Committee

As Area Managing Partner for Fortium Partners, the #1 provider of technology leadership as a service, Kevin Barnes works with clients to solve enterprise challenges by providing operational IT leadership. He is a 3 time CIO and has held numerous executive positions across diverse industries including consumer goods, retail, construction, real estate, agriculture, and distribution. A highly sought after technology advisor, Kevin also served as executive leader for a corporate venture capital division and a board member of its portfolio companies.

As President & CEO of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), Elyse Blazevich collaborates with CBSA’s Board of Directors, team, partners, sponsors, and members to build a collaborative environment for health innovation. Elyse understands what it takes to lead a Colorado life sciences company from concept to commercialization.

Before joining CBSA, she co-founded Securisyn Medical and as COO and CFO, transitioned the company from a founder-led startup to a professionally led, commercial-stage medical device company. She remains a member of the Securisyn Medical Board.

Adam Fiedor is a Managing Director with GLC Advisors & Co., LLC, an independent investment banking firm focused on senior-level expertise and objective guidance. With over twenty years of investment banking experience, Adam is a strategic advisor to entrepreneurs and board of directors with a demonstrated history of creating value to stakeholders across a number of industries.

Zach Frisch is a serial entrepreneur. Zach started his first company when he was seven years old. After college, Zach worked on Wall St. and then moved back to Colorado to work for Trammell Crow developing and acquiring real estate in Colorado and California. In 2000 the Brazilian government privatized the telecom industry and Zach moved there to work a $2.5B startup and helped build the largest telecom company in Latin America in less than one year deploying all wireless technology.

For the past 22 years Beverly Gibson has been one of the leading Business Performance Advisors at Insperity, helping companies implement HR and business performance solutions. As a CBPA, Bev acts as a key business consultant to her clients. During her tenure with Insperity, she has been a perennial member of the Insperity Chairman's Club and attained the level of the eleven-million-dollar club.

Carolina Hensley has spent almost her entire career focused on investing in family-owned and founder-driven businesses. She has experience along the entire capital structure, from a brief stint as a commercial lender, a few years as a mezzanine debt lender, and for the past 12 years she has been with Progress Equity Partners, an independent private-equity firm in Denver. Being involved in the deal process from sourcing to portfolio management and the eventual exit, she really enjoys meeting entrepreneurs and working alongside them and their teams as they plan and execute on their strategic vision.

John advises public and private corporations, private equity funds and investors on deal structures, capital formation, acquisitions and dispositions, corporate finance, operations and governance matters. His clientele includes start-up and emerging companies seeking capital, established corporate entities, and commercial interests seeking growth through acquisition, partnership, and consolidation of resources.

A significant portion of John’s practice focuses on “off-market” or distressed acquisitions, assisting clients in acquiring distressed assets, often through Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. These transactions include significant acquisitions in traditional and non-traditional energy.

As a former CPA, John brings extensive, real-world financial experience to his clients’ representation and an ability to understand the financial impacts of deal structures. He often consults with directors, auditors, and committees on both compliance and investigative protocols and corporate governance issues.

Tracie brings over 19 years of experience in private equity marketing, communications, and origination as the Director of Marketing; Tracie leads the day-to-day execution of Excellere's marketing and communications strategies and overall brand strategy. These initiatives include balancing creativity with analytical skills while supporting the firm’s origination efforts and investment opportunities.

I have over three decades of B2B experience and PE investment. I currently lead KTC Instruments and I am an Operating Partner in a private equity firm. My board tenure spans multiple organizations, focusing on audit and compensation committees. I write on value-based management, executive compensation, and strategy alignment, championing sustainable growth

Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

With 20 years of Hospitality experience as an owner/operator of 14 bars and restaurants in Illinois, Wisconsin and North Carolina, Matt took that knowledge and understanding of consumer trends and in 2013 launched Crafthouse Cocktails. Along with co-founder Charles Joly, Matt brought to market the first super premium Ready-to-Drink/Ready-to-Serve bottled cocktails. Still independently owned, they have expanded to over 20 markets and have national partnerships with Virgin Voyage cruise line, Amtrak and Ambassador Theatre Group.

Taylor Merritt is Chairman and CEO of the Merritt Family Enterprise, a values-driven organization in its third generation of stewardship by the Merritt family. The organization consists of manufacturing companies, as well as diverse investment holdings, primarily in commercial real estate and private equity. Taylor has been recognized personally as a Colorado Titan 100 honoree, as well as a Family Business Magazine CEO to Watch.

