cobizmag.com
SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2015
Volume 42, No. 05
A WiesnerMedia Publication
$3.95
T
O
P
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
The future is now for GenXYZ winners
T O P
Young Professionals
The future is now for
GenXYZ winners
By Margaret Jackson
They range from doctors and lawyers to
musicians and DJs. But one thing these young
professionals have in common is that they’re
charting a new course for businesses and nonprofits — from Jayson Baker’s launch of Peak Internet at age 16, to Brad Wright’s foundation that
provides bereavement training for nurses.
Following are snapshots of ColoradoBiz
magazine’s 25 Most Influential Young Professionals of 2015. Winners were selected from
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nominations submitted online at cobizmag.com
and judged by a ColoradoBiz panel of editorial
staffers and representatives from the business
community. Factors taken into account in the
selection process included professional and
community impact, challenges surmounted,
and recommendations from nominees’ peers.
We think you’ll agree that they’re an impressive group, and given that they’re all under 40,
they’re likely to be heard from for years to come.
Robert
Klamser
The Problem Solver
35 | President and Co-founder
UpShot Services
Rober Klamser revolutionized the bankruptcy process by
developing a system for electronic claim and ballot filing
that was the first in the nation used in a corporate Chapter
11 proceeding. UpShot SmartSign uses electronic signatures
that adhere to federal laws, giving documents the same
legal standing as a physical signature. He’s also a believer
in community service, serving as a trustee for Paddington
Station Preschool and as a board member of the soon-to-belaunched Denver chapter of Steve’s club, a national charity
that provides a network of programs through which at-risk
or underserved youths can join the CrossFit community at a
reduced-, low-, or no-cost structure.
•B IGGEST ACHIEVEMENT
“Starting Upshot would be my
biggest personal accomplishment, but it also involved my
family. We moved from Los
Angeles to Denver to start a
business in a new city. At the
time, it was terrifying, but
that’s been a pretty satisfying
accomplishment. Our quality
of life is so much better.”
•MAKING AN IMPACT
“We’ve broken down filing for
bankruptcy electronically into
incremental steps. It’s easier
to file a claim, easier for attorneys and less expensive.”
The Supporter
Brad Wright
35 | Agency Manager,
COUNTRY Financial;
Founder, Wishbone
Foundation
When Brad Wright’s wife,
Jianna, gave birth to a
stillborn child, he knew
he had to do something
to help others in similar
situations, so he created
the Wishbone Foundation
four years ago. The nonprofit offers bereavement
training to nurses and staff
to help grieving parents.
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The foundation has trained
more than 300 nurses from
17 hospitals to understand
what grieving families need
and how to deal with their
own grief.
Wright also is manager
of COUNTRY Financial,
where he has achieved
All American and All Star
status advocating for the
success of his financial
representatives and the
clients they work with.
•BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT
“Being able to be a good
father while running two
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organizations. Creating the
Wishbone Foundation and
building it to what it is today
is a huge undertaking and
has been successful because
of the people I’ve surrounded myself with.”
•MAKING AN IMPACT
“Most definitely through
the Wishbone Foundation.
We’ve trained over 300 staff
to help families that have
lost children. We’ve created
almost a fraternity through
the Wishbone community.”
•R OLE MODELS
John Wooden, legendary
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
basketball coach.
Brent Adams, COUNTRY
Financial.
Board and staff at Wishbone
Foundation.
•B EST ADVICE
“Through every tragedy,
there’s a blessing.”
•OFF-DUTY
“I’m never off duty. I really
enjoy time with my family
and friends. I enjoy golf. I
have to do it on a weekly
basis.”
•ROLE MODELS
Former employers Eric Kurtzman and Jonathan Carson,
founders of KCC.
“I was the first employee, and
I watched them build from
nothing to a company with
300 employees that was sold
to a publicly traded company.”
•B EST ADVICE
“It’s a cliché, but it takes time.
Worthwhile results take time.”
•OFF-DUTY
“I love being a parent. I’m like
a kid grownup. I love spending time with my family.”