Board of Advisors

Emeritus Board Members

• Marney Andes
  

  Founder, Project Aspire

  Marney Andes is a born-and-bred farm girl from Wallace, Nebraska. An author, consultant, educator, and entrepreneur, she has dedicated her career to supporting teams and individuals as they develop and grow. Her experience in performance consulting and leadership development spans a wide range of industries, including technology, healthcare, education, and nonprofit.

  Marney attributes much of her success to her dad, who when he wasn’t working in the corn or wheat fields or tending to his Angus cattle, was teaching Marney how to grow as a professional, live with joy, and discover fulfillment. He taught her eight core lessons that grounded her and helped her create the life she wanted.

  Success—in business and life—doesn’t come without taking advice, learning lessons, and living with intention. In her book Start with the Give-Me Shots: 8 Homegrown Lessons for Business and Life, Marney outlines her dad’s lessons through honest storytelling, and simple, real-life examples, so you can experience his advice for yourself. She also provides you with guiding questions, so you can work through these lessons right away. Marney’s insightful strategies are customizable, so you can tailor them to your goals. No matter your stage of life or the challenge you face, applying these lessons will help you navigate your own journey, grow professionally and personally, and live a life you’re proud of. Her book can be found on Amazon and you can learn more about her ideas and online community by visiting marneyandes.com.

  A college basketball player and former Mrs. America, Marney is the founder of Project Aspire, a nonprofit created to support women in their pursuit of higher education and leadership opportunities. Marney holds a master’s in information and learning technologies from the University of Colorado-Denver and currently resides outside of Denver with her husband, Allen, and her two sons, Owen and Brody.

• Anne Marie Aponte
  

  Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, DUOS

  Anne Marie is a healthcare entrepreneur focused on building innovative solutions that improve the patient experience while combatting industry-wide challenges related to access, quality and cost.

  In 2020, Anne Marie co-founded DUOS, a digital healthcare venture that empowers older adults to age independently in their homes by supporting them with everyday needs, such as food and transportation.  Her prior experience includes leadership roles at DispatchHealth, a Denver-based company delivering high quality care to patient homes, and Accolade, a publicly-traded healthcare navigation firm.  Anne Marie earned her MBA from the The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her undergraduate degree in Industrial & Labor Relations from Cornell University.

  Outside of work, Anne Marie is a health and wellness enthusiast who loves taking advantage of Colorado's wide ranging outdoor activities.  She’s also a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, dog lover, and self-proclaimed above average cook.

• Maribel Cifuentes
  

  Portfolio Director, The Colorado Health Foundation

  As Portfolio Director at The Colorado Health Foundation, Maribel’s key focus areas are Affordable Housing, Children Move More, Food Access and Security, and Healthy Schools.

  Maribel was born in Guatemala City, is a fluent Spanish speaker, and has lived in the United States for most of her life — so she considers herself to be bi-cultural. Her mother is her hero, because she made incredible sacrifices to come to this country and set Maribel on the path to success. This history has shaped her life as well as her work at the Foundation.

  Maribel’s passion for working in philanthropy comes from a deep personal desire to help stop the suffering of people whose health and wellness is compromised. She is particularly committed to behavioral health and ending the stigma of mental illness for every family in our beautiful state. She is a firm believer in prevention — detecting problems and intervening as early as possible — and improving access, quality and affordability of care.

  Maribel plays many roles at the Foundation. She is a collaborator, a strategic thinker, a disruptor, an ambassador, a partner and a learner — all in the service of our mission to improve the health of Coloradans. She has a degree in Nursing from the University of Colorado, Denver.

  In her downtime, Maribel enjoys meditation, hiking and believes in following your bliss. For her, that is found in her most rewarding life experience — as a mother and wife in a blended, multi-racial family, where some how they make it all work in their own wonderful and colorful way.

• Mike Cortes
  

  Scholar in Residence, Graduate School of Social Work
  University of Denver

  Mike Cortés is Scholar in Residence and Special Community Member at the DU Graduate School of Social Work, where he previously served on the faculty and taught graduate courses in public policy analysis and social policy advocacy. 

  His continuing research interests include (1) income security and care for disabled Latino elders, (2) policy analysis and advocacy by public charities, and (3) improvement of policy practice curricula in schools of social work. 

