Meet the Team

Zack Bennett

DIRECTOR

Zack graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1999 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and headed off to Silicon Valley at the height of the dot com boom. He started his career as an engineer, management consultant, and an executive at American Express. Not content with the success he found in corporate America, Zack turned to the fast-paced world of startups where he has founded and operated multiple companies and has had lots of failures, a few exits, and one IPO. Zack is thrilled that his journey has brought him full circle as he returns to Mines as the Founding Director of the Beck Venture Center. 

Todd McLean

Managing Director, Business Enterprises

Todd is dually the Managing Director of Business Enterprises for the Colorado School of Mines Foundation and the Managing Director of Mines Venture Fund Management, LLC which is responsible for the Mines Venture Fund 1, LP. He works with all stakeholders in the Mines entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem including alum, faculty, staff, and students. Todd works with Foundation colleagues in due diligence and structuring unique business opportunities that generate alternative revenue to benefit the institution. He also is responsible for all activities pertaining to the Mines Venture Fund Management, LLC and leads the initiatives and investment process of the Mines Venture Fund 1, LP.

Todd has had success in growing companies, turnaround situations, venture investing, and startup mentoring. He has been COO with two turn arounds resulting in one PE exit and one merger, SVP public company merger, founding shareholder of three companies with one PE exit. Todd has leadership expertise in management and operations excellence, finance, compliance, marketing, communications, business development, and community engagement.

Thank you for your interest in the Beck Venture Center. We are in the process of updating this page to reflect the current state of our program. Please come back soon to learn more about the Amazing Beck Venture Center team.