Meet Jane's Place Guests

From CEOs, creatives, educators, and everyday changemakers — real and unfiltered stories of passion and resilience.

Season 2 Guests

Terry Tierney

Terry is an early natural products industry pioneer with a well-established career in the natural, organic and classic consumer packaged goods industry that spans 40+ years. He has served in previous roles as the President and CEO of Rocky Mountain Natural Foods; as President and CEO of Allegro Coffee, one of the nation’s premier specialty and organic coffee brands. After facilitating the sale of Allegro to Whole Foods Market he served as a member of the Whole Foods Market National Leadership Team. He was the President and CEO of MyChelle Dermaceuticals, a leading natural skin care company. More recently, Terry was the CEO of Daiya Foods, a leading plant-based, dairy free foods company which he facilitated the sale to Otsuka, a Japanese multi-national company with a global food presence. Terry is also a co-founder and Operating Partner of Hummingbird Brands, a boutique private equity firm specializing in helping health and wellness brands fly. He is, and has been, a board member for numerous natural products companies over the last 25 years and currently serves as a Director for Daiya Foods, as Chairman of Humble Brands and as a member of the ONCE board, the venture capital arm of Otsuka Nutraceuticals. Terry began his career in marketing and brand management at Kraft Foods when Ronald Reagan was President.

Terry has routinely been a guest lecturer at the CU Leeds School of Business; has been a featured speaker at the INC. 500 Growing a Small Business Annual Conference and has provided strategic guidance and investment capital to small, emerging growth companies and consulting services to private equity firms over the last three decades.

Terry resides in Boulder, Colorado with Jenni, his wife of 36 years. They have a barnyard full of farm animals that keep them happily busy. Their two twin daughters have followed him into the food industry and are currently carving their own passionate careers that will undoubtedly dwarf his career. He loves the Colorado lifestyle with passions for mountain biking, backpacking and skiing. He is a long-distance backpacker and recently accomplished thru-hiking the 500 mile Colorado Trail. He is an avid gardener, a longtime beekeeper, a decent cook and combines those interests with particular emphasis on organic and sustainable practices. His current passion projects are visiting all the national parks with Jenni and growing a 1,000 lb. pumpkin.

Phil Mason

Phil has been an operations leader in CPG companies ranging from the largest multi-national companies to small, growing entrepreneurial organizations. He is committed to driving excellence at and surrounding himself with much “smarter people” (a key to success!). He is motivated by difficult challenges and being on teams trying to break new ground in the spirit of driving great food products to the retailer/consumer. Phil is inspired and motivated by coaching people and and seeing them grow in the workplace and becoming strong leaders and problem solvers.

Phil lives in Denver with his wife and has 5 children and 4 grandchildren and stays very busy with both his work and family life!

Erick Mueller

Erick Mueller has helped business grow throughout his career. He started his career with DOT First Aid & Safety where he was promoted from a student intern to Vice President. He helped the organization grow from $2.2 million in annual sales to over $5 million in two years. Fresh from this experience, he founded Vision Co., a corporate training and consulting organization. As CEO and President, he grew the business to over $300,000 in annual revenue. Mueller then co-founded and was Vice President of Sales for Achieve.com, an interactive Web service. He created the new selling process and led its growth to over 10,000 customers.

Mueller also co-founded Real Measure and EyeThink Corp., computer-based instrumentation businesses. He successfully negotiated and sold EyeThink Corp. to a Fortune 50 company. Currently, Mueller is Chairman and co-founder of Funovation, which creates heart-pounding addictive attractions that require brain and brawn. He has led the company from an idea to over 500 locations throughout 31 countries. Funovation has been awarded a Top Colorado Company to Watch and a Top Boulder County Company.

In addition, Mueller is an award-winning Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Select awards include the Frascona Teaching Excellence, Global Citizen of the Year, MBA Teaching Excellence, GCEC awards and others. He leads a Global Seminar each summer, Entrepreneurship & Empowerment in South Africa, helping disadvantaged entrepreneurs in the Townships. Mueller also helps with the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, helping disabled military veterans start businesses.

A few years ago, Mueller developed The Tour de Happiness, a documentary exploring happiness. He also traveled to New Zealand and Australia, which included an appointment as Entrepreneur in Residence at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He graduated magna cum laude from Eastern Michigan University and holds an MBA magna cum laude from The University of Colorado Boulder. He has an adventurous and wonderful family with wife Jen, kiddos Tighe & Teagan and pups Khaya and Auggie.

