Keynotes | Peak Education

Past Monthly Keynotes

September 2021: Yemi Mobolade

Yemi collaborates for the health, growth and flourishing of Colorado Springs making his impact through economic development, entrepreneurship, community development, ministry, and leadership development.

Yemi, a Nigerian Immigrant, served as the Vice President of Business Retention and Expansion for the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. He co-founded the Wild Goose Meeting House, Good Neighbors Meeting House, Niche Coaching and Consulting, and has established a church. He was the minister of City Outreach and Engagement at First Presbyterian Church Colorado Springs and spent a previous career in quality control manufacturing.

Yemi will be speaking more about his impact within the community to our students and familiesat our September 15th.

April Keynote: Career Panel
April 15, 5:30-7pm
An evening of career investigation with diverse panelists.
Hover over the panelists' photos to read their short bios!

Brian Corrigan is a creative placemaking strategist who uses critical, creative and conceptual skills to solve problems and issues in the new economy. Recognized by CEOs for Cities as an innovator and community change agent who is shaping the future of America in cities, Corrigan specializes in creating strategies rooted in culture. He believes in the natural selection of ideas where crowds inform what assets are the strongest and then optimize accordingly.

Brian Corrigan
Artist, Creative Placemaking Strategist

Pic of Gina Espinoza for Career Panel.jp

Born and raised in the San Luis Valley, Gina received her Certificate in Office Training/Management from Pikes Peak Community College. She moved to Colorado Springs in 2014 to give her kids a chance at a better education and to find higher paid employment. She currently works for Goodwill of Colorado, where she started out tagging donated clothing for the retail centers. She joined their MIT (Manager in Training) program and quickly worked her way up into a Leadership position. She is now the Assistant Manager for their E-commerce Department. where she trains and manages a staff of 61 people.

Gina Espinoza,
Assistant Manager eCommerce

Brianna Spinks, MSW, LCSW. received her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from University of Colorado, Boulder in 2013 and Masters of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 2017. She has worked as a case manager with homeless youth in NYC, a child sponsorship program in Chile, a counselor at domestic violence shelter in IL, and social worker at inpatient psychiatric facilities in CO. Brianna currently works in the hospital system providing behavioral health assessments and teletherapy across the state.

Brianna Spinks,
Social Worker

José de Jesús "Chuy" Álvarez grew up in the small town of Juchitlán, Jalisco, Mexico. As part of a low-income migrant worker family, he spent his early summers in cucumber, cherry, and grape fields. In 2000, he moved to Colorado, learned English and joined Peak Ed as a Carmel Middle School student. He graduated from Sierra High School and went on to earn degrees in Electrical Engineering and Visual Arts at UCCS.

He began his career characterizing degradation effects on Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors for use in radiation-hardened integrated circuits for space implementation. In 2012, he took on a more direct space role as an engineer for the Air Force Satellite Control Network. He now works for the government as part of the United States Air Force's 517th Software Engineering Squadron, continuing to support the AFSCN

Chuy Alvarez
Software Engineer

Vinny Caricato is a first generation college graduate from rural eastern Colorado. Upon graduating from Colorado State University, he worked in Admissions at CSU as a scholarship coordinator and actively recruited first generation and students of color to campus. Vinny then went on to work with the Denver Scholarship Foundation as a College Advisor serving Denver East High School. At DSF, Vinny worked to help students from low-income backgrounds navigate the difficult process of applying and paying for college with the goal of increasing college enrollment for DPS seniors. Now serving as the Director of Talent Recruitment and Community Partnerships, Vinny actively works to recruit homegrown talent in our communities here in Colorado to lead classrooms. Vinny has a strong belief in the value of education and how it can help end the cycle of poverty.

Vinny Caricato, Director of Talent Recruitment,
Teach for America

Audriana was born in New Mexico but grew up in Southeast Colorado Springs. She is a proud Latina and First-Generation college graduate. She graduated from Harrison High School, then went on to Colorado College to study Anthropology. She loved her community so much, she returned to Harrison High School as a Culturally Linguistically Diverse Educator in English Language Arts. While teaching at HHS, she received her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Colorado-Denver. She has had the opportunity to conduct research in five states and three other countries.