About Us

Alex is the founder of Arula. He started the company in 2018, after realizing that every grant writer he met required payment of their fee upfront. Alex knew there was a more equitable way and decided to tap his own knowledge and experience to provide this service, while sharing in the risk with the nonprofits. Alex and the team at Arula assist dozens of nonprofits and initiatives, mostly in Colorado, but also throughout the country.

Alex also works as the CEO of 1+ and Business Development Officer for Quorum Prosthetics. He is responsible for a myriad of initiatives at each company, including: sales, partnerships, marketing, investments, grants, loans, and more. He has been recognized as Colorado’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year and Colorado Top Five Under Forty.

As well as his “day jobs,” Alex volunteers with a myriad of nonprofits. Alex chairs the board of B-Bold, allowing people to participate in combat sports, no matter their abilities. Alex also serves as a board advisor to One Leg at a Time, delivering prosthetics to those in need. He is on the organizing committee for the Founded in FoCo nonprofit track. Alex also volunteers with Idea Wild, helping to organize their three annual fundraising events in Colorado and South Dakota.

Alex is one of the founders and organizers of the annual Fort Collins Top Dog charity event, where the winning dog goes on a can of Odell “Top Dog” beer. He also co hosts the annual Trout Tank event, a philanthropic take on the show Shark Tank.

Kerry manages a few companies and projects as her "day jobs." She is the co-founder of 1+, helping people to open and manage their philanthropic foundations. Kerry also works with Arula Consulting to coordinate Special Events for nonprofits. She also is currently writing the biography of a famous Colorado-based wildlife biologist.

Prior to moving back to her home state of Colorado, she worked in Australia as a public defender with Legal Aid cases. In her free time as a lawyer, she volunteered with the community legal centers and at the Association for Employees with Disabilities.

Since moving back to Colorado, she had left the legal sphere and refocused her efforts on the non-profit community. In her free time, she is currently organizing the fundraising event, Fort Collins' Top Dog and she volunteers at Idea Wild.

Kate got her start in animal rescue 10 years ago at Animal House (now Animal Friends Alliance), where she discovered a passion for working with animals who needed a little extra patience and understanding. That early experience sparked a lifelong interest in behavioral needs and complex cases — from nervous shelter dogs to misunderstood exotic species. Since then, she’s gone on to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and Executive Director of the Reptile & Amphibian Center of the Rockies, focusing on ethical care, education, and conservation.

As a graphic designer and nonprofit admin, Kate brings both creative and logistical skills to the FoCo Top Dog team — helping design event materials and drawing from her experience running fundraising events for other organizations. She’s passionate about building community around animal causes and making events fun, engaging, and impactful. Whether it’s discussing turtle behavior, setting up booths at community events, or lending a hand behind the scenes, she’s always excited to support local animal efforts and connect with fellow animal advocates.

Wash is the first winner of Foco Top Dog. He does his best to exemplify what it means to be a great dog in Fort Collins. He wears Rex Specs (his dog gogles) due to an autoimmune eye condition he has called pannus. UV light can make it worse, and it is often aggravated living at altitude. Learn more about pannus here.

Wash loves visiting his favorite places around town. He rides on multiple bikes specifically set up for him. On a bike, the windows are always down for him. He is a big fan of love and attention and will always be down for pets if you see him!

Wash is also a great foster brother. Ever since moving to a house with a backyard, the family has been fostering dogs with Animal Friends Alliance. It has been a great experience and Wash loves having temporary siblings that he can help out with whatever they need.

When he isn't doing other doggo things, Wash volunteers as a B.A.R.K. Ranger with his humans with Fort Collins natural areas. He does his best to embody good dog behavior and etiquette and answer questions about dogs and natural areas. Learn more about B.A.R.K. here.

Mitch and Casi were lucky to get Wash as their amazing dog in 2017 at Paws Animal Rescue in South Dakota. He has been an amazing addition to the family and truly represents Fort Collins. They moved to Fort Collins for their love of bikes and dogs.

After winning Foco Top Dog in 2021, they were very excited for their label to come out, and they were also excited to be involved with such a great program that helps nonprofits.

Mitch does wood working as a hobby. and he has built many of the contest items for Foco Top Dog including the "poop bag" toss board and the Jeo-Paw-dy panel. Casi works as a website designer and volunteered to build this website.