Meet Our Team

Kenton Kuhn, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

Kenton Kuhn is an online pioneer. He started his first online business in 1986, prior to the advent of the commercial internet. Among a number of “firsts,” Kenton’s company was the first to operate a private lien program for a state entity, and he established one of the first online legislative databases in the country.

Kenton graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Political Science. In 1997, he was named by the Denver Business Journal as a “Who’s Who in Technology.” Kenton enjoys playing cocktail piano, drums, harmonica, chess and tennis (not necessarily in that order).

As a co-founder of Blacktie, along with the late Georgia Imhoff, he is pleased to see the acceptance of Blacktie’s programs by nonprofit organizations and philanthropists across the country. Kenton’s and Georgia’s early vision for Blacktie as the “place where Colorado nonprofits get noticed” has grown to a business operating in ten markets with more on the way. “I really miss working with Georgia, but every day I know that her legacy lives on through our continued work at Blacktie. She remains an inspiration to all of us.”

Jerry DeWitt, President

Jerry DeWitt joined Blacktie in December of 2009, having most recently been the Vice President of Alumni and Donor Relations at the University of Northern Colorado Foundation – his alma mater. It was while attending UNC that Jerry met Kenton Kuhn, who later became the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Blacktie. Jerry and Kenton have been friends, tennis buddies and political sparring partners ever since their days in college, so it was no surprise that when Kenton looked to expand Blacktie operations, he and Jerry decided to join forces.

Jerry has a strong marketing and advertising background. His first jobs were in the Houston offices of international advertising agencies McCann-Erickson and then D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles. After eleven years in Texas, Jerry returned to his native home of Denver to work for First Data Corp/MoneyGram/Western Union where he worked for twelve years rising to the position of Vice President of Marketing. He also worked as a Vice President of Marketing for General Electric in their Stamford, CT corporate headquarters.

Working closely with the entire Blacktie team, Jerry led the strategic re-branding initiatives to enhance the Blacktie website, sales collateral, direct mail and viral marketing campaigns and to a more active role with the Colorado Nonprofit Association.

“My personal goals for 2010 and 2011 are to break 80 on the golf course (not likely), backpack in more of Colorado’s high-country (a no-brainer) and find a charming woman that will marry me (Vegas is laying odds but I remain hopeful).”

Holly Moore Kastleman and Jim Kastleman

Holly Moore Kastleman and Jim Kastleman are co-owners of PaperCity magazine in Houston and Dallas. PaperCity was launched in Houston in 1994, and 1998 in Dallas. Charitable giving and sponsorship is an important mission at PaperCity magazine with PaperCity Houston and Dallas donating pages of advertising, invitation design and printing and other services, as well as extensive coverage of charitable events, including Cattle Baron’s and the American Cancer Society, Society for the Performing Arts, Crystal Charity Ball and Dallas Best Dressed, amFAR, Holocaust Museum, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony,, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Contemporary Arts Museum, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, The Menil Collection, The Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, AIDS Foundation Houston, Blaffer Gallery, Pink Ribbons, Heroes For Children, and many more. Holly and Jim co-chaired the World AIDS Day Luncheon in 2008, The Fay School Annual Fund for the past three years, and Holly chaired A Night at the Cocoanut Grove benefiting Boys & Girls Harbor, co-chaired A Girls’ Night Out at Saks Fifth Avenue benefiting the Beth Sanders Moore Young Breast Cancer Survivors’ Program at M.D. Anderson. Together, they have been on countless host committees. In 2008, Holly co-authored a design book, based on ten years of interiors from the pages of PaperCity magazine, titled, Domestic Art: Curated Interiors and published by Assouline. Throughout 2009, Jim spearheaded the launch of PaperCity’s online efforts, in which he wanted to include initiatives to service the non-profit communities in Houston and Dallas. Though Blacktie was unknown to him at that time, he now feels the PaperCity - Blacktie joint venture integration will be “the single most important component of our online efforts.”

Kurt Lindberg, Software Specialist

Kurt Lindberg joined Blacktie in the spring of 2008, where he is responsible for software training and support for the nonprofit organizations we serve. As seasoned business analyst, Kurt works closely with both our current and prospective clients, and also with Blacktie’s programming team to ensure complete satisfaction. He is the director of Blacktie training programs and has given webinars to thousands of people throughout the nation.

Prior to joining Blacktie, Kurt started Colorado Independent Research Center, a database research company in Grand Junction, CO. After relocating to Denver, Kurt then worked as a Website Administrator for Circuit Media, which has an online bill tracking database for the Colorado legislature. At Circuit Media, he was responsible for the updating of the database, and training and support of the software. Kurt graduated from Mesa State College majoring in Computer Information Systems, with a minor in Business Administration. Kurt enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, fly-fishing, hockey and golf.

“Blacktie’s goal is to help make fundraising and event planning easier and more profitable for nonprofits of all sizes. I enjoy the opportunity to work with, learn about and be a part of the work that these great nonprofits around the nation do, including the people and causes they help.”

Robb Stenman, Vice President of Marketing

Robb brings almost 20 years of business development, marketing and software as a service experience to Efficient Tickets. He has overseen the transition and development of Efficient Tickets from Seat-U.com, an online ticketing service that focused on the university market.

Robb started his career with the international business development firm Cheshire Ltd. (which merged with RSM McGladrey) where he had the opportunity to live in Germany and be the point person for developing strategic partnerships between US and European companies. In the marketing of professional services for a major law firm, he was responsible for developing the website, implementing a customer relationship management system and integrating marketing activities with the accounting/billing system to provide users with relevant, actionable information. As principal of Intellinet Interactive, a website and database development firm, Robb worked with over 60 organizations to achieve their online objectives. He has directed the development of numerous web-based applications and online services.

Having moved to Colorado to hike, camp and ski, Robb now spends his free time as a dance partner to his 3 ½ year old daughter. Robb and his wife are expecting their second daughter this spring. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a major in Economics and minor in Sociology.