Charlie Wright

Bio

Charlie Wright is a leading nonprofit financial management expert in Denver, most recently serving as the CFO and Treasurer for the Denver Zoo and the Colorado Zoological Trust before retiring in 2024. Previously, Wright was Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration at Mile High United Way.

Education

Charlie earned his MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Owen School at Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Sciences from Duke University. He currently holds the CMA, CPA, CPSP, CGMA, CIRA and CFF certifications.

Professional Background

Charlie’s prior background includes more than 14 years as a partner with Ernst & Young, where he led teams of professionals on financial advisory assignments, including merger and acquisition engagements, litigation services assignments and major restructuring projects. He also spent more than 10 years as a C-level executive with a prominent private sports and entertainment company, including serving as General Manager and CFO of the Colorado Rapids.

Charlie has served as a member of the board of directors of public companies and many not-for-profit organizations. He has been a frequent guest speaker on a variety of topics, including mergers and acquisitions, transformation efforts, sports management, business valuation, accounting standards and practices, and organizational management/leadership. He has published numerous articles in professional journals and currently serves on the editorial board for the Colorado Society of CPAs.

For the past 20+ years Charlie has been the principal percussionist for the Denver Pops Orchestra and previously served as the Denver Pops President. He has also served as the nominating committee chair for the Duke University Colorado Region Alumni Board. He is active on the Institute of Management Accounting (IMA) Global Board and has served as a member or chair of various committees and sub-committees.

Motivation for Teaching

Charlie enjoys giving back to the community and helping future leaders grow in their understanding of financial issues. Mentoring individuals and watching them grow is one of his favorite activities.