Eric Bruno

With more than 25 years of marketing strategy, creative development and consumer insight projects Eric has worked deep inside brands including Starbucks, ESPN, Home Depot, J&J, Nike, Chevrolet and many others. Eric brings deep experience in research, brand architecture and product innovation initiatives across a wide range of categories.

Regardless of the company/client size or marketing need, he believes brand success always starts with the hard work of getting the fundamentals tight and right. Start with the problem your company solves and always look for a more “aha” way of connecting with consumers, clients and customers.

Occasionally, Eric also teaches at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business/Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Recently, he’s swapped out on-campus classes in favor of being a part of the Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS), teaching real-world lessons to seasoned entrepreneurs across Colorado.

Most recently, Eric has taken on the role of Director of Sales Strategy for a fast-growing health & wellness company, BodyBio. Global in reach and focused in product portfolio, BodyBio sits at the very heart of clinically proven science for the every person’s health needs.

For his own inspiration, Eric spends a good chunk of his free-time running the trails and riding the canyons in and around Boulder, CO… and he has only run into one bear and zero mountain lions… not yet anyway.

Thaala Loper

Thaala Loper is a change leader with a passion for solving human-centered problems at scale. Originally from the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, Thaala is grounded in the African philosophy of Botho, meaning “I am because we are.” Through this lens of interconnectedness, she helps teams and organizations build trust, alignment, and shared value in moments of change.

Thaala has nearly two decades of experience driving technology change initiatives at complex, local and global organizations, including Apple, Goldman Sachs, and the public and nonprofit sectors. Her impact comes not only from strategic successes, but from meaningful improvements in individuals’ daily work.

Thaala is a graduate of Stanford University and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Outside of work, she can be found adventuring with her husband and young son. She also delights in hosting women’s tea gatherings, making music, speaking, and leading seated movement activities for senior adults.

Kristine Carey

Kristine Carey is a seasoned brand strategist and community builder with more than two decades of experience guiding natural and organic companies to sustainable growth. She currently serves as Executive Director of Naturally Colorado, where she shapes organizational strategy, curates high-impact educational programming, and fosters collaboration among entrepreneurs, retailers, investors, and service providers in Colorado’s thriving natural products community.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Kristine is the founder of Brand Guide, where she works with CPG startups and growth-stage businesses to sharpen their brand messaging, establish authentic customer connections, and differentiate in competitive markets. Through consulting, workshops, and speaking, she helps founders uncover their unique brand voice, build content strategies that resonate, and grow their business with purpose.

Earlier in her career, Kristine held senior leadership roles as Vice President of Marketing at MyChelle Dermaceuticals and Healthy Skoop and Creative Director of Frontier Natural Brands, where she developed go-to-market strategies, launched innovative products, and built brand value that positioned both companies for long-term success. Her expertise spans brand storytelling, integrated marketing, consumer engagement, and organizational leadership.

Kristine is passionate about helping mission-driven businesses thrive by aligning brand identity with customer values and industry opportunities. Whether mentoring entrepreneurs, leading community initiatives, or consulting one-on-one with founders, she brings a blend of strategic insight, creativity, and heart to every stage of growth.

Chris Bentley

Highlights: Life-long Eco-Warrior and Eco-preneur. Driven by insatiable curiosity. Started or jump-started 13 companies/organizations to date. Passionate Mentor of our future leaders at the University of Colorado and elsewhere.

Present: My life during the 2020’s focuses on volunteering for projects that reverse the Climate Catastrophe, such as: Guiding PSC, Mentoring CU MBA & MENV students along with women-led start-ups focused on eco-endeavors, Buckley Center for Sustainability Education, expanding Mentorship availability campus-wide.

Expertise: I don’t consider myself an expert on anything. But I have lots of experience in business planning, the pet industry, CPG, adventure travel, connecting the dots, renewable energy, sustainability, circularity and regenerative principles..

Motto: “Be sure everyone you meet feels a little better for having met you!”

Erin Fletter

Erin Fletter is a serial entrepreneur, five-time cookbook author, and 30-year veteran of the food and hospitality industry. She is the founder of Sticky Fingers Cooking® (est. 2011), a national, non-brick-and-mortar children’s cooking school and franchise brand that delivers hands-on culinary education directly to students in schools and community spaces. Blending fresh ingredients, global flavors, and interdisciplinary learning, Sticky Fingers Cooking® builds confidence, independence, and essential life skills — and has taught over one million students to cook.

Under Erin’s leadership, SFC has grown into a thriving national franchise that empowers kids while creating meaningful business opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Today, 86% of franchise owners are women and 56% are people of color.

Erin also co-owns Denver’s world-renowned Barolo Grill with her husband, Ryan. She believes food, community, fun, and humor bring people together — and yes, she’s known for a good food pun. What vegetable should you never bring on a boat? A leek.

