2023
Gerry Agnes
President & CEO
Elevations Credit Union
Gerry Agnes joined Elevations Credit Union in 2008 and quickly challenged his organization to reach the pinnacle of quality, namely winning the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the only presidential award for program excellence. This award had never been won by a credit union before, and Gerry’s efforts were rewarded in 2014, when the organization received the coveted honor. Not content with that award, Gerry subsequently challenged the organization again, and Elevations Credit Union in 2020 became the first Colorado institution to win the award twice. Gerry also has spurred Elevations’ philanthropic efforts, with the Elevations Foundation providing scholarships, support for other nonprofits and disaster relief.
Doyle Albee
President & CEO
Comprise
For more than two decades, Doyle Albee has helped companies along the Front Range — and all over the world — tell their stories. As president of and CEO of Comprise, Doyle has built his firm into one of the premier public relations and marketing firms in the Rocky Mountain region. Comprise has implemented award-winning strategies for companies from startups to Fortune 500 businesses across numerous sectors — cybersecurity, cannabis, professional services, clean tech, and more — culminating in Comprise being named Agency of the Year in 2021 by the Business Intelligence Group.
Carrie Markley Baumgart
Co-owner & CEO
Markley Motors
It’s no exaggeration to say that Markley Motors is in Carrie Baumgart’s blood. She started working for the company, which her great-grandfather founded in 1936, when she was 15 years old. Now, as co-owner and CEO, Carrie is part of the fourth generation of her family to run Markley Motors. Carrie helped lead the company through the pandemic, and considers it one of Markley’s greatest accomplishments that they were able to keep 100% of their employees through the crisis.
Mike Bergerson
CEO
Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies
The growing, aging population of the Colorado Front Range has made orthopedic medicine more necessary than ever in the region. Under the leadership of Mike Bergerson, the Orthopaedic and Spine Center of the Rockies has risen to meet that demand with a highly specialized treatment model that includes clinics, therapy facilities, X-ray and MRI centers, a trauma program, and sports-medicine outreach. Mike saw the center through its merger with Front Range Orthopedics and Spine to create the largest privately owned, vertically integrated orthopedic medical group in Colorado, with nearly 50 physicians and more than 600 employees. Mike has also carried on OCR’s tradition of community involvement, as the center supports organizations such as the food banks of Larimer and Weld Counties, Mountain View Fire and Rescue, and the St. Vrain Valley School District.
G. Brent Coan
Founding member
Coan, Payton & Payne LLC
A founding member of the law firm Coan, Payton, and Payne, G. Brent Coan has for decades been a legal asset to the corporate and real estate sectors in Northern Colorado. He has helped companies with purchase and sale transactions, business organization and capitalization, corporate M&A transactions, land planning and development, and creditors’ rights. Brent also believes in serving his community, which he has done as a trustee for the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, chair of the board of Rocky Mountain Innosphere, director of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, and president of Northern Colorado Youth Hockey.
Dixie Daly
Business and membership director
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
Dixie Daly’s entrepreneurial spirit has helped her launch successful careers as a business owner and published author of poetry. For the past decade, as business and membership director at the Loveland Chamber, Dixie has used that spirit to help new companies get off the ground. With her knowledge of mentoring and networking, innovation leadership, business savvy, and her inspiration and encouragement, Dixie has been an invaluable resource for Loveland businesses.
Debbie Davis
Vice president and financial center manager
Independent Financial
In her more than 30 years working in the financial industry, Debbie Davis has always been a leader and advocate for local businesses. As vice president and financial center manager for Independent Financial, Debbie has used her position to invest in her customers and her community, always trying to make an impact in her clients’ lives and help them find workable financial solutions. She helped handle the transition of the merger of Guaranty Bank & Trust to Independent Financial across the region. And Debbie gives back to her community through support for Habitat for Humanity, area Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Loveland Downtown Partnership.
