Each spring, the Colorado Business Journal acknowledges 40 exceptional professionals under the age of 40 who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields and made significant contributions to their communities. This year, four former students from CU Denver were among the distinguished individuals recognized for their outstanding accomplishments and impact on the Denver community.

Raymael Blackwell, Denver

Raymael Blackwell, currently serving as a program officer at the Community First Foundation, has made substantial strides in creating and leading mentoring programs for students within the Denver public school system. Additionally, Raymael actively participates as a valued member of the recently formed CU Denver SPA GOLD Board.

Robert Henry Franklin, Broomfield

Robert Franklin II holds the position of Diversity, Health Equity & Inclusion Program Manager at Children's Hospital Colorado. His commitment to service extends to various associations, including the Denver Mayor's Youth Commission, the Colorado Public Health Association, the Denver Afterschool Alliance, the Aurora Health Alliance, the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence, and the Family Leadership Training Institute.

Jared Quintana, Denver

Jared Quintana, an accomplished professional, currently serves as the Creative Director at Elevation Creation, a prominent marketing agency based in Denver. In this role, Jared takes charge of a wide array of responsibilities, including overseeing web development, video production, design resources, administrative support, and creative direction. His expertise extends to serving both national corporations and local non-profit organizations, ensuring that their marketing strategies align with their objectives and effectively reach their target audiences. Furthermore, Jared extends his knowledge and guidance to provide consulting services for several Colorado-based start-ups, supporting their growth and success in the competitive business landscape.

Travis Leiker, Aurora

Travis Leiker holds the esteemed position of Senior Director of Development and Philanthropic Advisor at the University of Colorado. In this capacity, he leads a team of professionals, spearheading strategic efforts to secure investments in CU's education, healthcare, and diversity priorities. Recently, Travis successfully concluded a fundraising initiative, raising $3.25 million to benefit diversity scholarships at the School of Medicine while honoring the School's first Black

graduate, Charles Blackwood, MD (1947). Outside of his professional commitments, Travis remains deeply involved in the community, having served as the past president of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado (now Cobalt Advocates). Presently, he holds the presidency and executive directorship of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (C.H.U.N.), Denver's largest and oldest registered neighborhood advocacy group. In this influential role, Travis actively works towards uniting diverse constituents to guide Denver's urban planning, advocating for parks preservation, building coalitions to support the homeless population, and promoting socioeconomic justice at all levels of the city.