Young Pros Climb to Dizzying Heights

Anyone looking for reassurance about the continued success of Colorado business need look no further than the ColoradoBiz 2019 Top 25 Young Professionals. This year's winners, chosen by a panel of editors, business leaders and former winners from 50 finalists culled from hundreds of nominations, rose to the top by virtue of achievements – both in and outside of work – as well as their potential for even greater success.

So, how did they climb to these dizzying professional heights before age 40? 

Some of our winners have found inspiration and direction in family. As the children of immigrants, Will Chan, Deputy Director for the Mayor's Office of the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative, and Fox Rothschild LLP Partner Maritza Dominguez Braswell, find that experience informs their work and their community involvement. 

"She is a forceful and dedicated champion for the rights of immigrants, serving on the board of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network," colleague Scott Kraus says of Braswell. "She lends her time, energy and voice to raising money and engaging the community to protect immigrants, particularly in the current political climate."

Others find a different kind of familial inspiration. PCL Construction Senior Project Manager Ryan Odell’s dedication to the Morgan Adams Foundation, which raises money for pediatric brain cancer research, stems from coping with his own son’s brain cancer diagnosis. And his commitment to that cause hasn’t ended now that his son is cancer-free.

Still others find motivation in an over-arching sense of purpose.

“Immersing myself into projects and positions with a mission element continues to motivate me to work harder,” says Rebecca Decker, who racked up an impressive list of firsts as program director for Catalyst Accelerator, which connects small businesses and their disruptive technologies with defense and military decision makers. “My work needs to be much bigger than myself.”

Read on to find out more about the achievements and compassionate commitment of this amazing group of young Colorado professionals.

>> MICHELLE BALCH LYNG, NOVITAS COMMUNICATIONS

>> RUPALI RAGHAVAN, SAIROOP TECHNOLOGIES LLC 

>> WILL CHAN, MAYOR'S OFFICE OF THE NORTH DENVER CORNERSTONE COLLABORATIVE

>> REBECCA DECKER, 2/RD LTD

>> DAVID DRAGOO, MAYFLY OUTDOORS

>>AMBER HOLLENBECK, MOBILE SOLUTIONS

>>CAITLYN FAGAN, ZENMAN + BIGFOOT WEB

>>CAROLYN WITKUS, GRIFFITHS LAW PC

>>CHRIS STARKUS, URBAN FARMER

>>CORTLAND MATHERS-SUTER, ASPENRIDGE RECOVERY

>>DAN CORKEN, CRISPIN PORTER BOGUSKY

>>DAN KONIGSBERG, CAMPMINDER

>>KYLE MCFARLANE, BROXTERMAN ALICKS MCFARLANE PC

>>MEREDITH WENSKOSKI, LIVABLE CITIES STUDIO

>>GARRETT JOHNSON, CRESA

>>LAMINE ZARRAD, JOUST

>>HEATHER CARR, FOOTERS CATERING

>>JACOB EICHENGREEN, THE QUAD INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP

>>MARITZA DOMINGUEZ BRASWELL, FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP

>>MICHAEL MORRIS, R9B

>>NICK COPPOLO, SPIRE DIGITAL

>>PETER MUSTIAN, INNOVEST PORTFOLIO SOLUTIONS

>>RYAN ODELL, PCL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC.

>>SCOTT NORQUIST, ACM

>>WILLIAM MATHEWSON, WMD