  Mike's previous faculty and administrative appointments have been at the University of Colorado Denver, the University of San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley. Today, Mike spends most of his time volunteering for nonprofit organizations.  He is a member of the board of directors of the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO), where he also volunteered as executive director in 2018 through 2021.  CLLARO is a non-profit organization in Denver established in 1964 to help Latinos in Colorado solve problems facing their communities.  Until 2007, CLLARO was known as the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA). 

  Mike’s past public and community service activities have included chairing the Denver Commission on Aging, serving on the AARP National Policy Council in Washington, D.C., the board of directors of the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C., and several other boards of directors, advisory committees, and government commissions in various communities and states across the nation.

  Mike began his career in 1971 as a community organizer, and later returned to school to study public policy analysis.  In the 1970s, Mike was Vice-President for Research, Advocacy, and Legislation at the National Council of la Raza (now called Unidos US) in Washington, D.C.  Mike led creation of La Raza's public policy program, which today advocates for Latinos in Washington, state capitols, and local communities in the areas of civic engagement, civil rights and immigration, education, workforce and the economy, health, and housing. CLLARO is one of 272 local nonprofit agencies and community development corporations affiliated with Unidos US throughout the nation.

  In the early 1980s, Mike was Director of Planning, Finance, and Administration in the Corporate Community Affairs Department at Levi Strauss & Co. and the Levi Strauss Foundation in San Francisco.  There, he was a founding member of Hispanics in Philanthropy, an association of staff and trustees of private foundations and corporate contributions programs, now promoting philanthropy by and for Latinos throughout the U.S.

  Mike is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area.  He earned the M.P.P. and Ph.D. degrees in public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, and the M.S.W. with a specialty in community practice and social action at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

• Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani
  

  Founder and Medical Director
  The Gaudiani Clinic

  Dr. Gaudiani is an eating disorders expert physician and the Founder and Medical Director of the Gaudiani Clinic. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, she completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale, where she won numerous clinical awards. Dr. Gaudiani moved to Denver in 2007, choosing Colorado with her husband because its emphasis on the outdoors, the incorporation of nature into daily life, and the importance of family activity time as it offered a great way to foster work-life balance. In 2008, she was one of the founding team members of the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at Denver Health. After seven great years there, she left as its Medical Director to pursue her vision of outpatient care, founding the Gaudiani Clinic. During her years at ACUTE, Dr. Gaudiani became a nationally recognized internist for her work on the medical complications of eating disorders. Dr. Gaudiani’s book, Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders, was released via Routledge in October 2018.

  Dr. Gaudiani has lectured nationally and internationally and is widely published in the scientific literature as well as on blogs. She is a current member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Eating Disorders and and the Academy for Eating Disorders Medical Care Standards Committee and is a former board member of iaedp (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals). Dr. Gaudiani is one of the only outpatient internists in the US who carries the Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor designation and has received the honorable designation of Fellow from the international organization Academy for Eating Disorders. In founding the Gaudiani Clinic, she has established a nationally unique outpatient medical setting, not dictated by restraints on visit time or insurance rules, where strong, supportive, and healing relationships with patients help them achieve wellness while remaining in their communities. Through lectures, consulting work, and her book, Sick Enough, she continues to improve the quality of medical care for patients with eating disorders in treatment programs around the country. On a personal note, Dr. Gaudiani is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational Italian, loves hiking and spending time outdoors, is a voracious reader especially of young adult fantasy fiction, and lives with her wonderful husband and two daughters in Denver.

• Jerry Hartbarger
  

  Vice President, HR, Kaiser Permanente

  Jerry Hartbarger is vice president of Human Resources for Kaiser Permanente Colorado, the state’s largest nonprofit health plan with more than 622,000 members. In this role, he is responsible for the region’s human capital functions, including talent management, total rewards, workplace safety, workforce wellness and employee and labor relations.

  Hartbarger has 25 years of experience in human resources, including more than 15 years at Honeywell International, where he served as vice president of human resources, among various other executive roles. Hartbarger also served as a human resources executive for Johns-Manville and, most recently, senior vice president of human resources and communications at Flatiron Construction Corp. for the last six years.

  Hartbarger is passionate about aligning human capital strategy with the short- and long-term needs of Kaiser Permanente. “It is a privilege to be part of a team focused on providing the highest quality care available for our members and creating the best place to work for our employees.”

