LiftED Board
Becky Mancero
Becky is a business attorney at SPZ Legal, acting as outside general counsel for startups and venture capital funds. She earned her law degree from the University of Denver, where she co-founded several organizations focused on entrepreneurship and pro bono legal aid. Driven by a passion for youth advocacy and early childhood education, Becky joined the board to give back to underrepresented communities. Her legal expertise and experience with the startup ecosystem allow her to provide unique insights into the Foundation’s innovation initiatives and its efforts to foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the student body.
Cooper Cohen
Cooper is a risk management consultant and insurance broker at IMA Financial Group in Denver. A Colorado native and University of Notre Dame graduate, he specializes in providing tailored insurance services to businesses across various industries. Cooper’s long-standing connection to the Colorado LiftED Foundation stems from witnessing the organization's holistic impact on local youth throughout his life. He is also a passionate endurance athlete and an Ironman World Championship qualifier. Cooper brings his competitive drive and dedication to the board, focusing on sustainable growth and ensuring that every student has the financial and emotional support needed to succeed.
Derek Schoonover
Derek is the Vice President of Physician Experience and General Manager of DaVita Physician Solutions. With 20 years of experience in healthcare IT and software development, he has held leadership roles at McKesson Corp and GE Healthcare. Derek brings a unique perspective to the board, combining functional expertise in technology with a focus on improving patient safety and healthcare business growth. He is passionate about using data-driven strategies to track and improve student outcomes. Outside of his professional life, Derek is an active member of the Denver community and is dedicated to fostering educational equity.
George Flanders
George is an Engineer and Program Manager at Lockheed Martin, where he oversees complex hardware and software development projects. He is also the President of Western Springs Group Holding and Management Company. George has a long history of service with the Colorado LiftED Foundation, having previously served as Board Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. He holds an MBA and a BSME from Bradley University and maintains several high-level technical certifications. His decades of institutional knowledge and project management expertise are vital to the Foundation’s operations, ensuring that programs are executed with precision and a focus on long-term educational outcomes.
Jim Stambaugh, DDS
Dr. Stambaugh is a Denver native who practiced general dentistry for 29 years before joining Cody Dental Group. A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, he has served as a clinical instructor and currently sits on the Medical Advisory Board for the Cherry Creek School District. Jim is a Past President of the Rotary Club Southeast and an avid outdoorsman who enjoys skiing and fly-fishing. His commitment to the Colorado LiftED Foundation is inspired by his lifelong ties to the city and his desire to ensure that all Denver children have access to the resources and mentorship they need to thrive.
Jolynn Lenz
Jolynn is a Senior HR and Total Rewards Executive at Korn Ferry with over 30 years of experience in global compensation and leadership. A Colorado native, she is committed to enhancing opportunities for youth through education, training, and career development. In addition to her work with the Colorado LiftED Foundation, she serves as an advisory board member for Airvet. Jolynn utilizes her professional background in human capital to help the Foundation refine its internal structures and mentor students as they transition from high school into the workforce, ensuring they are prepared for the complexities of modern professional environments.
Larry Bass
Larry is a retired legal expert with forty years of experience specializing in corporate restructuring and Chapter 11 reorganizations. After twenty-five years as a partner in a Los Angeles firm, he moved to Denver, where he represented high-profile clients including Enron and United Airlines. A graduate of UCLA and the University of Southern California, Larry has been recognized as one of Colorado’s leading insolvency attorneys. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Southeast Denver and has volunteered globally in Cambodia and Guatemala. Larry brings his extensive legal expertise and a deep passion for international service to the Colorado LiftED Foundation.
Len Koch
Len is a Senior Commercial Banking Leader at Vectra Bank Colorado, where he brings decades of experience helping middle-market clients navigate complex financial landscapes. He currently leads a sophisticated team of Relationship Managers, serving diverse sectors including aviation, municipal deposit banking, and the outdoor industry. Beyond his financial expertise, Len has achieved the unique distinction of carrying the Olympic Torch. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys golfing, paddleboarding, hiking, and skiing. Len brings his high-level leadership and strategic planning skills to the board.
Leslie Ginsburg
A Denver native and former graphic design studio owner, Leslie has been a dedicated community advocate for decades. She has served on the board of the Colorado LiftED Foundation since 2007 and is a past Board Chair. Leslie and her husband, Noel, a founding member of the Foundation, personally sponsored a class of 42 children, supporting them from elementary school through college graduation. She also serves on the board of Jewish Family Services of Colorado. Leslie’s deeply personal commitment to the students is rooted in her belief that consistent, long-term mentorship is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty.
LoAn Vo
LoAn is the President and Founder of TransCrude LLC and Co-Founder of PopNest Home LLC, a company focused on providing affordable modular housing. Her connection to the Colorado LiftED Foundation is deeply personal; she was a student in the class of 1998, which provided her with the support to become the first in her family to graduate from college. After a career in investment banking at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, she joined the board in 2005 to mentor the next generation. LoAn’s journey from a Vietnamese immigrant to a successful entrepreneur serves as a powerful inspiration for all current students.
Maarten Warnaars
Maarten is an international executive with over two decades of leadership experience across multiple industries and countries. He currently serves as the CEO of Thrive Workplace, where he guides strategic growth and operational excellence across Colorado’s coworking communities. Having held senior leadership and CEO positions in both the U.S. and Peru, Maarten specializes in organizational transformation through cultural development and operational restructuring. Multilingual in Spanish and Dutch, he is recognized for his people-centered leadership style. Maarten’s global perspective is further informed by his work with international development initiatives in Peru and Nepal. He brings this extensive executive expertise and a commitment to community empowerment to the CLF Board.
Rob Cohen
Rob is the Chairman and CEO of The IMA Financial Group, a diversified financial services company. He holds a degree in Risk Management and Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of Leadership Denver. Rob is highly involved in the professional community, holding memberships in Colorado Concern and the Colorado Forum, and has served as Chair of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers. He and his wife, Molly, have four children and are dedicated philanthropists. Rob’s leadership on the board is centered on creating strategic partnerships that expand the organization's reach across the Denver metro area.
Sean Camacho, Chair-Elect
Sean is an attorney at Dentons US LLP specializing in commercial and government contracts litigation, while also serving in the Air Force Reserves. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Suffolk University Law School, he previously served as an active-duty officer with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa. Raised in Colorado Springs, Sean is deeply active in Denver politics and youth mentorship. He is passionate about public service and has two children currently enrolled in Denver Public Schools. He joined the board of the Colorado LiftED Foundation to leverage his experience in leadership and advocacy to support the next generation of Colorado leaders.
Vanessa Davison, Chair
Vanessa is a seasoned financial executive and business transformation expert who has co-founded several firms and served as a turn-around leader for numerous organizations. Currently, she leads a management consulting team at Panorama, focusing on business strategy and organizational design. Vanessa holds a B.S. from UC Berkeley and graduate degrees from Harvard Business School and George Washington University. In addition to her role as Board Chair, she serves on several private and public sector boards. She is deeply committed to the mission of the Colorado LiftED Foundation, providing long-term support and educational opportunities to Denver’s youth to ensure their future success.
Wendy Rockwell, Secretary
Wendy serves as the Director of Market Access at CSL Vifor, where she leads a team dedicated to ensuring patient access to healthcare and approved therapies. Beyond her professional role, she is a staunch advocate for caregivers and was instrumental in supporting the passage of the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work law. A graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Wendy is an avid hiker and remains active in international alumni relations. Her work with the Colorado LiftED Foundation is driven by a belief that equitable access to education and healthcare is the cornerstone of a thriving and productive community.