Kristy Lewis

Kristy Lewis is the Founder & Chief Snacking Officer of Quinn®, the better-for-you snack company she launched in 2010 three days after her oldest son, Quinn was born. Her idea was a simple but ambitious goal: to reinvent classic snacks using real, intentionally sourced ingredients and to help reshape the food system for the better. A longtime advocate for transparency, regenerative agriculture, and responsible sourcing, Kristy has built Quinn into a Certified B Corp known for pushing the industry forward- from pioneering whole-grain & gluten-free pretzels to championing ingredient traceability and partnerships with farmers committed to more sustainable growing practices.

Kristy’s passion for food system change is deeply personal. She believes that what and how we grow, source, and make food has the power to support both people and planet, and she has spent more than fifteen years working to connect consumers with snacks they can feel good about. Under her leadership, Quinn has grown into a nationally distributed brand recognized for its commitment to quality, transparency, and continuous innovation across the snack aisle.

Outside of work, Kristy is a mom to three boys who inspire her daily and keep her grounded in the realities of feeding a busy family. Whether advocating for regenerative agriculture, supporting emerging food entrepreneurs, or dreaming up the next Quinn innovation, she’s driven by a simple idea: when we snack better, we feel better- and that helps all of us do a little more good in the world.

Doug Radi

Doug is a dynamic, growth-driven entrepreneur with a passion for building revolutionary brands within the natural products industry! After kicking off his career in big-name CPG companies, he’s spent the last 22 years championing the natural foods movement. Currently, Doug serves as the President of Sweet Loren’s, the leading better-for-you refrigerated dough brand in the U.S. Before this, he was the CEO of Good Karma Foods, a pioneering brand in the plant-based dairy space, and the General Manager of Rudi’s Organic Bakery after its successful acquisition by The Hain Celestial Group. With over 28 years of experience in a wide range of consumer product categories, including healthcare, snack foods, frozen foods, dairy, and organic, Doug has held leadership roles at some of the industry’s most iconic brands, such as Sweet Loren’s, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Silk, and Horizon Organic. Deeply passionate about the natural products world, Doug has served on the board of the Plant Based Foods Association, Naturally Boulder, and several small company boards, while regularly mentoring may emerging natural food entrepreneurs. Doug holds a degree from Colorado State University and an MBA in Marketing from Wake Forest University. Most importantly, Doug is a proud father of three grown boys and happily married for 32 years to the love of his life, Kathleen. Said another way he’s one of the luckiest men alive.

Emily Mears

Emily Mears is a Managing Director and shareholder at Pathstone. Emily serves as a trusted advisor and experienced thought partner to entrepreneurs, executives, and their families to help meet their personal and financial objectives and achieve peace of mind.

Emily is deeply passionate about helping clients achieve their overall lifestyle, financial, and philanthropic goals. She provides clients with customized and integrated wealth management solutions, including holistic balance sheet advisement, investment strategy development, portfolio implementation and management, concentrated position strategies, and next generation education.

Emily joins Pathstone from Crestone Capital. Prior to Crestone, Emily was a senior manager at Clayton Consulting Services in Denver, Colorado. In this role, she provided distressed asset advisory services to several prominent Wall Street investors, private equity firms, international financial firms, and central banks. Before this, Emily was a consultant at Navigant Consulting Inc. in Chicago, IL, where she coordinated with clients’ legal counsel on SEC investigations and Fortune 100 merger and acquisition transactions.

Emily received her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University. Emily is board member and Treasurer of Impact on Education, the foundation for the Boulder Valley School District. She also serves on the board of trustees and Investment Committee for the Community Foundation Boulder County. She is also an advisory board member of O44 Way, founded by Carrie Dorr (founder of Pure Barre).

When she’s not working Emily loves adventuring around CO and beyond with her husband, two daughters, and boisterous Sheepadoodle, Oreo.

Kate LaBrosse

Kate LaBrosse drives clarity, alignment, and meaningful progress. With nearly two decades in the natural products industry, she has helped brands grow with integrity, positioned founders for breakout moments, and led teams through high-stakes decisions and rapid change.

As a strategic advisor and former fractional CEO, Kate has guided emerging and established companies through product innovation, retail expansion, and organizational growth. She works at both levels at once: business performance and the human systems underneath it. She is known for bringing structure where there’s noise, momentum where there’s friction, and grounded leadership to complex environments. Through The Fifth Field, Kate supports leaders and teams in aligning what’s happening internally—mentally, emotionally, physically, and relationally—so they can move forward with cohesion and real energy. She believes leadership today demands more than strategy; it requires presence, trust, and the capacity to navigate complexity without losing what matters.