  Hartbarger’s work in the community has included leadership roles with the Boy Scouts of America, Social Venture Partners of Denver, an organization that cultivates strong individual and business relationships to tackle challenges that face the Denver community, and Bridges to Prosperity, an organization that provides isolated communities with access to essential health care, education and economic opportunities by building footbridges over impassable rivers.

  A New Mexico native, Hartbarger holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in organization development and learning from the University of New Mexico. He enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing and spending time with his wife, Paula. They have three sons, Timothy, Tyler and Andrew.

• Gail Hashimoto
  

  Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
  PsyD '92

  Dr. Gail Hashimoto is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Manhattan (NY, NY). Although she treats the life span, her specialties are children, parent counseling, and couples therapy; and, subspecialties in young children, children with developmental issues, and gifted children. Gail graduated from GSPP in 1992 with three areas of concentration: Child Therapy, Family Therapy, Psychological Assessment. Her internship and post-doctoral fellowship were at Yale University's Child Study Center. She remained at Yale part-time, until 1995, teaching Developmental Psychology in the Medical School and providing weekly pro bono consultation to the Pediatric AIDS Clinic.

  Gail previously earned degrees in Nursing and Child Development. In her late teens, she left college to dance with the Martha Graham Company (short-lived career due to a serious knee injury). She had previously declined the opportunity to study piano at The Juilliard School or Eastman Conservatory.

  Gail's Board involvement has been in the arts: New York International Piano Competition, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company (contemporary ballet), Jacoby and Pronk (contemporary ballet company), New York City Center Dance Council, The Warhol Museum (also co-underwrote Youth Invasion and the Children's Play Space). She is also a major supporter of the Guggenheim Museum's Works & Process (co-underwriting programs), Heart and Soul Charitable Fund that provides resources for marginalized populations National Public Radio, and Carnegie Hall.

  In addition to her practice, for 21 years, Gail served as the Consulting Psychologist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Day School, a developmentally based preschool, where she provided consultation on individual children, clinical discussions with the staff, and conducted parent groups. She has provided pro bono supervision for the staff of the Lower Eastside Girls' Club. She was part-time psychology faculty at various institutions in NYC. While on the Board of the New York International Piano Competition, Gail conducted sessions for parents addressing developmental and psychological issues often experienced by child prodigies.

  Nourished by the arts, Gail has multiple subscriptions to the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, subscribes to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, regularly attends art museums, dance, theatre, and lectures, travels internationally for music, dance, and visual art.

• Ron Hoskins
  

  Senior VP of Commercial Banking, Citywide Banks

  Ron Hoskins has more than 30 years' experience in commercial banking, business development and credit authority. Since 2004, Ron has developed a large client portfolio as Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking for Citywide Banks. Previously, Ron held Vice President of Commercial Lending positions with both Union Bank and Trust (Key Bank) and Colorado National Bank (US Bank).

  Ron earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kansas State University and completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado. He has also been active in the community, including his work as Capital Campaign Co-Chairman for the Washington Park United Methodist Church. Ron lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Michelle and children, Ryan and Emily.

• Laurie Ivey
  

  Director of Behavioral Health, Swedish Family Medicine;
  Director, Integrated Primary Care Postdoctoral Fellowship
  PsyD '00 

  Laurie Ivey, Psy.D. is the Director of Behavioral Health and the Director of the Integrated Primacy Care Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at Swedish Family Medicine Residency in Littleton. She is Associate Clinical Professor in the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine. She is a clinical psychologist by training (GSPP grad) and enjoys teaching both family medicine residents and post-doctoral psychology fellows to work side-by side in the integrated primary care setting.

  She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology where she teaches an Integrated Primary Care Class in the clinical psychology doctoral program, hoping to inspire young psychologists' to pursue a career path in primary care. She is passionate about the impact of integrated behavioral health care on the primary care population and about promoting a solid behavioral work force development strategy to ensure quality care delivery in the primary care setting.

• Louisa Jornayvaz
  

  Former Vice President, Denver Children's Home Board
  MA-Sport & Performance Psychology '14

  Louisa Jornayvaz is a mental skills coach and professional portrait artist. A former U.S. National Champion equestrian and nationally competitive ballroom dancer, Louisa primarily works with equestrians, and visual and performing artists.

