My passion is serving others and helping people. Having grown up in a family business, we talked about business at the dinner table every evening, and that daily discussion on family and business issues shaped the leader I would become.
Shortly after graduating from Colorado State University, I began my journey of helping people. I started with a small CPA firm and then transitioned to a national firm where I became a partner. For 22 years, I was honored to lead EKS&H (now part of Plante Moran) as managing partner and help grow that firm from 50 people to more than 750.
What I enjoyed the most during my journey has been helping our clients and our people grow and see their dreams become reality. While I’ve been involved in a variety of industries, I’ve spent most of my time in manufacturing and hospitality. The industries, however, weren’t as much a focus as the people and families who owned and ran the businesses.
Given my passion to serve others, I’m often asked to speak on values, culture, and servant leadership. I enjoy sharing how individuals, families, and organizations can shape their culture to the things that matter most to them.
Being active in the community that’s been so generous to me is important to me. I’ve been very fortunate to have served or currently serve on the boards of great organizations like Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, The Global Leadership Council for Colorado State University — College of Business, Big Brothers and Sisters, Laradon, Colorado Succeeds and the Colorado Workforce Development Council’s Business Experiential Learning (BEL) Commission. I’m also a member of the AICPA and the Colorado Society of CPAs.
I’ve been humbled and honored to be recognized by Colorado State University College of Business as a “Distinguished Alumni” and by the Colorado State University Accounting Department as a Hall of Fame inductee. I’ve also been fortunate to receive the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce “Robert Blankenship Heart Award” and the Colorado “I Have a Dream Foundation Dream Maker Award.”
I’m living my best life when I’m helping others, especially when I can do so outdoors. I love to ski in the winter and ride bikes in the summer. I believe we should never take the beauty of the outdoors for granted.