Good Business Colorado is a grassroots organization of employers and entrepreneurs working to build a prosperous economy, equitable communities, and a sustainable environment. Our members believe that businesses should nurture our communities and cultivate a more resilient and sustainable tomorrow, adopting proven standards and business practices that work toward the good of our planet, our communities, and our shared prosperity. Through our efforts, we hope to encourage fair wages and workplaces, social equity, affordable education and health care, and the increased use of clean energy. All told, we are leveraging the power of Colorado value-driven businesses to innovate a fairer, kinder, and more humane economy—for everyone.
Our Colorado small business and nonprofit organization is passionate about the long-term impact we leave on our society, leading the push for more environmentally friendly corporate practices while providing advocacy for those who need it most. We are committed to upholding these principles at every level of our economy, knowing firsthand the central needs of compassion, empowerment, and understanding.
Perhaps most importantly of all, our members are unified in their mission to elevate the quality of life for every participant in the Colorado economy, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or other characteristics. Most of all, our members believe that business success cannot be measured by profit alone and that true success means that our planet, communities, and bottom lines are all thriving. We are a collection of local Colorado value-driven businesses committed to the well-being of our community. Members of Good Business Colorado gain access to a wealth of educational materials and a supportive network of like-minded leaders within a wide variety of industries—from technology to restaurants, from insurance to automotive. No matter their background, each member of our organization is united by the shared human interest in seeing our communities flourish. That means our Colorado small business organization is creating open and supportive workspaces to realize the potential of our employees. That means balancing the needs of our economy with those of the environment. That means fearlessly confronting the challenges of affordable housing or systemic inequality within our society. Let’s come together as human beings to truly show the world all that Colorado has to offer.
Good Business Colorado is a tax-exempt, non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Good Business Colorado’s Federal tax ID is 32-0599105.
Our Staff & Contractor Team
Yolanda Richard - Executive Director
Yolanda Richard credits much of her professional success to her family and their unwavering resolve to be one of a handful of Haitian migrants in Miami, Florida, to start their own small business- The Richard Family Dry Cleaners. Seeing her migrant father’s bold resolve to start a dry cleaning business out of necessity to sustain her family serves as the moral foundation of Yolanda’s work in the world. Yolanda learned first hand how small businesses can be a life-saving resource for the community because she witnessed her family’s business again and again be so much more than a dry cleaning service but also a sanctuary, a community resource center, a hub for mutual aid, and still stands as a cornerstone for Haitian immigrants and community. In witnessing and contributing to her family’s small business, particularly in a culture and society with such explicit anti-immigrant, anti-black, and anti-poor sentiments, Yolanda sees her calling as deeply rooted in leveraging small business ownership to create sustainable pathways for equitable socio-economic mobility. While Yolanda didn't take over the family business, her passionate belief in the power of small business to create life-transforming pathways for unlikely entrepreneurs remains a driving inspiration of her work as a nonprofit leader. It comes as no surprise that Yolanda's life and professional experience have now led her to become the new Executive Director of Good Business Colorado.
Yolanda is a seasoned non-profit executive leader with over a decade of experience, specializing in guiding organizations through systemic change processes that foster just and inclusive cultures and communities. Yolanda’s leadership also brings a history of profound commitment to driving positive social change through a lens of racial, economic, and climate justice.
Yolanda previously held impactful positions at organizations, including the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver, the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), Yale University, Columbia University, and New York Presbyterian Hospital. During her tenure in New York City, Yolanda served as the Director of Membership & Strategic Partnerships at FPWA- one of New York City’s premiere public policy organizations. There, she orchestrated New York City’s largest interfaith campaign for the 2020 census, lauded by the U.S. Census Bureau for its impact on increasing counts in low-income communities of color. Additionally, her leadership in the Roll Up Your Sleeves New York vaccine education campaign during the pandemic garnered support wellover $5 million and reached over two million Black and Brown New Yorkers with culturally relevant health information. Through this initiative, Yolanda also strategically led efforts to garner over 70% voter support for NYC Racial Justice Commission's proposals, marking a significant stride in combating systemic racism. Yolanda’s leadership is marked by a commitment to equity, community building, and the cultivation of people power, which she is excited to bring to her executive leadership with GBC and eager to build powerful relationships across the state.