  Louisa has been a professional portrait artist for 15 years, and recently unveiled a portrait of President Jimmy Carter for President and Mrs. Carter and a large contingent of Georgia residents. She has painted dozens of portraits that how hang in private homes and educational institutions throughout the country. For four years, Louisa served as the Ambassador from Colorado for the Portrait Society of America, and studied not only with master artist Emanuel Martinez, but also with the National Association of Portrait Artists at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, The Colorado Academy of Art in Boulder, Colorado, and at The Arts Student's League of Denver. Louisa created the "Power Palette', a motivational workshop for visual artists.

  Prior to pursuing her passion for art, Louisa was a broadcast journalist for 18 years; covering politics and anchoring the news at the NBC station in Denver, as well as network affiliate stations in several other cities. She created 'Louisa Craft's News for Families'; a company that produced nationally syndicated news stories on family and parenting issues, as well as magazine length stories on parenting for CNN. Louisa has hosted and emceed dozens of events, as well as being a keynote speaker on women's issues and working in the media.

  During the past 25 years, Louisa has been Vice President of The Denver Children's Home, a residential treatment facility for youth with emotional and behavioral issues, and has chaired a myriad of events and served on many boards that serve at-risk youth. Louisa founded The Emanuel Project, an arts intervention program that now serves thousands of youth in 50 juvenile facilities in 13 states. She founded Art for Kids with her daughter, Kaytlyn, a program that provides art supplies and educational materials to low-income schools. Louisa received the Graland Country Day School President's Award as the most outstanding parent volunteer for 14 years of service. She has also been honored by the Governor of Colorado for her commitment to family issues.

  Louisa also currently sits on the Rosalyn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellowship Task Force in Atlanta, Georgia and The LARRK Foundation Board in Denver, Colorado.

  A native Texan, Louisa graduated with a Masters Degree in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver; a Journalism Degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and has taken graduate courses in Child and Family Studies at the University of Denver. She is a graduate of Leadership Denver.

  Louisa is married to her college sweetheart and has three children. She loves to spend time with family and friends, travel, read, garden (with a passion for tulips), fly fish, play the harp and piano, and play golf.

• Taylor Kirkpatrick - Chair Emeritus
  

  President & CEO, Babson Farms, Inc.
  DU IMBA '04

  Taylor is President and Chief Executive Officer of Babson Farms Inc., a family office with operating businesses in agriculture and insurance, diverse real estate investments, mineral interests and public and private equity investments.
  
  Prior to managing this multi-generational single family office, Taylor was involved in mergers and acquisitions as a Principal and a VP for 13 years. He started his career in financial services working in management and consulting roles for mutual fund companies based in Boston and Paris.

  Taylor is active in the community and is currently involved in several philanthropic organizations in Denver:

  • Serves as a Director on the Board of Trustees at Alliance for Choice in Education (ACE)
  • Serves as a Director on the Board of Trustees at Bright By Three
  • Serves as President-Elect on the Board of the Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation
  • Chairs the Mothers' Milk Bank Advisory Council
  • Serves as President on the Graland Alumni Board
  • Serves as a Director on the Board of Trustees at Quarterly Forum
  • Serves as a member at Constellation Philanthropy
  • Serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology
  • Serves as President of the Good Wood Club
  • Serves on the Public Artwork Selection Council at Children's Hospital Colorado

  Taylor also authored an award-winning children's book, "Worthwhile." The story involves a boy and his grandmother that promotes giving and kindness. Taylor still travels to schools and special events to share his story and meet with children about how they can make a worthwhile difference in the world.

  He has been married for 12 years to Molly, and they have a 6 year-old boy, Henry, who loves minerals, bugs and ninjas.

  Taylor received a Bachelor of Arts in French from Middlebury College and an International MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Advisors for the Graduate School of Professional Psychology.

• Jenny Lagerberg
  

  Senior Vice President of Loan Servicing, FirstBank Holding Company

  Jenny Lagerberg has 30 years of experience in the banking industry, including operational and regulatory compliance experience and 25 years of internal auditing experience.

  Jenny earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School – Graduate School of Banking. She also holds Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) certifications.

