Young Leaders Program – Ignite 2022 “Building Blocks”

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

We are excited to kick off the Young Leaders Program with Ignite! A two-day conference weekend for alumni to join the Greenhouse Community for networking, collaboration, learning, idea creation, and relationship building to launch their commitment to being a Young Leader. 

The kickoff year will focus on the theme “Building Blocks” and celebrate the start of the program and dive into its core components (learning, relationships, and entrepreneurship) and themes (leadership, professional development, personal development, and community change).

2022 Ignite Speaker Preview

Pete Burridge
(Leadership Workshop)

President & CEO,
Greenhouse Scholars

Pete Burridge is the founder of Greenhouse Scholars and its sister companies, Greenhouse Partners and 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.

Charles E. Dukes
(Professional Panel)

Director of Social Responsibility,
Wend Collective

Charles Dukes serves as an educational strategist for Wend Collective. As a member of the Wend team, Dukes coordinates youth development opportunities to enhance and improve the educational ecosystem. Before joining Wend Collective, Dukes dedicated a significant amount of his career as an education policy director and central office school district administrator.

Wendy Guardado
(Personal Panel)

Communications & Policy Associate, INCLUDEnyc

Wendy Guardado is a Greenhouse Scholars alumna and holds a Masters in Special Education from Hunter College in New York and was a Bilingual General and Special Education teacher in all content areas for six years. She was elected as her school’s United Federation of Teachers Union Leader for three of those years and made the full transition to the policy sector through the Bronx Borough President’s Office as an education analyst.

Meseret Hailu, PhD
(Personal Panel)

Assistant Professor,
Arizona State University

Dr. Meseret Hailu is a Greenhouse Scholars alumna and Assistant Professor of Higher and Postsecondary Education in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University. Her research focuses on the pursuit of gender equity in STEM education with a focus on the strategies, programs, and systems that help historically underrepresented students and faculty succeed in these fields.

Kimmy Paluch
(Professional Panel)

Managing Partner,
Beta Boom

Kimmy Paluch is the founder and Managing Partner of Beta Boom, an early-stage venture fund that invests in software companies that are building the future for women and multicultural consumers in the U.S. Prior to Beta Boom, Kimmy founded and ran a Silicon Valley innovation firm for 12 and currently sits on the boards of Intermountain Healthcare and Utah African American Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation. Kimmy earned her B.A. in Computer Science from Dartmouth College and MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

Lindsey Price
(Featured Facilitator)

Business Owner and CFO,
Denver Modern

Lindsey Price founded Denver Modern in 2018 with her husband, Donnie, as an approachable, modern furniture brand that focuses on authentically timeless style comfort. She combines her passion for problem solving and scale building after 10 years of management consulting with his intense love of beautiful products and e-comm strategy. It brings Lindsey immense joy to lead a growing business with her spouse – from working together at their kitchen table, to adding a showroom and warehouse, with 10+ bright and capable folks working side-by-side. Prior to that, Lindsey was a Senior Associate at Greenhouse Scholars where she loved working directly on the Program. 

Kyle Pollock, PE
(Personal Panel)

Civil Engineering Project Manager,
Galloway & Company, Inc.

Kyle Pollock is a Greenhouse Scholars alumnus and a Civil Engineering Project Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the land development sector with experience in residential, office and retail, hotel, industrial, and public projects. Kyle is skilled in the management, design, and analysis of site layout, wet utilities, grading, and drainage. 

Alfredo Reyes
(Personal Panel)

Executive Director,
Latino Cultural Arts Center

Alfredo Reyes is a Greenhouse Scholar alumnus and a first-generation American and the son of Mexican nationals, Aurora and Juventino, who taught him to believe in the transformative power of education. He is currently the Executive Director of the Latino Cultural Arts Center, a project he conceptualized during his MA at CU Boulder in Educational Foundations, Policy, and Practice.

David J. Rolla, JD
(Professional Panel)

Mergers + Acquisitions Associate,
Morrison & Foerster

David Rolla is a Greenhouse Scholar alumnus and associate in the Denver office of Morrison & Foerster and a member of the firm’s Corporate Department. David advises public and private companies in connection with domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Erin Weed
(Community Change Workshop)

Speaker / Author / Visual Artist,
Erin Weed, Inc.

