Meet Your Mentors!

Fall 2025 Cohort

Adam Wascholl
tax strategy
financial planning
service-based
Helping small farms grow through smart financial systems.
Alan ‘Big Al’ Jantzen
hospitality
restaurant operations
horse breeding
Entrepreneur and owner of Silver Grill Café, Vern’s Place, and a hay farm near Loveland.
Bob Welch
ranch management
journalism
calf-cow operations
Modern rancher and media professional with deep roots in the Western livestock industry and agricultural storytelling.
Bobby Strecker
leadership
livestock genetics
team management
Experienced livestock professional applying strong leadership to genetics, consulting, and team development.
Brandon Hernandez
Food Safety
Supply Chain Strategy
Quality Management
From factory floor to boardroom, helping food businesses grow safely and smartly.
Erin Karney Spaur
Agricultural Policy
Industry Advocacy
Nonprofit Leadership
Advocating for Colorado’s cattle producers with deep roots in ranching and policy leadership.
Helen Skiba
first-generation
sustainability
floriculture
First-generation farmer and owner of Artemis Flower Farm.
Jeff Engell
economic development
international consulting
rural food systems
Global economic strategist building resilient rural communities through innovation and systems thinking.
Jim Jackson
marketing strategy
innovation
leadership development
Global tech leader with roots in agriculture, helping students connect innovation to real-world impact.
John Harris
distribution
operations management
food brokerage
Specializes in produce logistics and team-driven operations.
Jordan Levi
cattle industry
livestock production
fund management
Ag-sector investor and innovator bridging cattle markets, capital, and entrepreneurship.
Julie Moore
Beef Industry
Public Engagement
Nutrition Communication
Bridging the gap between beef, nutrition, and education through decades of industry leadership.
Scott McClure
Market Validation
Technology Integration
Financial Planning
Engineer-turned-entrepreneur helping teams turn good ideas into valuable products.
Tim Jordan
business development
sales
service-based
Service-driven entrepreneur and former president of Colorado’s largest retail florist.
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About Our Mentors

Our mentor cohort represents a diverse range of industries, business models, and entrepreneurial experiences—all grounded in agriculture and food. Each mentor was selected for their ability to share real-world insights, support student growth, and model the complexities of entrepreneurial decision-making.

Mentors were recruited through a multi-step process that included:

  • A public call for interest shared via the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (DARE) and Institute for Entrepreneurship (I4E) email lists
  • Campus flyers and outreach
  • Referrals and word of mouth

Every mentor is generously volunteering their time to support student learning, and we’re deeply grateful for their engagement.

We’re actively working to expand our mentor network in future cohorts. If you’re an entrepreneur or business leader and are interested in mentoring for the Fall 2026 cohort, we’d love to hear from you. Please reach out to to learn more.