  Jenny is active in her local, school and religious communities and lives in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband Larry and children, Spencer and Sydney.  In her spare time, Jenny likes to read, travel and spend time with her extended family.

• Robyn Loup
  

  Consulting Director, Equitas Foundation

  Robyn Loup is a passionate advocate for systems reform to support individuals with mental disorders and brain challenges. Robyn has first-hand experience with mental disorders as she grew up with a mother who battled schizophrenia. As a result, Robyn understands the immense struggles of both the individuals and the family members of those with mental illness. Living with a mother with schizophrenia inspired Robyn to speak out for those with mental illnesses and through her efforts, she honors and memorializes her mother.

  Robyn led the Mental Health America Colorado (MHAC) organization as President in 1995-1996. As part of her role on MHAC, she was assigned to a task force to identify gaps in Colorado’s mental health system. The task force found a severe need for crisis care, and as a result of this finding, Robyn was a founding member of Metro Crisis Services. Robyn currently serves on the Board of Directors at Metro Crisis Services, an organization that hosts Colorado’s 24/7 free hotline for mental health and substance abuse issues as well as a free directory of over 3,000 support resources throughout the Denver metro community. From 2006-2008, Robyn served as a national leader for mental health on the Mental Health America Board as the Vice President of Development. Robyn is also a certified Life Coach accredited with the International Coaching Academy.

  Robyn believes that through collaboration and a drive for solutions, we CAN and we WILL create positive changes to our systems to benefit those with mental illness.

• Steve Moats

  Family and the great outdoors are at the core of how I spend my time.  I live in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, with my wife Molly Moats (in-house Consul with the Community Colleges of Colorado) and our two children: Charlie, Stella and  dog Hazel.

  When not working, I like to stay active with triathlons, Masters Swimming with the University of Denver, skiing with my family, cycling, and fly fishing. I’m also proud to be a four-time Ironman Finisher, including the 2009 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

  Professional Background

  •        2002 – Present: Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Advisor

  •        2000-2003  Partner, Snap Wave Communications

  •        1997-2000 Janus Capital

  Education

  •        Bachelor of Science – Miami University, Oxford, OH 1989

  •        Masters of Science – Idaho State University 1991

  •        Masters of Business Administration – Finance, Colorado State University, 1999

• Danny Moore
  

  Master Chief (Retired), United States Navy
  Founder, President & CEO, DeNOVO Solutions, LLC 
  Founder, President & CEO, Thornberry Consulting, LLC

  Danny Moore is President and Founder of DeNOVO Solutions, LLC. Mr. Moore has over 34 years of operational and business experience in Defense, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance arenas. He has lived in Colorado for the past 22 years.

  Mr. Moore served in several challenging leadership positions throughout his Naval career with his final assignment being Senior Enlisted Advisor within the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado. Mr. Moore was only the second Navy member to hold the position in the history of the facility. Mr. Moore also holds the distinction of being the first Black Male to ascend to the rating of CTTCM (Cryptologic Technician Technical Master Chief).

  Mr. Moore retired from service in 2005 and served in several roles while employed by BAE System Inc. These include Program Manager, System Engineer and finally Director of Global Operations where he oversaw large scale programs of over $250M in value.

  In 2012 Mr. Moore started DeNOVO Solutions where he serves as President/CEO of DeNOVO Solutions, LLC. In 2016 DeNOVO Solutions purchased Thornberry Consulting to which Mr. Moore holds the titles of President / CEO. The two companies operate in Colorado, Maryland, Georgia and Texas. His companies provide Professional and Technical services to the Department of Defense and the Aerospace community.

  Mr. Moore is a graduate of numerous Navy leadership and technical schools. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Moore is PMP (Program Management Professional) certified and has held that distinction since 2011. Mr. Moore lives in Centennial and is married to Susan Jean Rutt. He has two adult children Constance and Devin Moore.

• Bud Ross
  

  Managing Partner, Albatross Ventures

  Bud Ross is the Founder and Managing Partner of Albatross Ventures, a unique venture studio that builds, invests in and acquires technology companies. One of the companies has developed a mental wellness app.

  A primary goal of Bud’s is to help people, especially young people, find ways to work through mental and emotional struggles and maintain hope that their lives will, and can, improve. His current mission is to create solutions rooted in technology that will reduce global suicides by providing support to those experiencing depression or other mental illnesses, reduce the stigma around mental illness, and provide data solutions to researchers to help create effective treatments and therapies.