Direct, intuitive, and precise, Kate asks the questions that surface what is actually driving results. Whether advising a founder, facilitating an offsite, or guiding an organizational shift, she brings rigor and care in equal measure. Her mission: help people build what only they can, clearly and in alignment with what this moment requires.

Paul Raab

Paul Raab is managing partner of Linhart Public Relations, a national strategic communications and engagement firm based in Denver. Linhart helps its clients achieve clarity, credibility and connection. Paul has more than 40 years of communications leadership experience in corporate and PR counseling firm settings. He is a former president of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Chicago Chapter and received PRSA Colorado’s Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.

Paul has served on the boards of the Colorado Mountain Club, Naturally Boulder (now Naturally Colorado) and Medicine Horse Program. He lives with his wife, Sue, on a ranch north of Boulder with mules, donkeys, horses, dogs and chickens.

Season 1 Guests

Morven Burden

From home baking as a child in St. Andrews, Scotland, and Oregon, USA, to an international leader in food manufacturing, Morven Burden’s journey is far from ordinary. Holding an MA in Economics from St Andrews University, she launched her career on the factory floor producing McVities biscuits. By the age of 27, she had become the youngest ever factory general manager at pladis Global, managing a team of 250 in Romania and later serving as the European Manufacturing Capability Lead in London. Morven then joined PwC London as an M&A Senior Manager, handling complex transactions and transformation projects within the consumer goods sector. Today, she is a partner at Afendis Capital Management, leading the operations team to create value across its portfolio companies.

Morven thrives on momentum and enjoys staying busy. Embracing an active lifestyle, she can be found hiking or running on weekends. Now based in London, she spends her free time exploring the city's hidden gems and local countryside, golfing, baking, reading and crafting. Her approach to both life and work is grounded with a 'go-get' attitude.

Lindsey Cunningham

Lindsey Cunningham is the Co-Founder and CEO of RollinGreens, a nationally distributed plant-protein and meal company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. In 2011, she co-founded RollinGreens alongside her husband, Chef Ryan Cunningham, with a mission to revolutionize clean, convenient comfort foods made from real, whole ingredients. Under her leadership, the brand has grown from a local concept to a national presence, with appearances on Shark Tank, features on QVC, and placement in major retailers and military channels across the U.S. Lindsey is known for her dynamic vision, strong brand leadership, and unwavering commitment to reshaping the future of food through sustainable innovation.

Lori Perry

Lori Perry is a devoted mother, passionate adventurer, and accomplished business professional who thrives on the energy of a well-balanced life—even if she admits that perfect balance is more aspiration than reality. Whether she’s navigating boardrooms or mountain trails, Lori brings heart, humility, and a spirit of curiosity to everything she does.

Home for Lori is Denver, Colorado, where the mountains are both her playground and her sanctuary. When she’s not collaborating with executives or strategizing on the best ways to help her clients grow their business, you’ll find her hiking or skiing with her family & friends, taking daily walks with her loyal dog Bernie, or enjoying live music with her husband Jake. She loves exploring new restaurants with friends, enjoys yoga and fitness classes, and loves to unwind on the porch with a good book.

Travel is Lori’s greatest passion after family and friends. She loves discovering new cultures, cuisines, and landscapes—whether that means wandering the streets of a foreign city or exploring the hidden gems of the American west. Her professional journey has been equally dynamic, with a career devoted to helping high-tech companies and leaders harness innovation to transform and grow their businesses. Most recently, she’s made her mark as a Global Client Director, known for her strategic vision and collaborative approach.

Lori is also deeply committed to lifting up other women in the workplace. Inspired by the mentors who have shaped her own path, she pays it forward through mentorship and leadership, serving on the board of Women at Gartner West for the past four years.

Todd Davis

A Career Filled with Growth, Passion, and Curiosity

Beyond his impressive career, Todd is a curious, thoughtful leader who finds joy in inspiring others, whether through meaningful conversations, a love of learning, or his extraordinary hip-hop collection. Todd’s story is one of growth, creativity, and a genuine desire to make a difference, both in the grocery world and in the lives of those around him.

Todd Davis’s journey with Kroger started in 1995 as a fresh-faced Courtesy Clerk, and it didn’t take long for his hard work to pay off—he was promoted to Produce Clerk that same year. By 1996, Todd had already stepped into his first leadership role as a Produce Manager, setting the stage for a career full of growth and fresh opportunities.

