Mick Freeman Appointed New CEO & Executive Director of BEN Colorado; Current CEO & Executive Director Kay Henze Transitioning After Vibrant Tenure
(Denver, CO, June 24, 2024) - The Bridge Entrepreneurs Network (BEN Colorado), the leading entrepreneurial advisory organization for Colorado scale-up companies, today announced that current Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Kay Henze is transitioning after four years and that after a comprehensive executive search Mick Freeman has been appointed new CEO and Executive Director and member of the BEN Board. Freeman will assume the role immediately.
Transitioning CEO and Executive Director, Kay Henze
Henze became CEO/Executive Director in February 2020, grew programming and revenues, led BEN Colorado through the pandemic, created statewide reach and programming, and rebranded the organization to reflect its expanding mission and impact. During her tenure, BEN Colorado worked with 200 companies, 350 advisors, and collaborated with over 20 partners. She secured over $3.4 million in funding including a three-year, $750k grant from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. She created the annual Celebration of Entrepreneurship, BEN’s annual flagship fundraising and community building event. She secured corporate sponsorships from GLC Advisors, First Bank, Colorado Impact Fund, TriNet, P&M Corporate Financing, Plante Moran, Sunflower Bank, and Comcast. She will remain involved with BEN Colorado as CEO Emeritus on the BEN Board and fully immersed in supporting a seamless leadership transition.
“On behalf of the BEN Colorado board of directors, I would like to express our deep gratitude and respect for Kay and her transformative work,” said David Perez, board chairman. “Under her leadership, BEN expanded its programming beyond the Front Range and created measurable economic impact and entrepreneurial community building across the state. We look forward to her continued involvement with BEN as she brings her unique understanding and passion for the organization to bear for future generations of entrepreneurs.”
New BEN CEO and Executive Director, Mick Freeman
Freeman is an experienced entrepreneur and cross-sector, multi-stage CEO with deep knowledge of startup, scale-up, nonprofit, for-profit social enterprise, Fortune 500, government, and technology-driven organizations. He joins BEN after more than six years of volunteer service as a BEN Network Advisor, Lead Advisor, and Catalyst Advisor, including for urban and rural startups and working with dozens of BEN Colorado companies to help them scale. An active community volunteer, he serves on the Colorado Financial Services Board, appointed by
Gov. Jared Polis and previously served as a Commissioner for Serve Colorado, The Governor’s Commission on Community Service, appointed by former Gov. John Hickenlooper. Freeman earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is the father of three children.
“My passion is helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges to scale impactful businesses, and I’m honored to be given the opportunity to lead this invaluable and innovative economic development nonprofit at a promising growth juncture,” said Freeman. “There’s never been more demand for entrepreneurial support in Colorado, and BEN is uniquely positioned to leverage its proven 10-year history of measurable impact to support entrepreneurs across their growth life cycle. I’m grateful to Kay and the board of directors for their support and the foundation they’ve built and look forward to expanding our programs and impact.”
“Mick brings a powerful, exciting vision for growth and impact as well as clear energy, passion, and understanding of BEN Colorado that allows him to hit the ground running on our brand vision,” said Larissa Herda, Board Director and search committee member. “He’s been involved in nearly every program aspect, and his understanding of the Colorado entrepreneurial ecosystem, ability to scale mission-driven organizations, and stakeholder relationships made him an exceptional candidate.”
About BEN Colorado:
BEN is a transformative community where entrepreneurs, advisors and partners come together to foster collective growth. The essence lies in the power of the shared wisdom, mentorship and a dynamic network that propels everyone toward success. BEN initially was funded by a grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to help Colorado jump-start the development of high-growth companies that have the greatest potential to create new jobs and other opportunities in the region. BEN identifies Colorado-based companies in the technology, health, aerospace, energy, and consumer goods industries and introduces them to experienced business experts who have successfully grown their own companies and are now willing to advise others. BEN Colorado recently changed its name from the Blackstone Entrepreneurship Network to Bridge Entrepreneurship Network to reflect BEN’s role in elevating statewide scale-up entrepreneurship and ‘bridge’ various entrepreneurial support entities. BEN has supported more than 350 companies and entrepreneurs that generate over $7.8 billion in top line revenue, raised over $10 billion in capital and employ over 21,678 people.
For more information, visit bencolorado.org or email info@bencolorado.org.