Vision: That every child has equal access to a quality education.
Mission: To provide children of low-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice.
Who We Are
ACE Founders
ACE Scholarships was founded in 2000 by Alex Cranberg, Charlie Gallagher, Ralph Nagel, John Saeman and the late Ed McVaney and John Walton to provide low-income parents with the freedom to choose the K-12 schools that are best for their children.
The founders’ vision was powerful but simple: that all children have access to great schools. The founders’ commitment to launch ACE was formed through many years of frustration with a lack of reform within the public school system and unsuccessful legislative efforts to provide publicly funded vouchers to families for private school.
They were also keenly aware that low-income students lagged far behind students of other incomes and that overall, American students continued to fall further behind students in other countries.
Guiding Principles
The founders were driven to launch ACE by these primary convictions:
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The American public education system is flawed
The founders were well versed in education reform dating back to the early 1980’s when A Nation at Risk was published. Milton Friedman’s book Free to Choose was also an inspiration to them, as were pioneering education reform efforts in Milwaukee and Cleveland.The founders’ greatest inspiration was the late John Walton, who through his philanthropy encouraged leaders around the country to do something about an education system that doesn’t work for all kids, particularly students of color from low-income families. He was an early proponent of, and investor in, programs that provide immediate relief to students through privately funded programs offering private school choice. As Ralph Nagel put it, “the education of our children is the most important issue in our country and giving parents the ability to choose a school that works for their child is the simplest and most impactful reform we can champion.”
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Free enterprise and democracy work.
Each of the ACE founders grew up in middle-income families and benefited greatly from the benefits of competition in business. Their personal life stories became the foundation of their belief that all families should be able to choose the academic environments that are right for their children. In every area of life where we have competition, products and services improve. Free enterprise breeds competition, which leads to innovation and efficiency and creates an accountable, customer-focused culture. If parents are able to leave, schools will work harder to keep them. This conviction was forged through the founders’ personal beliefs that America is the greatest country in the world and that democracy, free markets and competition work, allowing anyone to achieve the American Dream. Ed McVaney observed, “Free markets work and should be the basis of our education system because parents can then choose the right school for their children.”
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Parents know the best education environment for their kids.
The founders believed that parents, not government bureaucrats, know what is best for their children. Cranberg explained, “ACE was created to empower parents to choose the best school for their children. Our mission is to ensure that parents and children have the ability to figure out which place fits them best.” Every child is different. Parents know their children the best and are therefore the best decision-makers for their children. The founders were impartial to the choice parents make, instead believing parents know best. ACE, therefore, does not limit the private school choices for parents or seek to influence parents in the choices they make other than financial eligibility, as defined by the federal Free & Reduced Lunch (FRL) guidelines. Over subsequent years, the ACE governing board has relaxed these financial requirements for families to better serve the communities we serve. However, in the spirit of our founders’ vision, in every circumstance, ACE families have significant financial need. Typical ACE families of four currently earn around $40,000 annually and an ACE scholarship covers at most only half of a student’s tuition, with a current cap of $2,000 for K-8 and $3,000 for high school. The ACE model expects parents to pay for a portion of their child’s tuition, and we know this comes at a great financial sacrifice. We also know that by having skin in the game, families are more invested and likely to succeed. As Cranberg reflected on this dynamic,“If they are coming to the table with their children, with their hopes, and with their money, I don’t see how we can fail them by not at least coming to the table with some funds.”
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Private schools offer great value and have open seats.
During their initial investigation into how to improve education in America, our founders were struck by the quality and care that small private schools offer. These are not the elite college-prep schools that today charge $20,000 or more for tuition. Most private schools are small, humble enterprises with tuitions currently in the $8,000 to $12,000 range, but were able to do amazing things for kids. And these were schools with open seats and a willingness to serve low-income students who had been previously struggling in public school. “You could see that there was tremendous hope. That there were places in Denver where people were doing wonderful things with kids that weren’t supposed to be having wonderful things happen to them,” Cranberg recalled. The founders learned that the majority of private schools were faith-based and that in addition to finding a school that shared their family values, families chose such private schools because of safety and access to quality academics. Today, more than 85% of ACE partner schools are faith based. Over the past twenty years, as ACE data have demonstrated, year after year, that private schools offer all children a great education. ACE students usually enter their private schools one or two years behind grade level, but within three years at their new schools, catch up and thrive.
