Ken Montera, candidate for CU regent, at-large

Party: Republican

City or town of residence: Colorado Springs

Profession: Retired corporate executive

Campaign website: MonteraForCURegent.com

Why are you seeking this office?

I was the first in my family to have the opportunity to go to a university thanks to the Presidents Leadership Scholarship offered by CU and Colorado business and civic leaders. This opportunity not only built the foundation for my career but my entire life. After enjoying a successful career I wanted to give back to my university and the state I grew up in, I want to insure every qualified student has the same opportunities I had.

What makes you the best choice for this office?

For the past 30 years, I have worked in increasing levels of executive responsibility for four Fortune 200 companies establishing strategies for growth financially and culturally. Most recently, I was EVP of Retail Operations for the parent company of VICTORIA'S Secret and Bath&Body Works, where I was directly responsible for over 40,000 associates and a multi-billion dollar operating budget.

What are the most important responsibilities of a regent?

Establish and oversee strategic planning and key financial decisions that will directly impact the well being and success of almost 70,000 students and additional thousands of faculty and administration. Selection and oversight of the university system president and senior leadership. Ensure that our flagship state school is affordable for Colorado families.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

1) Evaluate and ensure that the cost of a CU education is affordable for Colorado families. 2) Foster and nurture an environment of free speech where critical thinking skills can be developed through vigorous debate. 3) Create an environment on the board where our overarching objectives will be driven by the success of our students not individual objectives. 4) Provide degree programs that enable our students to be competitive and successful in the open market once they leave CU.

What else should voters know about you?

I'm a fourth-generation Coloradan who grew up in a blue-collar family from Pueblo. I learned at an early age the importance of self reliance and responsibility from a working mother and a steelworker father of which neither had the opportunity for higher education. Between my scholarship and jobs I paid for 75 percent of my college education and I relished every credit hour I achieved as a step to a better life.