Printed on 5/21/08
Mike Kopp is a devoted husband and father of four who has invested his entire adult life in serving others.
Here's his story:
Ask people that know Mike and they'll tell you that he's always had a passion to positively influence the world. He's a dedicated family man who is bringing eighteen years of public service experience to the Colorado legislature. He believes that hard work and integrity create success -- and that people deserve more from less government.
Born and raised in South Dakota, Mike has always identified strongly with the values of the west: rugged individualism, freedom, family, and community. In his younger days, Mike was a bull rider and rock climber. He was also a budding entrepreneur who once converted a friend's tool shed into a successful neighborhood bike shop.
As a high school student, Mike was deeply motivated by Ronald Reagan's vision for America. Reagan inspired him in no small part to enlist in the Army and serve as a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division. He successfully completed a hazardous parachute deployment to Honduras, served in support of Operation Just Cause, and fought in the Gulf War where his division was the first unit on the ground holding a line in the sand. In 1991, Mike was honorably discharged a sergeant, and decorated for his service. His citations include: two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Army Achievement Medal. When he left the Army to pursue a formal education, he made his way by serving with an elite National Park Service Hot Shot fire fighting crew and battled wildfires throughout the west. And he worked for two years with the US Border Patrol's Detention and Deportation Division as a clerk in a student hire program in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mike was an honor student who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in ministry from North Central University, Minneapolis. After graduation, he began to use his leadership experiences and his desire to empower people in the non-profit and ministry field. He helped develop and start new churches, youth, and community service programs in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. His aptitude for organizational development coupled with his strong motivational skills, have taken Mike around the country and overseas to train and consult on topics such as leadership development and organizational change.
Mike and his family live in Littleton where he is Principal of ForwardThink Strategies, a firm specializing in non-profit, charter school, and ministry development. With years of successfully developing and running community programs, Mike has positively impacted the lives of thousands of people. Mike has completed his Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado; his thesis was done in cooperation with local firefighters and focused on wildfire mitigation.
He has been married to his best friend, Kimberly, for fourteen years. Together they are raising Meghan, Ethan, Allie-Grace, and Soren. They've made their home in Ken-Caryl Ranch where Mike enjoys being involved in Cub Scout, school, community, and church activities. His favorite ways to relax are to have coffee and read the paper with his wife, play with his kids in the yard, and fly fish for trout on the South Platte River.
Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about Mike's background and qualifications. He's eager to serve you in the state senate!
Meet Mike Kopp
Mike Kopp is a devoted husband and father of four who has invested his entire adult life in serving others.Here's his story:
Ask people that know Mike and they'll tell you that he's always had a passion to positively influence the world. He's a dedicated family man who is bringing eighteen years of public service experience to the Colorado legislature. He believes that hard work and integrity create success -- and that people deserve more from less government.
Born and raised in South Dakota, Mike has always identified strongly with the values of the west: rugged individualism, freedom, family, and community. In his younger days, Mike was a bull rider and rock climber. He was also a budding entrepreneur who once converted a friend's tool shed into a successful neighborhood bike shop.
As a high school student, Mike was deeply motivated by Ronald Reagan's vision for America. Reagan inspired him in no small part to enlist in the Army and serve as a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division. He successfully completed a hazardous parachute deployment to Honduras, served in support of Operation Just Cause, and fought in the Gulf War where his division was the first unit on the ground holding a line in the sand. In 1991, Mike was honorably discharged a sergeant, and decorated for his service. His citations include: two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Army Achievement Medal. When he left the Army to pursue a formal education, he made his way by serving with an elite National Park Service Hot Shot fire fighting crew and battled wildfires throughout the west. And he worked for two years with the US Border Patrol's Detention and Deportation Division as a clerk in a student hire program in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Mike was an honor student who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in ministry from North Central University, Minneapolis. After graduation, he began to use his leadership experiences and his desire to empower people in the non-profit and ministry field. He helped develop and start new churches, youth, and community service programs in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. His aptitude for organizational development coupled with his strong motivational skills, have taken Mike around the country and overseas to train and consult on topics such as leadership development and organizational change.Mike and his family live in Littleton where he is Principal of ForwardThink Strategies, a firm specializing in non-profit, charter school, and ministry development. With years of successfully developing and running community programs, Mike has positively impacted the lives of thousands of people. Mike has completed his Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado; his thesis was done in cooperation with local firefighters and focused on wildfire mitigation.
He has been married to his best friend, Kimberly, for fourteen years. Together they are raising Meghan, Ethan, Allie-Grace, and Soren. They've made their home in Ken-Caryl Ranch where Mike enjoys being involved in Cub Scout, school, community, and church activities. His favorite ways to relax are to have coffee and read the paper with his wife, play with his kids in the yard, and fly fish for trout on the South Platte River.Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about Mike's background and qualifications. He's eager to serve you in the state senate!
