Cassie was born in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a product leader working on software for environmental compliance, working toward a vision of how technology can work for good. When not in front of a computer, Cassie is usually running, skiing, biking, or learning something new!

Originally from Atlanta, Charles calls Georgia home. Charles attended both Southern Illinois University, as well as, Georgia State University. He studied Business Administration and was also a student athlete for the football team. After college, Charles spent several years helping small businesses grow and expand by way of lending. Charles is passionate about using his professional background and experience to help iamtuf by way of his unique perspective regarding the pain points that all small businesses experience. Charles enjoys being outdoors(when it’s warm) with his husky, Jet. Outside of that, he can typically be found at his favorite crossfit gym.

Christen loves to spend time with her children, go to brunch, make movies, write and hang out with family and friends. Christen is excited to join the TUF team. Her desire is to give back to the community that shaped her into the person she is today. Reach out to her for any videography or social media needs.

Claire graduated with a BA in Communications from Purdue University and began her professional career in New York City working in the contemporary fashion industry. She left buying and merchandising to expand her digital expertise as a Multimedia Creative Consultant, with a focus on UX/UI, graphic design, and brand strategy. One decade and a global pandemic later, Claire relocated from the concrete jungle of Manhattan to Denver, Colorado. When she’s not designing, you can find her practicing Katonah yoga, hunting down the best Greek food, snowboarding, or hiking in the mountains with her husband and dog, Bronx.

Clara spent her childhood in Arlington, Virginia and Brussels, Belgium, when she was younger. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a focus on Communication Studies and relocated to Denver in November 2018. Clara’s passion for events was ignited when she volunteered for amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS gala at the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, she has worked with Group Nine Media’s family of brands to help bring their experiential extensions to life for media advertisers. In her free time you can find Clara skiing in the mountains, creating candles, spending time in Alaska, and discovering all the new and exciting things that Denver has to offer.

Ez is a Colorado native, born and raised in the heart of the city. He attended Howard University, where he graduated with a degree in Business Management. Ez would later earn his MBA at San Diego State University. He has spent the past 5 years working for Denver Public Schools and specializing in Career and College programing. Ez is currently an Operations Manager and works on initiatives ranging from Building Improvement projects to Diversity and Equity projects. Ez enjoys sports, gaming, film, and spending time with his children. Ez leads TUF’s community engagement efforts with a focus on our youth and future leaders in the city.

Jas grew up in Orlando, Florida where her family owned a small business for 9 years. She worked there day in and out, but when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit in 2020, they were forced to shut down permanently. Jas took the unexpected opportunity to pursue her dreams of becoming an independent, full time photographer while simultaneously moving across the country to Denver, Colorado. Her connection to the small business industry and passion for social justice is what brought her to The Underdog Family.

JT grew up in East Tennessee and studied Environmental Science at the Univ. of Tennessee. Throughout his life, he has volunteered countless hours at hospitals, park cleanups, & the USDA. After college, he spent time teaching English in Thailand and gaining cultural experience traveling and living throughout parts of SouthEast Asia. JT now runs a digital marketing firm, Aggregate Digital, based out of Denver and was brought on the team to help The Underdog Foundation and our partners gain exposure through social media & growing our online presence.

Originally from Ohio, Justin graduated with a degree in International Business from Ohio University and left his home state to discover the world. His curiosity was piqued by volunteering, teaching English, learning new languages, and exploring ~30 countries before he finally settled in Denver to focus on a career in Product Marketing. Traveling, hiking, camping, writing, learning French, and minimalism are just a few of the things he enjoys outside of supporting TUF’s mission & brand!

Lindsay is a Colorado native, born and raised in Boulder. She attended the University of Kansas, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, with a focus in Marketing and Strategic Communications. Post-college, Lindsay worked in the fashion industry in Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning to Colorado after a 10 year hiatus. In her free time she can be found eating and drinking her way through Denver’s culinary scene, searching for live music and enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Born in San Antonio, Texas and raised in Dallas, Matt traveled “abroad” to study Fine Art at Pratt Art Institute and SVA in New York City. He is passionate about supporting his local community and using his knowledge and experience to help others. After graduation, he started learning to build websites for local artists and businesses. Matt also loves camping, hiking, biking, and live music.

TUF would not be TUF without our amazing network of dedicated volunteers and donors that make all of our events and initiatives possible.