Erin Weed’s career began in Chicago, working in public affairs and media relations. She later worked in New York City, producing documentaries and reality TV shows. Her career shifted gears after her friend was murdered in 2001. For the past 10 years, Erin has worked as a leadership development expert with a passion for honest communication. She helps leaders get clear about who they are, what they stand for and how to express it authentically. She has worked with 1,000+ people, resulting in viral TED talks, company manifestos and thought leadership programs.

Eric Zacharias, MD
(Professional Panel)

Director of Medical Education,
COPIC

Dr. Eric Zacharias has been involved with COPIC for over ten years, first as a member of the clinical faculty and, most recently, as a Patient Safety and Risk Management consultant and the creator/host of COPIC’s “Within Normal Limits” podcast. He embodies COPIC’s mission of “improving medicine in the communities we serve” through his professional interest in medical education.

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Summer Symposium 2022

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Exploring the Value of Leadership

At this year’s Summer Symposium we aim to demonstrate the value of leadership. At Greenhouse Scholars we are Leading Forward. This conveys the idea of coming together under the flag of forward momentum-your own as well as your communities. Inspiring you to go back and build on your success. Always leading, and more importantly, always moving forward.

What is Summer Symposium? It is a key component of our Greenhouse Scholars program, bringing all of our Scholars together for peer support and learning. An annual, multi-day gathering, Summer Symposium includes workshops, speakers, panel discussions, and group projects that encourage Scholars to explore their core values, expand their thinking, and cultivate their leadership skills.

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Summer Symposium will be held at the CU Boulder Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE).

2022 Symposium Speakers

Reggie Rivers

Monday, August 8th at 8:30 AM

Reggie Rivers is a Denver Broncos running back for six seasons and two-time Broncos NFL Man of the Year. He has been inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor and the Texas State University Hall of Honor. He is a media personality that’s worked in radio, newspaper, and television in Colorado. He has written five books, including the award-winning novel “The Colony: A Political Tale”. He is known for his motivational speeches about leadership and teamwork lessons learned in his time in the National Football League.

Angel Eduardo

Monday, August 8th at 9:45 AM

Angel Eduardo is a NYC based writer, musician, photographer, and designer. He is best known for promoting the concept on acknowledging their good intentions and your shared desires despite your disagreements when arguing with others. Angel is an Advisory Board member, FAIR in the Arts Fellow, and Director of Messaging & Editorial for the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR). His writing can be find in Center for Inquiry’s blog, Newsweek, Areo Magazine, Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, and The Caribbean Writer.

Jarvis Sam

Monday, August 8th at 11:00 AM

Jarvis Sam is Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion at Nike Inc. and was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Sports class of 2021 as well as Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. In his current role, he oversees a team of people focused on driving diverse representation, inclusive leader and social justice education, professional development and the ecosystem of promoting and creating a culture of belonging inside and outside of Nike. Jarvis is a graduate of Rice University and he began his career as a strategy and operations consultant with Deloitte Consulting in Houston. Jarvis will receive his MBA from Brown University and IE School of Business in May 2022.

Britney Robbins

Monday, August 8th at 1:00 PM

Britney Robbins, named one of the 26 Most Influential and 20 Most Inspiring Chicagoans. In 2016, she started The Gray Matter Experience – a non profit dedicated to unlocking the self-determining power of Black youth and strengthening their ties to community through real world experience in entrepreneurship. Britney has worked within Chicago’s entrepreneurship and tech community for the past seven years. Most recently, she has become the Relationship Manager for CAST US, a multi-million dollar venture capital fund led by Don Thompson of Cleveland Avenue.

Todd Ebert

Monday, August 8th at 1:00 PM

Todd Ebert is the Chief Marketing Officer at BrightAl. He has spent 25 years leading marketing teams in driving rapid growth and increasing enterprise value. Todd has merged in powerful and meaningful ways at the intersection of the art and science of marketing. He has served on the Greenhouse Scholars selection team and continues to offer his expertise to our community. Todd has an MBA in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin.

Kate Siegel Shimko

Monday, August 8th at 1:00 PM

Kate Siegel Shimko currently serves as the Director of Boards and Commissions for the Colorado Governor’s Office. Prior to taking on this role in 2019, Kate worked for the Governor in a variety of capacities.

