Audit Committee

Auditor O’Brien, a CPA, was elected to a four-year term as Denver’s 24th Auditor in 2015. The Auditor’s Office is responsible for internal audit services and prevailing wage enforcement. Auditor O’Brien formerly served as the Colorado State Auditor, as a Board member for numerous organizations, and as an Audit Committee expert. His audit and business experience includes participation in hundreds of audits, facilitating the merger between two publicly held corporations, advising public pension plans, and providing expert financial advice to both private and public organizations.

Appointed January 2012 by Auditor Gallagher, Reappointed January 2016 by Auditor O’Brien

Mr. Payan retired in 2010 from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), where he served as the Denver Field Office Manager for 10 years. During his GAO tenure, he was responsible for examining organizational and operational issues and proposing ways to improve the efficiency, economy, and effectiveness of the Denver Field Office. He served on GAO-wide task forces and represented the agency at federal, state, and local government activities. Since joining the Audit Committee, Mr. Payan has helped organize inter-governmental audit forums that bring together auditors from city, state, and federal governments.

Appointed August 2015 by Auditor O’Brien

Mr. Blumenthal has more than 40 years of financial experience, including financial management, economic analysis, operations improvement, and debt restructuring. He has specialized in financial services, real estate, health care, and oil and gas. Licensed as a CPA in both Colorado and New York, Mr. Blumenthal led the largest CPA practice group in the U.S. in restructuring more than 15,000 tax-exempt bond issues and mortgage-backed securities. He has served as the chief financial officer and audit committee chair for both public and private organizations.

Appointed January 2012 by City Council, Reappointed February 2016 by City Council

Ms. Mitchell retired in 2010 after 26 years with FirstBank Holding Company. At the time of her retirement, she was the president of FirstBank of Cherry Creek. Her long community service list includes serving on the boards of AAA Colorado, the Emily Griffith Foundation, the Colorado Board of Mortgage Loan Originators, the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, the Denver Public Schools Foundation, the Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers, and St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation. A marathoner, she coaches Girls on the Run, an after-school running program at Schmitt Elementary.

Appointed February 2016 by City Council

Ms. Nath has decades of financial experience in both the private sector and government. In addition to serving as Chief Financial Officer in a variety of private businesses, Ms. Nath was also CFO in Governor Owens’ office. She received the Attorney General’s Excellence Award in Administration while working as CFO in Attorney General John Suthers’ office. She has served in leadership positions in the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Financial Executives International, the Colorado Society of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs, and she is past Treasurer and Board member of DenverWorks. Her experience includes implementation of financial software systems, process improvement, and managing financial operations.

Appointed February 2016 by Mayor Hancock

Charles Scheibe is the Chief Financial Officer of the Colorado State Treasury Department. Prior to joining state government in 2007, Mr. Scheibe consulted on corporate governance and contract management with Fortune 500 companies. He also worked in the Texas State Auditor’s office. He holds three advanced degrees, including an MBA from the University of Texas, a JD from South Texas College of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Denver. He has participated in Denver’s East High School mentoring program.

Appointed August 2015 by Mayor Hancock, Reappointed January 2017 by Mayor Hancock

Mr. Scholz has served as Vice President of Finance and Business Operations at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science since 2011. He has held a number of fiscal planning and budget management-related positions with the City and County of Denver, including Chief Financial Officer, Deputy CFO, and Budget Director. Prior to his work for the governments of Denver and Broomfield, Mr. Scholz worked in banking and as a Development Manager for public television and radio in New York. He was educated at Binghamton University and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.