Luca is a Transaction Advisory Manager in ORBA’s Tax Group. He is responsible for the direction of the client services and has worked for an array of clients in various industries, including closely held businesses, manufacturing, distribution, financial services, technology and construction. Luca has focused his last several years on executing deals in the small-market and middle-market for a variety of buy-side and sell-side transactions. Luca possesses a diverse set of skills which allows him to effectively navigate the complexities of transaction-related services for our clients. He is expert in thoroughly conducting the due diligence necessary to identify and analyze the potential risks, legal issues and other factors impacting transactions. His years of project management experience ensures that deadlines are met and tasks are executed efficiently.

Gregory "Greg" Ramos has more than 25 years of experience helping companies large and small execute on their strategic vision through mergers and acquisitions, strategic business transactions, corporate reorganization and succession planning. Greg has closed more than 90 M&A transactions in that time, with an aggregate value exceeding $13 billion, and numerous private offerings aggregating hundreds of millions of dollars.

James Raymond has always had a passion for US Manufacturing. Blessed with an opportunity to lead a 100+ year old Colorado company he is leveraging his diverse background to bolster operations and find growth opportunities.

James Samuelsen brings 10 years of experience in M&A spanning from public companies to corporate development within family office portfolios and now with Bluejay Capital, an independent sponsor focused on Transportation and Logistics. He currently manages the investment process from sourcing through closing and value creation plan execution alongside management teams at Portfolio companies. He joined Bluejay to help form the principal investing group in 2019 and has been a junior partner in the firm since 2022

Jenna Schlageter is a Director on Bow River Capital’s Private Equity team where she is responsible for deal origination and sourcing strategies. Prior to joining Bow River Capital, Jenna spent 14 years in various banking roles. She was a middle market Relationship Manager at BMO Harris Bank, providing financing solutions to closely held businesses, including working capital, lines of credit, acquisition financing, recapitalizations and equipment financing. Previously, she managed relationships at National Bank Holdings, a Denver-based lower middle market cash flow lender. There, she focused on growth capital, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and syndications for private equity firms throughout the United States. Jenna holds a B.S. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Chad brings two decades of experience investing in private and public businesses. Prior to founding Black Lake, he was at leading private equity firms HIG Capital and AEA Investors, which manage over $60B collectively. He also invested in long/short global equities with SAC Capital and Tiger Cub, Fox Point Capital. Chad began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He earned an MBA with Honors from the Wharton School and a BS in Chemical Engineering with Distinction from the University of Wisconsin.

Mark Spiecker is President of STAQ Pharma, a 503B Outsourcing Facility in Columbus, OH and Denver, Colorado that will provide sterile injectable compounded medications to hospitals across the country. Prior to joining STAQ, Marks’s career spanned a number of strategy and leadership roles. In each role Mark utilized his passion for business development, process improvement and innovative operations to successfully guide complex organizations through significant change.

Mark is the former CEO of Sharklet Technologies, Inc. a medical device firm that developed a texture inspired by Sharkskin to control bacteria on surfaces. Mark exited Sharklet to a Bioscience group out of China, providing significant returns to shareholders. Mark is an active community leader, currently serving as a Chair and Board Member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Prior to 2019, Mark served as Chair of the Board of the Colorado Biosciences Association.

Founder of a private capital firm that employs industry-specific skillsets to make strategic investments in distressed and turnaround situations and merger and direct investments in private and pre-public companies.

Bo Sutton is a Co-Founder and Partner of Liftout Capital and has nearly 15 years of private investing experience. Prior to co-founding Liftout Capital, Mr. Sutton was a Director at Bow River Capital where he led acquisition and sale transactions focused on Business and Industrial Services. He served on numerous boards and was Chairman of Ocean Tomo.

Prior to Bow River, Mr. Sutton worked as a private equity real estate investor, investing in distressed real estate debt at Platform Ventures and agricultural real estate at Resource Land Holdings.

Mr. Sutton currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

Mr. Sutton earned an MBA with an emphasis in Finance and a BS in International Business, both from the University of Colorado. Mr. Sutton is a CFA Charterholder.

Lyle Wallace has more than 20 years of experience counseling corporations and private equity clients through acquisitions, dispositions, and mergers, both domestic and international. He has represented clients in more than two hundred transactions during his career and has developed a reputation not only as a talented legal practitioner, but also a practical problem-solver.