Michelle Lehman

Monday, August 8th at 1:00 PM

Michelle Lehman is a Greenhouse Scholar from the class of 2019. She graduated with a degree in neuroscience from Middlebury College. She is currently an animation and video Specialist at Quantum Design. She works within a niche that intersects 2D and 3D computer graphics with science. Before Quantum Design she worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Mimi Chau

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Mimi Chau is a Greenhouse Scholars alum and is a pediatrician at Community Health Care, a federally qualified health care center, in Tacoma WA. She received her degrees from Stanford University and the University of Colorado.

Richard Maez

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Richard Maez is a class of 2015 Greenhouse Scholar. He is the director of Programs at Ednium: The Alumni Collective. He has a bachelor of Arts from the University of Denver.He is a site director for Minds Matter of Denver and board member for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program of Colorado

Nick Tarleton

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Nick Tarleton is a class of 2016 Greenhouse Scholar, he graduated with a bachelors of science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from University of Illinois. He has gone on to work at the Kraft Heinz Company as a manager. He is a supervisor of U.S. supply chain management at McDonalds greater Chicago area. He is also the lead of cultural communications in McDonald’s African-American Council at the global headquarters level. Nick has stayed connected with the Greenhouse Scholars community as a mentor and volunteer. 

Adriana Gomez

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Adriana is a class of 2018 Greenhouse Scholar with an undergraduate degree in Public Health and Political Science from the University of Colorado-Denver. Adriana is a Science and Research Analyst at Abt Associates. She is a recent graduate of Georgetown University with a Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology. As a first generation college graduate, she has dedicated herself to following her true passion in health care and consistently seeking opportunities that allow her to use her strengths to help create health equity.

Michelle Kruk

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Michelle is a proud class of 2016 Greenhouse Scholar and originally joined the family as part of the first class from Illinois. Passionate about the intersection of science and education, Michelle spent a year abroad in Poland after graduating through a Fulbright Fellowship. There, she taught English and Environmental Sociology to graduate students at the Politechnika Czestochowska. She returned to the States and continued her pursuit for equity in STEM by joining Teach For America as a San Antonio corps member.  Michelle taught middle school science and math in the Alamo City and spent her summers partnering with Kode With Klossy, a program that brings free coding camps to teenage girls across the nation. 

Saul Huerta

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Saul is class of 2011 Greenhouse Scholar. Saul graduated from the University of Denver with a degree in Finance and was named one of ColoradoBiz Magazine’s top 25 young professionals in 2020. Saul is the current Chief Accounting Officer for the Greenhouse Family of Companies.

Jamal Sims

Monday, August 9th at 2:00 PM

Jamal is originally from Illinois where he also attended undergrad and pharmacy school at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. After earning his PharmD, Jamal went on to complete a clinical pharmacy practice residency at Mountainview Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. He earned his Executive Master’s in Healthcare Administration from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He also had the opportunity to serve as an oncology pharmacy specialist for the medical oncology team. Currently, Jamal works as an oncology medical science liaison for Bayer pharmaceuticals where he serves as a scientific resource and expert on  medications/research in relation to treating prostate cancer.

Ahnika Leroy

Monday, August 8th at 2:00 PM

Ahnika is an Offering Manager at IBM where she focuses on providing technology solutions for the Federal Government to better serve state/local and national communities. Ahnika studied Economics at CU Boulder and graduated magna cum laude in 2018. 

Tinisha Dorsey

Monday, August 8th at 3:15 PM

Tinisha Dorsey is a Principal of the Mercer Life, Absence and Disability (LAD) practice in the Central Region. Tinisha’s career spans more than 20 years of director-level consulting experience at such notable firms as MetLife and W.W. Grainger. Tinisha serves as a mentor to some of Mercer’s rising stars and she is active in a number of Business Resource Groups (BRG) and Professional Organizations. Some of her most notable roles include co-leading the Chicago & Milwaukee Racial & Ethnic Diversity BRG and serving as the LAD Carrier Relations Executive Sponsor. She is a Fortune Connect Fellow as well as an active member of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA). Tinisha volunteers serving on the Board of Directors as the Business Manager for The Spirited Pearls Foundation.Her hobbies are filmmaking, baking and fitness, and most importantly, she is a proud wife of 24 years and fan-mother of three college level and high school athletes.

