your business and your passion for what you do?
While we were primarily a mortgage company, we eventually acquired the building our office was located in and became the property manager for two commercial buildings in Downtown Parker. A few years later, we acquired another commercial building across the street, which we are just completing a redevelopment project on. While we are still primarily a mortgage broker, we have now become very active in the downtown Parker area. Over the past ten years, we have become more focused on the success of our downtown business community. I love seeing the success of small businesses, plus the additional offerings being brought to our community. We do not have chain operators as tenants, only small business owners.
What do you love about being a part of the community in Parker?
I truly love our downtown and feel it is in competition with other downtowns. With help from the Downtown Business Alliance, a couple other people and I formed a Business Improvement District. The BID is funded with a small portion of property taxes from buildings in our boundaries, and we fund things like the flower program with the partnership of Pine Lane Nursery, the banner program and other beautification projects in Downtown Parker. Downtown is all of the residents' primary playground, and a vibrant downtown is the front porch of our entire community.
Do you have any encouragement or advice for fellow business owners?
Don't fear your new neighbors. Another restaurant, coffee shop or retailer will not be your competition. They will be your partner that will help draw more people to DTP. We need to get to a point in time where consumers say, “Let's go to DTP and go shopping and find a place to dine!” The totality of the area's offering will draw people, not just one specific restaurant or store. Everyone will benefit. Rising tides will, in fact, raise all boats.
Hunter Salomonson
Athlete at Legend High School
Could you please share about your passion for baseball and what drives you each day?
Sports have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I always go back to my teammates and parents being the thing that really drives me. Sports have taught me lessons and a work ethic that I use in my life every day.
I play baseball. Being on a team has taught me many lessons, like supporting the people around me when times get hard, being unselfish and doing everything I can to help my team win even if it doesn’t benefit me personally, and most importantly, it has taught me to be a good person and support all of the people around me.
As an athlete, where do you draw motivation from on the more difficult days?
I find motivation in remembering what the end goal is, whether it is to win a game, work on my body or find a way to go one step further. The process is the most important part in life and sports. That's where I find most of my motivation on the not-so-good days.
What is your encouragement for other students in your community?
I encourage other students in the community to get involved as much as possible and create as many relationships as they can. Sports, community service, school events and activities, try your hardest, and find motivation within each other.