Fast forward through the years, and Todd’s resume reads like a tour of the grocery world. From Assistant Store Leader in 2001 to Division CAO Specialist in Houston, Produce Field Specialist, and more, Todd has worn a lot of hats. His knack for innovation shone through when he became the District Produce Coordinator in 2010 and then a Produce Subject Matter Expert at the General Office in 2011. By 2019, Todd was leading stores in Houston, and in 2023, he took on a new challenge as Store Leader in Excess at King Soopers. Today, he’s the King Soopers/City Market Division Natural Foods/Local Category Manager, where he blends his passion for fresh products with a flair for creative merchandising.

But there’s more to Todd than his impressive career. He’s driven by a calling to help others grow, both professionally and personally. He’s all about those deep, meaningful conversations where everyone walks away with something new. Todd’s curiosity is boundless, he’s got an itch to study quantum physics and a soft spot for Thanos (yes, that Thanos), who could both save and destroy with a snap.

When he’s not shaping the future of grocery, Todd’s geeking out on documentaries, diving into self-improvement books, or soaking up stories from strangers that offer fresh perspectives. You might be surprised to know that Todd’s hip-hop collection is the largest in North America—who knew? A self-proclaimed "Inspirational Speaker," Todd aims to inspire and assist others in reaching their goals.

Todd is grateful for life and family. Todd loves to inspire others and will always be curious. His advice to his younger self? “Be patient, plan accordingly, and believe.” Todd is a leader who knows that growth and innovation go hand in hand.

Ethan Brand-LaBarge

Ethan Brand-LaBarge is an MBA candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder, focusing on entrepreneurship, marketing, and the natural & organics space. Before business school, he worked in the craft beer industry, where he saw how food and drink are never just products—they’re stories that connect people and create community. That perspective now drives his passion for consumer packaged goods, especially food brands with meaning beyond the shelf.

This past summer, Ethan interned with LT Foods Americas, the company behind the Royal® rice brand, where he worked on brand refresh, sustainability, and performance marketing initiatives. On campus, he serves as the MBA Association President and is a High Growth Venture Fellow.

When he’s not in class or working on a brand project, you’ll probably find Ethan outdoors—hiking, skiing, or sneaking in a round of golf. For him, those moments mirror what he looks for in food and brand stories: connection, joy, and something worth remembering.

Dwayne Griffith

Dwayne Griffith

From the sunny beaches of Sint Maarten to the boardrooms of global nonprofits, Dwayne Griffith's journey has been anything but conventional. What started as a curious teenager in youth parliament has evolved into a passion for developing changemakers who tackle the world's biggest challenges.

Growing up on a small Caribbean island taught Dwayne early that big dreams require creative solutions. After presenting to Princess Beatrix and working alongside Prime Ministers on his island's development plan, he caught the entrepreneurship bug. This led him through various roles, from helping high schoolers experience startup life at Quarter Zero to consulting on social impact strategies, always with one goal: empowering others to find their purpose.

Today, as VP of Programs at Watson Institute, Dwayne gets to live that mission daily, working with entrepreneurs from over 80 countries who are building solutions in their communities. What makes him tick? The same thing that gets him up at 5 AM to watch Formula 1 races: the beautiful complexity of teamwork, strategy, and continuous improvement. He's discovered that running programs is surprisingly similar to F1 race weekends: you practice, you qualify, you execute, and you're always looking for that next marginal gain.

When he's not mentoring entrepreneurs or redesigning programs, you'll find Dwayne planning his next island adventure, debating F1 strategies with anyone who'll listen, or working on his perpetual quest to perfect the art of delegation (still a work in progress!). His approach to life and leadership is grounded in Dr. Myles Munroe's wisdom: "The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without a purpose."

Susie Phillips

Hi, I’m Susie Phillips. For the past 38 years, I’ve been in the diamond business—helping people find the perfect piece to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. But my real treasures are my family: my two grown kids, Tom (fiancé Michaela) and Rachael (son-in-law Tony), my bonus daughter Maddie, and my favorite little sous-chef, my 7-year-old grandson, CJ. I’m also lucky enough to share life, love, golf and plenty of adventures with my husband, Michael Phillips, since 2020.

When I’m not matching diamonds to milestones, you can usually find me on the golf course, exploring a new place, cooking up something delicious, or enjoying our Cannon Beach, OR getaway with family and friends. Cooking has been a passion of mine for over 40 years—though I do believe too many cooks can spoil the broth, unless of course it’s CJ helping me make ravioli, then the more the merrier!

Life is good when it’s about family, good food, great company, and creating memories that sparkle just as much as the diamonds I work with.