Ben Bressler

Monday, August 8th at 4:00 PM

Ben was raised in New Jersey and received his higher education at Skidmore College in Saratoga, New York. In the past 35 years since, 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. When he’s not working, Ben rides his mountain bike, skis, smokes Cuban cigars and enjoys time with his family.

Pete Burridge

Tuesday, August 9th at 8:45 AM

Pete is the founder 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.

Jamie Clay

Tuesday, August 9th at 8:45 AM

Jamie is a senior associate at Greenhouse Scholars. Jamie is a first-generation college and post-college graduate. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Indiana University and master’s degree in nonprofit management from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). Jamie is a results and mission-driven nonprofit leader, relationship and team builder, and project management ninja that brings 18 years of experience in the nonprofit sector to Greenhouse Scholars. She started her career in arts management at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and after moving to Cleveland, focused primarily on education operations management, events and fundraising. 

La’Shanda Holmes

Tuesday, August 9th at 11:00 AM

La’Shanda R. Holmes is a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard. She became the first African-American female helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard, and she has amassed over 2,000 flight hours conducting search and rescue, counter drug, law enforcement, and Presidential air-intercept missions. She was appointed as a White House Fellow in 2015 by President Barack Obama. From 2015 to 2016 she was the Special Assistant to the NASA Administrator General Charles F. Bolden. Holmes is currently finishing up a master’s degree in administrative leadership and plans to write a book.

Leon Burnette

Tuesday, August 9th at 2:45 PM

Leon Burnette is a Diversity and Civil Rights Activist, Tour Director, Educator, Author, Event Producer and Youth Mentor. Leon began his 45-year journey as a Tour Director and Music Executive working for A-list companies and recording. He is the owner operator of Civil Rights Trail Tours and the Director of The Diversity Project for Trip School. In addition he is the author of Trip Schools “Civil Rights Trail Tours-A Guidebook for Tour Professional and Teachers”. Leon is the Founder and CEO of The Media Arts Institute, a 501 c3 non-profits youth travel and leadership program that trains, mentors, and places youth in internships and permanent jobs in the Media, Travel, and Tourism Industries. The Media Arts youth travel program uses Civil Rights history tours to help inner-city youth become global travelers, confront prejudice and racism while empowering them with the decision-making skills to become adults who change the world for the better.

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Annual Inspire

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We’re so excited to announce that a record number of Scholars, as well as alumni and out-of-town supporters, are planning to attend Annual Inspire this year. We hope you will join us for an evening of engagement, conversation, and connection!

New Location: The Folsom Field Rooftop Terrace

New Time: 5-7 pm on Sunday, August 7th 2022

Reserve Your Complimentary Ticket Here

What is Annual Inspire?

It’s a gathering of the entire Greenhouse Scholars community including current and previous Scholars, volunteers, donors, and staff. Our intention is to provide an opportunity for this dynamic group to come together, learn from each other, and connect on a meaningful level. Annual Inspire is the ideal opportunity to invite friends, family, and colleagues who are curious about Greenhouse Scholars.

A look back at the 2021 Annual Inspire!

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Isra Ahmed. Isra is a Greenhouse Scholar alumna from the class of 2011. She majored in Mathematics and Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, attended the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, and completed a prestigious, 3-year prosthodontist residency at the University of Texas San Antonio. Doctor Ahmed now owns and runs 2 dental practices in Parker and Fort Collins, CO. 

Isra credits Greenhouse Scholars for helping her hone her skills in leadership, networking, and entrepreneurship — all qualities that were integral in her journey from Sudanese refugee to successful business owner. 

This year at Annual Inspire, we’re bringing back a popular activity from 2019, Community Conversations. We’ll facilitate as attendees discuss thought-provoking topics with over 100 current and former Greenhouse Scholars. We promise you’ll leave inspired!

Learn more at AnnualInspire.org

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Launching The Young Leaders Program For Greenhouse Scholars Alumni!

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Announcing the most significant and exciting new change in the history of Greenhouse Scholars!

Since our inception, we have worked with the highest-performing young leaders from under-resourced communities so they can thrive during college and drive change in their communities after college.
 
We are launching the Young Leaders Program to continue that support with our Scholars as they transition into their professional lives. With this program, we’re taking aim at the uneven playing field that continues after college, and we’re furthering our goal of creating a community of leaders that have real impact within their communities and around the world.

