Our Board
Our board is never boring
Lavanya Kraus
Board Chair
Lavanya Kraus was formerly a Project Manager and Client Service Manager in the field of environmental engineering consulting. and worked for Brown and Caldwell for 15 years. Her responsibilities included developing project opportunities with clients, and ensuring successful delivery of those projects. At TACT, Lavanya’s son actively participates in the automotive workshops. Over the years, she has observed the steady rise in his applied knowledge and general contentment from working with a group of peers and adults who share his car enthusiasm and from instructors providing a constructive learning environment. Lavanya is inspired to serve on the Board to work towards providing that opportunity for other students.
Dune Ives
Dune Ives is a cultural and communications strategist, impact campaigner, and executive who is recognized as a leader advocating for solutions that help ensure a healthy planet. With 25+ years of expertise in sustainability, environmental issues and business leadership across industries, Dune leads with what she stands for rather than against and believes in the power of market-based solutions to guide, influence and support requisite policy shifts and individual behavior change.
Dune has a Ph.D. in psychology and is currently an independent corporate director for the Ball Corporation. She was the founding CEO of Lonely Whale and the Sr. Director of Philanthropic Initiatives for Vulcan Inc., Paul G. Allen’s holding company.
Byron Kish
Byron Kish is the Senior Director of Disability Benefits Services (DBS), and Colorado SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, & Recovery (SOAR) State Team Lead. He has worked in the disability field since 2010, both at the SSA and as an attorney advocate. In addition to representing clients and managing DBS, he trains and oversees SOAR advocates throughout Colorado, serves as a consulting expert to the national SOAR program and other organizations, and collaborates with the SSA and Disability Determination Services to ensure a quality and efficient adjudication process. Byron graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and earned his Juris Doctorate from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, graduating Magnum Cum Laude. He is a loving husband, 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo, and an avid sports fan, who regularly cheers on the Michigan Wolverines.
Kevin Tarrant
Kevin Tarrant is a partner with Pierce Consulting Partners. He possesses over 30 years of Human Resources experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, high-each/software, and services for global Fortune 500 leaders. Kevin has an MA in Industrial Relations from Saint Francis University and a BA in Social Work and Criminal Justice from the University of Dayton. Kevin also served as a high-level C-suite executive coach and Adjunct Professor at University of Denver, Daniels School of Business teaching Business/Human Capital Management for Executive MBA students.
Neil Fitzgerald
Neil is a Director at RW Baird & Co., an investment firm out of Milwaukee WI, though he is based in Denver. He is an Investment Banker with over 30 years of experience focused on trading Investment Grade Corporate Debt. Prior to trading he started his career as a credit analyst reviewing the financial strength of the Corporate Issuers. Neil is the father of two young men who love to ski and golf with their dad and who both have attended classes at T.A.C.T. He is a graduate of Villanova University and University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.