Building the infrastructure
that lets bold ideas
become lasting organizations.

The Challenge

A first-of-its-kind high school diploma endorsement recognizing climate literacy didn't exist anywhere in the country. Lyra had the vision to create one, but vision doesn't pass legislation, stand up a grants program, recruit school partners, or put a branded credential in students' hands at graduation. Someone had to build all of that simultaneously, with a startup-sized team and no playbook to follow.

My Role

I served as a core operational leader for the Seal of Climate Literacy from policy inception through statewide scale, managing workstreams across legislation, brand development, partner implementation, microgrants administration, and student recognition. I also developed implementation resources, partnership MOUs, and impact measurement frameworks, and directed a proactive communications strategy that generated 22 unique media placements including four national outlets.

The Outcome

Within one year of passage, Colorado graduated its first 425 Seal recipients — young people who now carry a credential signaling scientific and civic readiness for the challenges ahead. That number is on track to triple by year two. Our team is supporting five states with similar legislation. Today I'm helping build the national expansion infrastructure: a U.S.-facing website, a partner measurement system, state-level brand licensing agreements, and a multi-year fundraising strategy to capitalize the growth campaign.

Follow our progress and join the movement at sealofclimateliteracy.org.

The Challenge

The National Western Center Authority had a bold sustainability vision for its 250-acre, $765M campus redevelopment: a renewable district energy system unlike anything built at this scale in North America. Executing that vision required structuring a $185M, 42-year public-private partnership — and then securing four associated operating and loan contracts with partners who each had their own governance structures, legal requirements, and definitions of what a good deal looked like.

My Role

I was a key leader on the negotiating team, managing the multi-stakeholder engagement strategy essential to getting the deal across the finish line. The four partner organizations — Colorado State University, the Western Stock Show Association, the City of Denver, and Metro Water Recovery — had to be aligned simultaneously while the primary P3 negotiation with EAS Energy proceeded in parallel. I also contributed to a broader sustainability strategy including 20-year contracts for on-site community solar gardens and microgrid energy resiliency infrastructure.

The Outcome

NWCA closed North America's largest sewer heat recovery district energy system — a 42-year P3 that will define the campus's environmental footprint for a generation. All four associated operating and loan contracts were executed. The project represents a genuine precedent in sustainable infrastructure finance.

The Challenge

Permanently affordable for-sale homeownership at scale in Colorado required more than a good policy argument. It required an organization — with capital, governance, operational systems, and community relationships — that didn't yet exist. Gary Community Ventures wanted to help build it from the inside of a philanthropic institution, which required a very particular kind of leadership.

My Role

Working alongside the President & CEO of Gary Community Ventures, I helped conceptualize and validate the Elevation Community Land Trust model, built the business case, and helped secure $24M in startup capital to launch the organization. Before Elevation had its own staff, I spearheaded its startup operations across multiple stakeholder groups — standing up systems, processes, and relationships so the new team could hit the ground running from day one.

The Outcome

Elevation Community Land Trust is now stewarding 700+ permanently affordable for-sale homes across Colorado — a durable, well-run institution that will compound its impact for decades. It is one of the most significant community land trust launches in recent Colorado history.