J.D, Univeristy of Pensylvania, USA | M.A, University of Denver, USAB.A, Colgate University, USA
Peter Downing wears an array of hats in his role as FutureSpark's president, relying on a unique set of professional skills and experiences to adroitly lead the company's varied operational, human resources, and marketing/business development efforts.
Peter's path to founding FutureSpark, an innovative new company that enables companies to optimize their community engagement efforts, began with nine years as an educator of both students and fellow educators. After two formative years as a middle and high school science teacher with the Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa, he followed the classroom route to his first of several careers, first as a teacher and later as an educator of educators.
After helping launch what has since become one of the Denver Public Schools' great innovation school success stories, The Center for International Studies, Peter eventually returned to the University of Denver to direct the Center for Teaching International Relations, an internationally acclaimed teacher education program. In between Peter followed the family's legal roots, becoming a fourth generation Denver lawyer, practicing at one of Denver's premier firms, Holland & Hart, as a water rights and natural resources attorney.
Peter went on to co-found a niche creative agency, Spark Communications, where he and his partner served clients in the financial services, outdoor adventure, real estate development, and consumer products industries. Following a transformational year as a participant in Denver's most highly regarded leadership program, Peter co-founded FutureSpark to focus his vision and strategic thinking to helping companies realize their goals and obligations to be active members of their community.
Peter earned his JD from the University of Pennsylvania, his MA in education and international relations from the University of Denver, and his BA in English from Colgate University.