Hon. Mike Kopp

Trustee Spotlight

Hon. Mike Kopp is the president and CEO of Colorado Concern, an alliance of top business executives with a mission of enhancing the Centennial State's business climate.

Kopp’s career began as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division. In Ranger School he seized upon and never let go of the Ranger Creed's line, "Surrender is not a Ranger word." He often notes that that phrase has shaped him like none other. Kopp also served as a hotshot firefighter.

After his undergraduate work he spent several years in executive leadership positions in ministry and nonprofit work. Kopp put his experiences to work as a businessman and for nearly a decade he provided organizational development consulting services around the U.S.

Kopp served on the senior management team of Colorado's largest electric cooperative where he oversaw the corporate affairs division which provided leadership for its professional development, legislative and regulatory affairs, corporate communications, public affairs, and member relations functions.

He won a highly competitive race for a Colorado state senate seat and was re-elected to a second term. During his tenure he was chosen by his peers to serve as caucus chairman and senate minority leader. Kopp later won his party's state convention in a bid to become governor in 2014.

Kopp thrives on cycling, running, hunting, reading, and fishing. He loves endurance sports, having recently become an Ironman 70.3 racer. Kopp and his wife, Shannon, live in Golden with two of their five children whom they are crazy about. Kopp and his family enjoy spending time on their small ranch near the Black Hills where their focus is on conservation.