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Sheraton Denver Downtown

The Sheraton on Denver’s 16th Street Mall has plans to become a completely scratch pasty kitchen and source more local ingredients, and just hired the culinary team to do it.

Sheraton Denver Downtown, a 1,238-room hotel, has selected Adam Pfeiffer as its next executive chef, according to a news release. Pfeiffer will develop and oversee the hotel’s food and beverage program. Pfeiffer plans to rely on local farmers, ranchers and artisans in sourcing ingredients, and brings with him 25 years of industry experience.

Pfeiffer was previously the director of food and beverage at The Westin Denver Downtown Hotel and spent more than two decades with Marriott International.

“I enjoy working directly with the meeting planners to create bespoke experiences that are highly personalized,”  Pfeiffer said in a news release. “We are lucky enough to be in a city where craft expands to much more than just beer, and we constantly work to incorporate the local fare into our food and beverage programs.”

The Sheraton has also brought on a new pastry team comprised of Head Pastry Chef Heisell Diaz and Assistant Pastry Chef Shelby Anderson. The duo will be transforming the program into an entirely made-from-scratch pastry endeavor, according to the release.

Diaz previously worked as the pastry senior sous chef for the Grand Hyatt, Denver, in addition to roles with the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to create a fully scratch pastry kitchen at the Sheraton Denver Downtown and believe it will redefine the traditional pastry experience in the region for banquets and events,” Heisell said in a news release.

Frontier Airlines

The leadership roster at Denver-based Frontier Airlines is shaking up after recent hiring announcements and promotions.

Former executive vice president and chief financial officer James G. Dempsey has been promoted to president. Dempsey will now oversee the commercial, customer service and operations research, design and planning, according to a Frontier news release. He joined Frontier in 2014 as chief financial officer.

Mark C. Mitchell has been promoted to succeed Dempsey as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Mitchell previously held the chief administrative officer position and vice president roles, including over finance and investor relations. Mitchell began at Frontier in 2015.

“Jimmy and Mark have been invaluable members of Frontier’s senior leadership team over the past eight plus years and have played instrumental roles in the company’s evolution and growth during that time,” CEO Barry Biffle said in a news release. “They are exceptional leaders who are well-positioned to guide our airline into the future.”

The airline is bringing on two new members to its leadership team as well, it announced last week.

Rajat Khanna is leaving Lowe’s Companies to become Frontier’s senior vice president and chief information officer. Khanna held vice president roles with Lowe’s, and previously worked for Untied Airlines. Matthew Saks, who most recently worked as vice president of airline marketing for Airbus, is joining Frontier as vice president and treasurer.

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey announced its new, and first, head blender recently.

Justin Aden comes to the role with nearly 14 years of industry experience, according to a news release. He previously worked as a distillery operator and research scientist at Michigan State University’s artisan distilling program.

“It is an honor to be entrusted to take the reins as the first Head Blender of beloved Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey,” Aden said in the release. “Working alongside our veteran distillery team to advance Stranahan’s legacy as the leader of American Single Malt at this seminal moment for the category is the privilege of a whiskey maker’s career.”

He is tasked with overseeing the process of blending, distillation and maturation for the company’s lineup of single-malt whiskies. Already, Aden is personally selecting and blending barrels for the annual “Snowflake” whiskey released by Stranahan’s distillery in Denver, available for one day only each December.

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey produces American single malt whiskies made entirely from malted barley and Rocky Mountain water. The whiskey is distilled and bottled in Colorado at 200 S. Kalamath St., Denver.