Mat Dinsmore
Owner
Wilbur’s Total Beverage
For Mat Dinsmore, owner of Wilbur’s Total Beverage in Fort Collins, operating a successful liquor superstore has always been about putting community first. That manifests in many ways. Supporting local craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries through shelf space. Helping customers secure a specialty bottle of single-malt scotch. Most importantly, Mat’s continued support of events such as A Vintage Affair with Pathways Inpatient Care Center has helped raise millions of dollars over the years for organizations that need it.
Jay Dokter
CEO
Vergent Products
Jay Dokter’s LinkedIn profile clearly shows that he’s an overachiever. He serves as CEO of Vergent Products, a Loveland-based electronics manufacturer. He is on the board for Bongo, a Loveland company that provides video assessment solutions. He serves as a founder and board member of The Warehouse business accelerator. He’s the CEO and principal of The Forge Campus, a multitenant reuse of the former Hewlett-Packard campus in Loveland. And he is president of the Loveland Business Partnership, an economic-development organization. Through each of these roles, Jay is helping transform Loveland’s economy, building its base of high-tech, startup and manufacturing businesses.
Doug Erion
Owner
Desk Chair
Doug Erion has been active in the Loveland community for decades, whether as a business executive, on the city council, or creating art and helping advance the city’s art scene. His latest effort, Desk Chair, continues this tradition. Desk Chair was one of the first coworking spaces in Loveland. Its luxury amenities and upscale furnishings — all in a renovated historic building in the heart of downtown Loveland — have given startups and established businesses alike a professional, worry-free workspace.
Nathan Ewert
Regional Vice President for community banking
First National Bank of Omaha
As regional vice president for community banking at First National Bank of Omaha, Nathan Ewert has helped FNBO grow to become one of the largest banks in the region, with efforts such as the acquisition of Western States Bank bringing FNBO to more than $3.6 billion in deposits, over $25 billion in assets, and a greater than 11% market share. Nathan has also been instrumental in FNBO’s support for regional athletics, such as Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming, and Future Legends Sports Park. As a past chair of the Colorado Banking Association with nearly 25 years of industry experience, Nathan is trusted as a leader by clients and peers alike.
Bianca Fisher
Executive director
Greeley Downtown Development Authority
Bianca Fisher serves as executive director of the Greeley Downtown Development Authority and is helping carry forward a revitalization of the historic downtown district. She represents a key contact for developers, property owners, business leaders and municipal government on projects that continue to bring new residents and businesses into the area. She also is leading efforts, with the city, to develop a new strategic plan for downtown, and is a key player in organization of events that support downtown merchants.
Mike Freeman
CEO
Innosphere Ventures
Mike Freeman works in what he calls the “fascinating intersection” of startups, venture capital and economic development. As CEO of Innosphere Ventures, a science and technology incubator that accelerates the business success of startups and emerging-growth companies, Mike plays a critical role in the innovation ecosystem of Colorado and other states, helping Innosphere’s most-recent cohorts raise $220 million and create 1,400 Colorado jobs. Mike and Innosphere have helped many Colorado high-tech companies ramp up their businesses, including Solid Power, AMP Robotics, Aspero Medical and many others. Mike’s efforts influence the growth of many key sectors, including bioscience, energy tech, software, hardware and others.
Ginger Graham
Owner & co-founder
Ginger and Baker
Few can say they’ve had as varied an influence as Ginger Graham. In her career as a pharmaceutical executive, she led Nasdaq 100 and Fortune 500 companies that developed treatments for diabetes and obesity and manufactured lifesaving cardiac devices. As an advisor to the BioFrontiers Institute, she’s helped develop the next generation of life-science whizzes. And since 2017, as owner and co-founder of the Fort Collins restaurant, cafe, and steakhouse Ginger and Baker, she’s returned to her Arkansas farm roots to create a unique comfort-food experience that Fort Collins diners have come to love.
Dani Grant
Owner
Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Chipper’s Lanes
Dani Grant may have earned a spot on this list just from her career in commercial real estate and as the founder and owner of Chipper’s Lanes. For the last 12 years, though, Dani has left an indelible mark on the Colorado music scene. She purchased the Mishawaka Amphitheatre in 2010 and turned it from a hidden gem into a truly world-class concert venue, attracting artists from all over the world to its intimate setting next to the Poudre River.
