HR Business Partner Lindsey Miller Graduates from Leadership Fort Collins
HR Business Partner Lindsey Miller recently graduated from Leadership Fort Collins (LFC), a comprehensive program designed to educate and motivate leaders who are dedicated to shaping the future of the community. The program, created by the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, focuses on developing leaders while teaching them about the history, government, economy, social issues, needs, and opportunities in the city. The group met once a month from September of 2024 through may of 2025 for day-long sessions that encouraged collaboration, critical thinking, and active engagement with the community.
Read the Q&A below to learn more about Lindsey’s experience in the program!
Q: What did you enjoy most about participating in Leadership Fort Collins?
A: What I enjoyed most about Leadership Fort Collins was the opportunity to meet and connect with leaders from a wide range of industries and sectors. Over the 9-month period, you form deep relationships with your classmates and steering committee members which I hope to carry forward in my personal and professional life. I liked how each month focused on a different theme like government, social issues, history, etc. so it provides a well-rounded perspective on how our community operates.
Q: How has Leadership Fort Collins influenced your approach to leadership? What specific skills or knowledge do you plan to apply in your career going forward?
A: During Leadership Fort Collins, we continually came back to the theme of “showing up”. With so many leadership styles and approaches, LFC enforced that leadership begins with intentional presence and action. I’ve learned the power of small, incremental changes and collective action. Going forward, I want to focus on listening to needs of the community, finding where my passions and values align, and committing to take action. Even in the smallest of ways, it is impactful and contributing to a larger mission.
Q: What did you learn about the Fort Collins community that you didn’t know before?
A: So many things! I have a new awareness and appreciation for how many people and roles it takes to make our community run effectively every day. I have more respect for service providers who provide support and resources to underrepresented populations. It was also a good reminder of how interconnected every business is in shaping and growing Fort Collins.
Q: Did you have any opportunities to get further involved with the community during this program?
A: As part of Leadership Fort Collins, my project team and I partnered with Neighbor to Neighbor, a local non-profit organization that focuses on providing sustainable housing, support services, and education to prevent and end homelessness. We focused on fundraising and collecting donated items to create welcome baskets filled with essential household items that each new Neighbor to Neighbor resident receives upon moving into their new home. We also led a Community Garden Clean Up Day at a Neighbor to Neighbor property in North Fort Collins, preparing the space for residents to enjoy gardening this summer!
Sarah Treadway Joins Brinkman Construction Board of Directors
Brinkman Construction is pleased to announce that Sarah Treadway, a respected leader with over two decades of experience in real estate and hospitality, has joined its board of directors.
Currently President and Co-CEO of Stout Street Hospitality, Treadway has a strong track record of operational excellence, managing $75M in revenue across seven P&Ls and leading a team of 700 employees. She has owned and managed six hotels, navigated loan modifications during economic challenges, and maintained a 95% team retention rate through hands-on leadership during the pandemic. Her ability to balance financial success with a commitment to people makes her an excellent addition to the Brinkman Construction board.
“Sarah’s expertise and insights will provide significant value to Brinkman Construction as we continue on our growth path,” said Jim Ciesla, President and CEO of Brinkman Construction. “Her extensive experience in organizational development, leadership, and strategic decision-making aligns seamlessly with our goals, and we are excited to leverage her perspective as we work to strengthen initiatives that drive value for our employee-owners and clients.”
Treadway will contribute her broad expertise to advising Brinkman Construction’s executive team, assisting with strategic organizational development, and supporting initiatives to safeguard and grow the share value of the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
“Joining Brinkman Construction’s board is an honor,” said Sarah Treadway. “I look forward to supporting their mission and contributing to the continued success of their organization.”
Brinkman Construction’s dedication to cultivating relationships and driving solutions aligns with Treadway’s approach to leadership. Her promotion of authentic connections between teams and clients will further enhance the company’s ability to deliver on its commitment to service and relationships in the industry.
Brinkman Construction Strengthens Denver Presence with Addition of New Leadership
Brinkman Construction is excited to announce the addition of Eric Kesti as Vice President and General Manager of their Denver office. With a career spanning 28 years in the construction industry, Eric brings a wealth
of experience and existing relationships that will significantly bolster Brinkman Construction’s presence throughout the Denver Metro area. In his new role, Eric will lead commercial business development strategies while executing on the long-term vision and growing the company’s Denver employee base and community engagement.
Jim Ciesla, President & CEO of Brinkman Construction, shared his thoughts on the appointment: “Eric’s extensive background and leadership skills provide an invaluable addition to our team. We are thrilled to have him join Brinkman Construction, where his expertise will help us expand our commercial construction services throughout the Front Range.”
Kesti expressed his enthusiasm about joining the team: “I am looking forward to contributing to the growth of our presence in the Denver Metro area. The opportunity to build a new future with such a dedicated and passionate team is incredibly exciting.”
Eric most recently served as the Special Projects Division Manager for Turner Construction Company. He has also served in leadership roles for Kiewit Building Group. He is actively involved in the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, and serves on the Metro Denver EDC Executive Committee, MDEDC Board of Governors and Colorado Space Coalition.
Eric’s arrival marks a significant step in Brinkman Construction’s commitment to growing its presence in the Denver area. His exceptional leadership and team management will pave the way for new positions within the company, further enhancing the company’s ability to deliver elevated construction solutions to clients.
