MEET THE TEAM

COMCAST - Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Customer Experience

Leon Barnes is a senior human resources executive at Comcast with more than 25 years of experience in talent management and organizational transformation. Since joining the company in 2013, he has led enterprise-wide succession planning, leadership development, and performance management initiatives across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Leon also sits on the board of the Delta Eta Boule Foundation and serves as Chairman of the Visit Denver Board.

MILE HIGH UNITED WAY - President and Chief Executive Officer

Christine Benero is the President and CEO of Mile High United Way, the nation’s first United Way, where she leads investments in school readiness, youth success, and adult self-sufficiency. Under her leadership, the organization channels more than $38 million annually into the Denver metro area and operates the Mile High United Way Morgridge Center for Community Change.

COLORADO HEALTH FOUNDATION - Chief Impact Officer

Erin Brown is the Chief Impact Officer at The Colorado Health Foundation, one of the nation’s largest health philanthropies, where she oversees grantmaking, impact investing, and policy advocacy to advance health equity. With more than 25 years of leadership in civic initiatives, she previously served as Denver’s first Chief Equity Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff.

FIRSTBANK - President and CEO

Kevin Classen is the President and CEO of FirstBank, where he has served for over 26 years in leadership roles across Colorado and Arizona. Active in the business and nonprofit sectors, he represents the 10th District of the Federal Reserve and has held leadership positions with organizations including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Community Food Share.

UNITED AIRLINES - Vice President, State and Local Government Affairs | Mountain Region

Mizraim Cordero is a relationship-driven leader at United Airlines, overseeing external affairs across eleven Mountain West states. He builds trusted partnerships with officials, business leaders, and communities to advance United’s strategic goals while upholding its core commitments to safety, reliability, and exceptional service for customers and employees alike.

GATES FAMILY FOUNDATION - President

Tom Gougeon has served as President of the Gates Family Foundation since 2010, following a career in urban development with Continuum Partners and leadership roles in city planning and redevelopment. His work has shaped major projects such as Denver Union Station and Denver International Airport, and he has served on numerous civic and conservation boards.

SKY BLUE BUILDERS (acquired by Apis & Heritage Capital in 2024) - President and Chief Executive Officer

Mowa Haile is President and CEO of Sky Blue Builders, a commercial general contractor he founded in 2007 after a career in technology. Under his leadership, the company grew to more than $60 million in annual revenue before its 2024 acquisition by Apis and Heritage Capital. A former state track champion and Colorado State University graduate, Mowa is an active civic leader dedicated to mentoring small and minority-owned businesses across Denver.

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK - Shareholder in the Corporate and Securities and Finance Departments 

Michael King is a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he specializes in corporate and securities law, with deep expertise in the healthcare sector. A seasoned dealmaker and community leader, he has chaired boards including the Denver Public Library Commission and founded the firm’s Corporate Pro Bono Clinic.

DENVER MAYOR’S OFFICE - Director of Strategic Initiatives

Joshua Posner is Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Denver Mayor’s Office. He works with internal and external stakeholders to help drive Mayor Johnston’s priority projects and programs. A member of Mayor Johnston’s campaign team, Joshua has also previously worked in the Colorado foundation space at Gary Community Ventures.

PRICE CONSULTANCY - Principle

Morris Price Jr., Principal of Price Consultancy, brings nearly 30 years of nonprofit and philanthropic leadership, with expertise in governance, fundraising, and equity. Formerly Vice President of Grants & Impact at The Colorado Trust and Executive Director of City Year Denver, he has been recognized with multiple awards for his civic and educational leadership.

AMAZON - Head of State and Local Public Policy 

Nico Probst is Head of State and Local Public Policy at Amazon, where he leads regional policy engagement from Denver. With more than a decade of experience in public policy and government relations—including work with innovative tech startups and President Obama’s re-election campaign—he builds bridges between the private sector and policymakers.

THE DENVER FOUNDATION - President and CEO

Javier Alberto Soto is President and CEO of The Denver Foundation, the state’s largest community foundation, where he guides philanthropic investments to support equity and opportunity. Previously CEO of The Miami Foundation, he launched initiatives like “Give Miami Day” and has served as Chair of the Council on Foundations.

SOCIAL IMPACT SOLUTIONS - Co-Founder and Principal

Ken Weil is co-founder and Principal of Social Impact Solutions, where he develops innovative financing models such as Social Impact Bonds to scale effective social programs. He previously led College Summit’s regional growth, served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and continues to serve on a variety of non-profit boards.

DENVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & OPPORTUNITY - Executive Director

Adeeb Khan is the Executive Director of Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, with a career spanning nonprofit, corporate, and civic leadership. A recognized advocate for equity and economic opportunity, he previously led Delta Dental of Colorado’s Foundation and has served on numerous civic boards and commissions.

DENVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & OPPORTUNITY - Director of Policy

Elvis Rubio is Director of Policy for Neighborhood Equity & Stabilization at Denver Economic Development & Opportunity. He works with community partners to channel resources into priority neighborhoods, shaping policies that prevent displacement and expand opportunities for underserved residents.

DENVER IMPACT FUND - Managing Director

Jamie Van Leeuwen, PhD, is Managing Director of the Denver Impact Fund and founder of Bucephalus, a social impact consulting firm. With leadership experience spanning affordable housing, global development, and philanthropy, he also founded the Global Livingston Institute and has held senior roles with Emerson Collective and BuildStrong Foundation.