Summer Symposium 2023

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Community Unleashed

There’s no question that a group of talented, committed individuals can change the world–for indeed, that’s all who ever have. When a community is formed, each and every person feeds off of one another’s energy to become a cohesive unit that makes a difference. By tapping into this synergy, the collective firepower of the Greenhouse community can explode into action, and ignite change.

2023 Speaker Lineup

Cheri Beasley

Former Chief Justice, North Carolina Supreme Court

Monday, August 7 at 9:00 AM

Chief Justice Cheri Beasley is a trailblazing legal professional, serving as Chief and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. She has made history as the first African-American woman elected to a statewide office and as Chief Justice. With an impressive educational background and extensive experience, she is known for upholding the law, protecting constitutional rights, and making courts accessible. She has championed causes such as School Justice Partnerships, human trafficking court, and the Faith and Justice Alliance. Committed to serving North Carolina, Cheri remains active in fighting for families and communities.

Laura Saldivar Luna

Founder and Coach, Piñata Possible

Monday, August 7 at 10:15 AM

Laura founded and leads a transformational coaching practice, lovingly named Piñata Possible, which is dedicated to helping humans access powerful breakthroughs in
their lives and leadership.

Sparked by the dream and sustained by the encouragement of her parents, Laura was the first member of her family to graduate from college. She attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC and the Universidad Complutense in
Madrid, graduating with dual degrees in English and Spanish.

Laura spent 17 years as an educator and executive with Teach For America, a career which included exciting experiences like: teaching high school in a rural town on the
Texas-Mexico border; becoming the founding executive director of Teach For America in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas; and leading human capital strategy
as Teach For America’s national chief people officer.

Mark Chupp

Co Director, Social Justice Institute

Monday, August 7 at 10:15 AM

Mark Chupp MSW, PhD, is an associate professor at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), where he chairs the concentration in Community Practice for Social Change in the master’s of social work program. He is founding director of the Community Innovation Network, a resource for those seeking to transform the relationships between institutions and everyday people. His scholarship focuses on building community across differences, authentic community engagement, peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Mark is also co-director of the Social Justice Institute at CWRU. Dr. Chupp began his career in restorative justice, directing the first Victim Offender Reconciliation Program in the US. Dr. Chupp is an international consultant and trainer. His leadership helped establish the Culture of Peace Program and a UN Local Zone of Peace in post-war El Salvador.

Greg Wright

Founder, Spark Towns

Monday, August 7 at 10:15 AM

Greg Wright, named an “Innovator to Watch” by the Wisconsin Biz Times, transformed a small-town arts advocacy organization into a new model for place-based, people-centered economic development. This model was recognized as the Economic Development Initiative of 2020 by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association and led to him teaching economic development to MBA candidates.

In early 2022, Greg founded Spark Towns to meet the demand to bring this model to more communities. Spark Towns is rethinking place within the context of the digital era. It applies emerging research in zoning, social capital, creative placemaking, and ecosystem building to put greater power behind local people with big ideas. The firm has now worked with leaders from Utica to Detroit Lakes to Carson City.

Bobby Stuckey

Founder and Partner, Frasca Hospitality Group

Monday, August 7 at 11:45 AM

Starting as a dishwasher, Bobby Stuckey has built an impressive career in the hospitality industry, ultimately becoming a respected leader. In 2004, he partnered with Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson to open Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, CO, where they bring the rustic elegance of Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region to life with locally sourced ingredients and a profound connection between food and wine. Bobby’s achievements include receiving his Master Sommelier Diploma in 2004, earning recognition from the James Beard Foundation, and launching Scarpetta Wines in 2007. Frasca Food and Wine was honored with the 2019 James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Service, a testament to Bobby’s unwavering commitment to exceptional hospitality that led to the renaming of the award category to Outstanding Hospitality in 2020.

JD Finish Line –
Community Voices

Monday, August 7 at 1:00 PM

As part of their commitment to denounce racism, bigotry and hatred, JD Finish Line started a weekly interview series called Community Voices to become better allies and to educate themselves and their customers on issues faced by the Black community. The series has since evolved to bring to light the challenges impacting other marginalized communities in the United States to expand their allyship and education process. Featured speakers include: Marty Posch (President of the JD Finish Line Foundation), Marissa McFadden (Senior Director, Brand & Loyalty) and Paul Diehl (Vice President of Brand).

Wes Carter

President of Atlantic Packaging & Founder, A New Earth Project

Monday, August 7 at 2:15 PM

Wes Carter, President of Atlantic Packaging, is a visionary leader deeply committed to sustainability and making a positive impact. As the third-generation leader of Atlantic, Wes carries on the legacy of his grandfather while driving the company’s mission to optimize packaging through technology and comprehensive programs. With Atlantic being the largest privately-held packaging resource in North America, Wes spearheads the company’s sustainability initiative, aiming to create real and lasting change. As a lifelong surfer, traveler, and outdoorsman, Wes bridges the gap between the surfing community and packaging leaders, igniting the inspiration behind his transformative movement, A New Earth Project.

Ed Chang

Executive Director, RedefinED Atlanta

Monday, August 7 at 3:30 PM

Ed Chang is redefinED atlanta’s Founding Executive Director. For over 20 years, Ed has worked as a champion for high-quality public schools. Chang began his career as a physical therapist before entering the education profession as a 7th-grade science teacher. He spent five years teaching at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Southeast Atlanta before going on to found KIPP STRIVE Academy in 2009. Following this, Ed focused on coaching and strategy for school leaders and districts across the country. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology and a master’s degree in physical therapy from Washington University in St. Louis. Chang holds a master’s degree in secondary science from Mercer University and a Certificate for Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from National Louis University.

Simone Ross

CEO, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, August 7 at 4:45 PM

Simone D. Ross is a visionary leader and community builder with a passion for catalyzing human thriving through effective and integrative change management. As a Colorado native raised in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood, Simone’s strong sense of the importance of community, family, and investing in each other’s success and dreams has guided her career and life.

Simone is the CEO of the Colorado Women’ s Chamber of Commerce and the Executive Director of the Colorado Women’ s Chamber Foundation, where she actively works to advance women in business and make Colorado the top state for women in business . She is also the founder of Simone D. Ross, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in change management, the CEO of SDR Events, and the Founder and CEO of Youth United University, an inclusive leadership education program for middle school students.

