Meet the 2025-2026 Barney Ford Fundraising Team!
Natalie is a second-year MBA student with extensive experience in cross-functional collaboration, pursuing a career in logistics and supply chain. As president, she leads the strategic planning, organization, and execution of the Barney Ford Fundraising Benefit. Natalie coordinates team efforts, manages event operations, and leads engagement with key stakeholders to maximize the event’s impact. With a background as a healthcare clinician and graduate-level instructor, Natalie has gained deep insights into diversity and inclusion, shaped by her work with clients from varied backgrounds and abilities. She is passionate about using her role to further inclusive and equitable initiatives at CU Boulder and within her local Colorado communities. Outside of her leadership work, Natalie enjoys sewing, often tailoring her own clothes and crafting squeaky toys for her dog, Archie.
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Kristen brings a healthcare background and a commitment to access and opportunity to the Barney Ford Scholarship Fundraising Committee. A Colorado native, she spent over 14 years as a bilingual speech language pathologist and clinical faculty member, building programs, mentoring students, and showing up in some of life’s most challenging moments. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a focus on improving healthcare systems, not just individual outcomes. Outside of committee work, Kristen is a mom (who takes her coffee very seriously), a book club enthusiast, a musical theatre fan who plays the flute and clarinet, and a former debate coach in northern Chile.
Lindsay is dedicated to securing sponsorships and donations to support the Barney Ford Gala and scholarship. She joined the team to help increase funding for underrepresented MBA students, recognizing the importance of supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds. Having personally benefited from scholarships, Lindsay understands the impact of financial aid in making education accessible. Outside of her work, Lindsay has a passion for solo travel—this past year, she explored Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia on her own, including a road trip through the region.
Mackenzie is a first-year MBA student at CU Boulder with a decade of experience in brand strategy, communications, and partnership development. As part of the Sponsorships and Donations for the Barney Ford Fundraising Committee, she leads efforts to secure in-kind and monetary contributions, cultivates strategic relationships with community partners, and supports overall fundraising strategy to ensure the benefit’s success. Prior to business school, Mackenzie worked with companies ranging from high-growth tech firms to mission-driven CPG and real estate brands, bringing a collaborative and values-driven approach to stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about building inclusive spaces and creating opportunities for underrepresented students through meaningful fundraising initiatives. Outside of her committee work, Mackenzie enjoys hiking Colorado’s trails, growing cut flowers, and exploring local farmers markets.
Alfred plays a crucial role in organizing the Barney Ford Gala, focusing on ensuring the event runs seamlessly while advancing its mission. He joined the team out of a deep passion for making a difference by giving a voice to the underrepresented and creating opportunities for those who haven’t always been given a fair shot. Through this event, Alfred aims to contribute to meaningful change by raising support for initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, helping future leaders from all backgrounds access the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
Nick is focused on selecting the perfect venue for the Barney Ford Gala by researching, pricing, touring, and evaluating options. Once the venue is chosen, his efforts will shift to sourcing materials, contracting service providers, and coordinating logistics, including the event theme, to ensure smooth execution. Nick joined the Barney Ford Scholarship Committee to support the continuation of this vital program that advances graduate education at CU Boulder. Inspired by Mr. Ford’s legacy and the values he championed, Nick is dedicated to creating an event that is both enjoyable and impactful, furthering the cause of education and opportunity. A fun fact about Nick: he won a BBQ competition in college!
Elyse joined the Barney Ford Scholarship Fundraiser Planning Committee because of its tangible role in expanding access and opportunity through education. She is particularly drawn to work that moves beyond conversation and into execution, helping ensure the event runs smoothly and delivers real support to students. On the planning team, she supports event logistics and setup, bringing an organized, hands-on approach shaped by years of coordinating projects and community initiatives.
Outside of work, Elyse enjoys creative and hands-on pursuits, including art, design, travel, surfing, and motorcycles. She is also interested in language learning and cross-cultural exchange, and values projects that foster connection and community.
Paula oversees the creation and execution of promotional strategies, including managing social media campaigns, crafting compelling content, and developing outreach initiatives to maximize awareness for the Barney Ford Gala. As an international student, she deeply values the importance of celebrating diverse perspectives and joined the team to help spread awareness and teach others about the significance of embracing diversity. Paula is committed to ensuring that people from all backgrounds feel seen, accepted, and welcomed. Through her work, she hopes to amplify the message of inclusivity and encourage meaningful connections within the community. A fun fact about Paula: she attended the World Cup in Russia!
Ian is a 1st-year MBA student and helps ensure that marketing materials are effectively created, polished, and delivered on time. Ian is a Product Design graduate with experience in brand design, industrial 3D design, graphic design, photography & videography, and more. He hopes to work in brand management/entertainment & media after graduation. Growing up in the Twin Cities, he deeply values diversity and the variety of crucial perspectives it brings. He joined the team to grow awareness for the fundraiser and expand its net as far as possible, helping as many students as he can along the way. In his free time Ian enjoys golfing, snowboarding, photo/videography, traveling with friends, and going on spirited drives through the mountains.