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All people are created equal and deserve an equal chance to pursue the American Dream.
The founders subscribed to the great American principle underlying both our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution: all people are created equal. They saw the large discrepancy in educational outcomes between white students and students of color in public schools, and knew better was possible. This “achievement gap” is not only a stain on America’s education system but a root cause of countless other social ills, and our founders believed school choice would help eradicate it. The founders were therefore intentional in establishing ACE support as a need-based scholarship, not a merit-based scholarship. They believed that families with financial need should have equal access to quality private K-12 options to help level the playing field throughout society. The founders did not place additional academic or other requirements on the family, above and beyond whatever requirements their school of choice has in place in order to further this vision. This vision paved the way for ACE to enter tax credit states in later years (Louisiana and Kansas, currently), as all publicly-funded tax credit programs nationally are need-based. Alex Cranberg said, “ACE serves as a reproach that demographics are your destiny, that if you’re poor that it explains your likely output in life.” John Walton, founder of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, declared “educational choice is the last great civil rights issue of our time.”
Board of Directors
LINDSAY BROWN
Executive Vice President, Hughes Marino
ALEX CRANBERG
Chairman, Aspect Energy
DEBORAH FLORA
Partner/Co-Founder Lamplight Entertainment and Whetstone Media Group
ERIC KOEPLIN
President & CEO, Alpha Principal
RICK SCHMITZ
Partner, SKS Ventures
JOE SMITH
Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP
(Chairman)
JERRY SOMMER
Denver, CO
MATT TURNER
Managing Partner, MorningStar Senior Living
(Secretary)
LISA WALSH
Denver, CO
(Vice Chair)
MIKE WARD
Owner, Mike Ward Infiniti, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Fiat
BERT WILLIAMS
COO, Johnson Financial Group
LIZ WRIGHT
Denver, CO
TOM ZANECCHIA
President, Wealth Management Consultants, Inc.
(Treasurer)
National Advisory Board
JUDY AND DICK AGEE
Founder & Chairman, Wapiti Energy and Bayou Well Holdings Company
Texas
JOY AND DONALD "BOYSIE" BOLLINGER
Louisiana
National Advisory Board Chairman
GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
Florida
Honorary National Advisory Board Member
BETH AND JONATHAN CARR
President, Christian Brothers Foundation
Texas
PETE AND MARILYN COORS
Colorado
FRAN AND TERRY COMBS
CEO, Integrated Airline Services
Colorado
CATHY AND ALEX CRANBERG
Chairman, Aspect Energy, LLC
Texas
HEIDI CRUZ
Managing Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Texas
CYNTHIA FISHER
Entrepreneur
LYNN FRIESS
Founder, Friess Associates
Wyoming
LANE AND BOBBI GRIGSBY Founder & Chairman, Cajun Industries LLC
Louisiana
CHAZ AND SUSAN MUELLER
Texas
EDDIE AND LINDA RISPONE
Louisiana
JOHN AND CAROL SAEMAN Colorado
RICK AND SUSAN SCHMITZ
Colorado
SCOT AND KEELY SELLERS
Colorado
LISA AND TIM WALSH CEO, Confluence Builders, LLB
LIZ AND CHRIS WRIGHT
CEO, Liberty Oilfield Services, LLC
Colorado
Colorado Board of Trustees
Austin Akers CEO, Bison Oil & Gas
Kevin Ahern Managing Partner, Brush Creek Partners
Don Bailey Chairman & CEO, Triton Investment Company
Bill Bergner President, Berco Resources, LLC
Ed Bernau Denver, CO
Graydon Bevis CEO, Pella Windows & Doors of Colorado, Inc
Mark Brinkerhoff Managing Partner, Brinkerhoff Restaurants
Dick Brown Denver, CO
Matt Call Principal & CEO, NavPoint Real Estate Group
Patrick Callahan Broker, Confluence Land Company
George Caulkins Principal, Greendeck Capital
Scott Clark Chairman & CEO, The True Life Companies
Meg Duke Denver, CO
Jason Dunn Partner, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP
Lori Durham Denver, CO
Rick Eldridge President & CEO, The Intuitive Companies
Gregg Engles Partner, Capital Peak Partners
James Evans Lobo Logistics
Darren Fisk Founder, CEO & CIO, Forum Real Estate Group
Nate Ford Partner, Perkins Coie, LLP
John Fox Chairman, Augusta Jane Oil & Gas, LLC
Mike Fries President & CEO, Liberty Global, Inc.
