CEO of the year finalists.

• Author: Peterson, Eric

Kate Paul

President and CEO, Delta Dental of Colorado

Leading the 501(c)4 dental insurance provider since 2001, Paul helped Delta Dental grow in Colorado with small and mid-sized companies as customers in 2015, she says, while highlighting a "medical-dental integration project" that has placed numerous dental hygienists in pediatricians' offices. "It's really forward-thinking work," she says.

"Always remember your success is a reflection of the people you're working with," Paul advises.

One key, she adds, is "helping them understand where they are. Most people tend to overestimate their talents and underestimate their talents."

Donna Lynne

President, Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Lynne's motto: "Never be afraid to take risks." Even if you fail, you learn. If you don't take a chance, you miss out on opportunities.

Opting to participate in the Affordable Care Act was a gamble, she notes, but the chance came in the form of growth: Kaiser Permanente Colorado has signed up 75,000 new customers since January 2014, hired about 500 new employees, and brought in 100 new physicians.

The billion-dollar question: How do you make health care more affordable?

"It's actually the $3 trillion question," says Lynne, citing prevention as a big part of the answer. "It's not sick care. We want to prevent people from getting to a place where they need health care."

Brent Handler

Founder and CEO, Inspirato

Handler has grown the tech-savvy travel club to more than 10,000 members and 350 employees since he started the company with brother and chairman Brad Handler in 2010.

Average annual growth has topped 60 percent as the company forged a partnership with American Express and now offers "curated" trips in 100 different luxury destinations. The big initiatives for 2015 included a new hotel platform and an entry-level membership tier.

"Our maniacal focus on culture has really been the northern star for the company," offers Handler, describing a multi-building campus in Lower Downtown, including a former restaurant that's now the IT department by day and an employee lounge by night. "We encourage 'work hard, play hard."'

Kent Thiry

CEO, DaV1ta HealthCare Partners

"For the 15th year in a row, we've had our best clinical outcomes ever," says Thiry of the company's benchmarks. It's no coincidence that this run started immediately after Thiry joined in 1999.

"We consider ourselves to be a community first and a company second," he says of his management philosophy. It follows that he gives credit to his team, spanning more than 2,000 dialysis centers in the U.S. and 10 other countries, "I am just a mirror that reflects the efforts and contributions of 65,000 people."

His advice to up-and-coming chief executives? "Begin with the end in mind. It's so easy for younger executives to get so focused on the business. You don't want to get to my age - 59 - and say, 'I wish I did it differently.'"

Craig Lieberman

Founder and CEO, 34 Degrees

Lieberman started importing Australian crisps in 2003, then began making them in Colorado with Fresca Foods in 2007. Eight years later, the brand can be found in "north of 8,000 stores" in the U.S. and Canada, he says, including Kroger, Costco and Whole Foods. The year 2015 saw 34 Degrees move into Target stores nationally.

Observes Lieberman: "Ninety-nine percent of the time, the issues have to do with people. You can't overestimate the importance of your team."

His major motivators for employees? "Great coffee is on the top of the list," he laughs, citing a new office on Larimer Street. "We're right across from one of the best coffee shops in Denver--Crema."

Sunil Cherian

Founder and CEO, Spirae

Cherian started Spirae in 2002 to make the technology for the smart, renewable-heavy, decentralized power grid of the future. Thirteen years later, that future has arrived.

With 50 employees in Fort Collins, the company is preparing to scale and systematize its product offerings as it moves from research and development to full commercialization. Cherian says it's all about "getting the right type of talent ... and getting the team to gel very effectively."

"The surrounding market has really changed," he adds. "There are a lot of opportunities...