First Flatiron Consulting

My consulting practice, First Flatiron Consulting, was founded to offer expertise in community economic vitality planning and management, entrepreneurial ecosystem building, and professional education and development. For more than a decade I was Executive Director of the Boulder Economic Council, the economic development affiliate of the Boulder Chamber. My work there focused on innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem building and support for startups and small businesses - all strengths of Boulder's dynamic startup community. I've also held economic development leadership positions in Longmont and Broomfield, Colorado, and with the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. of the Denver Metro Chamber. As a consultant, my clients have included state and local governments, higher ed institutions, professional associations, sovereign tribal nations, and school districts. I created and teach a graduate course on economic development and outdoor recreation for the University of Colorado Boulder, where I'm also a guest lecturer. I speak often at economic development conferences and programs, and at outdoor recreation and other industry-specific events. I blog regularly, and serve as a mentor for entrepreneurs and mid-career economic development professionals. In the private sector, I led a multimillion-dollar corporate social responsibility program for a Fortune 200 Silicon Valley tech leader. I was also an officer in a regional investment banking firm and held leadership roles with economic consulting firms. I hold a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Washington and earned my Bachelor's from the University of Colorado Boulder.