Caleb Gates Denver, CO
John Grier President, Crimson Midstream, LLC
Tom Hamilton HF Corp
Dave Hunter Chairman, Financial Designs, Ltd.
Lou Hutchison CEO and Founder, H-D Asset Management, LLC
John Ikard Denver, CO
Brandon Johnson CEO, Johnson Financial Group, LLC
Mike Johnson President, Johnson GEO
Tom Jorden Chairman, CEO & President, Cimarex Energy Company
Mike Kennedy President, Point Rider Real Estate LLC
Eric Koeplin President and CEO, Alpha Principle
Don Law President, Prima Exploration, Inc.
Paul Libner CFO and Treasurer, Royal Gold, Inc
Steve Lockton EVP and Owner, Lockton Companies of Colorado, Inc
Sharon Maffei Principal, SAM Lifestyles
Jonathan Marsico Owner, Ship Sticks
John Martin Denver, CO
Mark McCammon Managing Partner, Strength Capital
Scott McLean Denver, CO
Kelly Millen Denver, CO
Tim Miller Chairman, Pivot Point Ventures
Kevin Mize Founder, KM Investments
Nick Morris CEO, Western Paper Distributors
Jimmy Mulvihill Academy Partners Group, LLC
Ralph Nagel President, Top Rock Investments, LLC
Joe Niebur President / Owner, Niebur Development, Inc.
Mike O'Shaughnessy President, Lario Oil & Gas Co.
Bill Owens Senior Director, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Walt Rakowich Retired CEO, ProLogis Foundation
Scott Reiman President, Hexagon, Inc.
Perry Rickel Founder and CEO, Marrick Medical Finance LLC
Audrey Robertson Co-Founder & CFO, Franklin Mountain Energy, LLC
Kristine Robertson Denver, CO
Jon Robinson EVP Regional Chief Credit Officer, UMB Bank of Colorado, N.A.
Jeff Ross President & CEO, Ross Aviation
Jamie Sabatier CEO, J Sabatier and Company
Craig Saeman Chief Development Officer, Catholic Charities of Denver
Dick Saunders Founder, Saunders Construction, Inc.
Adam Sayers President, Axia Energy II, LLC
Rick Schmitz Partner, SKS Ventures, LLC
Mark Sexton Chairman and CEO, Evergreen National Resources
Terry Shadwick President, BarnLight Capital LLC
Joe Smith Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP
George Solich President, FourPoint Energy, LLC
Mike Starzer Managing Partner, Sixth Creek Energy
Betsey Unger Denver, CO
Wouter van Kempen CEO, DCP Midstream, LLC
Greg Vigil President, Castle Rock Resources II, LLC
Tim Walsh CEO and Founder, Confluence Companies, LLC
Mike Ward Owner, Mike Ward Automotive
Dick Weil CEO, Janus Capital Group
Peter Wells Chairman, Wells Property Holdings, LLC
Charlie Wesley CEO, Thoroughbred Resources
Don Wolf Chairman, Enduring Resources, LLC
John Woodward Partner, Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis & Goldberg, P.C
Chris Wright CEO, Liberty Energy
State Boards
Colorado Board of Trustees
Austin Akers CEO, Bison Oil & Gas
Kevin Ahern Managing Partner, Brush Creek Partners
Don Bailey Chairman & CEO, Triton Investment Company
Bill Bergner President, Berco Resources, LLC
Ed Bernau Denver, CO
Graydon Bevis CEO, Pella Windows & Doors of Colorado, Inc
Mark Brinkerhoff Managing Partner, Brinkerhoff Restaurants
Dick Brown Denver, CO
Matt Call Principal & CEO, NavPoint Real Estate Group
Patrick Callahan Broker, Confluence Land Company
George Caulkins Principal, Greendeck Capital
Scott Clark Chairman & CEO, The True Life Companies
Meg Duke Denver, CO
Jason Dunn Partner, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP
Lori Durham Denver, CO
Rick Eldridge President & CEO, The Intuitive Companies
Gregg Engles Partner, Capital Peak Partners
James Evans Lobo Logistics
Darren Fisk Founder, CEO & CIO, Forum Real Estate Group
Nate Ford Partner, Perkins Coie, LLP
John Fox Chairman, Augusta Jane Oil & Gas, LLC
Mike Fries President & CEO, Liberty Global, Inc.