  Bud currently serves on the boards of the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver, 2221 Society - Children's Hospital Colorado, Psych360, and Working Credit NFP. He also serves as an Advisor to Bold Moose and TalkBox Booth, and is Co-Founder and Partner of New Coast Ventures, as well a Mentor at Greenhouse Scholars. Past board and other service include Sink Tech Global, New Coast Foundation, The Tavern Group, and Auxiliary Board Member - Chair of BLU at Shedd Aquarium.

  He is from the Greater Chicago Area and attended the University of Kansas, studying communications and leadership. After graduating, he consulted with non-government organizations in Ghana and Kenya. Upon returning home, he worked in commercial real estate consulting before eventually starting Albatross Ventures. He has been a consultant, PADI divemaster, restaurant operator, angel investor, and nonprofit founder. Some of his other hobbies include fly fishing, photography, camping, and hiking.

• Polly Weintz Sanna
  

  Entrepreneur, Harbor Lights Foundation
  DU '81

  Polly Weintz Sanna is an entrepreneur who earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications from DU in 1981. She balances passion and practicality working as a board member of The Harbor Lights Foundation, a family foundation that supports organizations and programs that focus on education and philanthropy with a special commitment to disaster relief. 

  A former ski instructor, personal shopper, special events coordinator and singer, she lives in Cos Cob, Connecticut with her husband and daughter.

• Rene Simard
  

  Chief Master Sergeant (Retired), USAF
  Executive Vice President, Aurora CO Chamber of Commerce
  DU MPS '13

  Rene (“Ree-nee”) Simard is a retired U.S. Air Force senior enlisted leader with 38 years of converging management and leadership experience across multiple disciplines including leadership training, academic advising, veterans services, career services, logistics, human resources, personal training and military security.

  Currently, Rene is the Executive Vice President for the Aurora Colorado Chamber of Commerce. He directs and manages the Chamber’s flagship Leadership Aurora program where he plans, coordinates, and conducts monthly sessions, monthly board meetings, various committee meetings, recruiting strategy, and annual class and board retreats. He also manages the Aurora Defense Council, a joint organization of over 350 members representing military commands and local business leaders of the major segments of the community.

  Previously, he was the Director of Academic Advising at the Community College of Aurora where he managed a staff of 15 advisors, career services, veteran’s services, and administration. His department provided services to over 8,000 enrolled students with approximately 20,000 student contacts per year. Prior to this position, Rene was the Assistant Director of Academic Advising and prior to that he was the Military/Veterans Affairs coordinator.

  Prior to the Community College of Aurora, Rene was Assistant General Manager for Mesa Moving Systems and Storage in Aurora, Colorado, where he was responsible for daily operations and customer service for 40 employees assigned to a significant United Van Lines agent.

  In October 2006, Rene retired from the U. S. Air Force after more than 28-years of service. In his final assignment, Rene was the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 460th Space Wing at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, where he advised the base commander on matters influencing the health, welfare, morale, effective utilization and quality of life for more than 3,000 enlisted personnel assigned to the base’s area of responsibility. During his Air Force career he served at various command levels and also deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm and Southern Watch. His assignments included bases in Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Delaware, Washington, DC (Pentagon) and Colorado.

  Rene graduated with a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Denver in June 2013 where he achieved a 3.97 GPA. He received a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Logistics/Business Management from Peru State College in Nebraska and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Logistics Management from Community College of the Air Force.

  While on active duty he graduated from a number of professional development institutions, including the 8th Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School (distinguished graduate), Strategic Air Command’s Noncommissioned Officer Academy and U.S. Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy (distinguished graduate), and the Center for Creative Leadership.

• Jeffrey (Jeff) Thompson
  

  VP of Government & Corporate Relations, UCHealth

  In January, 1993 Jeff was named Associate Director of Public Affairs for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In 1996, Jeff became the Director of Business Development at University of Colorado Hospital (UCH). He then directed UCH major gift fundraising from 1999 through 2004.

  In January 2005, Jeff was named Director of Government and Corporate Relations at UCH and continued that role beginning March 2012 with the new health system, UCHealth.