Rickey Larke

Co-Producer, Grown-ish

Tuesday, August 7 at 8:15 AM

Rickey Larke, a talented creative, has recently made significant strides in the entertainment industry. As a Story Editor, he joined the writer room of KENAN for Season Two, showcasing his exceptional storytelling skills. Building on his success, Rickey now serves as a Co-Producer on GROWN-ISH for Season Six. Hailing from Chicago, Rickey’s passion for creativity ignited during high school, where he directed music videos on the city’s vibrant South Side. While pursuing a double major in African-American Literature and Political Theory at Bowdoin College, he impressively balanced his commitment to varsity football and track. As a senior, his documentary film SURVIVIES, capturing the lead-up to Bowdoin’s renowned April bash, earned a place in the Bowdoin College Historical Archive.

Arshay Cooper

Rower, Best-Selling Author, Motivational Speaker

Tuesday, August 8 at 9:30 AM

Arshay Cooper is a bestselling and award-winning author and a 2x Golden Oar recipient for his contributions to the sport. He is also the protagonist of the film “A Most Beautiful Thing,” which chronicles the first African American high school rowing team. Arshay’s inspiring journey began on the West Side of Chicago, where he grew up amidst gangs and drugs. He is the founder of the National Award-Winning Non-Profit, The A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, which introduces under-resourced youth to the sport of rowing.

Luis Antezana

Founder, Juntos2College

Tuesday, August 8 at 10:45 AM

Luis Antezana, an indigenous-descendant, undocumented entrepreneur, and dedicated educator, has made a profound impact on the lives of immigrant students and families. Luis began his career as a high school Language Arts and AVID teacher in Colorado Springs. As a Denver Scholarship Foundation College/Career Advisor at Abraham Lincoln High School, he focused on college access for seniors. Today, Luis is the CEO of Juntos2College, a non-profit organization empowering undocumented families to achieve upward mobility. His expertise spans state financial aid, private scholarships, career exploration, ITIN support, entrepreneurship, and the DACA process. A sought-after global speaker and consultant, Luis has received prestigious accolades such as the Teach for America 2018 Colorado Springs Alumnus of the Year award and the 2022 Immigrant Liberty Award (RMIAN).

Erik Estrada

Corporate Attorney, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Tuesday, August 8 at 1:15 PM

Erik Estrada, a senior associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, is a seasoned corporate and securities lawyer. With a strong focus on technology, biotech, and telecommunications companies, Erik advises public companies, boards, and executive teams on federal securities law compliance and corporate governance matters. His extensive in-house experience at Nasdaq-listed Liberty Latin America Ltd. and Fortune 500 company Level 3 provides him with a deep understanding of the business and legal complexities faced by growing public companies. Erik’s practical approach and efficient solutions make him a valuable asset to clients. He has also served as General Counsel for the Level 3 Foundation and as a trustee and board member for El Pomar Foundation. Erik’s dedication extends beyond the legal field, as he has embarked on a 62-day cycling journey across the United States to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities through The Journey of Hope.

Pete Burridge

Founder and CEO, Greenhouse Scholars

Monday, August 7 at 8:30 AM

Pete Burridge is the founder and CEO of Greenhouse Scholars and its sister companies, Greenhouse Partners and The18.com. An entrepreneur his entire career, he has been a part of starting seven companies. Pete founded Greenhouse Scholars in order to create a Whole Person program that makes a broad and lasting impact by helping students to become community leaders that create change that will last through the generations. He believes that each of us is accountable to give back to the community. Pete lives in Boulder with his amazing wife and four equally amazing daughters. He spends most of his free time watching his girls compete in soccer and basketball across the state and country. Occasionally, he can be found fly fishing, snowboarding, and running and biking the mountain trails around Boulder.

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Young Leaders Program – 2023 Idea Creation & Enhancement Sessions

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Comprised of three components (learning, relationships, entrepreneurship), the Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. 

The program serves alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community.  

By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders Program is a building block in pursuit of lasting community change.

Through the entrepreneurship component of the Young Leaders Program, Greenhouse provides direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages.

The goal of the entrepreneurship component is to create an entrepreneurial mindset and platform to identify and launch high-potential ideas. In 2023, the Young Leaders Program hosted its first Idea Creation and Idea Enhancement sessions in Boulder, CO.

Building Blocks in Pursuit of Lasting Community Change

In April 2023, Greenhouse held its first Idea Creation Session for the Young Leaders Program, and it was a huge success. Our Young Leaders and community members came together to brainstorm and develop new ideas that can make a real impact on our communities. Here’s what one Young Leader had to say:

“The brainstorming part of the idea creation was my favorite. I really enjoyed being able to think of several business ideas, it made me think that business ideas are limitless.” We’re thrilled with the results of this session and grateful to everyone who participated and contributed their creative energy and expertise.”

Greenhouse Community Members included: Rio Hodges, Matt Jenkins, David Raduziner, Diana Verrilli, and Liz Wolfson

Young Leaders Program Scholar Alumni included: Jose Banales, Tyler Cunningham, Richard Maez, and Jessica Saifee

Launching High-Potential Ideas

In May 2023, Greenhouse held its first Idea Enhancement Session for the Young Leaders Program. Greenhouse Community members and Scholar Alumni came together to discuss, sharpen, and hone Young Leaders’ business ideas. We’re excited to witness the incredible potential that emerged from this session. Here’s what one Young Leader had to say:

“My favorite part of the session was hearing what my fellow Greenhouse peers have been doing and what businesses they are working on. It was motivational to hear them follow their dreams and it pushed me to work harder on my business to one day reach my vision.”

Greenhouse Community Members included: Todd Ebert, Dan Hoskins, Eric Kean, and Dwayne Nesmith

Young Leaders Program Scholar Alumni included: Helena Cappon, Richard Dominique, Alexa Lobato, and Walker Sanchez

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Young Leaders Program – 2023 Funded Businesses + Projects

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Comprised of three components (learning, relationships, entrepreneurship), the Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse alumni in the first decade of their careers and post-college lives and ensures we work together as a community to launch high-potential, high-impact ideas. 

The program serves alumni who are committed to growing as a leader, pursuing the best version of themselves, leveling the playing field in their careers, and being a part of strengthening our community.  

By supporting the people and ideas that have the greatest ability to positively impact our world, the Young Leaders Program is a building block in pursuit of lasting community change.

Through the entrepreneurship component of the Young Leaders Program, Greenhouse provides direct support for early-stage ideas and connections to funding for different life stages.