The Young Leaders Program will be available to all alumni under 30 and focus on…

LEARNING
With a comprehensive and personalized system of resources, professional advisors, and personal coaches we’ll help our alumni gain the knowledge they’ll need to maximize their potential as leaders, professionals, community members, and change makers.
 
RELATIONSHIPS
Through a combination of online engagement, events, workshops, and job connectivity initiatives, we’ll help foster relationships that matter for powering ideas, actions, and community change.
 
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Using best-in-practice methods, we’ll help alumni 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.

Why now?

For 17 years, Greenhouse Scholars has provided young leaders with resources to elevate their college careers and their ongoing community impact. We have implemented a program that has been wildly successful, and it’s time to formalize and deepen our reach beyond college. We’ve determined that many of our Scholars would benefit from continued professional, personal, and impact growth resources, and we’ve been preparing for this moment by training staff, implementing systems, and honing our programs.

Who will lead the Young Leaders Program?

Our current senior team will be deeply involved, and we’ve made two new hires to help build momentum for this new initiative, Jamie Clay and Greenhouse Scholars alum Michelle Kruk. Jamie and Michelle are exceptional and will be 100 percent focused on building the Young Leaders Program the right way.

You can become a catalyst for change with us by giving today. Any amount is greatly appreciated, and your gift allows us to continue supporting lasting generational change in low-income communities by cultivating leaders from those communities. Initial investors have already committed over $500k. Please join them in fueling our momentum! We are ready for this next step.

Invest in our Young Leaders today!

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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Glass Half Full is on May 13th!

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Denver’s premier philanthropic food and drink event features cocktails, beer, and wine from local purveyors, cuisine from top local restaurants, and not-to-be-missed silent and live auction items. This year’s event, at the beautiful McNichols Center in Denver, CO is a great opportunity to meet Greenhouse Scholars and other community members.– It’s Time to Gather!

Learn More & RSVP Here >

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The Annual Growth Report

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The Growth Report embodies the past year of Greenhouse Scholars’ work. In it, we share our successes, detail our results and impact, illuminate the incredible stories of our Scholars, and thank our community of supporters. This is a great way for people to get to know us better, and we’re excited to share it with you.

The Greenhouse Scholars 2022 Application Cycle is Open!

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With Greenhouse Scholars, you will start a ripple of impact in your communities and in the world.

Greenhouse Scholars offers a unique Whole Person Program including personal, professional, and financial support to students from marginalized backgrounds throughout college. Our program is not just about getting to graduation, it’s about preparing for life after college and working to evolve the communities of the world.

Saturday, August 28th – Come Fly with Us!

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We’re so excited to welcome our CO riding community back for Venus de Miles 2021! We have a new venue (beautiful Bohn Park in downtown Lyons, CO) and three breath-taking rides to choose from (33 miles, 66 miles, or 100 miles). After you work hard, you’ll be rewarded with food trucks, drinks, and great music!

To learn more, visit venusdemiles.com

There’s still time to register and 100% of registration fees and money raised goes to Greenhouse Scholars!

Register Here

Want another way to get involved? We need volunteers to support our riders! Perks include a t-shirt, vendor goodies, a delicious meal, plus post-ride drinks and pampering. Bring a friend and join us for a day of fun and community!

Volunteer

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:

Thank you to our Titanium Sponsor:

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Summer Symposium 2021

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Exploring the Value of Relentlessness

At this year’s Summer Symposium we aim to demonstrate the value of relentlessness as a trait that carries enormous multiplying power. When others witness your refusal to quit, they too are inspired, allowing your success to pull others forward and see their goals through to their end. Relentlessness is a dual-edged blade, cutting down barriers while spreading its indomitable spirit to peers. At Greenhouse Scholars we are Relentless Together.
Summer Symposium 2021

What is Summer Symposium? It is a key component of our Greenhouse Scholars program, bringing all of our Scholars together for peer support and learning. An annual, multi-day gathering, Summer Symposium includes workshops, speakers, panel discussions, and group projects that encourage Scholars to explore their core values, expand their thinking, and cultivate their leadership skills.

We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s Summer Symposium will be held at the newly constructed Rustandy Building at CU Boulder.