Josh Guernsey
Co-founder & managing partner
Waypoint Real Estate
As co-founder and managing partner for the commercial brokerage at Waypoint Real Estate, Josh Guernsey has established a strong track record of successful investment, development and consulting projects, helping clients with financial modeling and feasibility analysis for development projects, investment transactions, as well as tenant and landlord representation services. Josh has helped build Waypoint into a robust full-service real estate firm featuring residential and commercial brokerages, investment services, maintenance, and a property management division that encompasses nearly 3 million square feet.
Jaime Henning
President & CEO
Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
Jaime Henning stepped into the president and CEO role at the Greeley Chamber just as the pandemic and government shutdowns put her member businesses in an unprecedented, precarious position. Jaime immediately showed why she’d earned a reputation as a community relations guru and bridge-builder through efforts such as the Greeley Area Recovery Fund, which provided vital capital to businesses in need. Jaime embodies the resilient spirit of the Greeley business community.
Tatiana Hernandez
CEO
Community Foundation Boulder County
Tatiana Hernandez became CEO of the Community Foundation Boulder County in July 2020, and she’s already making a big impact. That has been particularly apparent in the Community Foundation’s response to the Marshall Fire, the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history. Under Tatiana’s leadership, the foundation has already raised more than $20 million for those affected by wildfires, and has already distributed millions in funds. Tatiana is a tireless voice not only for victims of natural disasters but also for the socially or economically disadvantaged.
Landon Hoover
Owner & president
Hartford Homes
What Landon Hoover has accomplished in his six years as owner and president of Hartford Homes is nothing short of spectacular. Landon joined Hartford in 2012 as an analyst. Within four years, he’d risen to vice president of land development, then president, then purchased the company. Since Landon took over, Hartford has grown from a company of nine employees that develops about 80 homes annually to more than 60 employees and about 300 homes annually. The Everitt Real Estate Center recently named Landon its 2022 Real Estate Entrepreneur of the Year.
Ann Hutchison
President & CEO
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Ann Hutchison assumed the CEO role at the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce in 2020 after working with the organization since 2003, first as the policy committee coordinator and then as executive vice president. Those two positions provided her with a wealth of experience in community building, advocacy, events and in representing the business community in municipal and legislative issues. Hutchison continues to focus on Northern Colorado Prospers, a five-year initiative focused on improving Interstate 25, workforce talent, and connecting with employers.
Kelly Jones
Economic-development director
City of Loveland
Early in Kelly Jones’ tenure as economic development director of Loveland, she said one of her goals was to attract more large companies to the area that could change the economy for the better. Now, she’s certainly fulfilling that goal — Kelly is one of the driving forces behind the 3.87-million-square-foot Amazon warehouse facility that could bring more than 1,000 jobs to Loveland when it’s completed. Kelly’s entrepreneurial spirit has manifested in numerous other successes for Loveland, from aiding the growth of the Northern Colorado Regional Airport to repurposing the former Hewlett Packard campus into a multi-use complex housing the Warehouse Business Accelerator and Lightning eMotors headquarters, to furthering the redevelopment of downtown.
Miles Kailburn
Co-founder & CEO
Old Town Media
As co-founder and CEO of Old Town Media, Miles Kailburn has used the rapidly evolving digital marketing landscape to help his clients position themselves competitively within their industries. Using an approach that includes customer behavior modeling, market analysis, and brand story exercise, Miles has helped clients from Roche Constructors to Peak Kia to the Youth Clinic develop a clear path to achieving their growth goals. A dedicated community supporter, Miles also has served on the commerce board at the Fort Collins Chamber and on the Poudre School District Bond Oversight Committee.