The goal of the entrepreneurship component is to create an entrepreneurial mindset and platform to identify and launch high-potential ideas. In 2023, the Young Leaders Program also invited alumni older than 30 to apply for funding.

Helena Cappon (2019 Class)

Gub Gub’s Pizza + Ice Cream

Gub Gub’s Pizza + Ice Cream received a second round of funding (also funded in 2021) to help purchase a new ice cream machine, quoted at $16,898 overall (including delivery, installation, and training). Their previous soft-serve machines were old and used and would often break down, rendering GubGub’s staff unable to meet the demands of their customers. With GubGub’s primary food offerings being pizza and ice cream, purchasing a new ice cream machine is imperative to the success and sustainability of the business.

Brittni Hernandez (2012 Class)

MiraSoul Healing

A women-owned wellness shop located in the Creative District of Greeley, a city in rural Colorado. MiraSoul Healing combines traditional healing practices rooted in Mexican Curanderismo with modern wellness practices, providing herbal apothecaries, local art, classes and gatherings, and other holistic wellness tools. Brittni requested funding to support marketing efforts, improved efficiency of their point of sales, and the launch of a new product line (subscription boxes).

Victoria Lamar (2022 Class)

Securing Degrees, LLC

A scholarship company providing personalized, affordable, and effective online and in-person scholarship and college application services. Since its inception in 2018, Securing Degrees has worked with over 4,000 individuals to help them accumulate over $15 Million in funding and has partnered with over 20 schools, nonprofits, and organizations.

Alexa Lobato (2017 Class)

Optimum Athletics LLC

After attending Greenhouse’s CO Idea Enhancement Session earlier this year, Alexa revamped plans for her business, which provides a mobile sports science testing laboratory bringing cutting-edge sport science concepts to every athlete, parent, and team. Alexa requested additional funding for operational costs and the development of a website.

Juno Padilla (2020 Class)

“Cancha for Xecruz”

A community change initiative in Xecruz, an indigenous community in Guatemala. The purpose of the project is to provide the community with a center to gather for sports and town hall meetings, and to help the community gain recognition from the government. Juno is returning to Colorado to enact what he’s learned (e.g., communicating across differences; garnering support for and executing community change initiatives). He will revisit and sustain his involvement in the program over the coming years.

Yocelyn Pina (2023 Class)

“The Art of Defiance” Video Podcast

The creation of “The Art of Defiance” serves a dual purpose: firstly, to amplify the solidarity and visibility of QTBIPOC healers, artists; and community change leaders; secondly, to foster compassion, connection, consciousness-raising, joy, and actionable change through the art of storytelling. “The Art of Defiance” was conceptualized during the pandemic in conjunction with the urgent need and opportunity to reimagine a post-covid world. Through autobiographical storytelling and one-on-one interviews with mostly QTBIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), the podcast offers a blend of solo commentary and intimate conversations.

Alfredo Reyes (2012 Class) & Michelle Lehman (2019 Class)

Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC): Las Bodegas

A nonprofit cultural campus located in Denver, Colorado. Las Bodegas will be home to the Latino Cultural Art Center’s (LCAC) programs in digital and visual arts, addressing issues of mental wellness, healthy environments, and workforce development. Alfredo and Michelle requested funding to launch a wide-scale marketing campaign to raise the last leg of funding. (Alfredo has raised $4.7 Million to date for the construction of the campus and needs an additional $1.3 Million. Michelle will be assisting with the marketing graphics and is considering joining the center as a program educator).

Ricardo Reyes (2022 Class)

”My College Journey Academy” (MCJA)

A community change initiative that serves as a mentorship program and college application boot camp for students in Texas’ Irving School District, a predominantly low-income area. Since its founding, MCJA has grown from 2 to 11 mentors and has served 46 students. Ricardo is looking to expand MCJA’s impact and recruit more mentors and students.

Jessamyn Sweet (2017 Class)

Community Engagement Project

Jessamyn is a multi-disciplinary artist based out of San Francisco. Over the next year, she will embark on a project to address two sides of community:

  • First, exploring areas in which community is failing, through visual art
  • Second, cultivating a culture of connection to proactively combat these failures through community engagement events

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The Growth Report 2023

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The Growth Report is an annual newsletter created to embody the past year of Greenhouse Scholars’ work. In it, we give thanks to supporters, make major announcements about our strategic direction, provide statistics about our impact, and share the incredible stories of our Scholars and Community-members. This is a great way for people to get to know us better as an organization, and we’re excited to share it with you all now.

Press the picture below to view the Growth Report.

Greenhouse Alumni Update! (Spring 2023)

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A Strong Start to 2023!
As we near almost a year since Greenhouse launched the Young Leaders Program for Greenhouse alumni, I continue to be inspired by this diverse community of leaders and proud of what each of you has accomplished. From rural Colorado to “The City That Never Sleeps” to Barcelona, Spain, Greenhouse alumni are evolving the communities of the world and living their best lives. I’m proud of us!

So many great things have happened within the Greenhouse community in the last three months and we’re excited to share them with you. Keep reading below for alumni news, organizational updates, and what’s to come.

With love, 
Michelle

Whole Person College Program…New Scholar Selection featuring Alumni

We are deep in the process of selecting the next incoming class of Greenhouse Scholars – the Class of 2027! This year we received the following number of applications by state:

  • Colorado: 249
  • Illinois: 199
  • Georgia: 232
  • North Carolina: 119
  • New York: 87

After reviewing written applications and video submissions we have 35 finalists moving on to the in-person interviews in Colorado, 21 in Illinois, and 14 each in Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.

This year, for the first time ever, we organized an All-Alumni Video Review Panel for New Scholar Selection (some pictured above). Together, we reviewed 16 New York applicants and with the support of these alumni, ensured that each New York applicant was reviewed at least three times – the highest number that an applicant has been reviewed since the pandemic. A huge thank you to Holly Ajala, Joon Bang, Tyler Cunningham, Elizabeth Gutierrez-Gutierrez, Alexa Lobato, and Kiko Wong for helping us maintain momentum in a newly launched state!

Connect with Current Scholars and the Greenhouse Community HERE!

Young Leaders Program
Learning Component

Advisors in-Residence
We kicked off the year with our All Advisor Session on January 24 where Young Leaders participated in staff-led discussions with our Advisors in-Residence Teams. CEO Pete Burridge gave a keynote speech on “Thriving In Your 20s” and our Advisors offered insights on “Leading with Authenticity,” “Creating A Healthy Workplace Culture,” and “Navigating Life Changes.” If you missed the event, don’t worry, you can find a recording of each session here.

