Alumni Success

When he and his co-founders launched Boulder Media House, Jeremy Elder (CritMedia’20) was still a full-time student. Today, the young crew of CU graduates behind the boutique production company has created content for businesses from luxury expedition vehicles to high-end fashion, and they continue to elevate their game.

University of Colorado Boulder alum Andy Hackbarth, a classical guitarist/singer-songwriter, is currently renovating the historic Saguache Hotel, slowly turning a dilapidated seasonal antique shop into a functioning hotel and mixed-use creative venue.

Berkley Bering Gamble is the creator of zero-waste fashion line Past Life the Collective. Throughout November and December, 10 percent of profits from sales will go to the nonprofit Protect Our Winters. (Nikki Nixon/ Courtesy photo)

When she first arrived in Boulder in the late 1970s, Faran Nouri was a scared girl from post-revolutionary Iran who spoke very little English. Today, Nouri is a powerhouse venture capital executive who discovers and helps support the best and brightest new tech companies.

College of Music graduate Nora Barpal wants to break down barriers that can keep young music students from becoming professional musicians. One of these barriers is the oftentimes onerous process of auditioning to get into music schools.

We remember and celebrate the life of Robert H. Deming, two-time Leeds alumnus (Acct’56 and MS Mgmt’59) and longtime, generous supporter of the Leeds School of Business and namesake of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Bob Deming passed away peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on September 4 with his wife of 67 years, Beverly A. Deming, at his side.

Meet Brennie Pellegrini, a CU Boulder Alumni and Head of Growth at Challenger Finance, a FinTech company that offers super-powered bank accounts as a financial wellness perk for employees.

Meet Derek Van Wagner, CU Boulder Alumni and creator of Clay Crusher, a creative board game. Derek graduated in 2010 with a BS in Business Administration, focusing on Marketing and International Business.

As COVID-19 has forced many businesses to rethink their models, alumni near and far are leaning into creativity and nostalgia to meet the moment while supporting their communities.

CU Engineering alum Fletcher Richman's (ElCompEngr’14) startup success grew from a passion for productivity tools. His company, Halp, was recently acquired by Atlassian.