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GenXYZ 2023 — Terence Rogers

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Terence Rogers, 33

Chef/Owner, Sullivan Scrap Kitchen | Denver

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S. restaurants generate an estimated 22 to 33 billion pounds of food waste each year. Chef Terence Rogers wants to change that, and his restaurant, Sullivan Scrap Kitchen, has sustainability in food, staff and community as the core of its mission. Rogers reduces food waste by finding creative ways to utilize ingredients and repurpose items before they end up in compost.

Rogers is also the chef and owner of TBD Foods, a premier farm-to-table catering company. Having both businesses operate out of the same building allows for full cross-utilization of ingredients. He focuses on local sources for all ingredients for the restaurant and catering company and works with local farms, ranches, mills, cheese purveyors, honey suppliers and more. 

He started TBD Foods in 2014 out of his apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, hosting pop-up dinners. He moved to Denver in 2016 and continued hosting pop-up dinners and catering small events. In the winter of 2019 he opened Lil Scrap Kitchen as a pop-up sandwich restaurant out of his commissary one day a week to sell items that were “waste” from catering events. From there Sullivan Scrap Kitchen opened during the pandemic in July 2020. 

In the summer of 2022, Rogers changed the concept of Sullivan Scrap Kitchen from sandwiches and burgers to a plant-focused, small-plates menu that changes throughout the year. Sullivan Scrap Kitchen offers discounts to the teachers and administrators at the school next door, Denver Center for 21st Century Learning.

GenXYZ 2023 — Devon Davis

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Devon Davis, 28

Vice President, Banking Advisor, PNC Bank | Denver

Starting as a teller, Devon Davis quickly worked his way up at PNC Bank. For the last three years as a banker, Davis has been one of the top producers within PNC Private Bank. This has earned him the PNC Market All-Star Award for the past three years as well as making it to the semifinal rounds for the PNC Performance Award, the bank’s most prestigious recognition.

When PNC made its acquisition of BBVA USA, Davis transferred to Denver to spearhead the market’s Private Bank growth as a banking adviser. He also acted as a culture carrier for the bank as the market quickly expanded. This was meaningful to the organization as over 75% of the employees were new to PNC. He transitioned to a new market within PNC during the BBVA USA acquisition while still growing the market’s loan book by six times.

Davis has worked on multiple internal groups focusing on revamping internal practices and improving PNC’s overall client experience. He’s also taken on a leadership role with onboarding new advisors at PNC to improve employee retention at the bank. 

During the COVID pandemic, Davis worked to push through the processing of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and assisted his clients in keeping their businesses open. This was a challenge for the bank and clients due to the speed at which the PPP was released along with new information. 

Davis serves as a trustee for the Family Star Montessori and regularly volunteers through PNC Grow Up Great, which is the early childhood education program at PNC Bank.

GenXYZ 2023 — Cassandra Puhalla

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Cassandra Puhalla, 33

Director, Client Advisory, Crestone Capital | Boulder

To pay off her student loans, Cassie Puhalla decided to apply for a Wall Street job. She landed an interview with J.P. Morgan and spent two weeks preparing by learning everything she could about finance. She got the job, and in less than 10 years she was a portfolio manager in J.P. Morgan’s Asset Management business. 

On a trip to Wonderland Lake in Boulder, Puhalla realized she wanted to make an impact on that community. Six months later, she was offered a position with Crestone Capital as a director of client advisory for the Boulder-based independent wealth management firm. Soon after joining Crestone Capital, Puhalla was asked to take a leadership role for the firm’s initiative to grow assets under its management from approximately $3 billion to $10 billion, more than 300%, in 10 years. 

Puhalla helped create the Crestone Brand Monetization Task Force and focused on enhancing Crestone’s presence within key target industries and centers of influence. She implemented new tools to better identify and qualify prospects, create a client journey and hold her team members accountable for goals. She designed carefully curated events in target markets with entrepreneurs, founders and clients to build awareness for Crestone.

She joined the board of directors for a financial literacy nonprofit, Cents Ability, whose mission is to educate high school students about the fundamentals of personal finance. She also recently joined the board of directors of Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and was drawn to BMoCA because of its focus on Diversity, Equality, Access and Inclusion (DEAI).

GenXYZ 2023 — Kelly O’Donnell

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Kelly O’Donnell, 34

National Business Banking Merchant Sales Leader, KeyBank | Denver

As KeyBank’s first National Business Banking Merchant Sales Leader, Kelly O’Donnell has helped build out the Business Banking Merchant Sales team, playbook, incentives, goals and more. O’Donnell leads a team spanning 21 states, and has helped pave a successful strategic plan within each market. She took a team that partnered with branches and business bankers across the bank’s coverage area and built a high-performing team focused solely on partnering with business bankers and working with business banking clients.