Personalized Coaching

40 alumni received a coach this past January through the Young Leaders Program and are nearing the end of their four-month coaching in either Leadership, Professional, Personal, Community Change, or Entrepreneurship. Here’s what one of our alumni had to say about their coaching so far:

“I am having a wonderful experience with my coach and our coaching sessions have been so generative and impactful. She helped me prioritize my present and future professional goals and I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress with my confidence. She helped me plan a six month check in with my supervisor, put a new perspective to my skills and points of growth, and is helping me update my resume. I now schedule one hour of development per week where I work on these tasks and it feels very balanced and in harmony with the rest of my work. I feel valued and seen by my coach and feel that she actually believes in me – corny but so important.”

Young Leaders Program
Relationship Component

Regional Alumni Meetup in Denver
Regional Alumni Meetups are coming to Colorado! Alumna Connie Appiah will host our Alumni Meetup in Denver at the Rosy Rings Studio on Friday, May 12 from 3:30-5:30 PM. Young Leaders will participate in a candle-making class, re-connect with each other, and enjoy some light apps and drinks.

While alumni in their 20s will have priority to RSVP to this meetup, if there is room, we will open the RSVPs to all alumni including those in their 30s

Save the Date – Ignite 2023
It’s almost that time of year – Ignite is back and soon approaching! We’re looking to host 50 alumni in Boulder, CO this year for our largest alumni reunion, yet. Ignite is an alumni-only conference reminiscent of Summer Symposium and is taking place this year on Saturday, August 5 – Monday, August 7 (programming will end mid-day on Monday). All alumni in their 20s (Class of 2023-Class of 2016) are invited to attend – be on the lookout for more information including accommodations and travel stipends.

Sustaining Phase Alumni (Greenhouse alumni in their 30s): Interested in being a speaker at Ignite or leading a workshop? Let us know! Reach out to Michelle Kruk at mkruk@greenhousescholars.org

Young Leaders Program
Entrepreneurship Component

Young Leaders
We are very excited to be in the planning phase of the regional, in-person Idea Creation, Enhancement, and Execution support sessions. Stay tuned to learn more about being involved with the Entrepreneurship Component!

Sustaining Phase Alumni
We would love for you to participate in our regional Ideation sessions to help our Young Leaders flesh out new, high-potential ideas. If you are interested in participating in one of these sessions in 2023, email Jamie Clay.

Entrepreneurship Spotlight! Check out alumna Helena Cappon’s restaurant, Gub Gub’s in Walsenburg, CO!

New York: We held our first New York event in Manhattan in February where alumni Bashel Lewis, Wendy Guardado, and Michelle Kruk addressed 80 new prospective community members. Thank you to all the alumni and scholars who showed out for this historic evening!

Coming Up…

Glass Half Full Georgia – April 27, 6 PM EST in Atlanta: At this year’s Glass Half Full Georgia, philanthropy meets southern fare. Raise your glass and feed your soul as we gather for a not-to-be-missed evening featuring Atlanta’s most acclaimed pitmasters, signature cocktails, and inspiring conversations with our Georgia community. Please join us as we celebrate the opportunity, optimism, and positive impact this powerful community has created.

Glass Half Full Colorado – May 12, 6 PM MST in Denver: Raise your glass and feed your soul as we gather our united community for Denver’s premiere philanthropic event. This year’s Glass Half Full features signature cocktails, fine wine, craft beer, mouth-watering cuisine, and not-to-be-missed silent and live auction items. Please join us as we celebrate opportunity, optimism, and the positive impact powered by this community.

To stay up to date on the Young Leaders Program and how we are providing comprehensive support to alumni in the early stages of their career and post-college life, click here.

Congratulations to our alumni on Match Day! Alum Jessica Saifee matched into meds-peds at Baylor and alum Breanna Stafford matched into anesthesiology at the University of Utah. 
Do you have updates to share about our Alumni? Complete this survey!

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2023 Young Leaders Program Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions

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The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Scholars Alums in the early stages of their careers and post-college life.

Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions provide innovative, comprehensive, and personalized support resources to grow Young Leaders, maximize individual potential, and foster community change. Advisors participate in three teams and work with alumni over four virtual sessions:
  • Leaders “In-Residence”: Helping alumni become exceptional leaders of people, profits, and purpose.
  • Executives “In-Residence”: Preparing young leaders to take on the finance, operations, marketing/customer experience, and culture challenges and opportunities that present themselves regardless of vocation.
  • Whole People “In-Residence”: Providing the knowledge and tools to help young leaders live their best lives.
  • All-Advisor Session: One Ask Me Anything (AMA)-style Q&A session across all three teams.

See below for bios of and session themes from our curated Advisors “In-Residence”

We were excited to kick off this year’s Advisors in Residence sessions with our Leadership Team in March and the theme “Lead from Any Seat.” Young Leaders heard from returning Advisors Frank Beardsley and Kathleen Lockhart and new Advisors Allison Rabin and Lauren Steiner.

In June we continued the conversation with our Young Leaders and the Advisors in Residence Executives Team with the theme “Defining Your Professional Career in Your 20’s.” Young Leaders engaged with returning Advisors Denise Bell and Eric Goldstein and new Advisors Ben Bressler and Dr. Roslind Blasingame-Buford.

In September we closed out the individual team sessions with our Young Leaders and the Advisors in Residence Whole Person Team with the theme “Cultivating Your Wellbeing in Your 20’s.” Young Leaders connected with returnign Advisors Paul Dreyer and Caroline Van Sickle and new Advisors Sam King and Jill Pilsbury.

In December, 18 Young Leaders, joined us for our 2nd All Advisors in-Residence Session. We welcomed back our Leadership, Whole Person, and Executive Advisor teams for a day of facilitated discussion and workshops. Our CEO and Founder, Pete Burridge, kicked off this virtual event with motivating words about navigation life in your 20s.

See below to learn more about each Advisor!

June Leadership Session
March Executives Session
September Whole Person Session

2022 Advisors “In-Residence”

Leaders Team

Frank Beardsley
(Returning Advisor)

Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners

Frank is a 35+ year financial industry veteran with an outstanding track record of growing insurance and asset management businesses. Most recently, Frank worked at Guggenheim Partners Investment Management as a Senior Managing Director. He has proven skill in driving successful risk and investment management practices through multibillion-dollar organizations. He has demonstrated strengths in managing remote teams across multiple functional areas. Frank is also a strong communicator and business partner who excels at senior management and board relations. He is an adaptable and results-focused leader who embraces change.

