Each month Our Broomfield Magazine profiles different members of the community. Through Our People: Meet “insert name,” our goal is to introduce Broomfield area change-makers and highlight their contributions.
About Mark Di Ciero
Mark was born and raised in Broomfield and graduated from Broomfield High School in 1989 and the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1993. His father, George Di Ciero, is the longest serving City and County Manager in Colorado and the namesake of the George Di Ciero City & County Building.
In recognition of Broomfield’s 65th anniversary, Mark recently presented a program at the Crescent Grange highlighting the role his father and others played in Broomfield’s success. A video of the presentation is available at OurBroomfield.com.
Mark moved to Las Vegas in 1997 where he raised his daughter, Alexa, and hosted the city’s top-rated morning radio show for nearly twenty years before transitioning into family law at The Abrams & Mayo Law Firm.
What did you enjoy most about your radio career and now your work in family law?
I loved the instant connection and interaction with our audience in real time every morning. It was an incredible feeling to share personal, real-life stories on air and watch the phone and text lines instantly light up with listeners wanting to comment or share their own stories. Broadcasting from Las Vegas also allowed us to interview local and national celebrities on a regular basis.
While family law is an entirely different career path, being able to assist people going through one of the most difficult periods of their lives is very rewarding. We handle complex divorce cases and contested child custody matters, so the job can get intense. Having gone through a difficult divorce myself, I genuinely understand what our clients are going through and can offer an empathetic perspective, which I think they appreciate.
What do you and your daughter enjoy doing in your free time?
Hiking! It’s funny, I grew up in Colorado and very rarely took advantage of the outdoors. The mere thought of hiking used to make me cringe. Now, in my fifties, I find myself looking for hiking trails in the middle of the unbearable 110 degree desert heat. We also like to take advantage of the superb restaurants and shopping areas Las Vegas has to offer.
What was your favorite restaurant and park in Broomfield?
As a kid, I loved eating at Ike’s located at 34 Garden Center near the old city hall. After eating, my parents would give me a stack of quarters, and I would go to the Scoops ice cream shop across the street on Midway to play Pac-Man and Donkey Kong for hours.
Midway Park will always have a special place in my heart and instantly brings back fantastic memories of Broomfield Days celebrations and holiday tree lighting ceremonies. It also brings back memories of a citizen who used to call my dad at the house in the 70s/80s claiming that a UFO was landing in the park nightly. Said claim could neither be confirmed nor denied.
Who is the most interesting person, past or present, you’ve met in our community?
Paul Derda; Broomfield’s Park and Recreation Director from 1978 to 2002. I called Paul the ‘Heart and Soul of Broomfield’ and the city’s “spark plug” during my Crescent Grange talk. Paul and his family—Martha, Debi, and Denise—are tremendous people. Paul’s vision of having a park or playground within walking distance of every child in Broomfield was something I was always aware of but took for granted. As I get older, I realize how remarkable that vision was and how it shaped the character of the city. Paul’s enthusiasm is infectious and his love for Broomfield is unmistakable.
Who inspires you to be a better person?
My parents. My dad’s work ethic and passion for the people of Broomfield and my mom’s lessons of unconditional love and family traditions helped shape the person I am today. Even though my parents have both passed, they continue to inspire me.
Bette Erickson writes about people, places, and events. Contact her at bette_erickson@hotmail.com.