Yolanda holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami, completing double majors in Political Science and Africana Studies. Additionally, she holds sought-after certifications in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Baruch College, as well as in Non-Profit Accounting and Finance from the BDO-FMA Institute.
Beyond spearheading GBC as the new Executive Director, you can find Yolanda backpacking, camping, and hiking in the beautiful outdoors of Colorado.
Contact Yolanda by email yrichard@goodbusinessco.org or by phone (720) 295-9762.
Doni clemons - policy associate
Doni Clemons has had a dynamic career dedicated to advancing social and environmental equity for over a decade. She first joined Good Business Colorado (GBC) as a member, drawn by the opportunity to help create a fairer, kinder, and more humane economy alongside a supportive community of like-minded business leaders. Now, as a Policy Assistant at GBC, Doni is motivated by delving deeper into addressing critical issues such as environmental resilience, affordable housing, and systemic inequality. She is committed to ensuring that the measurement of business success moves beyond only profits to include the responsibility an organization takes in contributing to the well-being of the planet and communities.
Throughout her career, Doni has built community engagement programs and forged partnerships with coalitions, nonprofits, and community groups, providing guidance on best practices for engaging disproportionately impacted communities. She has held leadership roles at Mo’ Betta Green, Grassroots Voter Organization, and at The Sustainability Center at the University of Denver.
Doni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Howard University and an MBA from the University of Denver. She has served on the City of Denver Environmental Justice Committee and enjoys volunteering with local food banks and community gardens.
Contact Doni by email at doni@goodbusinessco.org
VIC Gómez Betancourt - Fund Development Consultant
Vic Gómez Betancourt (they/them) joined Good Business Colorado as a consultant in September 2024 to support fund development needs. Vic leverages 20 years of resource mobilization at the grassroots level and trust building with funding partners, along with unapologetic storytelling centering impacted voices. They have a bachelor’s in anthropology from the University of Colorado Denver and a master’s in nonprofit management from Regis University. They are a Transformative Leadership for Change 2019 Fellow, a 2015 Regis University Affiliate Faculty, and a 2014 Mayoral Appointee for the Denver Women’s Commission. Vic’s grassroots leadership includes professional, volunteer, public office, and board roles with efforts focusing on environmental justice, liberatory leadership, economic justice, gender justice, im/migrant justice, human rights, education, worker’s rights, and reproductive justice.
Board of Directors
Carol Cochran - Co-Owner, Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
Carol Cochran founded Horse & Dragon Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO in May of 2014 with her husband, Tim. Their company is founded on 4 tenets: make great beer, treat everyone ethically, reduce your environmental footprint wherever possible, and be proactive members of your communities. Carol has an undergraduate degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and a Masters in Secondary Education from University of Alabama; neither of these degree programs prepared her for the rigors of running a small business focused on the triple bottom line. She joined GBC in 2017 and particularly appreciates what the organization does to encourage and allow small businesses to stay involved with and abreast of policymaking.
Celesté Martinez - Owner, Celestial Alegria LLC
Celesté Martinez is the founder and owner of Celestial Alegria, where she is committed to igniting joy through transformation through her array of services which include: life coaching, facilitation, organizational and program development, curriculum design, and racial equity consulting. Her experience from working as an organizer to nonprofit director taught Celesté invaluable lessons on how to build, develop and successfully transition organizations, which she often applies her diverse skill set to meet the needs of her clients. When Celesté launched her business in June 2020, she knew that becoming a GBC member would empower her to make a significant impact on community issues as an entrepreneur alongside many other values aligned small business leaders. Celesté is proud to currently serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Good Business Colorado.