A top-performing salesperson, O’Donnell jumped into leadership three years ago. She was very thoughtful in her approach and quickly adapted to the world of leadership. She has now led two different high-performing teams and continues to help KeyBank evolve as a merchant sales organization. Leading a team of 18 across 21 states is not an easy task, but it is one that O’Donnell has been able to do successfully while leading different product rollouts and participating in employee groups across KeyBank. 

O’Donnell has helped lead, develop and mentor more than 100 future professionals and leaders across Colorado during her time with KeyBank. Her partnerships and direct supervision have created many leaders across KeyBank and within other businesses. She is involved with Ronald McDonald House charities and in an annual Neighbors Make A Difference Day at The Action Center.  

GenXYZ 2023 — Avi Loewenstein

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Avi Loewenstein, 39

Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck | Denver

Sought-after corporate attorney Avi Loewenstein has extensive experience with a variety of complex, high-profile transactions. As a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, he provides practical, business-minded advice to his clients and is recognized for his leadership in the mergers and acquisitions space. 

Loewenstein represents private equity funds, entrepreneurs, family offices and private companies in a variety of complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, growth equity and minority investments, corporate reorganizations and general corporate matters. He has crafted complex joint ventures and helped to form, finance and advise emerging businesses in a variety of industries. 

His notable clients and transactions included a consortium of developers in connection with the redevelopment of Denver’s Union Station. He represented the financial, economic and management consulting firm The Claro Group in its sale to Stout, an Audax Private Equity portfolio company, and represented luxury optical retailer Luxury Optical Holdings in its sale to New Look Vision Group.

Loewenstein is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School, where he teaches courses on mergers and acquisitions and advises the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic. He is one of the youngest shareholders in Brownstein’s history, and is a board member with Young Americans Center for Financial Education. He has also served on the boards of Lucky to Ride, which serves underserved and at-risk youth through experiential cycling programs; Water for Waslala, which builds water projects in remote Nicaragua; and Roots & Branches Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, which uses strategic philanthropy to award grants.

GenXYZ 2023 — Anna Costello

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Anna Costello, 35

Owner, Ship Sunshine & dropSHIP Like It’s Hot | Denver

Finding a shipping and fulfillment partner is a challenge for small businesses. Anna Costello’s company, dropSHIP Like It’s Hot, offers an innovative approach to onboarding new clients that helps small businesses scale to global businesses. The company helps companies work with manufacturers to ship inventory to the dropSHIP Like It’s Hot warehouse, assists with setting up the shipping functions on their websites, and shows them how to ship product in the most cost-effective manner. It can also custom print branded merchandise, store and pack products, help with kitting and ship worldwide.

Costello works with businesses to remove roadblocks and has redefined the fulfillment service industry by partnering with both small and large clients for mutual success. Collaboration is important, and Costello’s skills in networking and connecting people have helped clients grow their brands.

Her other business, Ship Sunshine, provides custom gift boxes for corporate gifts, real estate closing gifts, and other occasions. The company has a Sunshine It Forward program, which sends boxes to people who need a little extra support, such as personal hygiene items for people experiencing homelessness or school supplies for students and teachers. The program is funded by customer donations and 2% of Ship Sunshine profits.

Costello serves on the Programs Committee of CIVIC of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and is a coach for the Impact Denver program of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. She also volunteers at Soul Dog Rescue.

GenXYZ 2023 — Rob Lee Andrews

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Rob Lee Andrews, 38

CEO, CommunityWorks | Denver

Rob Lee Andrews reinvented the CommunityWorks program by creating an avenue for historically excluded communities to attend pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs by condensing them to five days, resulting in an organization that grew 3,000% in one year.

READ: Want to Set Your Business Apart From the Rest? Consider Apprenticeship

Andrews has taken a small, local nonprofit and developed it into an organization that has welcomed more than 33,000 people in multiple cities. Founded in 2016, CommunityWorks has grown to 53 people and $6 million in revenue over the last six years.

CommunityWorks removes barriers to help people find stable employment. It provides hands-on training, immersive experiences and comprehensive connections to every jobseeker it serves.

The organization meets people where they are by providing supportive services to the growth and investment in their future careers. Under Andrews’ leadership, the organization has ensured that more than 15,000 people have professional clothing, and more than 6,000 people are employed.