Jay Kalinski
Co-owner
Re/Max of Boulder
As broker/owner of RE/MAX Elevate in Louisville and co-owner of RE/MAX Boulder with his father Tom, Jay Kalinski has brought a family business that was already a pillar of the community to even greater heights. Over the years, Jay’s team of more than 100 realtors has helped more than 50,000 families in the Boulder area buy or sell their home. In 2021, Jay’s companies did a combined $1.8 billion in sales — a big factor in their standing out among RE/MAX’s nearly 9,000 worldwide offices and being together named Outstanding Brokerage of the Year by RE/MAX international. Jay also has a long history of helping nonprofits in the community, particularly Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Margo Karsten
Western region president
Banner Health
Margo Karsten has been a pillar of the Northern Colorado healthcare community for decades. With a background in nursing, Margo transitioned from practicing to the executive suite. As western region president for Banner Health, Margo is in charge of 13 hospitals across six states. Her dedication to patient satisfaction and quality treatment outcomes, combined with her innovative leadership style, has won her recognition throughout the region. Margo has also been heavily involved in healthcare education, serving as faculty at Regis University and the University of Colorado, and establishing a clinical partnership with the University of Northern Colorado for its new School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Brett Kemp
President
Flood & Peterson Insurance
As president of Flood and Peterson, Brett Kemp has spent nearly two decades helping his clients reduce their total cost of risk, helping them run their businesses with the peace of mind that they’ll be ready when the unexpected occurs. Brett has also been a staple of the Fort Collins community and is dedicated to improving the community where he, his employees, and his clients live and work. Brett has served as board chair for the Fort Collins chamber and on the finance committee for United Way of Larimer County.
SeonAh Kendall
Economic health director
City of Fort Collins
SeonAh Kendall knows what it takes to run a small business, having done so for more than 20 years. In her position as economic health director for the city of Fort Collins, SeonAh now uses that expertise to help other businesses thrive. SeonAh was one of the drivers behind a $5 million revolving loan program during the pandemic that provided vital capital when businesses needed it to survive. She also focuses on support for entrepreneurs, innovation, and workforce-sector partnerships. Previously, SeonAh served as Fort Collins’ business ombudsman and was project manager for the Fort Collins Connexion broadband service.
Jesse Laner
Co-founder
C3 Real Estate Solutions
Jesse Laner spent the first 24 years of his life exploring Alaska but relocated to Colorado in 2003 after graduating from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He and John Simmons founded C3 Real Estate Solutions in 2012. The brokerage has grown from the original two partners to more than 140 agents, with offices across Northern Colorado. Under John’s and Jesse’s leadership, C3 has established itself as a premier real estate company in the region with nearly $1 billion in sales volume in 2021. C3 provides a robust offering of services that includes residential and commercial brokerages, leasing, investment, property management and mortgages.
Martin Lind
President & CEO
Water Valley Land Co.
Martin Lind has been at the forefront of Northern Colorado’s growth for decades, building Water Valley in Windsor into a coveted residential and entertainment destination. As he moves forward on development plans for another vast acreage spanning Windsor and Loveland, Martin will influence the region’s growth cycle for decades more to come. From industrial and distribution projects near Northern Colorado Regional Airport to retail, residential and entertainment projects, to his ownership of the Colorado Eagles hockey team, Martin demonstrates why he’s among the Most Influential Business Leaders in the region.
Mindy McCloughan
President & CEO
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
When it comes to Mindy McCloughan, the question is not “what is she involved in?” but “what isn’t she involved in?” As president and CEO of the Loveland Chamber since 2012, Mindy has expanded the chamber’s membership base, stabilized the organization, reduced its debt, balanced its budget, and implemented new programs and partnerships to help chamber members thrive. As a member of numerous boards and committees such as the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, Fix North I-25 Business Alliance, Loveland Downtown Partnership, and more, Mindy has played a major role in Loveland’s economic growth and downtown revitalization.
Troy McWhinney
Chief investment office & co-founder
McWhinney Real Estate Services Inc.
Simply put, the Front Range would not be the thriving economic corridor it is today without Troy McWhinney. As chief investment officer and co-founder of McWhinney Real Estate, Troy has played an integral role in the development of more than 5,500 acres of Colorado land, bringing to market more than 14,000 residential units and about 20 million square feet of commercial space. From Centerra in Loveland to Baseline in Broomfield, McWhinney’s master-planned communities have become residential, commercial, and industrial hubs for their regions.
