South Lakewood Business Association

Richard has deep roots in Lakewood. His parents moved to the area prior to its incorporation, and he has lived here on and off for most of his life. He attended Bear Creek and Green Gables Elementary schools, Carmody Middle school and Bear Creek High school, graduating in 1975. He then attended Western State College in Gunnison for two years on a basketball scholarship and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1979 with a business degree. Richard worked in public accounting for several years, earned his CPA distinction, and also worked in various accounting positions in private industry. Nine years ago, he started his Lakewood based public accounting firm, Sotiros & Sotiros, LLC with his brother, Sam, Treasurer of SLBA. He is married to Polly, who is the office manager of S&S and they have two children, Haley and Chris. Up to this year, Richard has been heavily involved in coaching men's, women's and children's basketball. His goal for SLBA is to continue to build on the programs.

Karen has been in the health insurance and employee benefits business since December, 1979. She opened her own independent agency in June of 1986. She is an active member in several professional organizations as well as politically and has been a member of a task force for health care. She offers educational seminars to update business groups, her clients and other business on the new health care legislation. Karen believes SERVICE is the most important item we sell, and she will work with you to determine the level of service you need and want for your company. Since she is an independent agent, she can find several alternatives for you to consider.

A resident of Lakewood since 1966, Sam is a partner in the local certified public accounting firm, Sotiros & Sotiros, LLC, located at Wadsworth and Morrison Road. After graduating from Bear Creek High School and the University of Colorado at Denver, and working in various tax and accounting positions over the next twenty years, he started S&S along with this brother, Richard, in 2001. The firm specializes in offering tax and accounting services to local businesses and individuals. Sam is married and has two children; his daughter is enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder and his son attends Bear Creek High School. In addition to SLBA, Sam is on the board of Lakewood on Parade, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants and other community organizations.

John, SLBA's former president, helps run Front Range Lumber Company along with his sons John and Kent. He has been married since 1956 and also has two daughters, Vickie and Julie, and six grandkids. He has lived in the Littleton area his entire life. After graduating from St. Francis de Sales High School, he went on to work at various positions and for several lumber yards. He purchased Hartmuller Lumber in 1987 and changed the name to Front Range Lumber Company. All in all, John has been in the lumber business for 55 years. In 1999, he helped form SLBA (formerly JWABA). John's proudest accomplishment with the organization has been the development of relationships and "bringing people together from the city and community."

Roger is a legal services broker, working with Pre-Paid Legal Services and GoSmallBiz to help individuals, families and small businesses deal with day to day life, saving them time and money and offering them greater peace of mind along the way. Past experience includes several years as a school teacher, a short stint as an insurance agent and over twenty years in the IT field. While his family always considered Colorado to be home, he grew up living in a number of other states, primarily western New York. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a degree in mathematics, Roger returned to Colorado where he has lived ever since. He has three children and (so far) one grandchild. Besides business and personal interests, he is active in volunteer work, primarily working in connection with Goodwill Industries' programs in local high schools.

Whitney has lived in Lakewood almost her entire life and is a graduate from Bear Creek High School. She has worked for White Fence Farm since the age of 14 in a variety of positions, and is currently a Hospitality Manager. Before stepping into management she worked as an interior designer, having earned her degree in Interior Design at Arapahoe Community College. Whitney joined SLBA in 2012 is excited to to aid the Lakewood community.