O'Neil, Nancy M

As Senior Strategic Advisor for Elkus and Sisson, Matt Cheroutes brings a broad range of skills and experience to governmental affairs, corporate advocacy, and business and economic development at federal, state and local levels.

Most recently, in the Ritter and Hickenlooper administrations, Mr. Cheroutes served as the communications director and legislative liaison for the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. In this capacity, Mr. Cheroutes successfully designed and implemented a range of strategic initiatives and played a significant role in the passage of legislation central to economic development and sustenance of business activities in Colorado.

At the Colorado General Assembly, Cheroutes was essential to the passage of legislation advancing an aggressive economic development agenda. This included simplifying the state corporate tax code to reward companies with a large presence or headquarters in Colorado; establishing a small business loan fund with banks called the Colorado Credit Reserve program; creating grant programs for early stage renewable energy and bioscience companies; and, developing the Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit to attract corporate headquarters to Colorado. This incentive was essential to DaVita, Arrow, and GE locating in Colorado. In addition, Mr. Cheroutes has experience with the state budgeting process, public finance, tax credit and incentive programs.

Mr. Cheroutes specialized in supporting the growth of the renewable energy and clean technology, and bio- and life-sciences industries through business development activities and governmental investment and assistance. Cheroutes helped Colorado establish its position as a global leader in the renewable energy and clean technology industries. To that end, he organized and served as a founding board member of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. This, in part, required identifying strategic partners and fundraising. Mr. Cheroutes has worked closely with Colorado start-up companies, incubators, research institutions, serial entrepreneurs and venture capitalists to support collaboration and help drive commercialization through public-private partnerships.

Cheroutes has extensive international business experience, having helped to organize and lead international trade missions and business recruiting trips for the State of Colorado, as well as living and working Asia and Europe. Prior to his experience in state government, Cheroutes served as the business and transportation liaison for former Senator and now United States Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar.

As a Denver native, Mr. Cheroutes has a deep network of business and political relationships. He also has a range of experience in public and community relations, marketing and political consulting. He has worked on, and advised, numerous political campaigns in senior capacities, including US Senate and gubernatorial races, and, most recently, the successful campaign of Michael Hancock for Mayor of Denver. As part of this latter effort, Mr. Cheroutes helped organize the business community outreach efforts and develop the associated policies. Cheroutes was asked in 2010 to serve as a member of Governor Hickenlooper's transition committee on energy.

Mr. Cheroutes graduated from the College of Charleston with a bachelor's degree in political science and received Masters of Business Administration from the University of Colorado.