About

Ready Colorado has an unmatched political track record among center-right organizations in Colorado. Since its inception in 2015, Ready has been the leading force behind independent expenditure (IE) efforts that have gone 20-0 in legislative primaries in the last four election cycles, including a 10-0 sweep of competitive primaries in 2022.

In 2016, Ready helped lead the effort to elect Heidi Ganahl statewide as the CU Regent At-Large, with Ready-led IE efforts delivering a win for Ganahl by 2% despite Trump losing the state by over 5%. In 2018, Ready led the successful opposition to Amendment 73, a billion dollar, blank-check tax increase.

Brenda Dickhoner, PhD

President & CEO

Brenda has spent her career working in education policy at the national and state level. Recently, she served as the Mike A. Leprino Free Enterprise Fellow at Common Sense Institute where she examined the impact various education policies have on the Colorado economy and individual opportunity. Brenda has previously served as a policy expert at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), helping design and implement programs to help improve the state’s lowest-performing schools and districts. Prior to CDE, Brenda supported education policy efforts at the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Brenda earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs and studied political science as an undergraduate at Duke University. Brenda serves on the board of directors for the Charter School Institute, the statewide authorizer for public charter schools. In 2021, Governor Jared Polis appointed Brenda as a member of his Education Leadership Council.

She and her husband live in Littleton with their two young boys. They are avid fans of skiing, rafting, biking, and, in general, exploring the beautiful state of Colorado.

Jonathan Finer

Vice President

Jonathan Finer brings over a decade of work in Federal and state public policy and politics. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the Colorado House Republicans under Minority Leader Hugh McKean and Minority Leader Mike Lynch. He previously served as the Regional Representative based in Denver, Colorado for U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia, covering Colorado, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Prior to DOL, Jonathan served in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and worked for Senator Cory Gardner and the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget.

Jonathan earned a B.A in business administration and a B.S. in political science from Colorado Christian University, and an M.A. in economics from George Mason University. A competitive marathoner and skier, Jonathan can often be found running a local trail or up in the mountains. He lives in Lakewood with his golden retriever Theodore (Teddy) Ruffsevelt and is recently engaged to his fiance, Margo.

Sage Naumann

Senior Advisor

Raised in Carlsbad, California, Sage and his wife, Sara, moved to Colorado in 2017. They own an adorable 1919 Craftsman bungalow in historical Brighton with their son, Claremont, and Basset Hound, Milton.

Sage is currently Proprietor of Anthem Communications. Previously, he worked as the Communications Director for the Senate Republican Caucus at the Colorado State Capitol. He has extensive expertise in graphic, print, and web design, copywriting, photo and video mediums, political campaigns, communications strategy, and social media management.

Also involved in his community, Sage currently serves as a Chair on the City of Brighton’s Historical Preservation Commission.

One of Sage’s greatest sources of inspiration is his brother, Dylan, who was born with cerebral palsy. He is also passionate about substance abuse and addiction treatment, as both his parents have suffered from alcoholism. Sage’s mother, Tamara, passed away from the disease in 2015 at just 44 years old, while his father now has over 15 years of sobriety.

Sage is also a former columnist for the Gazette.

Tyler Sandberg

Political Director

Tyler is a Principal at Timor Strategies, a consulting firm that helps political, corporate and non-profit clients influence elections, shape public policy debates, and navigate public affairs challenges.

He helped co-found Ready Colorado in 2015 and previously served as the Vice President of High Hopes Colorado and Ready Colorado. Tyler now leads the political efforts for Ready Colorado and provides communications support to both High Hopes and Ready Colorado. Prior to his time at Ready Colorado, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) and ran Rep. Coffman’s re-election campaigns starting in 2014.

Kim Gilmartin

Executive Director, Liberty Schools Initiative

Kim Gilmartin is the Founder and Executive Director of the Liberty Schools Initiative, an educational choice enterprise based in Colorado. Kim helps parents create new school options, with the goal of empowering students to be critical thinkers, able communicators, and self-governed citizens.

With support from the Daniels Fund and Ready Colorado, The Liberty Schools Initiative connects with local communities and families who are seeking educational choice. Kim and her team identify options, educate parents, and cultivate partnerships in order to plant charter schools, private schools, micro schools and educational enrichment programs.

With a strong background in classical education, Kim is a highly regarded leader in Colorado’s educational environment. The co-founder of Ascent Classical Academies, she was the driving force behind the past decade of its incredible seat growth, and she has helped parents open schools in four Colorado communities. Passionate about education reform, Kim is an inspiring advocate for parents who desire greater variety in education options. Highly knowledgeable in her field, Kim has gained years of experience in propelling grassroots support, and she is a skilled liaison between charter authorizers, community organizers, and school leaders.

Kim Gilmartin was named as a 2023 Charter School Advocate of the Year Finalist by the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and was featured in the national documentary: Whose Children Are They? She has served on the Golden View Classical Board of Directors, and on the advisory board for the Leadership Program of the Rockies. She actively supports numerous Colorado parent advocacy groups, and in her free time, Kim enjoys piano, reading, and spending time with her family.

Craig Hulse

Craig Hulse is the Executive Director of yes. every kid. Prior to joining yes. every kid., Hulse worked in government relations with innovative companies like Tesla and Uber. As Chief of Staff in the Nevada Assembly he helped usher through the most expansive universal Education Savings Accounts (ESA) at the time during the 2015 session. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada in Political Science and studied law at the Washburn University School of Law.

Luke Ragland

Luke Ragland is Senior Vice President with the Daniels Fund. He oversees all aspects of the Grants Program, including eight grant funding areas across the Daniels Fund’s four-state region.

Prior to joining the Daniels Fund, Luke was the President of Ready Colorado. Previously, he served as Vice President of Policy at Colorado Succeeds, a coalition of business leaders focused on improving the state’s education system. Luke practiced complex commercial litigation at a law firm in Denver immediately after law school.

Luke received his undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and studied law at the University of Colorado Law School.

Luke is a fourth-generation Coloradan who grew up working for his family’s logging company in rural southwestern Colorado. He currently lives in Denver with his wife and two daughters.

Ellie Reynolds

Ellie Reynolds, Co-Founder of Purple Label Government Solutions, is a seasoned executive with a track record of driving innovation and fostering economic growth. With expertise in government affairs, business development, and public relations, Ellie has strategically positioned Purple Label as a trusted partner for navigating complex regulatory landscapes. In her role as CEO of the Douglas County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation, Ellie spearheads initiatives to promote economic vitality and foster collaboration, attracting investment and supporting local businesses. Alongside her positions on the boards of Ready Colorado and High Hopes Colorado, Ellie serves on the board of the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Through her visionary leadership and collaborative approach, Ellie continues to drive positive outcomes in economic development and government relations, leaving a lasting impact across various sectors.