Caleb Gates Denver, CO
John Grier President, Crimson Midstream, LLC
Tom Hamilton HF Corp
Dave Hunter Chairman, Financial Designs, Ltd.
Lou Hutchison CEO and Founder, H-D Asset Management, LLC
John Ikard Denver, CO
Brandon Johnson CEO, Johnson Financial Group, LLC
Mike Johnson President, Johnson GEO
Tom Jorden Chairman, CEO & President, Cimarex Energy Company
Mike Kennedy President, Point Rider Real Estate LLC
Eric Koeplin President and CEO, Alpha Principle
Don Law President, Prima Exploration, Inc.
Paul Libner CFO and Treasurer, Royal Gold, Inc
Steve Lockton EVP and Owner, Lockton Companies of Colorado, Inc
Sharon Maffei Principal, SAM Lifestyles
Jonathan Marsico Owner, Ship Sticks
John Martin Denver, CO
Mark McCammon Managing Partner, Strength Capital
Scott McLean Denver, CO
Kelly Millen Denver, CO
Tim Miller Chairman, Pivot Point Ventures
Kevin Mize Founder, KM Investments
Nick Morris CEO, Western Paper Distributors
Jimmy Mulvihill Academy Partners Group, LLC
Ralph Nagel President, Top Rock Investments, LLC
Joe Niebur President / Owner, Niebur Development, Inc.
Mike O'Shaughnessy President, Lario Oil & Gas Co.
Bill Owens Senior Director, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Walt Rakowich Retired CEO, ProLogis Foundation
Scott Reiman President, Hexagon, Inc.
Perry Rickel Founder and CEO, Marrick Medical Finance LLC
Audrey Robertson Co-Founder & CFO, Franklin Mountain Energy, LLC
Kristine Robertson Denver, CO
Jon Robinson EVP Regional Chief Credit Officer, UMB Bank of Colorado, N.A.
Jeff Ross President & CEO, Ross Aviation
Jamie Sabatier CEO, J Sabatier and Company
Craig Saeman Chief Development Officer, Catholic Charities of Denver
Dick Saunders Founder, Saunders Construction, Inc.
Adam Sayers President, Axia Energy II, LLC
Rick Schmitz Partner, SKS Ventures, LLC
Mark Sexton Chairman and CEO, Evergreen National Resources
Terry Shadwick President, BarnLight Capital LLC
Joe Smith Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP
George Solich President, FourPoint Energy, LLC
Mike Starzer Managing Partner, Sixth Creek Energy
Betsey Unger Denver, CO
Wouter van Kempen CEO, DCP Midstream, LLC
Greg Vigil President, Castle Rock Resources II, LLC
Tim Walsh CEO and Founder, Confluence Companies, LLC
Mike Ward Owner, Mike Ward Automotive
Dick Weil CEO, Janus Capital Group
Peter Wells Chairman, Wells Property Holdings, LLC
Charlie Wesley CEO, Thoroughbred Resources
Don Wolf Chairman, Enduring Resources, LLC
John Woodward Partner, Spierer, Woodward, Corbalis & Goldberg, P.C
Chris Wright CEO, Liberty Energy
Colorado Board of Advisors
Andy Aye Colorado Market President, US Bank
Christian Bienvenu Managing Director, SVP, Sr. Relationsip Manager, PNC Bank, N.A.
