Class Notes

Harvard Law graduate Everett Martínez (Psych’02) was named general counsel to Denver International Airport (DEN). After working over a decade in the law firm setting, Everett joined the Denver City Attorney’s Office (CAO) in 2016 and became assistant general counsel in 2020. Throughout his tenure at the CAO, Everett, who specialized in complex financial transactions, demonstrated a commitment to the betterment of the department. After his promotion Everett said, “In 1993 I toured DEN during its construction and was in awe of the facility. It’s been a dream come true to represent the airport, and I believe our best days are still to come.” He lives in Arvada, Colorado.

Multimedia marketing and engagement expert Jessica Kizorek (Span’03) has developed an international presence as a video storyteller, entrepreneur and activist. Working primarily with large nonprofits — including the AARP Foundation and Special Olympics — through her company Two Parrot Productions, she has created hundreds of short films and video-centric fundraising campaigns. She has covered a multitude of humanitarian causes as a journalist and documentarian in over 60 countries. Jessica is also passionate about empowering female entrepreneurs through her organization, Badass Businesswomen. A published author, Jessica has 10 books to her name and has appeared on major news outlets such as Fox, NBC, CNN, Weekend Today and the Better Show. After obtaining her master’s degree from Florida International University, she is now pursuing a doctorate degree in business administration.

In 2022 Andrew Villegas (Engl, Jour’06) was named news director for Colorado Public Radio (CPR). In this role, Villegas leads an award-winning newsroom and a group of reporters and editors who cover the entire state of Colorado. Andrew joined CPR in 2019, bringing more than a decade of experience as a reporter and editor for news outlets across the country.

Sean Guth (Arch’07; MArch, MUrbDes’09) was named president of Lose Design, an award-winning architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering and planning firm. Sean has been with Lose Design since 2013. His career began in Denver and he has since worked around the world on a variety of projects, learning how to integrate architecture and urban design in a way that addresses both social and environmental sustainability while highlighting quality, creativity and budget-sensitive solutions. Sean lives on a farm in Tennessee with his wife and daughter and is a passionate outdoorsman.

Ryan Walters (Hist’08) was named head coach of Purdue’s football team, the Boilermakers. Ryan previously served as defensive coordinator of the Illinois Fighting Illini. A former CU football player, he was a three-year starter and was named Team MVP during his senior year.

Marc Ost (Fin’08), co-owner of Eric’s RX Shoppe in Horsham, Pennsylvania, was awarded the 2022 National Association of Retail Druggists’ ownership award at a national convention in Kansas City. This award recognizes an independent community pharmacy owner who embraces an entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrates excellence in the field of community pharmacy ownership. Marc serves on several pharmaceutical boards and committees, including the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists. He also regularly engages with elected officials to advocate for independent pharmacies. Marc lives in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Aziza, and children Alaina and Stanley.

Boulder’s Lindsey Cunningham (Jour’09) and her husband, Ryan, are co-founders of RollinGreens, a plant-based food company. Their story began in 2011 when the couple revived Ryan’s family’s retired food truck. Their local organic RollinGreens food truck became a staple at the Boulder Farmers Market. In 2016, they decided to branch out by launching their popular millet tots at local and national retailers. In just a few short years, RollinGreens has expanded into more than 4,000 stores nationwide and now offers home delivery on direct orders from their website. In May of 2020, the couple appeared on Shark Tank and struck a deal with Robert Herjavec during the season 11 finale.

The Colorado Law alumni board and dean Lolita Buckner Inniss named Bill Callison (Law’82), Beth Crane (Law’79), Jennifer Evans (IntlAf, PolSci’91; Law’98), Joe Neguse (Econ, PolSci’05; Law’09), Betty Nordwind (Law’71) and Donald Quick (Econ’82; Law’86) as alumni award winners. The 42nd annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet is March 16 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

In January, law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck promoted Zach Siegel (IntlAf, PolSci’10; Law’15) to shareholder. A member of the firm’s Denver real estate department, Zach leverages an understanding of his clients’ businesses to achieve their strategic goals. He has expertise in complex acquisitions and dispositions and leasing and development projects. His work spans asset classes including multifamily, retail, office, industrial and mixed use transactions.

Judd Shader (EthnSt’10), founder and CEO of Leeds West Group, an automotive repair franchise management platform, joined the Javonte Williams Foundation’s executive advisory board. The Javonte Williams Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing youth in the Denver metro area foster care system with essential resources and life-changing experiences. Judd will provide strategic direction for the foundation’s key fundraising campaign efforts. He lives in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

In late 2022, Cody Hawkins (Hum’10), CU Buffs quarterback from 2007 to 2010, was named head coach of Idaho State University. He previously served six seasons as a football coach at University of California, Davis, the last three of which he was the  offensive coordinator.

Attorney Sam Tallman (Hist’12) was promoted to member of the international law firm Clark Hill. Sam is a litigation practitioner in the firm’s Chicago branch.

DU law school graduate Meaghan Evans Fischer (PolSci’13) passed the bar exam and began working at law firm Wegener, Lane and Evans in 2017. She was recently named partner at the age of 29 years old.

Christina Manzi (Psych’14) is a wildlife rehabilitator at the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES), a nonprofit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center located in Belize. Based in Ambergris Caye, ACES is dedicated to the conservation and protection of Belize’s native wildlife and critical habitats. Their team of volunteers provides 24/7 emergency response for injured, ill, orphaned or displaced wildlife and offers assistance with human wildlife conflict resolution. Visit aceswildliferescue.org to learn more. 

Colorado Glass Works is Boulder’s only stained glass studio teaching the traditional art of stained glass. The studio is owned by Meggy Wilm (IntPhys’15) and opened its doors on Pearl Street in August 2022. The studio specializes in custom work, selling supplies and materials to other artists and teaching stained glass classes for various experience levels. Ten percent of all profits from the studio are donated to a collection of environmental groups.

Bre’Anna Brooks (EnvSt’15) is a program officer for the Mississippi River initiative of the Walton Family Foundation’s environment program. In this role, she helps explore and curate environmental projects and coastal restoration efforts that reach along the Louisiana Coast and follow the Mississippi River. She also manages a portfolio focused on community engagement. Bre’Anna is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science and policy with a concentration in equity from John Hopkins University.

Assistant professor of public health at Pacific University Adelle Monteblanco (PhDSoc’16) was recognized as a 2023 Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine. Only 15 scholars received the recognition for their stellar teaching, research and service out of several hundred nominees. Adelle previously served as an assistant professor of sociology at Middle Tennessee University.

Last year, while writing his book Till Myth Do Us Part, Darius Ebrahimi (Econ’16) made Hong Kong — where he lived as a child — his base to visit 20 countries in 20 months. The book is inspired by the legendary love story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Darius lives in San Francisco.

Since graduating from CU, Frederick “Flick” Mooradian (StComm’17) has launched a sparkling tequila company, Tequio. A tequila cocktail in a can, Tequio is made with 100% additive-free blue agave tequila, sparkling water and a hint of lime. The word “tequio,” which means “community service” in the Aztec language, was the inspiration for his brand. Tequio supports local Mexican communities that make its business possible. Tequio has won a gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and raised close to $1 million in funding. Tequio is created in Arandas, Jalisco in partnership with the family who started Cazadores Tequila.

Serena Ringer (StComm’21) is head of creator relations for Urth Naturals, a U.S.-based supplement company. Urth Naturals has formulated a blend of 10 functional mushrooms packed into berry and other flavored gummies.