Tina Vatanka Murphy
CEO
Global Healthcare Exchange
Tina Vatanka Murphy took over as CEO of Louisville-based Global Healthcare Exchange at the beginning of 2023, a position she earned through more than 22 years of leadership and innovation with the company. As leader of GHX’s European and corporate development divisions, she helped it become the largest cloud-based supply chain network for the healthcare industry. As president of the value-based care division, Tina led the company’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping hospitals respond to the supply chain crisis and labor shortages. In her new role, Tina plans to lead the healthcare industry on a path toward value-based care.
Yvonne Myers
Vice president of strategic initiatives
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Yvonne Myers was already influential before a certain announcement in December 2021. As the longstanding health systems director for Columbine Health Systems, she was a well-regarded voice on issues of healthcare finance, staffing and the aging population, and helped the organization navigate through two years of response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In December, it was announced that Yvonne would leave Columbine to join the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce as vice president of strategic initiatives, a position she recently began. Yvonne has already been influential outside of the health care area, but she now occupies a broader platform and will influence a wide variety of business issues.
Chris Otto
Office Managing Partner
Plante Moran
When you go into Chris Otto’s office, you’ll see some of the Bob-Ross-style landscapes he loves to paint — and Chris applies that same master’s touch to his clients financial needs. As the Plante Moran office managing partner in Fort Collins, Chris has more than 30 years of accounting experience helping companies in the manufacturing and distribution, real estate, healthcare, publishing, and other industries achieve their goals. Chris is also experienced in fraud prevention and detection, forensic accounting, and litigation support. He has served on the board of organizations such as the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, the Fort Collins Foothills Rotary Club, and the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, and has been recognized by the chamber as volunteer of the year.
Dawn Paepke
Senior specialist for community health & engagement
Kaiser Permanente
If you don’t know Dawn Paepke from working with her in the nonprofit sector, you know her as a DJ on 105.5 FM The Colorado Sound. Dawn has spent more than two decades in nonprofit leadership roles in Northern Colorado, helping with fundraising, marketing, sponsorships, grants, and management. Whether in her previous roles at United Way and Banner Health, or in her current position as Senior Specialist for Community Health and Engagement at Kaiser Permanente, Dawn has been committed to improving social justice, equity, and access to affordable health care.
Tim Reeser
CEO
Lightning eMotors Inc.
As zero-emission vehicles have become more and more popular, Tim Reeser has led Lightning eMotors to fill a vital role in the market. Lightning produces zero-emission medium-and-heavy-duty vehicles for commercial fleets, including delivery trucks, shuttle buses, passenger vans, chassis-cab models, and city transit buses to help meet the rapidly growing need for such vehicles worldwide. Tim has helped Lightning grow immensely, including taking the company public and making numerous deals to provide vehicles to municipalities, private companies, and public sector businesses.
Curt Richardson
Founder
Otter Products LLC
Few individuals can say that they launched a multi-billion-dollar enterprise from their garage, but Curt Richardson is one of them. As founder of Fort Collins-based Otter Products LLC, makers of the ubiquitous OtterBox, Richardson has led the company to capture a substantial share of the global mobile phone-case market. Through Blue Ocean Enterprises and Blue Ocean Holdings, Curt and his family invest in businesses that align with its focus on innovation and economic growth. In these roles, he discovers, creates and invests in business opportunities and makes strategic investments in commercial real estate. And the Otter Cares Foundation seeks to inspire students to become entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
Giovanni Ruscitti
Managing partner
Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP
Giovanni Ruscitti is one of the founding members of the law firm Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP and serves as the firm’s managing partner. Under his leadership, BHGR has grown to become the largest law firm in Boulder and one of the largest firms in the state, with offices in Colorado, Wyoming and California. Giovanni regularly serves as lead transactional and litigation counsel on bet-the-company matters, including most recently representing members of the Bowlen family in the Broncos ownership transition. Giovanni’s broad legal experience allows him to provide the firm’s clients with comprehensive, strategic, innovative, and cost-effective counsel. In 2022, Giovanni helped launch a four-day work week, becoming the first major firm in the state to launch such an initiative. He has helped the firm support several community initiatives and organizations, such as Boulder Together, Conservation Colorado, Colorado Water Trust, Protect Our Winters, Out Boulder County, Boulder Community Foundation, and more. Giovanni serves on many boards and councils, including the Legal Aid Foundation, the Boulder Chamber, the BEC Executive Committee (chair), and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, and in the past, has served on numerous youth sports Boards, including the Roughriders Hockey Club and Monarch Little League. These efforts were recently recognized when BizWest named Giovanni one of the iconic leaders who inspired the region’s development. Lastly, Giovanni became a best-selling author, with his first book titled Cobblestones, Conversations and Corks released on Aug. 16, 2022.