Preview Our 2021 Symposium Speakers

Secretary Jeh Johnson

Jeh Johnson served as the US Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017 and was the general counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012. Johnson is now a partner at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a member of the boards of directors of Lockheed Martin and U.S. Steel, and a trustee of Columbia University.

Cathy Bessant

“The Most Powerful Woman in Banking” 

We’re thrilled to sit down for a virtual “fireside chat” with Cathy Bessant, the chief operations and technology officer at Bank of America. Since 2010, Bessant has led Global Technology and Operations, delivering end-to-end technology and operating services across the company through a team of 95,000 people in over 35 countries.

Jessica Moore

A Greenhouse Scholars alumna, Jessica Moore will be leading an improv session at Summer Symposium this year! Jessica recently earned a joint degree in Neuroscience and English from Harvard University. During college, she served as President of both the Hasty Pudding Theatricals and the Leadership Institute. Jessica is currently working as a Manhattan Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the foster care system and as a standup comedian at The Grisly Pear in NYC. She plans to begin law school in the fall.

Eric Roza

Eric Roza is the CEO of CrossFit, the world’s leading platform for Health, Happiness, and Performance. CrossFit has millions of participants, 12,000 gyms, and 150,000 credentialed trainers in over 150 countries. Eric serves on the boards of Crestone Capital, Endeavor, Global Colorado, Sondermind, and Spark Grills, and is an Executive-in-Residence with General Catalyst.

Valencia Watson

The daughter of a teen mother, Valencia experienced homelessness as a child and decided early on that academics was the best path toward financial stability. Today, Valencia holds a Masters in Biochemical Engineering, a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering, and is pursuing her PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology. Valencia is an avid community volunteer, mentoring high school and college students, as well as single mothers pursuing GEDs. She aims to increase the number of minority students earning doctorate degrees in science and engineering.

Maria Rey Marston, PhD

Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Maria’s family instilled in her a deep love for education. She studied Economics in college, pursued a Professional Certification in Science and Technology Project Management, and a master’s degree in International Affairs. Most recently, she ran her own boutique consulting firm, which she sold to Ernst & Young, and then joined Accenture. 

Dan Caruso

Dan Caruso is Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of ColdQuanta, the leader in Cold Atom Quantum Technology. He was Founding Partner and Chairman of Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. and a co-founding executive of Level 3. Dan holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois. Avid supporters of Colorado’s and Chicago’s entrepreneurial community, Dan and his wife Cindy established The Caruso Foundation in 2015 to Celebrate High-Impact Scale-Ups and Inspire Next Generation Entrepreneurial Leaders.

Rico Wint

Motivational speaker, educator, community leader and minister, Rico Wint is motivating young men throughout the Denver metro area. A product of both Denver and Aurora Public Schools, he understands the plight that faces many of our inner-city young men. Rico is passionate about inspiring young men to be their best selves through practical and applicable social/leadership training.

Chris Nelson

With more than 25 years of experience creating opportunities for young people to thrive, Chris became the CEO of TGTHR. Under his leadership, TGTHR has 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.

Brittney Oliver

A career and lifestyle freelance writer and content strategist, Brittney built a platform called Lemons 2 Lemonade to help young professionals turn career obstacles around. Her platform is known for its networking mixers which bring professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives together in NYC, Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. Brittney was the keynote speaker at LinkedIn’s first women of color conference in 2019 and Forbes recently listed her as one of “Nine Black Women Leaders Dedicated to Empowering Others.”

Tony Wibbeler

CEO and Founder of Bolder Industries, Tony is passionate about protecting the environment, creating innovative products, and enhancing the lives of his employees. Drawing on his past experience in the medical device industry, Tony creates new and better ways to handle waste and recycling inefficiencies. He has led Bolder Industries to numerous business awards including Environmental Leader’s “Top Product of the Year” and “Breakout Company of the Year” (Colorado Cleantech Industries Association). 

Andrew Limouris

Founder, president, and CEO of Medix, an international staffing organization specializing in recruiting skilled personnel in the healthcare, science, and IT fields. Andrew’s business mission is to positively impact lives and he strives to recruit others who live the company’s core values. As a result, Medix has developed into one of the largest and fastest-growing staffing agencies in America. Andrew received his bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Ripon College and now lives in Illinois with his wife and their three children. He believes purpose can lead to satisfied employees, increased revenue and unified teamwork.