Gabe Bodhi CEO, Tekton Group
Chris Brown Vice President, CRH Americas, Inc.
Lindsay Brown Executive Vice President, Hughes Marino
Steve Buretz Senior Vice President, CAZ Investments, LP
Tony Burke President, Pinkard Construction Co.
Enrico Cacciorni Managing Partner, Red Lodge Development, LLC
Judy Cain Partner, Plante Moran
Wayne Cavanaugh Founder & CEO, Ninja Nation
Mike Corbett Vice President, Innovest Portfolio Solutions, LLC
Melissa Corrado-Harrison Managing Director - Wealth Management, Corrado Harrison & Associates
Stacey Duke President and Managing Partner, BDO
Leigh Dunn Manager/VP of Philanthropy, Engineered Demolition, Inc.
Ann Durham LIV Sotheby’s Global Real Estate Advisor, Ann Durham Properties
Jae Edwards Principal & Co-Founder, Dublin Development
Mike Fargher Denver, CO
Tracy Forst Managing Director, Aon Risk Solutions
Norm Franke Regional President, Alpine Bank
John Freyer, Jr. President, Land Title Guarantee Company
Jennifer Gilliland Denver, CO
Sergio Gutierrez JP Morgan Chase Foundation
Ronette Hall Denver, CO
Natasha Harris Principal/Manager, Biegert Group, Inc.
John Hill CEO, Quince Associates
Mike Hommel Owner, Designs by Sundown
Brian Jumps Member, Jumps Law
Craig Kinard Managing Director-Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch, The Kinard Group
Jon Kinning EVP/COO, RK Mechanical, Inc.
Kurt Kittleson President & CEO, K2 Commodities LLC
Mark Korell Principal, Tower Rock Investments, LLC
Jeff Lang VP Energy Practices, IMA Financial Group, Inc.
Dave Lederhos VP, Commercial Acquisitions, Global Pacific Properties
Bruce MacDonald Owner & President, MacDonald Hardwoods Co. Inc.
Travis McAfoos Principal, Kentro Real Estate
Mike McCubbin Vice President, IMA Financial Group, Inc.
Marvin McDaniel Denver, CO
Walker Monfort Vice President, Corporate Sales, Colorado Rockies Baseball Club
Sara Montgomery Wealth Transfer Specialist, Plante Moran
Lindsay Morton Gaiser Owner and Vice President, Andrisen Morton
Frank Nessinger Executive Vice President, FourPoint Energy, LLC
Adam Ostermiller Vice President - Strategic Business Development, LPL Financial
Carl Piske President, Alta Products LLC
JB Richardson COO, Cherry Creek Insurance Agency, Inc.
Audrey Robertson Co-Founder & CFO, Franklin Mountain Energy, LLC
Greg Schmidt CEO & Chairman, Saunders Construction, Inc.
Melanie Schmieding Director, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Nate Schnabel Owner, NAS Properties
Barry Shames Business Consultant, Cairn Strategies
Matt Smith Partner, Holland & Hart LLP
Reed Smith SVP, Employee Benefits Practice Leader, BOK Financial
Justin Soucie Denver, CO
Brett Spitzer EVP and Managing Director, NAI Global Corporate Solutions
Jenna Stapleton Executive Director, Stapleton/Harmes C. Fishback Foundation Trust
Mark Stonehocker Manager, Stonehocker Farms, LLC
Stephen Storey Partner, BPT Performance Consulting
Ryan Sullivan Founder, Waypoints Energy
Adam Truitt Principal, Financial Designs, Ltd.
Matt Turner Managing Partner, MorningStar Senior Living
Bert Williams COO, Johnson Financial Group, LLC
Paul Williamson President, Colorado Region, UMB Bank of Colorado, N.A.
Colorado Associate Board
Margarita Bravo Chief Creative Officer, Margarita Bravo Interior Design
Craig Brede Managing Partner, Lincoln Energy Partners
Evan Burden Consultant, Voluntary Solutions Inc.