Ryan Schaefer
CEO
NAI Affinity
It’s not an exaggeration to say NAI Affinity CEO Ryan Schaefer helped put Northern Colorado on the map. Over the course of his decades-long real estate career, Ryan has brokered hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of transactions including residential and commercial land, investment sales, industrial facilities, anchor retailer transactions, restaurants, corporate offices, and medical buildings. Ryan has concluded deals involving Coca-Cola, UCHealth’s Medical Center of the Rockies, and the Promenade Shops at Centerra. He was one of the driving forces behind the 500-plus-acre 2534 master-planned community that brought Scheels to the area and turned Johnstown into a retail destination for Northern Colorado. He has also served in many nonprofit and industry roles, such as chair of the board of the Larimer Humane Society and president of the Northern Colorado Commercial Association of Realtors.
Marilyn Schock
President
UCHealth Greeley Hospital
It’s not easy to get a new, flagship hospital up and running. It’s even harder to do so when a global pandemic breaks out during the hospital’s first year of operation. That’s what Marilyn Schock had to deal with as president of the UCHealth Greeley Hospital. Marilyn had more than 25 years of healthcare experience when she took over in Greeley, having served as CEO of Banner Health’s McKee Medical Center in Loveland and in leadership roles at several UCHealth Hospitals. She put all that experience to good use as the driving force in opening and managing the hospital, while coordinating with city and county officials, business, and community healthcare providers on the response to the pandemic. Marilyn works tirelessly to better the lives of patients throughout Northern Colorado.
John Simmons
Co-founder
C3 Real Estate Solutions
John Simmons began his real estate career in 2006 and quickly received the Loveland/Berthoud Board of Realtors “Rookie of the Year” award. He co-founded C3 Real Estate Solutions in 2012, building it into one of the top in the region in terms of market share. He was voted one of BizWest’s “40 Under Forty,” and was recognized for his service and production by Top Agent Magazine. Before real estate, Simmons served as an Army Ranger platoon leader. He also worked for Johnny Carino’s Italian Restaurant and quickly became the regional training director, overseeing 35 restaurants in four states.
Nicole Staudinger
Market president
FirstBank
Nicole Staudinger is market president for FirstBank, leading the Colorado-based bank’s Northern Colorado market, including eight branch locations and more than 120 employees. But her influence extends far beyond banking, serving as the chair of Colorado State University’s Leadership Council and as chair of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. She is the co-chair of Northern Colorado Prospers, a five-year, $4 million fundraising campaign to promote and address regional issues, including the expansion of Interstate 25, reviving the economy after the pandemic and understanding the talent needs of the region. She chaired Housing Catalyst, formerly known as the Fort Collins Housing Authority, and worked with Homeward 2020 and Junior Achievement.
Deirdre Sullivan
President & CEO
United Way of Larimer County
Deirdre Sullivan has made community advocacy her mission. In her more than two decades working in nonprofits in the Fort Collins area, Deirdre has been a social worker, health educator, policy consultant, executive director of The Family Center, and now president and CEO of United Way of Larimer County. Deirdre is dedicated to addressing important issues such as affordable childcare, student achievement, financial stability and housing stability.