Michael Phillips

Have spent 45 years in the aerospace lighting industry , helping companies develop cockpit solutions for pilots that make air travel safer and products that support warfighters in completing their missions and returning home safe . Currently I serve as the Director of the nonprofit Aerospace Lighting Institute, where we organize seminars that educate and connect next generation lighting engineers to the aerospace community .

Proud to be the father of my daughter Maddie , who is thriving in Chicago navigating life with resilience and heart along with boyfriend /Jared. . I am also blessed to have an amazing partner my wife Susie and my bonus kids Rachael and Tom . We also have the joy of being grandparents to CJ who is all boy and into all sports.

At this stage in my life, I live by the credo QTR –“quality time remaining” embracing doing things today while you still can . Let’s face it we are not getting out of this alive , so let’s live the best we can. At 71 I can still do many things I did at 45 but may not be able to at 85 . Family and friends ( Jane been friend for 40 years) become a big priority on how we live . Together Susie and I have meet so many new friends in Lake Oswego and Astoria that it reminds me never to late to meet exciting new people.

Life is full as we continue to schedule our time around golf , wine tasting , family , pets (Rudy and Momo ) , Cannon Beach , Seahawks ( Ash ) and travel . QTR your life .

Carlotta Mast

Carlotta Mast is fueled by strong coffee, big ideas, and a conviction that business can serve more than the bottom line. A longtime leader in the natural products industry, she has spent her career helping companies, entrepreneurs, and communities thrive by embracing conscious business practices that weave passion, purpose, people, planet, and prosperity into the heart of leadership.

Carlotta is known for creating spaces—whether at global trade shows, nonprofit boards, or community gatherings—where connection sparks possibility. She has a gift for weaving people together in ways that unlock collaboration, courage, and new ways of leading. Her work has touched everything from advancing organic and regenerative agriculture to growing diverse and inclusive communities of conscious leaders.

At home in Boulder, you’ll find Carlotta with a mug of coffee in hand, dreaming up her next book chapter, or cheering on her two inspiring sons, both avid basketball enthusiasts who share her drive to make a positive difference in the world. Whether courtside or in the boardroom, she brings heart, humor, and hope to everything she does.

Tim Cook

Tim Cook was born and raised in South Bend Indiana. In the mid seventies, Tim was in a popular band (Low Rent) in Northern Indiana. The band opened up for Bob Seger, Buddy Miles and recorded at the Cleveland Recording Company in 1976.

Tim and his family moved to Fort Collins Colorado in 1979. In the early-mid eighties, he wrote and recorded many of the 'hit' jingles for Northern Colorado radio stations. He became friends with the band 'the subdudes' when they moved to Fort Collins in the late eighties, and joined the band in the early nineties. He was also in the band 3 Twins and Solomon Cook. When the subdudes stopped playing and touring during the pandemic of 2020, Tim got back into creating and recording original music for media as well as marketing songs for TV, movies and commercials. He also plays an occasional gig in Fort Collins as Tim Cook and Friends.

On a personal note, Tim has been happily married to his wife Joanie for 55 years, has two lovely children, Dani and Spencer, and their spouses, Antonio and Marissa, and 3 granddogs, Kali, Rigley and Burt. He has also been blessed with many good friends.

Ben Pearman

Ben has spent 30 years in the food and drink industry working in the UK, across Europe and North America. He has worked for the likes of Nestle, Unilever and Heinz where he worked for Jane in the mid 2000’s. Born and raised in the UK, he has lived, studied in work in France, Africa, Italy, Switzerland & Canada. Married to Ciara for 26 years he has 3 children and more animals than he believes sensible. He currently leads General Mills for Europe, Australia and North Asia as VP, Managing Director.

Nathan Ansell

Nathan is an accomplished commercial leader with over 20 years of experience across CPG and retail. He is currently on the board of Waitrose in the Role of Chief Customer Officer and joined the John Lewis Partnership in December 2022. He accountable for leading the development of the Brand, communicating it to our Customers, Marketing, Store Development, Customer, Design and Content. Prior to this he was Executive Director, Ethical Consulting at House 337 (a top 10 UK consumer agency formed from the merger of Engine Creative and ODD London). He worked with some of the worlds most ambitious consumer brands and specialised in sustainability, leveraging technology to drive commercial performance, brand positioning and creating winning customer experiences.

Nathan’s prior retail experience spans 10 years at M&S, most recently as Marketing Director where he was credited with transforming the marketing function into one of the most modern and technically capable functions in UK retail; building strategic partnerships with Google and Facebook to deliver breakthrough innovation and record online growth. Nathan also led a talented M&S Food team to deliver 36 consecutive periods of like-for-like growth under the successful ‘Adventures in…’ integrated campaign, which received many accolades. He has won a number of prestigious awards, including Data Professional of the Year and Marketing Society awards for excellence and capability building.