Edwin Zoe - CEO, Zoe Ma Ma & Chimera Ramen
Edwin Zoe was born in Taiwan and immigrated to the United States as a child. He has been a resident of Boulder for nearly 40 years and absolutely loves Colorado. Edwin is the founder and CEO of Zoe Ma Ma and Dragonfly Noodle restaurants in Boulder and Denver. He has been recognized by Michelin Guide and by James Beard Foundation national semi-finalist for "Outstanding Restaurateur." Edwin is also a founding member of GBC, and has been courageously outspoken about his decision to eliminate tipping from his restaurants as a way of addressing the biases and racism that plague the industry he loves. Edwin is also a strong proponent of paid family and medical leave and was appointed to the Task Force that provided the foundation for the ballot initiative GBC helped pass in 2020 creating the FAMLI Program!
Katharine Knarreborg - President, Merlin Instrument Company
Katharine Knarreborg is the President of Merlin Instrument Company, a small family business that designs and manufactures accessories for scientific instruments. She has a BA in Chemistry from Kenyon College and an MS in Materials Engineering from CalState Northridge. As a member of Good Business Colorado since 2018, Katharine has advocated for a number of GBC priorities including FAMLI Paid Leave, Secure Savings, tax simplification, Equal Pay for Equal Work, and healthcare equity legislation. Katharine was thrilled to see one of her longtime visions for GBC materialize in 2024 as we worked with CO legislators to advance legislation originating from GBC members’ own ideas, and she is proud that her employees have been able to take paid parental bonding leave as a direct result of GBC's work to get FAMLI Paid Leave passed. She is excited to support GBC as it continues to scale and build political power while keeping the values and vision of our diverse and unique membership at the core of our work.
Pete Turner - Founder and CEO, Illegal Pete’s
Pete Turner opened Illegal Pete’s first location in August 1995 with a simple idea – to provide quality food in a service-oriented environment. When he launched Illegal Pete’s, Turner had little formal business experience and not even Shakespeare (he was an English major) could have prepared him for the challenges those first years would bring. In the 28 years since he opened his first location, Pete has embodied the values of GBC in operating his 12, soon to be 15 locations with actions such as his livable wage initiative and being on the forefront of electrifying the food and beverage industry. As a founding member of the organization, Pete played an essential role in shaping the vision of GBC. He also advocated for, and then was appointed to serve on the Colorado Secure Savings Board, which under the leadership of the State Treasurer was tasked with studying and developing a plan to roll out a retirement savings program to address the more than 40% of private-sector workforce that did not have access to a retirement savings plan at work.
Sarah Marcogliese - Owner, Native Earth Landscape
Sarah Marcogliese Founded Native Earth Landscape Inc in 2003. She is the Treasurer of The Board of directors for GBC. Sarah has always been a strong advocate for a livable wage, benefits and a positive work environment. She is one of the first in the industry to be completely independent of products that are not natural or organic for the last 16 years. Sarah is also committed to electric equipment and water wise irrigation systems and gardens. With a background in Music Theater, Sarah has been a spokesperson for both the ALCC and GBC for many years. Sarah is a founding member of GBC. While working on the minimum wage ballot measure in 2016, Sarah became inspired to be more involved in the policy that truly affects small businesses and is still very passionate in this organization and all it has accomplished.
Debra Brown - Founding Executive Director (Emeritus)
Debra has played a central role in Good Business Colorado since the inception of the organization. Debra recruited and convened the values-driven businesses that founded Good Business Colorado and was then selected to serve as the organization’s first Executive Director.
Within seven years of service, Debra has successfully grown the GBC community into a thriving base for social action in Colorado’s entrepreneurial community. We thank her for her commitment to the organization and her efforts in passing the baton to our new executive director.
To connect with Debra, you can reach out to her via LinkedIn.