Around the Firm
Promotions & Team Updates
We have some exciting updates to share regarding our incredible team at Innovest! First and foremost, let's extend a warm welcome to Jason Romero, our newest team member who has joined us as Vice President. We are also delighted to announce the well-deserved promotion of Franklin Cornett, CFP®, to the position of Vice President. Throughout his time with us, Frank has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to our clients, our team, and our mission of stewardship. We take great pride in having him as part of our leadership team. In addition to these exciting updates, we are thrilled to welcome a talented group of summer interns who have joined us at Innovest. Welcome to Parker Cadieux, Nick Domek, Ian Gilbert, and Jack Roode.
Innovest Vice President, Brett Minnick, CFA recently passed the third and final level of the CFA program. Brett's dedication and hard work have been instrumental in our success, and we congratulate him on this significant accomplishment. Furthermore, we are proud of Jose Huerta, our intern and a recent graduate of Arrupe Jesuit High School, for being awarded one of the prestigious Daniels Scholarships for the Class of 2023. This is a remarkable achievement, and we commend Jose for his dedication and excellence.
Lastly, we would like to recognize the outstanding individuals within our team who embody our core mission of stewardship. In April, Christine Attai received the Service to Others monthly award, and in May, the honor went to Natalie Kuzia. Their exemplary contributions and unwavering commitment to our shared values serve as an inspiration to our team.
Awards & Publications
Innovest recently received recognition from ColoradoBiz Magazine as one of the prestigious 2023 Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) award winners. Out of a staggering 1,050 nominations, CCTW meticulously selected 50 exceptional companies as finalists. Furthermore, Innovest proudly secured a place among the top 25 Denver-Area Corporate Philanthropists, as recognized by the esteemed Denver Business Journal in 2022. This acknowledgment is truly an honor for Innovest.
Innovest Vice President Paul D'Alessandro recently published three thought-provoking articles in NonProfitPRO, “Demystifying the Overreliance on Tax Filings as Predictive of Future Results,” “Why Impact Investing is Better for Social Good,” and “The Donor-Centered Approach to Major Gift Fundraising.” Innovest Principal Sloan Smith's article, "Hot Spot: Private Equity Secondaries," provides valuable insights and was published in the Citywire Due Diligence Report in April. Additionally, Innovest Principal Steven P. Fraley, CFA, and Vice President Nancy Rimington's collaborative article, "Hard Landing, Soft Landing, or No Landing at All?," was recently featured in Advisor Perspectives.
Service
Innovest has been proud to support the mission of Arrupe Jesuit High School for nearly a decade. With a bold vision to strengthen the competence, confidence, and aspirations of their students by offering a college preparatory education and a unique Corporate Work Study Program, Arrupe Jesuit is changing the educational game. Innovest has been proud to have over 20 students work at the firm over the years, giving the students real-world career and work opportunities that we hope will encourage them to find and pursue their unique calling.
Innovest actively volunteers to support impactful organizations. This quarter, we assisted Food Bank of the Rockies in supporting the mission of nourishing those facing hunger and volunteered at Food For Thought Denver, which combats childhood hunger by providing PowerSacks to students. We also supported Rosie's Ranch, who fosters inclusive therapeutic riding for children with and without special needs. Additionally, we planted flowers at the historic Central City Opera House, an organization that celebrates the performing arts in a scenic Colorado mountain setting. At Innovest, we believe making a difference requires active involvement. We prioritize providing our employees with opportunities to actively engage with and serve our community.
Conferences, Speaking, Events, & Sponsorships
As a proud sponsor of the Christian Leadership Alliance conference in Chicago, Innovest had the privilege of supporting the event. Sloan Smith delivered a compelling talk on "Building a Biblically Responsible Portfolio," while Nancy Rimington provided an insightful "Economic Update - Looking Ahead in 2023 and Beyond: Key Implications for Portfolio Design.
In Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Innovest Principal Rick Rodgers, AIFA®, participated as a panelist at the Institutional Investor Retirement Plan Advisory Summit. The discussion focused on "Staying Ahead of the Game" and best practices that incorporate valuable lessons from litigation.
Furthermore, Innovest Director and Principal Sloan Smith, CAIA, CPWA® hosted a webinar featuring Steve Nesbitt, Chief Executive Officer of Cliffwater LLC, where they discussed opportunities in private debt.
In Washington, DC, Innovest Principal Paul Nacario attended the 2023 NAGDCA Industry Roundtable. This significant event centered around critical legislative, administrative, and strategic issues faced by DC plans in the public sector. Innovest proudly sponsored the fundraising luncheon "My Bold Future" for Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, an organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold. In Arizona, Innovest sponsored the Not-for-Profit Conference organized by the Arizona Society of CPAs. This conference provided CPAs with cutting-edge industry updates, and we were delighted to be a part of it. Finally, Principal Paul Nacario represented Innovest at the 2023 State of Arizona Professional Firefighters Annual Convention. This convention, organized by the Professional Fire Firefighters of Arizona, is dedicated to caring for past, present, and future firefighters.
The Rocky Mountain Nonprofit Conference, a highly successful in-person event, received tremendous support from Innovest, along with co-sponsors Kundinger, Corder & Montoya, P.C., and AmPhil.