The Ballot Effect: Growth, Jobs, and Colorado’s Competitive Edge

Join Common Sense Institute on November 10 for a lively post-election conversation with Paul Lundeen, Henry Sobanet, Scott Wasserman, and John Zakhem.

Together, they’ll dig into what Colorado’s election results could mean for:

• The state’s economy and policy landscape;

• Growth, jobs, and Colorado’s competitive edge; and

• The issues Coloradans should keep an eye on next.

After this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how Colorado’s election results could affect its economic future.

About Our Panelists

Paul Lundeen – Lundeen has built success in journalism, politics and business over 30 years. He is CEO and President of American Excellence Foundation. AEF is a network of investors focused on expanding Free Enterprise, Liberty and Responsibility, and promoting Constitutional order. Lundeen recently retired from the Colorado State Senate as Minority leader. He previously served in the Colorado House, and State Board of Education. He founded Arkenstone Financial an Independent RIA in 2010 and is co-owner. It provides risk-managed custom portfolios to high net worth individuals and foundations. Paul wrapped up his broadcasting career as a Washington correspondent for the Harriscope Broadcast Group with credentials to the White House. In business, Paul spent 30 years as an entrepreneur and co-owns Arkenstone Financial. He and his team in Colorado, California and Texas are focused on bringing independent fiduciary advice to risk sensitive clients who require portfolio growth. Previously, with the help of great teams he founded businesses in the Western United States providing services across a range of industries: Real estate development and management, Learning & tutoring centers, National and International marketing, Golf course association landscape management, Investment management and business consulting. Paul is a graduate of New York University where he studied journalism, history, and economics.

Henry Sobanet – Henry Sobanet is a Colorado native, educated at Regis Jesuit High School, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Colorado.  He completed a certificate in evidence-based coaching from Fielding Graduate University in 2024. Henry began his professional career as an economist at the Colorado Legislative Council, the nonpartisan research office for the state legislature.  He served Republican Governor Bill Owens and Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper as Director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting. In 2018, Henry became the chief financial officer of the Colorado State University System. In this role, he covered system-wide financial issues and long-term planning, annual budgeting, treasury functions, and state government affairs.  In 2025, he began what he calls “Henry 2.0,” with a less-than-full time role as treasurer and senior advisor to the Chancellor at CSU and is in private practice as an executive coach and consultant.  He is also the co-host of the Crux Politica podcast with Scott Wasserman. Henry is currently a board member for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Scott Wasserman – Scott Wasserman is principal at  Thinking Forward, LLC. Previously he served as the president of the Bell Policy Center and the Bell Action Network. The Center leads the debate on family economic security and drives public policy solutions that help Coloradans get ahead and stay ahead.

John Zakhem – John Zakhem’s deep experience as both a litigator and transactional attorney provide a powerful combination for his clients in the political, construction and real estate industries. John has been relied upon by scores of political figures at the national, state and local levels for his wisdom and legal counsel. John skillfully handles all manner of disputes on behalf of business owners, non-profits and political organizations in regulatory, commercial and governmental affairs throughout the Rocky Mountains, focusing on solutions, outcomes, and client bottom-line.