Kathleen Lockhart, MBA
(Returning Advisor)

VP of Deal Management, Zayo

Kathleen leverages her strategic background wherever her career takes her. She strives to put herself in an environment where she can continuously learn, grow, and face new challenges. She endeavors to always be involved in her community and has a goal to add value to the world every day. She has always enjoyed working with others, particularly when given the opportunity to improve teamwork across organizations. This is evident with her current role as VP, Deal Management at Zayo where she leads a 40+ person team. She has been promoted several times at Zayo since her first position as a GIS Specialist in 2014 and most recently in 2021 as a VP.

Allison Rabin
(New Advisor)

Chief Operating Officer, Near North Title Group

Allison is an accomplished, results-driven management executive responsible for rejuvenating operations through strategic vision, financial analysis, and building cultural communities. She is known for developing teams and mentoring new managers on best practices for evaluating financials, creating annual budgets, and designing business plans. She brings the best out of the team by envisioning intentional changes and drawing ideas from all stakeholders. Able to create a culture of optimism, generate buy-in at all levels and produce successful bottom-line results.

Lauren Steiner
(New Advisor)

Owner + Founder, Grants Plus

Lauren founded Grants Plus in 2007 to help nonprofits raise the grant funding they need to fulfill their missions and change the world. Fifteen years later, Lauren’s vision has come to life with the impact of transformative organizations and projects around the country. Grants Plus has secured more than $250 million in public and private grants for community-serving agencies, health organizations, schools and colleges, cultural institutions, and other entities nationwide. Today Grants Plus has grown to a team of more than thirty of the most experienced and talented grants professionals in the fundraising industry.

Executives Team

Denise Bell
(Returning Advisor)

Former Principal, Talent Strategy and HR Consultant at Mercer

Denise is a human resource professional with external client consulting experience in HR Transformation, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and general talent strategy as well as internal HR experience in learning and development, talent management, and talent acquisition. Denise is passionate about empowering organizations to optimize and modernize their HR programs, practices, and structure as they journey towards the future of work. 

Ben Bressler
(New Advisor)

President, Natural Habitat Adventures

In 35 years, Ben has grown Nat Hab to become a global leader in nature travel, offering life-enhancing adventures to the world’s most wondrous wild places. He himself has journeyed to dozens of countries in search of spectacular nature experiences…and a good time, whenever possible. Aside from heading a meaningful company that provides “The World’s Greatest Nature Expeditions,” Ben’s professional ambition is to change the way people think about travel, from large group consumptive tours to small group, personal travel experiences that serve to protect the areas they visit and preserve the planet.

 

Eric Goldstein
(Returning Advisor)

Chief Risk Officer, Antares Capital

Eric has operated in several executive-level roles across risk, operations, technology, and administration at Antares Capital, a ~$50 billion private credit manager and a leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market private equity-backed transactions. Eric is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior, Eric was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in the Merchant Banking Division, responsible for finance and administration functions of the division’s private investment funds. He also led the structuring, negotiation, and management of fund-level subscription and asset-based credit facilities.

Dr. Roslind Blasingame-Buford
(New Advisor)

Director, Organizational Development (Southwest) at Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Dr. Roz is a trailblazer in youth development and education and serves as a national thought leader and change agent influencing college access, workforce development, restorative justice, and afterschool programming. She has received numerous commendations for her leadership and commitment to service and was Named as a “Leading Lady” by “O,” The Oprah Magazine; recognized as one of Chicago’s Emerging Leaders by the Community Renewal Society; recently elected into the Economic Club of Chicago and is a 2018 Fellow for Leadership Greater Chicago. Dr. Roz has earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Master of Science in Nonprofit Management, and Doctorate in Adult Education.

Whole Person Team

Paul Dreyer
(Returning Advisor)

Consultant/Guide/Mercenary Educator

Born in South Africa, Paul moved to the U.S. as a small child, and has continued to seek out travel, adventure, and education ever since. He has worked in and around the worlds of experiential education, leadership development, and group psychology for over 20 years. His scope of practice has been varied; he has worked as a facilitator, curriculum designer, expeditionary leader, risk management consultant, staff trainer, and counselor. Much of his experience comes from teaching, leading, directing, and counseling groups or organizations in remote and challenging settings or environments around the world. For almost 10 years, he also served as the CEO with Avid4 Adventure helping support the mission to empower kids to choose active and healthy outdoor lifestyles.

Sam King
(New Advisor)

Director of Sustainability, Marist School Network

Sam is an environmental educator, public speaker, writer, coach, and activist. He serves as Director of Sustainability for the United States Marist school network and Project Manager for the Emmy Award-winning Journey of the Universe film and multimedia project, hosting the Journey of the Universe: 10 Years Later podcast and curating the monthly newsletter. A former teacher in Peru, Sri Lanka, and Connecticut, he holds a Master’s in Religion and Ecology from Yale Divinity School and a Master’s in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College. Sam is passionate about bridging science, philosophy, and spirituality to inspire a flourishing future for all life.

Jill Pillsbury
(New Advisor)

Life Coach/Director,
Landmark Research Group

Jill is a successful businesswoman, community leader, and devoted mother who has made a positive impact on many people’s lives. Jill currently works as an executive/life coach where she offers a straightforward approach. A problem-solver by nature, Jill draws on a successful business background and real-world experiences to help others establish healthy boundaries, bolster confidence, and resolve conflict through better communication. Her work often includes bridging the gap between management teams to create a positive and productive company culture.

Caroline Van Sickle
(Returning Advisor)

Director/Founder, Coach CVS

Caroline helps teams, organizations and individuals set a foundation of success, both in work and in life, at the next level. She combines a working knowledge of psychological and neurological science to help individuals extract hidden potential, remove mental obstacles, and enhance self-awareness. Her goal is to help you achieve an improved state of personal mastery. She breaks down biological processes from beliefs to behavior to help people and groups understand the underlying mechanisms that activate behavioral levers. Without understanding the basics of neuroscience, we can’t help but operate on autopilot.

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December 2022 Update to Alumni: The Young Leaders Program is in Full Swing!

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In May 2022, we launched the Young Leaders Program for Scholar alumni in the early stages of their careers and post-college lives to create and implement initiatives, companies, and ideas while comprehensively supporting them on their various journeys. The program is based on three components: learning, relationships, and entrepreneurship.

We are very excited about our progress in the past seven months and look forward to sharing what is to come!