Jennifer Briggs Joins Brinkman Construction's Board of Directors
Executive leadership consultant Jennifer Briggs has joined the board of directors for Brinkman Construction, a 100% employee-owned commercial general contracting company.
She brings with her two decades of experience in human resources, serves as Chair on the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade’s (COEDIT) Employee Ownership Commission and is an Executive Fellow at Rutgers University Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. Previously, Briggs worked as Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development for New Belgium Brewing for more than 12 years. During her time there, she was a key leader in driving a culture of ownership, learning and innovation across the organization.
“Jennifer’s expertise in operations, organizational development and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) makes her an outstanding addition to our board,” says Jim Ciesla, President and CEO of Brinkman Construction. “We were drawn not only to her experience, but also to her passion for promoting community and financial wellbeing as companies scale. Her direction will have a huge impact on furthering our focus on creating a positive employee experience as well as the big picture strategic planning.”
Construction companies are the fastest-growing employee-owned industry in the United States, with 15% already holding ESOPs. In its sixth year of employee ownership, Brinkman Construction looks to Briggs’s expertise to further raise employee and client satisfaction, while expanding the ESOP.
Jane Everhart Named Finalist in Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Awards
Jane Everhart has been named a finalist in the Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Awards in the real estate category. From nearly 300 nominations, thirty-six finalists and one Lifetime Achievement Award winner were selected in 12 industry categories. Winners in each category will be announced at the awards ceremony on August 21 at Hilton Denver City Center.
For nearly three decades, Jane has served as a top tier leader for entrepreneurial, fast-growing companies. Whether it be as CFO for a luxury winter sports retailer, the owner of a furniture and interior design franchise business or as the Global Director of Finance for OtterBox, Jane has combined her financial expertise with her entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in her career.
As the current CFO for two entrepreneurial companies, Brinkman and Brinkman Construction, Jane works in a full-time real estate finance capacity. She pairs her progressive approach to finance and strategic growth with an analytical and information-driven awareness of the real estate landscape and factors affecting it. In addition to her primary finance-driven role, Jane is also a Partner and Chief Operations Officer of Brinkman and a member of the Board of Directors for Brinkman Construction
Since joining Brinkman and Brinkman Construction, she has been instrumental in restructuring the company’s business model to incorporate progressive finance processes, minimize industry risk, strengthen the organizational environment, and enrich their position as an employer of choice in Colorado. During her tenure, the companies have celebrated significant increases in both revenue and headcount.
Beyond her impact on company performance, Jane has also been instrumental in developing a robust community impact program. She led efforts to launch a paid Volunteer Time Off initiative for all employees, helped lead the vision for Brinkman to become a Certified B Corporation and is the executive sponsor of BrinkmanGives, the joint community impact program of Brinkman and Brinkman Construction.
Jane holds a bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Colorado. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a graduate of the Women’s Vision Leadership Institute, and is a strategic operating plan facilitator from the Paterson Center. She has served as an officer on the OtterCares Board of Directors since 2013 and has served on the Bridges to Prosperity Finance Committee since 2018.
Jane was named a 2017 Women to Watch Leader by the Colorado Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts. This award highlights women in the accounting profession who have advanced to the highest levels and have shown significant effort in mentoring others.
Using Employee Ownership to Attract and Retain Top Talent
From the President & CEO of Brinkman Construction, Jim Ciesla
Brinkman Construction rebranded last year and a large part of that process was identifying our company DNA. What makes us us. We interviewed our clients to see how we’re perceived externally, and the feedback was interesting, but not all that surprising. We heard over and over what we already knew - that our people are what differentiate us from our competitors in the construction industry.
We’re not unique in knowing that people are our greatest asset, but the qualities that make them our most valued resource are telling. Our clients said that we bring a higher level of ownership to projects. That we are proactive and accountable, and we are customer-centric communicators. They said this ownership mentality leads to “tenacious problem-solving” and ultimately, earning their trust. Owners see that we take extreme pride in our work and connect the dots between a quality building and the success of their business.
So, how do we recruit and retain these high-caliber team members that set us apart? One factor I believe is responsible for our success is our employee ownership model. This innovative ownership structure, technically called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), provides employees with a retirement plan that is invested in Brinkman Construction stock. Currently, there are 7,000 ESOPs nationwide and Brinkman Construction is one of only 115 in Colorado.
We adopted this structure in 2016 and beyond simply becoming 100% employee owned, we made tangible shifts toward creating an ownership culture in which all employees see the importance of their individual roles and the service they deliver to clients. Every employee owner believes in personal accountability and has a long-term vision for projects. They unfailingly do what’s right for our clients because they know successful projects translate to repeat business and positive referrals. When you’re an employee owner, there’s even more of an incentive to go above and beyond and stay at your company for the long-term. This allows us to employ highly experienced staff who consistently provide an exceptional quality of work. We as a company, and we as employee owners, all benefit under this model.
With our new brand came a new tagline: “Driven to Build.” To us, this sums up why the employee ownership model was the right choice for Brinkman Construction. It describes the characteristics that differentiate our employees in the construction industry – grit, tenacity, and most importantly, ownership.