 

Ryan Carter

As a frequent contributor to the Denver Post, 5280 Magazine, Rocky Mountain News and a featured agent on HGTV’s “House Hunters,” Ryan is recognized as an industry expert with the local expertise necessary to help buyers, sellers, and investors successfully buy and sell in Denver. For more than 10 years and with over $100 million in real estate sales, his design interest and business acumen have allowed him to guide clients to achieve their goals. As the Team Leader of 8z Central Denver, Ryan mentors new agents to uphold a new standard in real estate.

 

Dulce Anayasaenz

Always passionate about helping others to achieve their dreams, Dulce was first drawn to the world of politics and ultimately into real estate. Whether a client is buying their first home, moving up to something larger, or investing in income-generating assets, she offers support throughout the entire process. Dulce has lived in Colorado for almost 30 years and enjoys spending time with family and traveling to her native country of Mexico.

 

Rob Israel

Rob is founder of WisdomWrks™, an accelerator that guides and grows businesses and opportunities in the Health and Wellness space as well as Real Estate and Franchising. The current CEO and Co-founder of Lazzaro Medical, Rob’s entrepreneurial successes also include founding Doc Popcorn (which sold to Dippin’ Dots in 2014) and Knitwaves (one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of girls’ sweaters and sportswear). Rob is an angel investor and advisor to a Micro VC fund, Kokopelli Capital, and has taught entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of business in Boulder Colorado. He regularly coaches entrepreneurs and start-ups.

 

Ivan Hernandez

Ivan is President and CEO of Banner Signs and Decals, a signage manufacturer in Colorado and a business he leads in collaboration with several members of the Greenhouse Scholars community (Taylor Kirkpatrick, Lane Hornung at 8z Real Estate, and Doug Bonnette). Ivan is a Greenhouse Scholars alumnus who earned his BA and MBA at The University of Denver Daniels College of Business.

 

Kristy Lewis

Founder and CEO of Quinn Foods LLC, Kristy has spent the last 10 years on a mission to revolutionize classic snack foods by making them better for you and the planet, without compromising on flavor. She started by reimagining microwave popcorn-removing the chemicals/plastics and using only real ingredients that can be traced back to the source. As a company, Quinn is re-imagining agriculture, farmers, packaged food, the planet, how they connect, and why it all matters.

 

Phillip Schermer

Founder & CEO of Project Healthy Minds and Vice President & Chief of Staff to the Global Chief Marketing Officer at BlackRock. Before joining BlackRock, Phil worked in the Obama White House as an intern for the National Economic Council, for Warner Brothers Entertainment on the movie set of The Dark Knight Rises, for Summit Entertainment on the movie set of Perks of Being a Wallflower, and for Live Nation on U2’s 360 tour. While in college, Phil founded MUSIC Matters, a student-run non-profit at the University of Michigan that hosts one of the largest social impact lifestyle festivals in the US.

 

Howdy Pierce

A technology executive and software engineer with a background in operating systems, networking, and audio/video protocols, Howdy joined the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences at CU Boulder in 2020. Before that, he founded and served as CEO of Vantum, a venture-funded startup focused on building hardware and software solutions for the use of digital video in enterprise applications. In addition, Howdy co-founded Cardinal Peak, an engineering design services company focusing on developing audio/video and Internet of Things products. Howdy has a B.S. in mathematics and professional writing from Carnegie Mellon.

 

Kat Ling

Formerly the Chief of Staff and then Chief Program Officer, Kathryn (Kat) Ling is now the Interim CEO at Moonshot edVentures, where she develops high-quality programming with a focus on strategy and sustainability. Kat attended Cornell University where she studied English and Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies and conducted an honors thesis on cultural responsiveness in the young adult fiction genre. She has a Masters through the University of Arkansas – Clinton School of Public Service.

 

VJ Brown

VJ Brown joined Moonshot edVentures in 2020 as Program Manager. Previously, he worked for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, supporting civic leadership programs for rising professionals and college students. He also helped develop and lead the organization’s strategy around diversity, equity, and inclusion. VJ holds a Bachelors of Arts in Africana Studies from Davidson College with a minor in Anthropology. He is a 2018 graduate of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado Connect Leadership program and a participant in 2020 Colorado Civic DNA.

 

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