See below for program updates and what’s next for Young Leaders Alumni (ages 21-30) and how Sustaining Alumni can support them (ages 30+).

Learning Component…
Advisor Sessions Recap and Upcoming Coach Sessions!

Providing innovative, comprehensive, and personalized support resources to grow Young Leaders, maximize individual potential, and foster community change.

Young Leaders
Advisors “In Residence”: We held three individual sessions from October through December with the Whole Person, Executives, and Leaders teams respectively. You can learn more about Advisors, session topics, and feedback here. Stay tuned to PeopleGrove for recordings of these sessions. Save the Date for the “Ask Me Anything” Zoom session featuring all Advisors and a welcome by Pete Burridge on January 24, 2023, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM MST! We’ll bring on six new Advisors in 2023 and begin the sessions quarterly starting in March.

Personalized Coaching: The Young Leaders Program staff have been meeting with Greenhouse community members to form personalized coach pairings around the themes of leadership, professional, personal, and community change. Coaching starts in January 2023!

Sustaining Alumni
Video Library: We have been working to develop our Video Library on PeopleGrove to provide quality online sources. We’d love to have our Sustaining Alumni (30+) be part of our Video Library on PeopleGrove! If you are interested in being interviewed for the library around leadership, professional, personal, or community change themes, please email Michelle Kruk.

Relationship Component…
Illinois Regional Meetup Recap and Upcoming Career Fair! 

Helping Young Leaders foster relationships that matter for powering ideas, actions, and community change.

Young Leaders
Illinois Regional Meetup: We kicked off our first Regional Alumni meetup in Chicago in October! Alumni from 7 class years joined host Nick Tarleton and Young Leaders Program staff for an evening of fun and engagement by fostering relationships, engaging with each other, and playing Whirlyball! Some alumni drove 6+ hours from other states and flew in to participate! You can read more about the event here.

Colorado Regional Meetup: Save the date for the Colorado meetup on May 12, 2023, 4:30-6 PM in Denver hosted by alumna Connie Appiah right before the Glass Half Full Colorado event!

Virtual Career Fair: Stay tuned for more details on a virtual career fair in 2023 that will connect Young Leaders with Greenhouse community corporations, hiring professionals, and sector-focused conversations.

All Alumni
PeopleGrove: If you haven’t already, join our cross-community online engagement platform, PeopleGrove to build relationships with fellow alumni and the Greenhouse community.

Do you have an available internship or job opportunity for our Scholars or Young Leaders? Post the opportunity to PeopleGrove and email Michelle Kruk. 

Save the Date for Ignite! Friday, August 4 – Sunday, August 6, 2023.
Stay tuned for more information including accommodations and travel stipends.

Entrepreneurship Component…
Upcoming Idea Creation and Enhancement Sessions!

Helping Young Leaders create and sharpen business ideas at every stage of development. From ideation to business resources to seed funding, we’re building an ecosystem to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and launch high-potential ideas.

Young Leaders
We are very excited to be in the planning phase of the regional, in-person Idea Creation, Enhancement, and Execution support sessions next year. Stay tuned to apply to attend these sessions starting in March 2023. 

Sustaining Alumni
We would love for you to participate in our regional Ideation sessions to help our Young Leaders flesh out new, high-potential ideas. If you are interested in participating in one of these sessions in 2023, email Jamie Clay.

Alumni Updates…
Congratulations Scholar Alumni!

We’d love to update our alumni community on all of your exciting professional and personal life updates. Do you have updates to share? You can complete this survey at any time and let us know! See below for some current updates.

Lara Alkarim (CO ’16): Lara spoke to the New York Development Board in November.

Jose Banales (CO ’19): Jose started a new position as a Customer Success Manager at Zayo Group! He’s been with Zayo since 2018 and this is his third position with them.

Yasmin Cortes (CO ’20): Yasmin spoke to the Illinois Development Board in November.

Nadeen Ibrahim (CO ’17): Nadeen was promoted at the East Colfax Community Collective to Organizing Director.

Michelle Kruk (IL ’16): Kruk spoke to the Illinois Greenhouse community at Glass Half Full Illinois in October.

Ousaf Moqeet (IL ’22): Moqueet spoke to the Illinois Greenhouse community at Glass Half Full Illinois in October.

Nick Tarleton (IL ’16): Hosted our first Young Leader’s regional meetup in Chicago in October.

Submit your exciting professional and personal updates here!

Want to learn more? Stay connected!

To stay up to date on the Young Leaders Program and how we are providing comprehensive support to alumni in the early stages of their career and post-college life, click here.

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Greenhouse Scholars Launches Operations in New York

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NEW YORK CITY (Dec. 6, 2022) Greenhouse Scholars, a nonprofit cultivating diverse leaders,

announced that it has launched operations in New York, bringing its successful philanthropic model,

honed and tested over nearly two decades, to the nation’s largest city and its surrounding state.

The organization named its first class of Greenhouse Scholars from New York earlier this year,

representing The Bronx, Queens, and Long Island. Greenhouse now has full-time staff on the ground in

New York City and seeks additional donors, volunteers, and community leaders to help the program

continue to grow in the region.

Founding Supporters on the ground floor of this launch include Tiger Global Impact Ventures,

TAG Associates, Savills, Modern Executive Solutions, Gamut Capital, and many generous individual

contributors.

Founded in 2005 in Colorado, Greenhouse Scholars’ vision is to create a community of leaders who will

evolve the communities of the world. The organization’s Community Change Model begins by working with

the most inspiring role models from low-income communities during their college years. Greenhouse

continues with these young leaders during their post-college lives to support their growth as individuals

and collaborate to implement ideas, companies, and change initiatives. As program alums move into their

30’s and 40’s, the Greenhouse community works together to deepen and broaden the impact of these

ideas and initiatives to benefit whole communities.

“When we started Greenhouse, our ambition was to grow into a truly national organization, impacting lives

across the country,” said Pete Burridge, CEO of Greenhouse Scholars. “Our expansion into New York

makes that dream a giant step closer to reality, and we’re incredibly grateful to our inaugural donors there

for believing in our vision and providing the resources to serve our first class of Scholars in the state.”

Greenhouse Scholars’ results are undeniable: 97% of Scholars graduate from college, compared to only

15% of low-income, first-generation students nationally. The Scholars’ starting salaries are double that of

their parents and are 22% higher than their peers – changing the trajectory of entire families. The

Scholars, alumni, and supporters have collaborated to launch and lead hundreds of nonprofit and forprofit

businesses, change initiatives, and projects benefitting more than 4,000 communities. 90,000

people are directly impacted by this organization every year through mentoring, volunteering, community

initiatives, presentations, entrepreneurship, partnerships, school impact projects, and more.