  In April 2015, Jeff was promoted to Vice President of Government and Corporate Relations for UCHealth. In this role, he oversees and coordinates government relations with local, state and federal elected officials and leaders of key governmental departments and agencies. In addition, Jeff works closely with area business organizations, including Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Organizations and directly with many business and civic leaders.

  In representing UCHealth, Jeff also serves on the boards and committees of a number of business and community organizations such as the Aurora Chamber of Commerce (Board Chairman 2012-2014; and named Business Person of the Year for 2014); the Aurora Economic Development Council; the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation; Colorado Dental Lifeline Network. Jeff is also the current chairman of the Colorado Hospital Association's Legislative Council.

  A Denver native, Jeff holds a Bachelors' Degree in Political Science from Fort Lewis College (1975), and a Masters' Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver (1978). Jeff is married to Nancy (self-employed), with two wonderful children, Connor, 20, a junior at Colorado Mesa University; and Lauren, 29, employed with a Denver-based personal information security firm.

• Doug Wilwerding
  

  Founder & Managing Principal, The Optimas Group, LLC
  DU '85, MBA '86

  Doug Wilwerding is the founder and Managing Principal of The Optimas Group, LLC, a venture investment firm founded in 2008. Doug and the Optimas team guide capitalization efforts and work closely with management teams to develop differentiated market positions and create lasting value. The Optimas Group portfolio companies focus on business-to-business services, technology, and specialty finance.

  Currently, The Optimas Group is invested in:

  • Adventos- focused on enabling municipal governments and public safety entities in providing for safer communities through better logistics and resource management technology;
  • AllCom Global Services - a prime and sub-contractor providing communications infrastructure engineering and installation to the government sector;
  • Javlin Capital – offers specialty financing to the consumer finance, real estate, legal, and healthcare markets;
  • MySidewalk - the leading provider of municipal and electoral geospatial layered data mining and analysis services; and
  • Rova- the leading provider of marketing and advertising agency client project management and revenue enhancement SaaS solutions.

  Prior to founding The Optimas Group, Doug worked from 1986 to 2008 in the accounts receivable management industry with Accent Service Company, Accent Insurance Recovery, Omnium Worldwide, and West Corporation. During that time, Doug developed an in-depth understanding of consumer finance, commercial finance, telecommunications, insurance, and healthcare accounts receivable in the U.S., Central American, and South American markets. Throughout his career, Doug has served on industry boards in both the consumer credit and health insurance sectors.

  Following Doug's leveraged buyout of Omnium Worldwide in 1998, he served as Chairman and CEO until selling the company to West Corporation in 2007. In 2008, after completing post transaction integration and leadership transition, Doug left West Corporation to form The Optimas Group.

  In addition to serving on the boards of the Optimas portfolio companies, Doug's board experience includes banking, industrial machinery, livestock and agriculture, business services, and technology companies ranging in annual revenue from a few million dollars to more than $500 million. Doug has also served on and chaired numerous non-profit boards focusing on public policy and primary, secondary, and higher education.

  Doug holds BSBA and MBA degrees from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado.

  Doug and his wife Elaine have three grown daughters. Doug and Elaine live in Omaha, Nebraska and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Doug is an avid fly fisherman, golfer, snow skier, cyclist and reader.

• Lisa Woods
  

  President, HERdacity
  DU '07

  Lisa comes from a diverse background of leadership and management experience, with a passion for advocacy and policy work that empowers individuals and advances the public good.

  Lisa spent more than 15 years in public service at several Texas state agencies and in the Texas Legislature, where she provided strategic counsel to elected officials on state and federal policy issues, and led key management and outreach efforts.

  Additionally, Lisa worked at two institutions of higher education – the University of Denver's Colorado Women's College and Texas A&M University – focusing on the advancement of women and the expansion of their educational opportunities, as well as the impact and reach of academic research in the US and abroad. In 2017, Lisa became President of HERdacity, an online women's engagement platform that promotes the empowerment of women—and the ways they dare to be who they want to be in life.

  Having started her professional career in politics, running political campaigns and grassroots efforts in Texas, Lisa brings an external, communication-oriented perspective to GSPP's Board of Friends. She holds a BA in Law & Society with a minor in Gender & Women's Studies from the University of Denver's Colorado Women's College and currently serves on their Board of Advisors.