Pat Cortez

As a Colorado native, Pat has a huge heart for serving her community and has overseen charitable contributions to more than 1,300 Rocky Mountain region nonprofits. Pat spent her entire career in the financial services industry and now serves a consultant to a private family foundation.

Throughout her career, Pat facilitated the opening of full-service banks in underserved communities, predominantly communities of color. This led to billions in contributions to these communities through philanthropic donations and access to credit. Pat is also a founding member and past chair of the Colorado Scholarship Coalition, which provides scholarships to underserved and non-traditional Colorado students. Over the years, Pat has been heavily involved in chambers of commerce and foundations supporting local communities of color.

Pat was awarded the prestigious “Woman of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts and was also named one of the “25 Most Influential Women” by the Women’s Chamber of Commerce.