For more information about getting involved with Greenhouse Scholars in New York, either as a

Founding Supporter or partner, please contact Paul Cothran at pcothran@greenhousescholars.org

or 303.459.5473 or visit: https://greenhousescholars.org/get-involved/.

About Greenhouse Scholars

Greenhouse is a diverse community of leaders working together to ensure people of all

backgrounds can live a life of their choosing. We have a community of thousands of leaders who

are taking action to create change in our country and around the world. Education unlocks the

potential of leaders, their families, and entire communities. Greenhouse leverages the power of

education and community to create generational change.

Founding Sponsors of Greenhouse Scholars in New York include:

Tiger Global Impact Ventures

Tag Associates

Savills

Modern Executive Solutions

Gamut Capital

Young Leaders Program 1st Regional Meet-Up in Ilinois!

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The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Scholars alumni in the early stages of their careers and post-college life.

Events like these foster relationships that matter for powering ideas, individuals, actions, and community change.

Regional alumni meet-ups are purposeful opportunities for Young Leaders to engage with peers and allow them to identify specific values and achievements of their cohort.

Greenhouse hosted its 1st regional Young Leaders alumni meetup in October at Whirlyball in Chicago, Illinois. Thanks to our host, Nick Tarleton, alumni from 7 class years joined the Young Leaders Program staff for an evening of fun and engagement by fostering relationships, engaging with peers, and playing Whirlyball! Some alumni drove 6+ hours from other states and flew in just to participate! 

What did the Young Leaders enjoy the most at the Ilinois Regional Meet-Up?

“The opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. I am convinced Greenhouse has the highest density of amazing people per capita, and being able to connect with these people was incredible. I saw scholars I haven’t seen in a decade and it was like we never missed a beat. I met new scholars and it was like I had known them for years. The culture that has been established in Greenhouse to treat one another with respect and warmth makes me so happy I could tear up.”

“Reconnecting with alums and the program – I hadn’t seen anyone in a while and it was nice to come out, take a break, and be around inspiring people.”

“My favorite part was being able to bond with other scholars. Coming out of the pandemic person-to-person interactions became very rare so having this opportunity to play a game, have some food and drinks really create an amazing atmosh.”

“My favorite part was being able to interact with other scholars in different ways (during whirly ball and dinner). It was a great way to bond with one another.“

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Young Leaders Program Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions

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The Young Leaders Program provides comprehensive support to Greenhouse Scholars Alums in the early stages of their careers and post-college life.

Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions provide innovative, comprehensive, and personalized support resources to grow Young Leaders, maximize individual potential, and foster community change. Advisors participate in three teams and work with alumni over four virtual sessions:
  • Leaders “In-Residence”: Helping alumni become exceptional leaders of people, profits, and purpose.
  • Executives “In-Residence”: Preparing young leaders to take on the finance, operations, marketing/customer experience, and culture challenges and opportunities that present themselves regardless of vocation.
  • Whole People “In-Residence”: Providing the knowledge and tools to help young leaders live their best lives.
  • Fullday Session with All Teams: One full-day Ask Me Anything (AMA)-style Q&A session across all three teams.

See below for bios of and workshop themes from our curated Advisors “In-Residence”

We were excited to kick off the Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions with our Whole Person Team on October 25 where our Young Leaders participated in advisor-led breakout workshops focusing on “Self-Understanding” with Angel Eduardo and Paul Dreyer and “Quality-of-Life Planning” with Caroline VanSickle and Chris Nelson.

On November 17, we continued our Advisors “In-Residence” Sessions with our Executives Team where our Young Leaders worked in small groups with the individual Advisors and focused on the following workshop themes: “Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal,” with Jim Cooper, “Negotiation and Self Advocacy” with Natalie Levy, “Navigating Your Career” with Denise Bell, and “Know Yourself and Your Audience” with Eric Goldstein.

On December 12, we hosted our final team session of the year with our Leadership Team when our Young Leaders attended the following four mini-workshops with each Advisor: “The Art of Effective Feedback” with Frank Beardsley, “Young Leadership” with Kathleen Lockhart, “Your Leadership Style” with Danielle Lloyd, and “DEI in the Workplace” with Onon Wedum.

On January 5, 18 Young Leaders from 8 states, 6 class years, and 2 countries, joined us for our first All Advisors in-Residence Session. We welcomed back our Leadership, Whole Person, and Executive Advisors for a day of facilitated discussion. Our CEO and Founder, Pete Burridge, kicked off this virtual event with a moving keynote speech.

Our Young Leaders had the following to say about their experiences with the Advisor teams and All Advisor Session:

Whole Person:
“My favorite part was being able to be vulnerable with people who I identify as being in my community. I feel like that’s been missing in my life. I built a wall to avoid connection and I’m not always sure if that’s healthy boundaries or me avoiding people.“

“It was a really awesome opportunity to connect with people I haven’t talked with in a long time. I think my favorite thing was that it facilitated discussion that allowed everyone to be vulnerable, self-reflective, and still supported.“

“The small icebreakers/questions that we started the sessions with were all really thought-provoking and open to interpretation. They really demonstrated the difference in thinking from person to person.“

Executives:
“The ability to share and be vulnerable with my current job/career insecurities and being met with validating and encouraging remarks left a big impact on me.“

“I loved the topics and speakers. They were all so relevant to me right now it was hard to choose which ones I wanted to attend. I enjoyed that each speaker engaged our options and thoughts and the small groups made it easy to connect.”

“I am jealous about the sessions that I didn’t attend and would love to attend them all.“

Leadership:
“I liked talking about leadership without having to pick apart my strengths or weaknesses, name my style, etc. The session called for introspection of a different kind and I liked discussing leadership as its entity that we all already have. I liked talking about it as an identity that needs to be nourished with specific things – that we as leaders need specific types of development and support rather than “be” leaders and give, contribute, etc. The direction this session took was 10/10.”

“I’ve attended all three sessions this fall/winter, and I have left each one feeling more confident and assured in myself. Also, I cannot stress enough how sharing time and space with alumni makes me feel connected to a community that truly cares for me. Just tens, tens, tens across the board!“

All Advisor Session:
“It re-inspired me to take charge of my career path (visualizing the future, telling my value story to my company, maximizing the value that I can get from my current role).”

