Our Team
BuildStrong Academy of Colorado

Allison is a Michigan native and studied geology at Grand Valley State University before going to work as an exploration geologist at a gold mine in Alaska. She moved to Colorado in 2013 when she began working in the homebuilding industry in customer service, working her way up to operations manager for a local Colorado builder. She joins the BuildStrong Academy with a broad set of management skills and a passion for homebuilding and community impact. She hopes to lead the BuildStrong team to success by elevating their passion and experience with operational excellence and joining them in making a meaningful impact on the skilled labor workforce and the local Denver Metro community.  Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her little dog Kevin, camping, going to concerts, painting, spending time with her partner and his two kids, and neglecting her many, many houseplants.

After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A in Sociology and Spanish, Irazu began her career in Community Engagement. After traveling to the heart of Community Organizing, San Jose, California- for a 9-month activist training, she soon realized that her passion was rooted within her community and the people. As a young immigrant Latina growing up in West Denver, she understood the importance of becoming the voice of those who do not have one. Irazu now supports students at the BuildStrong Academy of Colorado achieve their construction career goals by breaking down any social and economic barriers. Irazu enjoys exploring nature’s hidden gems while backpacking with her soulmate.

Kristin Davenport is a native Coloradan and graduated from the Art Institute of Colorado with a Culinary Arts degree. Kristin has spent much of her career working in Corporate America as a recruiter for several Fortune 100 Companies (IBM, Comcast, UnitedHealthcare). Kristin previously worked for the City and County of Denver on the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) Grant where she worked with employers all over the Denver Metro area to find the youth of Denver sustainable employment. Kristin has been a recruiter in the construction field for the last several years and looks forward to assisting BuildStrong Academy students/graduates with networking, resume building, interviewing skills and making introductions to employers in the BuildStrong Academy network. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys going camping, fishing and attending rock concerts with her husband, she is also known to throw dinner parties from time to time.

Although raised in Colorado, Sam spent most of the last 14 years outside of the United States living, learning, and working in Switzerland, Ireland, and France. With an academic background in International Relations and professional background in policy work, education, and trade, Sam also has a deep passion for community. From a young age, he has been a volunteer and activist, advocating for equitable education, housing, worker’s rights, and more. At Buildstrong Academy of Colorado, Sam intends to marry his professional expertise and passions in a way that gives the students their best shot at success.

Outside of work, Sam can be found in the gym training as a powerlifter, running tabletop games for his friends, or at home with his partner and their two cats. He has a deep love of sports, community organizing, and every kind of food.

Ricardo began his career graduating as an Architect from Mexico City, after a life long passion for building. Moving to the US a few years later, he used his skills to build a business as a contractor. Ricardo has found a deep connection with remolding, and takes pride in leaving a lasting impact in the homes he works on. He looks forward to doing the same with his students, helping them to build their own foundations and help them to build their own paths. 

Joe is a US Navy Seabee veteran. He graduated from Redstone College with a degree in Avionics and Advanced Electronics, after which he pursued another degree from the Ecotech Institute for Electrical Engineering Technology. As a Seabee and a Master Electrician, Joe brings a “can-do” attitude and over 19 years of electrical industry experience to the team. His devotion to learning and succeeding has helped him elevate throughout the different aspects of electrical careers. 

Jasmine, originally from Iowa, has been calling Colorado home since 2021. With an educational background in mathematics and a deep passion for art, she has uniquely blended these interests into a fulfilling career in construction. Over the past 5 years, Jasmine has gained experience in maintenance, remodeling, and home inspection, where she can bring a creative and precise approach to every project. Jasmine is dedicated to helping students discover their own passions and integrating them within their professional goals.

Debra is a US Air Force civil engineering veteran originally from Birmingham, Alabama. With a background in civil engineering, she brings extensive experience in heavy equipment operation, concrete, masonry, rough and finish carpentry, MIG/SMAW/TIG welding, and sheet metal fabrication. Driven by a desire to help others, Debra began instructing in Marietta, GA, where she shared her knowledge with military newcomers across all branches. Her experience in counseling military members has also fostered her compassion for those around her. Debra enjoys reading, writing, and telling jokes whenever she can, and she’s excited to share her expertise with those eager to start a career in construction.

Born and raised in the Southwest, Danny spent much of his adult life working multiple jobs including organic farming, heavy equipment repair, brewing, and logging. He has over 15 years of experience in the construction field on a variety of different projects. In 2021 Danny received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering from NAU in Flagstaff, AZ. He is a licensed commercial building inspector and plans examiner in Boulder, CO. In his free time, Danny likes to hike, run, and bike with his partner and restore his vintage Volvo station wagons. He is full of energy and enthusiasm to help prepare the next generation of construction professionals