Board of Directors

Board of Directors Members 2025 – 2026

Miles Cortez — Chair

Miles Cortez joined the Challenge to Excellence Charter School (C2E) Board of Directors in December 2021 and currently serves as Board Chair. He has spent his career engineering creative financial solutions to complex problems for institutional clients, with extensive experience as a principal in both private equity and venture capital.

Prior to his current role at F10 Hotels, Mr. Cortez co-founded Aventine Capital Partners, where he financed and developed hotels and resort-residential real estate for leading hospitality brands including Fairmont Raffles, Viceroy Hotels, Four Seasons, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. He also architected the initial capital structure for Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant and entertainment concept, and served as its Chief Financial Officer. In addition, he acted as an in-house advisor to AIMCO (NYSE: AIV), supporting the strategic expansion of its multifamily housing platform. Mr. Cortez has spent more than 17 years focused on hospitality and real estate investment and development.

Mr. Cortez earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Statistics) from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and an MBA in Finance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. He has served as a guest speaker at the Knapp International Venture Forum at UCLA and the HVS Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference (CHICOS). He resides in the Denver area with his family, and his daughter attends C2E.

Angela Segura— Vice Chair

Angela Segura joined the C2E Board of Directors in April 2023 and currently serves as Vice Chair. She is a state-licensed Certified Residential Appraiser and has worked with her family-owned appraisal business for more than ten years.

Mrs. Segura holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business from the University of Colorado Denver. She is married and has two daughters who attend C2E. 

Alex Mnatsakanyan – Treasurer

Alex Mnatsakanyan joined the C2E Board of Directors in September 2023 and serves as Treasurer. He is the Recovery Strategic Analytics Manager at Computershare Loan Services, where he specializes in data-driven financial analysis and risk management.

Mr. Mnatsakanyan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a dual emphasis in Marketing and Management from the University of Colorado Denver. He has two children who attend C2E.

Tara Butler – Secretary

Tara Butler joined the C2E Board of Directors in August 2024 and serves as Board Secretary. She brings a strong background in education and a deep commitment to fostering positive, inclusive school communities.

Mrs. Butler contributes expertise in educational systems, team engagement, and organizational effectiveness, supporting the board’s governance and oversight responsibilities. She has two children who attend C2E.

Sowmya Makam – Board Member

Sowmya Makam joined the C2E Board of Directors in September 2021. She is an information technology professional and currently works as a Lead Software Development Test Engineer at S&P Global in the Centennial area.

Mrs. Makam earned a Bachelor’s degree in Information Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University. She resides in Parker with her husband and two children, one of whom attends C2E.

Tiffiny Wagenknecht – Board Member

Tiffiny Wagenknecht joined the C2E Board of Directors in May 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheaton College and is currently a Math Teacher at Colorado Early Colleges Parker.

Mrs. Wagenknecht has more than a decade of experience teaching high school mathematics in California and Colorado. Prior to having children, she worked with The New Teacher Project in partnership with Denver Public Schools, first as an instructional coach for new math teachers and later as Director of Instructional Coaches. She has two daughters who attend C2E.

Sheila Cook – Board Member

Sheila Cook joined the C2E Board of Directors in September 2024. She brings five years of experience working in schools and an additional five years in the nonprofit sector.

Mrs. Cook has a strong understanding of board governance and provides thoughtful insight into the challenges and opportunities facing public education. Her experience supports the board’s focus on effective oversight, accountability, and mission alignment. She has two children who attend C2E. 

Member Email: boarddirectors@c2e.org