Brooke Carnie Manager of Suite Services, Denver Broncos Football Club
Satish Chander CFO, K&G Petroleum
Tom Fitzgerald CEO, Fitzgerald Investment Management Company LLC
David Foley Principal, Makers Commercial
Chris Fordyce President / Owner, Fordyce Consulting, LLC
John France Denver, CO
Lucas Giokas Executive Director, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Ryan Goethals VP of Group Protection Sales, West Region, Lincoln Financial Group
Kelsey Goldberg Account Executive, Zoom Video Communications
Brian Hartley Vice President/Broker, Live Water Properties
Kelly Johnson Vice President, Legal, Liberty Global, Inc.
Ryan Lawless Principal, Renegade Properties
Matt Lengel Wealth Management Advisor, Denver Private Wealth Management
Zach Leonard Managing Director, CIBC Bank USA
Greg Litvak Principal, Highlands Vista Group
Chancy Love Managing Partner, Protera Investments, LLC
Caleb Neumeyer Vice President, Bank of Colorado
John Obering President, Helm Energy, LLC
Rob Peirce Executive Vice President, USI Colorado
Natalie Piquette Division Manager, Accounting and Finance, Bradsby Group
Alex Riggs Vice President, Production, Essex Financial Group
Gino Scarpelli Senior VP, PNC Bank
Anne Sherwood Lead Assistant General Counsel, Xcel Energy, Inc.
Margo Simpson Denver, CO
Sean Sjodin Owner, Sjodin Consulting, LLC
Charlie Smith Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP
Jared Smith President, Reliance Workforce
Gus Spaulding Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, Cresset Capital
Matt Tracey Marketer, United Energy Trading, LLC
Wesley Weise Senior Vice President, Bank of America Private Bank
Mary Ann Whetzal HR Director, Liberty Energy
Cashin White SVP/Director of Growth and Innovation, BOK Financial
Louisiana Board of Advisors
BOYSIE BOLLINGER Chairman and CEO of Bollinger Enterprises, LLC
MIKE DEHART President of Federated Management Services, Inc
MILTON GRAUGNARD Executive Vice President with Cajun Industries, LLC
LANE GRIGSBY Chairman at Cajun Constructors, Inc.
MANNY PEREZ DE LA MESA Former President/CEO at Pool Corp.
EDDIE RISPONE Chairman at ISC Constructors, LLC
RALPH STEPHENS Director at Postlethwaite & Netterville
MATT STULLER Founder and Chairman of Stuller Inc.
PAT TRAHAN Vice Chairman at First Horizon National Bank
RICHARD ZUSCHLAG Chairman and CEO of Acadian Ambulance
Montana Board of Advisors
CRAIG BARRETT Retired CEO/Chairman, Intel
ROBERT BEERS Billings, MT
JOE BILLIONRetired Owner and Chairman, Billion Auto Group
JERRY CASHMAN Founder and Owner, Cashman Nursery
BRIAN CEBULL Montana
GREG GIANFORTE Founder and Former CEO, RightNow Technologies
JARED HAUSKINS Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments
COLLEEN HOWELL Managing Director, Global Data Company
JAY JAMIESON Montana
ELLIOT JUSTIN Founder and Chairman, SwiftMD
JENNI LEACH, Ph.D., LCPC Great Falls, Montana
LIZ MARCHI Former President & CEO, Montana West Economic Development
MARC PIERCE Co-Founder & CEO, Warm Springs Productions
JIM SCOTT Vice Chairman of the Board, First Interstate Bank
RAY THOMPSON Founder & Former CEO, Semitool
RICK UNGERSMA President, Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply
CHRIS WRIGHT CEO, Liberty Resources LLC
DAVID YARLOTT President, Little Big Horn College
Texas Board of Advisors
JUDY & DICK AGEE Founder & Chairman, Wapiti Energy and Bayou Well Holdings Company
Houston, TX
ADRIENNE & SNEHAL AMIN Founder, The WindAcre Partnership
Houston, TX
CHARLENE BRANDAU President, Avvento Foundation
Houston, TX
JONATHAN CARR Foundation President, Christian Brothers Automotive
Houston, TX
CATHY AND ALEX CRANBERG Authentic Agility
Houston, TX
HEIDI CRUZ Managing Director, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Houston, TX
COLLEEN DIPPEL Founder and Executive Director, Families Empowered
Houston, TX
JEREMY FRANK Vice President, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Houston, TX
BRAD FREELS Chairman, Midway Companies
Houston, TX
JAIME & JOHN LODGE Lodge Lumber
Houston, TX
JOHN O'SHEA President, JCJ Energy
Houston, TX
KHALED SALEM Managing Partner, Williamsburg Enterprises, Ltd.