2022 Advisors “In-Residence”

Leaders Team

Frank Beardsley

Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Partners

Frank is a 35+ year financial industry veteran with an outstanding track record of growing insurance and asset management businesses. Most recently, Frank worked at Guggenheim Partners Investment Management as a Senior Managing Director. He has proven skill in driving successful risk and investment management practices through multibillion-dollar organizations. He has demonstrated strengths in managing remote teams across multiple functional areas. Frank is also a strong communicator and business partner who excels at senior management and board relations. He is an adaptable and results-focused leader who embraces change.

Danielle Lloyd

Director, Caruso Ventures

Danielle is a director at Caruso Ventures which invests in high-impact scaleups, seismic trends, and next-generation entrepreneurial leaders. Before Caruso Ventures, she was an Executive Director with the Zayo Group. Prior to relocating to Colorado, Danielle was the Director of Events and Sponsorships for The New York Times. She graduated from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications and media studies. Danielle volunteers her time with three organizations: Endeavor and EforAll as a board member, and Colorado Thrives as a delegate.

Kathleen Lockhart, MBA

VP of Deal Management, Zayo

Kathleen leverages her strategic background wherever her career takes her. She strives to put herself in an environment where she can continuously learn, grow, and face new challenges. She endeavors to always be involved in her community and has a goal to add value to the world every day. She has always enjoyed working with others, particularly when given the opportunity to improve teamwork across organizations. This is evident with her current role as VP, Deal Management at Zayo where she leads a 40+ person team. She has been promoted several times at Zayo since her first position as a GIS Specialist in 2014 and most recently in 2021 as a VP.

Onon Wedum

Diversity and Community Relations Coordinator, Janus Henderson Investors

Onon is a self-starter and trilingual speaker working as a Diversity & Community Relations Coordinator at Janus Henderson Investors where she focuses on community outreach, sponsorship management, and event planning to support an environment that values the unique talents and contributions of every individual within a culture of inclusivity. Onon is originally from Tokyo, Japan where she received a bachelor’s in marketing from Asia University. Outside of Janus Henderson, Onon is an entrepreneur and owns ONON, a clothing boutique that carries high-quality women’s casual clothing in Denver.

Executives Team

Denise Bell

Former Principal, Talent Strategy and HR Consultant at Mercer

Denise is a human resource professional with external client consulting experience in HR Transformation, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and general talent strategy as well as internal HR experience in learning and development, talent management, and talent acquisition. Denise is passionate about empowering organizations to optimize and modernize their HR programs, practices, and structure as they journey towards the future of work. 

Jim Cooper

Co-CEO, Financial Independence Group

Jim graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Business Management and minor in Finance. He was a scholarship athlete at JMU for four years as a member of the JMU football team. Before being introduced to Financial Independence Group, Jim was helping to run a family business in Charlotte, NC. Once Jim met Bill Cain and Bo Johnson, he had to be a part of this great organization. Jim started his tenure with FIG as an Annuity Marketing Consultant in 2002. Jim built a book of business from scratch and quickly developed a passion for the financial services industry.

Eric Goldstein

Chief Risk Officer, Antares Capital

Eric has operated in several executive-level roles across risk, operations, technology, and administration at Antares Capital, a ~$50 billion private credit manager and a leading provider of financing solutions for middle-market private equity-backed transactions. Eric is also a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior, Eric was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in the Merchant Banking Division, responsible for finance and administration functions of the division’s private investment funds. He also led the structuring, negotiation, and management of fund-level subscription and asset-based credit facilities.

Natalie Levy

Founder and Managing Partner,
She’s Independent Investments

Natalie is an engineer and mathematician turned Wall Street derivatives trader, growth technology investor, and business-to-business (B2B) enterprise technology sales leader. She marries a deep understanding of data, data science, and technology paired with strong interpersonal skills. She has over a decade of angel investing experience and 20 years of hands-on operational experience through revenue execution, operational, and leadership roles selling into 34 countries. Today she operates as a fractional revenue executive with deep expertise in real estate, financials, and technology and serves on several private company boards today.

Whole Person Team

Paul Dreyer

CEO of Avid4Adventure

Born in South Africa, Paul moved to the U.S. as a small child, and has continued to seek out travel, adventure, and education ever since. He worked in and around the worlds of experiential education, leadership development, and group psychology for over 18 years. His scope of practice has been varied; he worked as a facilitator, curriculum designer, expeditionary leader, risk management consultant, staff trainer, and counselor. Much of his experience comes from teaching, leading, directing, and counseling groups or organizations in remote and challenging settings or environments around the world. Currently, he serves as the CEO with Avid4 Adventure helping support the mission to empower kids to choose active and healthy outdoor lifestyles.

Angel Eduardo

Writer, Musician, Designer, Communicator

Angel Eduardo is a writer, musician, photographer, and designer based in New York City, best-known for coining and promoting the rhetorical concept of star-manning. He is an Advisory Board member, FAIR in the Arts Fellow, and Director of Messaging & Editorial for the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR), where he helps shape the organization’s pro-human approach to our often contentious and divided discourse. He is also a contributor to the Center for Inquiry’s blog, where he writes on science, communication, skepticism, and morality for a column entitled Searching for Better Angels.

Chris Nelson

CEO and President, Freedom Service Dogs of America

Chris is currently the President and CEO of Freedom Service Dogs of America. Prior to starting this new role in 2022, he had more than 25 years of experience creating opportunities for young people to thrive. Chris has worked with over 12,000 young people across the country. His passion for unlocking the potential of young people led him to TGTHR in 2007 as a program manager, program director and deputy director until assuming the role of CEO in 2018. Under Chris’ leadership, TGTHR launched a multitude of programs, including a drop-in center and emergency shelter for youth experiencing homelessness; a street outreach program; a transitional living program; and Colorado’s first LIHTC-funded permanent supportive housing building specifically for young adults. 

Caroline Van Sickle

Director/Founder, Coach CVS

Caroline helps teams, organizations and individuals set a foundation of success, both in work and in life, at the next level. She combines a working knowledge of psychological and neurological science to help individuals extract hidden potential, remove mental obstacles, and enhance self-awareness. Her goal is to help you achieve an improved state of personal mastery. She breaks down biological processes from beliefs to behavior to help people and groups understand the underlying mechanisms that activate behavioral levers. Without understanding the basics of neuroscience, we can’t help but operate on autopilot.

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