Founder/CEO

Patrick is an experienced leader with global experience across operations, sales and corporate functional management in a Fortune 500 corporation that serves clients across infrastructure, energy, water, and urban development.

He has built and led multinational groups across each of those key sectors. He has also executed sales strategies for key clients with dramatic increase in annual sales. His private sector experience is complemented with senior level experience in government and extensive work with non-profits. He has directly managed a $700m construction program with horizontal and vertical facilities. He also served as a key advisor on the second phase of development using a public-private partnership financing model with significant additional private real estate development. This major program work complemented his previous experience on major programs in the UK and for the United States Department of Energy.

Patrick worked for CH2M, a global engineering and construction firm, serving in numerous capacities including head of the U.S. region. He served as a transitional leader to help the US$500 Canadian Region through significant transition of the collapsing energy prices to reposition the business. He led the creation of the firm’s Corporate Affairs group, which included international government affairs, marketing, communications and the 120-office network in the U.S. He also served as the lead staff person for the Chairman and CEO managing the board of directors and worked on several major environment and infrastructure programs.

Patrick started his career in Washington, DC working as an aide for the then-chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman in the House of Representatives. He served as a key aide on energy issues, with specific focus on electric utility, energy development and environmental policy. After Capitol Hill, he worked as a government relations lead for the Tennessee Valley Authority leading Clean Air Act strategy and electric industry deregulation for the nation’s largest government utility.

He served as Corporate Secretary for CH2M, which is a Sarbanes-Oxley compliant corporation. He managed all matters related to board of direction organization and coordinated document production for board meetings. This experience built on nearly half dozen years serving as the lead staff person for the previous Chairman. He also previously served as President of the CH2M Foundation.

Colorado is home. He enjoys life with his wife, Karen, their three children and two dogs. He loves golfing and fishing in the mountain weather, tries to make up for not learning guitar at a younger age and still plays a little ice hockey.

Founding Principal

Alex is a strategist, program manager, product manager, relationship builder, analyst/data nerd, and a keen operator. She is both a capable leader and loyal, dependable right hand. Her experience includes economic development, civic tech, infrastructure, corporate development, and workforce.

Prior to transition to the startup and philanthropic space, Alex most recently worked in Corporate Development for the Fortune 500 infrastructure firm CH2M HILL, now JACOBS, addressing capital structure needs, executing large buy and sell side financial transactions, performing strategic planning and supporting business development. She previously served the public sector as an economist for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and in programmatic support and special projects for the Presidential Libraries system.

Alex holds a Master’s degree in Global Finance, Trade and Economics from the Korbel School at the University of Denver and completed undergraduate studies in PPE- Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Principal

John is a collaborative and strategic leader who brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors.  He most recently served as Director of Finance for the City of Greeley where he was responsible for the City’s financial operations and ~$400 million annual budget.  He has spent time with the City and County of Denver’s Department of Finance and in Chicago’s Mayor Office during the Richard M. Daley administration.  His municipal government work has focused on innovative public financing and economic development projects that support smart, sustainable economic growth.  Before his move to Colorado, John served as senior advisor to the Chief Financial Officers’ Council in Washington D.C. where he worked with the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget to implement the President’s Management Agenda and support the development of sound financial management policy across the U.S. government. 

John has worked on some of the most premier P3 projects in Colorado, including as part of the City and County of Denver’s Central 70 team and as a consultant on the National Western Center $1 billion redevelopment project, helping lead the strategy and execution planning for the campus’s operations post construction.  He also served as Director of Strategic Initiatives at Denver International Airport where he led the development of a public-private innovation partnership between DEN and a global private airport operator.  Earlier in his career, John was a management consultant with Accenture, focused on process engineering and system implementations for multinational corporations.   

John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Lake Forest College and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.  John and his wife Sarah live in Denver with their two daughters, although he still cheers for the Chicago sports teams from where he grew up; his one exception being the Colorado Rapids, which he is a season ticket holder.  He enjoys skiing and other outdoor activities in the beautiful Rocky Mountains that originally drew his family to Colorado.

Principal

Most recently, Lisa Carpenter served as Director of Strategic Operations to former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. While serving as a key advisor to Federal, State and Local leaders, Lisa helped steer policy execution, coordinate complex issue management and lead effective projects built on collaboration of a vast array of community, business and elected stakeholders. In addition to her role at Summit Street Group, she will continue to operate her firm, Purple Mountain Strategies.

Associate and Senior Economics Analyst

Nora Johnson has significant experience in economic and market analysis. To complement this strength, she has the unique parallel experience as a marketing expert making the research translatable to client leaders and stakeholders. Nora has worked with clients across sectors and industries to achieve their strategic goals and move toward systematic improvement. She helps clients understand and evaluate their situational context, identify future opportunities, and determine ways to best serve and engage their constituents and stakeholders. She specializes in research, data analysis, strategy development, planning, execution and reporting. To better understand and serve diverse industries in the current world and business context, Nora received her MA in Global Finance, Trade and Economic Integration, following BSBA majors in Marketing and Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management.