John Tayer
President & CEO
Boulder Chamber
John Tayer often can be found on Boulder’s running trails, a disc-golf course or at concerts of Grateful Dead cover bands, but the CEO of the Boulder Chamber also stands at the forefront of any public-policy debate, response to natural disasters, or efforts to move the city forward in response to climate change or supporting the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. John responds quickly to the needs of the business or philanthropic community, whether it’s helping to build a coalition of regional partners to weigh in on legislative issues, or responding to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or Marshall Fire. Ask most Boulder business leaders whom they would consider the most influential in their city, and John’s name would undoubtedly be among the top.
Stephen Tebo
Founder & owner
Tebo Properties
Stephen Tebo has been synonymous with real estate in Boulder for decades. When his coin and store fixtures businesses needed more room to grow, Stephen made his first foray into real estate, and the rest is history. Stephen now owns more than 250 commercial properties totaling more than 4 million square feet with more than 900 tenants. Stephen is also active in giving back to the community, and his legendary garage of classic cars has hosted many fundraising and charity events.
Kristin Todd
President & CEO
Community Foundation of Northern Colorado
For more than 25 years, Kristin Todd has played a key leadership role in advancing Colorado’s nonprofit and philanthropy sectors. During her time as executive director of the Daniels Fund, she oversaw assets of about $1.5 billion and helped distribute funds to organizations in need throughout the Rocky Mountain region. In her current role as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, Kristin has continued that mission of distributing funds to public charities, schools, churches, and more.
Kevin Unger
CEO
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies
Modern Healthcare noted in 2009 that Kevin Unger lacked a traditional background when he took over as CEO of Poudre Valley Hospital in 2005. At the time, Kevin had just two years’ experience in hospital operations. He got the job because the hospital’s physicians lobbied for him. Now, as leader of both UCHealth’s Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies, Kevin returns the favor, lobbying for those same physicians, staff and patients in the UCHealth system. From helping the hospitals transition to the Affordable Care Act to the current challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, from supply-chain issues to staffing shortages, Kevin ranks as one of Colorado’s leading voices for the health care industry.
Rob Vissers
President & CEO
Boulder Community Health
The Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado have been blessed with many talented leaders in health care, and that is particularly true with Robert Vissers, CEO of Boulder Community Health. Rob leads one of the state’s only remaining independent hospitals and health care systems, helping to navigate through the challenges of COVID-19, staffing shortages, supply-chain disruptions and the ongoing transformation of health care, including telemedicine, cybersecurity, price transparency and patient care.
Eric Wallace
Founder and president
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Eric Wallace knows a lot about one of my favorite things, beer. As founder and president of Left Hand Brewing Co. in Longmont, he ranks as a leading proponent statewide and nationally for the craft-brewing industry. Eric took what started with a homebrew kit and built one of the leading craft breweries in the country. “When the Mainstream goes right, we go left,” reads the company website. When others were adding concentrates to wheat beer, Left Hand hand-juiced ginger for Good JuJu. When no method for bottling nitro beer existed, the company invented it. And the company’s Left Hand Brewing Foundation is one of the leading providers of disaster relief. Today, Left Hand remains employee-owned, with Eric at the forefront of efforts to strengthen the craft-brewing sector not only in Colorado but around the world.
Brandon Wells
President & CEO
The Group Inc. Real Estate
For The Group Real Estate, Brandon Wells has been the right man at the right time. After a decade-long career in Albuquerque, Brandon joined The Group in 2014 as its chief technology officer. As he worked his way up to vice president, chief operating officer, and now president and CEO, Brandon made it his goal to ensure real estate will see the benefit of efficiency through technology without sacrificing the relationships at the heart of the business. Brandon’s work has helped the group improve its customer experience, which has contributed to it climbing above $2 billion in annual sales.
Rich Wobbekind
Associate dean for business and government relations
University of Colorado Leeds School of Business
Rich Wobbekind probably ranks as the most-sought-after voice on the Colorado economy. As associate dean for business and government relations at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business and faculty director of the Business Research Division, Rich leads preparation of the university’s Business Economic Outlook publication, which provides detailed analysis of the national and state economies, as well as specific regions and industries in Colorado. He presents well-attended economic forecasts not only for Colorado but also for specific regions around the state, including BizWest’s Economic Forecast.
