Who We Are

Griffen O’Shaughnessy
Founder and CEO

Education

Goshen College – BA, Accounting
American University – JD, magna cum laude

Biography

Griffen is an attorney and CPA with more than twenty years of professional experience. She worked in Holland & Hart’s mergers and acquisitions practice until the fall of 2009 when she started Canopy.  Griffen also worked in the audit group of Arthur Andersen before attending law school at American University.

After identifying a void in the market, Griffen founded Canopy’s cutting-edge approach to curate the best independent professionals in town and connect them with businesses and non-profits for project based and contract to hire work. As the CEO, Griffen provides innovative leadership that allows Canopy clients to gain access to top-tier independent experts, while also providing these experts with the flexibility to do what they love both at work and home.

Currently, Griffen is on the Board of Directors for Girls, Inc. of Metro Denver and the Vice President of the Board for the Country Club Historic Neighborhood.

In 2018 Griffen was awarded the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award and in 2016 Griffen was a finalist for the Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Award.

Jamie Fitzgerald
Director of Strategic Partnerships

Education

University of Richmond – BA, Spanish and International Studies

Biography

Jamie is a business development, growth and sales professional with experience in the technology, nonprofit and insurance industries. She has a proven track record of identifying and soliciting new and expanded business.  She excels in identifying areas for growth and creating and executing sales strategies.

With over thirteen years of experience as a Senior Vice President Reinsurance Broker for Marsh McLennan in New York City, Jamie knows how the C-Suite thinks.  Jamie’s experience negotiating million and billion dollar global contracts with the world’s largest insurance companies makes her relationship skills enviable.  She managed RFP responses and marshaled the firm’s resources to exceed clients’ expectations.  She thrives on identifying prospects and expanded business opportunities with current clients and delivers the tools to create an effective sales strategy.  Jamie is a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and Associate in Reinsurance which certifies her vast knowledge of insurance and risk management.

Following a long insurance career, Jamie founded a mobile app which further enhanced her ability to think creatively and learn about the start-up and technology industries. She attended the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference and learned light coding along the way. She managed a development team in Pakistan and became an expert at translating user experience into the “black and white” world of coding. Jamie has many years of experience as both a volunteer and fundraiser for non-profits largely focused on children’s welfare. Her work with Project Sunshine, Incarnation Children’s Center and now as a Court Appointed Special Advocate has given her firsthand insight into the nonprofit world.

Professional Skills

• Sales Strategy
• Project Management
• Strategic Planning
• Market Research
• CRM
• Risk Management
• Presentation Skills
• RFPs
• Negotiations
• Contract Analysis

Mary Clare Pittinos
Director of Operations

Education

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio – BA English Literature

Biography

With more than 20 years of experience working for small and mid-sized business, Mary Clare “MC” Pittinos provides a broad range of skills including data asset management, process automation and development, and marketing communications. Her ability to apply real world experience to everyday opportunities and obstacles allows the Canopy team focus on providing an unparalleled level of service to its consultants and clients.

MC has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Miami University. She is active on the Educational Advisory Board at her children’s school and enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children.

Serena Robinson
Director of Marketing & Events

Education

New York University – BA, Politics

Biography

Serena is marketing and events manager at Canopy and joined the team in 2018. She is a New York City native with over twelve years of events, marketing and public relations experience – from marketing and events at financial firms, to start-ups, art and design companies and non-profit organizations.

She began her career with the Morgan Stanley events team in New York, eventually moving on to the Public Relations and Event Marketing at 1stdibs.com, the world’s leading online luxury art and design marketplace. Subsequently she joined Deutsche Bank’s corporate events team, where she developed programs, special events, sponsorships, and financial conferences.

After moving to Denver with her husband, and prior to joining Canopy, Serena worked at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation on the Special Events and Executive and Marketing teams.

Additionally, she currently serves on the Young Guns Coors Art and Citizen of the West events committees. She is a past Event Co-Chair of the Denver Art Museum’s CultureHaus board and member of the Children’s Museum event committee. In New York, she was Junior Committee Co-Chair of the Wildlife Conservation Society as well as that of the Parrish Art Museum, and also served on the Save Venice, Whitney Museum and the Deerfield Alumni committees.

Violeta Madera
Finance Manager

Violeta is a bilingual, responsible, self-motivated, committed, hardworking, team player, with a positive attitude. She has extensive knowledge in Quickbooks online and desktop, Microsoft Office and Google sheets. She is a highly motivated and dedicated Business Management graduate who provides optimum customer service, is a proven fast learner and at being multitasked.