Speakers

Blossom Ko Lumley serves as Statewide Director of Startup Wyoming, an organization dedicated to strengthening Wyoming’s innovation-driven startup ecosystem. She brings more than two decades of experience across nonprofit and private-sector organizations, with deep expertise in operations, project design, and organizational management.
Before joining Startup Wyoming, Blossom co-founded Airloom Energy, a venture-backed wind technology company based in Laramie, where she served as Chief Operating Officer and helped secure more than $18 million in seed investment. Her earlier career includes leadership roles at the J. Paul Getty Trust, the LA Annenberg Metropolitan Project, and Ares Management, where she built programs and operational systems that supported large-scale, mission-driven initiatives.
Blossom also designed and launched the Financial Affairs Support Team at the University of Wyoming, a department that delivers essential operational support to colleges while providing hands-on professional experience to student interns.
In her current role, she oversees statewide strategy, partnerships, and program development to ensure Wyoming founders have access to the resources, capital pathways, and collaborative networks they need to build and scale successful companies.

Startup Wyoming is a statewide initiative designed to support founders building innovation-driven startups with the ambition to scale. Through education, capital strategy, and ecosystem connections, Startup Wyoming helps entrepreneurial founders move from idea to growth while navigating Wyoming’s startup landscape.  This presentation will present an overview of the work Startup Wyoming has been engaged in since its inception in September 2024, its current "Put Wyoming's Founders on the Map" campaign, and an update on the organization's future direction and programming. 

Karagh Brummond is the Co-Director of the UW Top-Tier Science Initiative’s Roadshow & Community Engagement Program and an Assistant Instructional Professor in the Honors College at the University of Wyoming. She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Wyoming and currently teaches Neuroscience and Law. In her engagement role, Karagh leads statewide STEM engagement efforts, partnering with K-12 schools and communities to deliver hands-on STEM learning throughout the state of Wyoming.

Mark Lyford is the Associate Director of the Science Institute and is a Senior Academic Professional in the Botany Department at the University of Wyoming. He holds a PhD in Botany from the University of Wyoming and teaches foundational biology and life science courses. In his director role, Mark oversees the foundational programs of the Science Initiative where he supports major educational and engagement efforts in STEM.

This presentation will focus on an introduction to the University of Wyoming Science Initiative, which strives to strengthen science education, research, and outreach across the state. The talk will provide an overview of the Science Initiative’s mission to expand access to high-quality STEM learning and build connections between the university and Wyoming communities. The presenters will focus on one of the core programs of the Science Initiative, the Science Initiative Roadshow, a flagship outreach program that brings hands-on, relevant science experiences directly to schools and communities in rural Wyoming. Through interactive activities and real-world research experiences, the Roadshow engages students and educators, fosters curiosity, and highlights pathways into STEM careers while demonstrating UW’s commitment to serving Wyoming.

Bryan Pedersen, Managing Director and Financial Advisor with The Pedersen Investment Group, also serves as the Chairman of the Wyoming Combat Sports Commission. The Commission was legistlatively established in the State of Wyoming in 2020 via HB0102 to sanction and govern combat sports in the State. Since then, the Commission has proven to be an international success as it has grown to commission numerous combat sports events across the globe including events in Canada, Bulgaria, France, Northern Ireland, Belgium, England, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and Africa.

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