Henry Sobanet, Terry J. Stevinson Fellow
Henry Sobanet is a Colorado native, educated at Regis Jesuit High School, and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Colorado.
He began his professional career as an economist at the Colorado Legislative Council, the nonpartisan research office for the state legislature.
Henry’s first employment at the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting was in 1999 as Deputy Director. In September 2004, Governor Bill Owens appointed him to be Director of the office where he served through the end of the term.
From 2007 to 2011, he was President of Colorado Strategies LLC, a firm that specialized in economics, public affairs, and strategic management, notably in the areas of state tax policy, ballot issues, health care, and advising members of the business community.
In 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper asked Henry to return as Director of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting. During his tenure, OSPB created a performance management academy for state government leadership, fostered the adoption of Lean process improvement efforts in all state departments, and re-wrote the State’s strategic planning and performance management law. These efforts have received both in-state and national accolades in several books, articles, and an academic review from the University of Colorado.
In August of 2018, Henry became the Chief Financial Officer of the Colorado State University System. In this role he covers system-wide financial issues and long-term planning, annual budgeting, treasury functions, and government affairs.
Henry has served on a number of boards and commissions, including the Colorado Transportation Commission and the Second Judicial District Nominating Commission. He is currently a board member of the Jefferson County Human Services Foundation.
About the Terry J. Stevinson Fellowship
This fellowship was established in honor of Terry J. Stevinson, a founding board member of Common Sense Institute (CSI). Thanks to Mr. Stevinson’s continuing dedication to free enterprise these fellowships have been named in his honor.
The Terry J. Stevinson Fellowship is designed to spur thoughtful policy discussions and potential solutions regarding the many policy and economic challenges brought about by population growth in Colorado. Through a multi-year effort, CSI will work with different fellows on an annual basis to dive into one particular area concerning growth including policy topics such as transportation, water, affordable housing, etc.