Nathan previously held a number of FMCG marketing roles growing brands such as Heinz, Birds Eye and Red Bull. He holds a first-class (hons) degree in Neurological Psychology from UWS. He lives in Berkshire with his wife Alicja Jan (6) and Maja (4), and loves long walks with the dogs, rugby, travel and SCUBA diving.

Cindy Carrillo

After more than twenty years as the Founder and CEO of a business she built into a successful nation-wide company, Cindy chose to sell her business and move onto the next phase of her life.

That Nxt phase ended up transforming herself from a Business Leader - wearing suits and high heels - to designing a new life on a 35 acre ranch - wearing denim and boots - in rural Colorado.

Not only did Cindy make this major change in her life - but she also wrote a book about it called “Finding Your Nxt.” which tells the story of

her becoming a rancher, and the lessons learned along the way, that others can use as they discover their own Nxt.

Cindy has her Master’s Degree in Social Work, has more than 45 years of business and non-profit leadership experience, and Coaches business leaders throughout the country.

In recent years, Cindy has added a unique and personalized two and a half day onsite Coaching Immersion program at her Ranch in Colorado, for individual clients to help them Find their Nxt.

She has an amazing partner Matthew; two wonderful grown children; two wonderful granddaughters; three adorable grand-dogs, two perfect Ranch dogs and a barn full of hysterically cute farm animals that fill her life up to the brim."

Ellen Balaguer

Ellen was a senior executive at Accenture for 27 years. During her tenure at Accenture, Ellen held a variety of roles, the most recent of which included Global Managing Director for HR & Learning Services and Global Managing Director for Innovation and Offer Management for the Operations business. While at Accenture, Ellen spearheaded many top strategic growth initiatives for the organization, served on several Accenture corporate boards, led some of the largest, most complex deals done on a global basis and successfully turned around several distressed business units.

Ellen is now a philanthropist and board member, with many organizations and nonprofits in the U.S. and around the world. At CU Boulder, she is a member of the Leeds Advisory Board (an emeritus board chair), the president of the CU Boulder Enterprise Corporation (CUBEC), and the chair of the CESR advisory board. She is also a member of the advisory board for the Business School at the CU Denver campus. In 2023, Ellen was named an Influential Leader by AACSB International, a testament to her track record of creating positive impact through leadership that is compassionate, curious and resilient, with a focus on purpose, people and planet.

Debbie Pope

Executive Director of Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA)

Debbie Pope brings over 20 years of non-profit management experience to her current role as Executive Director of EFAA (Emergency Family Assistance Association). EFAA provides stabilizing services, innovative programs, and transformative advocacy to strengthen families and create a thriving community. As Boulder’s Family Resource Center, they are dedicated to helping members of our community meet their immediate needs and springboard out of poverty.

Prior to her leadership at EFAA, Pope was the CEO of YWCA in Boulder County. Her leadership has always focused on promoting equity, justice and opportunity for families, women, girls and families. Pope also served as Chair of the Women’s Collaborative and has been instrumental in advocating for the economic advancement, health, and safety of women, girls and families. Her leadership has led to the championing of over 15 bills, such as SB23-296 Preventing Harassment and Discrimination in Schools, directly benefiting women and girls.

She has been honored as a community leader, receiving both the Rotary Service Above Self and Zonta Woman of the Year award.

Before assuming the role of CEO at the YWCA, Debbie served as the National Executive Vice President of Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In this capacity, she spearheaded a diversified revenue strategy, effectively engaging donors, communities, and corporate partners to raise an impressive $172 million in annual contributions. Her leadership was instrumental in expanding and strengthening revenue development, strategic marketing, community engagement, advocacy, and service offerings aimed at bolstering support for families facing the social and physical challenges of multiple sclerosis.

Throughout her career, Debbie has been a passionate advocate and dedicated supporter of crucial social justice causes, including combatting racism, empowering women, and addressing other injustices such as poverty and homelessness among women and children. During her tenure as a broadcast journalist for all three major network affiliates from 1994 to 2000, Debbie gained recognition for fearlessly addressing challenging community issues and raising awareness about the growing number of homeless women and children, the rights of impoverished families, and unjust laws and policies. Alongside her professional endeavors, Debbie is a mother to four dynamic and energetic teenagers. In her free time, she enjoys painting, exploring the picturesque landscapes of Colorado through hiking, and cooking alongside her husband, Chris.