Houston, TX
MELANIE SCHMIEDING Managing Director, Abbot Downing
Houston, TX
KELLEY & BRENT SOUTHWELL Chairman, PJS of Houston Inc
Houston, TX
HANNAH & PAUL WOLFERT Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Wells Fargo
Houston, TX
Wyoming Board of Advisors
LINDSAY BROWN
Executive Vice President, Hughes Marino
ALEX CRANBERG
Chairman, Aspect Energy
DEBORAH FLORA
Partner/Co-Founder Lamplight Entertainment and Whetstone Media Group
ERIC KOEPLIN
President & CEO, Alpha Principal
RICK SCHMITZ
Partner, SKS Ventures
JOE SMITH
Partner, Bartlit Beck LLP
(Chairman)
JERRY SOMMER
Denver, CO
MATT TURNER
Managing Partner, MorningStar Senior Living
(Secretary)
LISA WALSH
Denver, CO
(Vice Chair)
MIKE WARD
Owner, Mike Ward Infiniti, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Fiat
BERT WILLIAMS
COO, Johnson Financial Group
LIZ WRIGHT
Denver, CO
TOM ZANECCHIA
President, Wealth Management Consultants, Inc.
(Treasurer)
Leadership Team
MIKE COLEMAN
Chief Program Officer
JASON DIFRAIA
President
KAREN FARRAND
Chief Financial Officer
ROGER PATTISON
Chief Development Officer
NORTON RAINEY
Chief Executive Officer
Staff
JAY BALLARD Development Database Coordinator
SINDY BECKERLE National Foundations Manager
ERIK BILLINGER VP of Development, Colorado
JO BRINKERHOFF National Events Manager
HANNAH BUNCH REBER Director, ACE Arkansas
TINA BURKE Director of Development Operations
MIKE COLEMAN Chief Program Officer
JASON DIFRAIA President
KIRSTEN EASTWOOD Program Director
KAREN FARRAND Chief Financial Officer
ERIN GABRIEL National Programs Communications Coordinator
RHONDA GONZALES Senior Accountant
KELLY GRIFFIN Senior Events Coordinator
CATHERINE "CAT" HENDRIX National Alumni Affairs Director
DENISE HERNANDEZ Program Coordinator, Public Programs
RITA HOEFT Controller
JR HOLLAND President, ACE Dallas & Fort Worth
LENNIE JARRATT Data & Evaluation Manager
AJ KUHLE Director, ACE Kansas
MELISSA LANDRY President, ACE Louisiana
HALLE MATHUES Human Resources Director
TYEJEREE MCMANUS ACE Louisiana Alumni Director
ALEX NUÑEZ Associate Director of Development, ACE Houston/San Antonio/Austin
BRITTANI O'BRIENVP of Development, Colorado
EDELMIRA ORTIZ-MARTINEZACE Colorado Alumni Liaison
ROGER PATTISON Chief Development Officer
JAKE PENWELL President, ACE Montana & Wyoming
MARCY PHANNENSTIEL Office Manager
JENEE PULLIAM ACE Texas Alumni Director
JASMINE PURINGTON Data Analyst
NORTON RAINEY Chief Executive Officer
LINDSEY RHODES Director of Public Program
SHELLEY ROGERS President, ACE Houston/San Antonio/Austin
CALLI RULON Events Coordinator
RYAN SCHMITZ Development Associate, Colorado
JEFFREY VAN CLEAVE Program Coordinator
THE RIGHT SCHOOL CAN HELP CHANGE THE STORY FOR A CHILD IN NEED.
Donate Today »EVERY CHILD DESERVES
A GREAT EDUCATION.
That’s our stand. At ACE Scholarships we’re committed to helping low-income parents provide that opportunity to their children. Our mission is to provide children of low-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice.
