Boulder biz luminary Susan Graf retires from Alpine Bank

Susan Graf, a 2023 inductee into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame and former CEO of the Boulder Chamber who helped cement Boulder’s identity as one of the world’s hubs for the natural and organic products industry, has retired as vice president of regional business development at Alpine Bank. Graf, who worked for five years at Alpine, helped launch Naturally Boulder (now Naturally Colorado), the Boulder Innovation Center ( now Innovation Center of the Rockies) and COLabs. “Graf’s passion for organizations that are a force for good in the world is evident in her extensive community contributions. She actively participated in numerous working groups and nonprofit boards, including Boulder Community Health, the Presidents Leadership Institute and the Colorado Enterprise Fund,” according to an Alpine Bank news release. “She will continue to serve on the boards of Impact Charitable, the Alliance for Collective Action and Namaste Solar, while supporting future community leaders as a mentor through CU’s Center for Leadership.”

Boulder’s E Source hires new CEO

E Source Cos. LLC, a data-science company that serves the utility industry, has hired Joe Eazor as its new CEO. Eazor, who takes over the chief executive role from Dave Perotti, has held leadership positions at McKinsey & Co., Oracle Corp., Rackspace Technology Inc. and Earthlink Inc. “I am excited to join E Source as CEO. It is an honor to lead such a talented and dedicated team, and I am excited about the journey ahead,” Eazor said in a prepared statement. “Our combination of research, data science, and consulting delivered by proven industry experts is exactly what utility clients need in a time of significant change.”The company acquired utility consulting firm UMS Group Inc. in late 2023. E Source, which was itself acquired by Align Capital Partners in 2019, bought management-consulting firm Utilligent in September. The company has absorbed nearly a dozen other firms since 2020.

Gorilla Logic hires growth executive

Broomfield-based digital product engineering services firm Gorilla Logic LLC recently hired Bob Graham as its chief growth officer. “We are thrilled to welcome Bob to the team,” Gorilla Logic CEO Drew Naukam said in a prepared statement. “He brings the ideal leadership qualities and experience to drive our continued growth and success. With Bob at the helm of our growth initiatives, we will be able to deliver our services to even more customers across our key markets and geographies.” Graham was previously the chief market development officer for Ness Digital Engineering. “Gorilla Logic is at the forefront of innovation, delivering cutting-edge software solutions and data engineering services that empower businesses across diverse industries,” Graham said in a statement. “In addition to the technical leadership, the board’s and executive leadership’s commitment to culture is remarkable. It’s an honor to be part of this extraordinary organization, working together to drive additional impact and continued success.”

Naturally Colorado to host pitch contest in April

Naturally Colorado, the natural and organic products trade group formed last year with the merger of Naturally Boulder and Denver-based Colorado Food Works, is now accepting applications to participate in Naturally Rising: The Conscious Business Pitch Competition. The pitch slam event will be held in April. “The winner will earn a coveted booth at Newtopia Now, access to invaluable mentors and retailers, and a direct path into Naturally Network’s national competition,” according to a Naturally Colorado event announcement. To qualify for the Naturally Rising, participants must meet the following criteria:

• Must have annual revenue of at least $100,000 and not exceed $2 million.

• Must have a retail partner.

• Must be an active Naturally Colorado member.

• Must be based in the United States and meet the geographic requirements of the participating chapter for your region.

• Must be able to attend Newtopia Now in August.

Boulder County’s Soil Health Initiative offering $1.1M in grants to farmers

Boulder County’s Soil Health Initiative is now accepting grant applications from farmers and ranchers to implement regenerative practices that improve soil health, enhance agricultural resilience, and address the impacts of climate change. The initiative has $1.1 million in funding, and applications will be accepted through Jan. 8. Grants will be awarded in February. “This grant gave us the tools to farm sustainably and protect our land for the future,” said Daphne Kingsley of Light Root Community Farm, a 2024 grant recipient who used funding to purchase hay baling equipment operated by draft horses, reducing fossil fuel use while improving rotational grazing systems. Visit the Soil Health Initiative webpage for details and to apply.

— BizWest reports