One of the scariest things about starting up a new business can be getting health insurance for you and your family. Connect for Health Colorado is a marketplace where you can shop for health insurance at competitive prices and—if you are eligible—get a tax credit for you, your family or your small business. Protect your most important asset while following your dream!

This panel will illustrate how one budding entrepreneur utilized this resource to make sure she was covered while she pursued her dream. We’ll also speak with Mizraim Cordero, the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, about how his organization supports small businesses and entrepreneurs in Colorado.

Moderator: Chris Adams, President of Engaged Public

Featured Panelists:

Kevin Patterson, Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

Kevin Patterson was named Chief Executive Officer of Connect for Health Colorado in April of 2015. Patterson previously served as chief administrative officer to Gov. John Hickenlooper and has an extensive history of public service. He has served as the interim executive director of three state agencies during leadership transitions, the Governor’s Office of Information Technology, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Governor’s Energy Office. He brings a strong understanding of state government and stakeholder engagement to this role. Patterson has held leadership roles for the city and county of Denver in the Budget Office, the Planning Department, the Department of Human Services, the Department of General Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation. As the governor’s chief administrative officer, Patterson served as a member of the State Board of Equalization, the Capitol Building Advisory Committee, the State Internet Portal Authority, and supervised 10 gubernatorial appointed public trustees. He was elected to the Denver Board of Education in 2001 and 2005. Patterson graduated with a B.A. in Teaching from Sam Houston State University and holds both a Masters of Public Administration and Masters of Urban Regional Planning from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Nancy Koons, Owner Koons & Co, LLC
Digital Analytics Consultant

Nancy has been working in the field of digital analytics for over 10 years, and helps some of the most innovative companies around the world solve problems and make better decisions by utilizing their digital data. Nancy got her start in analytics with a few companies in Denver, and spent the bulk of her career as a traditional "employee" building and leading the Digital Analytics group at Vail Resorts. Nancy now works independently helping companies both within and outside Colorado. She lives in Broomfield with her husband and son and enjoys skiing, mountain biking and camping with her family in her free time

Mizraim S. Cordero, Vice President of Government Affairs
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

Mizraim is a native of the Dominican Republic, his family moved to New York City in 1989 and most recently he has lived in Colorado since 2008. He currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He first joined the Chamber in 2013 as the Director for the Colorado Competitive Council. Prior to this Mizraim served the City of Commerce City as Intergovernmental Affairs Manager and earlier managed all aspects for the Adams County Head Start Program as its administrator.

Mizraim received his Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Lehman College CUNY, a Master Degree in Clinical Social Work from the New York University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

His volunteer engagements include the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District, the Grand Junction Economic Development Partnership, the Blueprint Denver Taskforce, the Denver Regional Council of Government’s Regional Transportation Committee and the Colfax Marathon Board of Directors. Mizraim’s favorite role in the whole wide world! is to parent, befriend, coach and spend time with Amelie and Olivia Cordero the centers of his universe.