Meet the Founder

 Patrina Eiffert, PhD

In her third act, MAKE IT BETTER Founder, Patrina, inspired by the Vagabonds, has committed to creating a social space for changemakers to gather, renew, and collaborate. This space is our gathering, BETTER TOGETHER, where we give first and collaborate with an open heart.

Having grown up in a Chicago neighborhood of Italian, immigrant entrepreneurs, making it better is embedded in her DNA. Patrina grew up in a time in American history when the culture was shaped by inspirational acts and aspirational beliefs such as the Moonshot and . . .

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” John F Kennedy

“I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” Martin Luther King

“There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place and the Universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what is possible.” Terence Mann

This ‘Can Do’ culture, is indelibly inked upon every fiber of her being. Patrina’s new endeavor is a social experiment, MAKE IT BETTER, with an aim to connect and serve a community of world changing CEOs, investors, technologists, and innovators via adventure retreats in Aspen, Colorado.

Professional Track Record

Dr. Patrina Eiffert, PhD began her career at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; then founder and CEO of several solar companies; contracted as a Senior Advisor to the OEI to the Assistant Secretary of Defense, US Army Pentagon; Sr. Director at NRECA International; Executive Director, Power, Water, Internet at Heifer International. Over 35 years, Patrina grew into a renown international expert in the commercialization, financing, and innovative applications of solar electricity. A seasoned public speaker, Patrina has spoken at the United Nations, New York; had a role in Walter Cronkite’s documentary on global electricity through the Cronkite Ward Co. She has worked in solar power on all 7 continents, even the South Pole! She holds 6 patents in PV technology and the built environment. Supporting the World Bank and USAID, one of Patrina’s greatest professional joys has been the privilege to bring access to electricity to numerous remote villages and impoverished families throughout Africa, Asia and the Americas

Our Advisory Board Members

  • Terry Leprino

    PRESIDENT LEPRINO FOODS FOUNDATION

    Terry has dedicated over 30 years to developing leaders in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She spent a decade as the Marketing Director of Leprino Foods, where she trained and supported a national sales force for the largest cheese manufacturing company in the world.

    For 13 years, Terry served as the Regional Director for the Front Range Region of Young Life. Throughout the past 20 years, she has been instrumental in leading, training, and developing Young Life leaders and staff who work with middle school, high school, and college students in the Front Range region. She now contributes her strategic expertise to the Young Life US Advisory Board.

    Terry is an innovative thought leader and also leads a foundation, Living Legacy, which awards college scholarships to young urban leaders and is intimately involved in their development. Terry currently serves on the boards of Leprino Foods, Colorado Christian University, Issachar Urban Leadership Center, and Nexus International.

  • Richard Lackey

    CHAIRMAN & CEO WORLD FOOD BANK

    Richard is a career entrepreneur with 30 years of leadership experience in the trading and securities industry, having founded and led companies that were sold to Goldman Sachs and eTrade, serving as the managing director of 5 successful private funds.

    While Richard is a highly-regarded expert in the securities and trading industry, his core passion is resolving world hunger. Richard founded the innovative, World Food Bank (WFB), an asset-backed investment vehicle with a network of institutional quantities of dried commodities like corn, soy, wheat, sorghum, and rice, stored in air-tight containers for extended shelf-life and staged in strategic locations. These commodities are then available where and when they are needed for sale when supply is limited. The WFB is well down the road to reach its goal to assist 50,000,000 people get out of poverty.

    Richard is Executive Producer of Farm Heroes, a reality TV series on US regenerative agriculture farmers.

  • Shawn Lesser

    FOUNDER, THE REAL MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

    Shawn is a seasoned impact investor and financial advisor with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Shawn has been recognized as the most connected person in impact investing, having worked with over 200 impact funds and more than 1000 limited partners. Shawn co-founded the 1st Impact Investing Investment Bank --- Big Path Capital, which connects investors and fund managers who are committed to creating positive social and environmental impact while maximizing returns.

    In 2023 Shawn founded The Real Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of conversation and community to improve mental health. Having struggled with mental health issues himself, Shawn founded the foundation to help millions of men, women, and families who are suffering in silence. He is a passionate mental health advocate who has shared his personal story speaking around the globe.

  • Troy Vallier

    Chief Financial Officer

    Troy has been instrumental in bringing 2 companies to over $1 billion in revenue and is now working on his third billion-dollar revenue company, through mergers and acquisitions, private equity and successful financial integration. He has a broad career as a CFO underscored by experience with companies operating in a change-oriented environment through a unique blend of creative thinking, team engagement and a partnership with other leaders in the business.

    Troy is a high-end, fun-loving extrovert as well as an effective communicator and dynamic decision maker, driven by successful team engagement and leadership skills. Troy is competitive, and consistently exceeds performance and profitability goals through strategic vision, insightful forecasting, positive cultural change, and continual innovative process improvements.


  • Pierre Ferrari (1950-1925)

    VISIONARY

    Pierre’s impact lives on. He supported Better Together from the first moment he heard about it. His keen insights and counsel based on 40 years of executive leadership experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors has been invaluable to us.

    Highlights of Pierre’s career includes former CEO of Heifer International, Sr. VP Marketing Coca-Cola USA and Sr. VP Marketing Coca-Cola Foods. Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben and Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream and Board Member for 25 yrs and President of their Hot Fudge Venture Fund.

    Born in the Congo, Pierre embodied a collaborative can-do approach to entrepreneurship with an eye towards ensuring that everyone has a chance to achieve their dreams in life.

  • Stan Hickory

    DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

    Under Stan at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the Innovation and Entrepreneur Initiative, supports creative solution oriented, researchers to use its New Venture Challenge (NVC) to springboard into leading accelerator programs such as Techstars, develop ideas through NSF I-Corps and Catalyze CU, compete on the TV show Shark Tank and raise investment rounds.

    Ideate + Team Up + Compete + Get Funded + Create Impact

    The NVC brings the wealth of the university's world-class researchers together with the business, startup and entrepreneurial communities to translate groundbreaking solutions into economic and social impact. Ranked 15th in the country, the NVC is the launching pad for many CU Boulder startups with over $200,000 in prize funding available next year.

    Stan, a thoughtful leader and educator, is a serial entrepreneur himself.