Please register below if you plan to attend in-person or on Zoom!

Join Community Members Howard Branz and Steve Ellis for a conversation and training on fighting climate change through your personal financial investments. 

About Howard Branz:

I’m Director of Science and Impact at Galvanize Climate Solutions, as part of a broader consulting practice. I’m presently techology lead for planning a new Galvanize Real Estate Fund. I’m also Chair of the NREL Advanced Technology Advisory Board.

About Steve Ellis: 

Steve Ellis is the founder of Colorado Capital Management (CCM), a fee-only financial advisory firm that is also a Certified B Corporation.   Steve heads up the firm’s impact investing practice.   He has helped guide the investment strategies and financial plans of high net-worth clients for over 30 years.   He holds degrees from C.U. and Cornell University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.  He is active in the local Jewish community and has held volunteer leadership roles with Nevei Kodesh, the Boulder JCC, the Rose Community Foundation, Jewish Family Service and more.   He is proud to be the husband of Cathy Summer (who is also well known for her work in the Jewish community) and the father of Jayne and Maya—all of whom completed bat mitzvah programs at NK. 

Steve is passionate about investing for positive social and environmental impact.  He has spoken about impact investing at various conferences and classes around the country, including as a past faculty member at Middlebury Institute of International Studies. He has written extensively on the subject and is listed in the Who’s Who in Impact Investing.  

Their approach involves:

1. Divestment: lowering the carbon footprint of a portfolio.

2. Direct investment: usually through green bonds or private funds into renewable energy infrastructure, energy efficiency, clean tech, regenerative agriculture, land conservation, and so forth.

3. Shareholder activism: Pressuring corporate management to make policy changes.

4. Accountability: Using various measurement / tracking / reporting  and rating tools.

The conversation can also extend into not just how you invest your dollars, but also how you spend your dollars.