Andrews is on the Denver African American Philanthropist board and actively advocates for the inclusion of marginalized voices and stories. He has helped several African-American nonprofits raise $225,000 to help with their mission and outreach.

He volunteers with church groups at Denver Broncos games by helping organize community gatherings and virtual webinars. He mentors, professionally and personally, four young men of color, intentionally including experiences and conversations often not accessible to historically excluded populations.

GenXYZ 2023 — Matt Ward

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Matt Ward, 38

President, Ward Electric Co. Inc. | Longmont

Under Matt Ward’s leadership, Ward Electric has experienced record growth in the past 12 months. 

The number of employees and revenue have skyrocketed, while the company maintains its family feeling and remains committed to providing exceptional results while adhering to its motto of, “On time, on target, with safety and quality.”

Since Ward and his brother Mark bought the company from their parents in 2012, they have seamlessly continued relationships with legacy customers while securing new long-term contracts. 

Over the last several years, the company has expanded, opening additional offices, adding employees and increasing revenue. 

Ward’s implementation of technological innovation enabled the company to see little to no disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, as employees were able to work from home when necessary. 

Ward co-founded the JoyForWard Foundation in early 2022 to carry on his late mother Joyce’s legacy and to support endeavors she strongly believed in. JoyforWard pays it forward as it shares joy and kindness through involvement with nonprofits throughout the region. 

Joyce Ward, one of the founders of Ward Electric, taught her sons the importance of helping others. Ward supports numerous youth athletic teams and leagues as well as area schools, events and organizations with a focus on helping and developing children, especially those with special needs. 

Ward also devotes time and resources to help with local county fairs, rodeos and 4H groups. He is a board member at Holy Family High School and serves on the Mountain States Line Constructor Apprenticeship Board.

GenXYZ 2023 — Andrew Comer

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Andrew Comer, 38

Equity Partner, Fortis Law Partners | Denver

Andrew Comer was named partner within two years of joining Fortis Law Partners, where he launched and quickly expanded the firm’s trademark and intellectual property practice area. 

Comer’s year-over-year revenue at the firm has grown by nearly 150% each year, and his client numbers are up by nearly 40% year over year. He counsels clients on the formation, growth and sale of their businesses, which he knows often represent their life’s work. He also works with company founders, boards and investors to ensure compliance with securities laws and other laws that affect their investments and interests.

Among Comer’s notable achievements are leading and assisting in numerous multimillion-dollar merger and acquisition deals, representing dozens of companies in debt financings, assisting developers in debt financing and the development of multimillion-dollar real estate projects and advising on structuring and raising millions in equity and debt financing for several hemp operations and CBD businesses.

Comer, who has overseen Fortis’ internship program, manages the firm’s recruiting efforts. He is passionate about mentoring young lawyers and provides them with regular feedback, mentoring and career advice.

Comer has provided pro bono legal work to churches, veterans’ health organizations, environmental groups, nonprofits and other charitable organizations.

He has served on the board of the University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association and is on the advisory board for Commons on Champa. He is a growth adviser for Blackstone Entrepreneurs’ Network and a mentor at Galvanize. He also makes time to speak at gatherings of entrepreneurs and early-stage companies.

GenXYZ 2023 — Cole Gibbs

They’re uncommon achievers, whether as entrepreneurs, CEOs, nonprofit leaders, visionaries critical to their companies’ success or, in some cases, all of those roles. This year’s Top 25 Young Professionals figure to continue making a difference professionally and in their communities for years to come.

Read on to learn about the 2023 Top 25 Young Professionals and to see the list of this year’s top 50 finalists.

READ: GenXYZ 2023 — Top 25

Cole Gibbs, 36

Founder & CEO, Dama BioPlastics | Aurora

Cole Gibbs is pioneering the development of sustainable plant-based bioplastic and compliant packaging solutions for a variety of industries.

With only 9% of all plastic recycled worldwide, the plastic waste problem is growing out of control, and Gibbs wants to be part of the solution. Over the last three years, Gibbs and his team have prevented more than 2 million pounds of petroleum plastic from entering the environment.

Gibbs strives to improve his community through job creation, economic boosts through the creation of local supply chains, and waste diversion programs with communities to remove both biomass and plastic wastes. Dama also partners with universities for research and development projects working toward material advancements.

“Cole has redefined the role of CEO,” said Adam Dietrich, the company’s director of material science. “He does not alter his opinion based on pressure. This is a man of principle and standards that must be met to advance forward. This is a leader … who sits in the trenches with his soldiers and rides it out to the end.”