Seth Levine

A longtime venture capitalist, Seth Levine works with venture funds and companies around the globe. His day job is as a partner at Foundry, a venture capital firm based in Boulder, CO, which he cofounded in 2006. Today it has nearly $4 billion in assets under management. He is also the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of GoodBread, a small business lending platform. Easily distracted and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Seth also spends time as an advisor to venture funds and companies around the world.

The intersection of community and business has always been a driving force for Seth. He co-founded Pledge 1%, a global network of companies that have pledged equity, time, and product back to their local communities that, since inception, has resulted in nearly $3 billion in philanthropy. He was a founding board member of StartupColorado, an organization that promotes entrepreneurship in areas of Colorado outside of the front range and serves on the Investment Committee of Gary Community Ventures, which partners with the local community to reshape the arc of opportunity for Colorado children and families.

Sheldon Romer

As a veteran entrepreneur, leadership coach and trusted advisor, I help shape powerful management for organizations in a wide range of fields. My approach revolves around building trust, convening conversations that matter and quickly identifying leadership challenges and strengths. And then I design strategies for bringing about organizational vigor and resilience.

As the son of two Holocaust survivors, my interest in leadership was shaped by a deep desire to understand resilience, courage, and connection from an early age. That journey ultimately led me to the Authentic Leadership program, which became a transformative cornerstone in how I approach coaching and organizational change.

My passion for improving work cultures began decades ago, after I co-founded and served as CEO for Rudi’s Organic Baker, a preeminent bread bakery. That rewarding experience forced me to grapple with myriad challenges. Over time, I developed powerful tools for understanding what kind of leadership does— and doesn’t — enrich organizations.

After leaving Rudi’s, I pivoted my life’s work towards leadership coaching, acting as a trusted advisor with companies and nonprofits across the country. I have been called the “poster child for listening,” which I view as a profound compliment. It is only through deep listening during frank and compassionate conversations with leaders that I recognize their unique strengths and vulnerabilities, and their most difficult obstacles.

This serves as the foundation of our work together. From there, I help executives not only how to learn from mistakes, but how to discover and apply ways to improve leadership and organizational health. In essence, my work builds meaningful road maps that offer concrete ways for people to find their true voices and steer their organizations towards consequential achievements. I believe institutional vitality rests on a foundation of three pillars, all of which complement one another.
Self-awareness. Do leaders have the courage to look at themselves in the mirror? Do they have the capacity to find their weak spots and address them? Engagement. How do leaders show up? Do they understand and practice skillful communications? Do their interactions build trust and credibility? Do they put people first? Wise, effective action. Results matter. Without positive results, self-awareness and engagement take place in a vacuum. All of my work hinges on trust. With trust comes a key step towards powerful change — the development of safe spaces for honest, meaningful conversation.

Justin Simpkins

Justin Simpkins is the founder of The Conversation Company, where he helps consultants, community leaders, and networks turn shallow engagement into authentic intelligence. After years as a video producer working with nonprofits and big tech, Justin saw how organizations were drowning in content but starving for real connection, so he built a platform that orchestrates curated small-group conversations at scale. Now he's on a mission to prove that the best way to grow business and retain people isn't through surveys or webinars, but through conversations that people actually want to have.

Mackenzie Sehlke

Mackenzie is the Executive Director at Boulder County Farmers Markets. She is a passionate food systems and public engagement professional with a decade of experience leading mission-driven initiatives and teams. Skilled in civic engagement, social determinants of health supports, nonprofit organizations, community engagement, local food, program evaluation, management, and development. Strong business development professional with a Master of Science (M.S.) focused in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from Tufts University, Friedman School of Nutrition.

Kristi Ryujin

Kristi Ryujin is a nationally respected leader in graduate education and equity, guiding the success of hundreds of graduate students each year. Her work spans recruitment, retention, graduation, and career placement—ensuring students are prepared to thrive in a competitive global marketplace. Kristi’s career reflects a deep commitment to equity and belonging. She has launched transformative initiatives including research fellowships for underrepresented scholars, diversity-focused case competitions, and gender-equity campaigns aimed at closing opportunity gaps. She’s also introduced academic boot camps, faculty mentoring programs, and corporate partnerships that foster inclusive learning environments and empower students.

Beyond student success, Kristi has played a pivotal role in advancing faculty diversity through inclusive hiring practices and dual-career support programs. Her leadership has earned multiple honors, including community impact awards and recognition for outstanding staff contributions. Prior to her current role, Kristi held senior leadership positions in higher education, where she built programs that continue to shape institutional culture and student outcomes. She holds a master’s degree in Education, Culture and Society and brings a values-driven approach to every aspect of her work.