"Real Estate is an asset that you can feel, touch, and be passionate about.”
Gilda Zaragoza likes to tear things down and build them back up. For a living. We’re talking about houses.
Building. Buying. Selling. Dealing. Investing. The whole package.
Gilda is fast becoming an influencer in the Denver Real Estate market and is working on developing an amazing team of individuals who share her enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit and vision.
Gilda didn’t set out to be in the Real Estate Industry.
After graduating from New York University (NYU) she went to work in the world of high finance for BlackRock.
While she excelled in the Management Group working with Institutional and International investors, her heart just wasn’t in it. But she did take her love for numbers with her when she left.
Gilda wanted to be part of something more tangible, and she found her passion in Real Estate.
She enrolled in the University of Denver (DU) for her graduate studies earning her MS in Real Estate and Construction Management. During her studies she did her first “scrape” – turning an old home into a magnificent, modern duplex and hasn’t looked back since.
She has created a niche for Invalesco as a “Development and Realty Boutique.”
Gilda is on the founding board of the Young Leaders Council of the Metro Denver Home Building Association. She is also a Certified New Homes Sales Professional.
Angie was inspired to start a career in real estate out of her joy in helping others. Angie has worked as a full-service real estate broker since 2000 and has worked through the varying market cycles since then, deepening her knowledge of the real estate industry with every challenge that comes her way. Angie’s extensive years in real estate, passion for helping others and innate patience makes her the perfect Mentor for new advisors joining Invalesco. She works with advisors one-on-one through their first transactions guiding them every step of the way to ensure a consistent client experience and growth for our advisors.
Olivia Hamman-Godden is an accomplished marketing professional with over 15 years of experience, specializing in real estate. With a decade of focused expertise in real estate marketing, she has made significant contributions to the industry's growth and success. Throughout her career, Olivia has demonstrated a keen understanding of regional nuances and market trends in major cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, and Denver. Her strategic approach and creative vision have consistently driven successful campaigns, elevating the visibility and engagement of her clients' properties. Olivia's commitment to excellence and innovation continues to set the standard in real estate marketing.
Kim Bontrager is head of Team Development at Invalesco Real Estate. In this role, Kim identifies and fosters relationships with Advisors that embody Invalesco’s core values of expertise and collaboration. Additionally, Kim designs a robust and enriching education and event curriculum for our team that is ever-evolving. Through this program, our Advisors stay at the forefront of the Real Estate industry.
Since 2005, Kim Bontrager has been working in sales, consulting, and business development in the Real Estate, Title Insurance, and Financial Services Industry. Her designations over the past 13 years include licenses for her Series 6, Series 63, Life Insurance, Title Insurance, Real Estate, and Notary. While earning these designations over the years, she also worked in inside sales, outside sales, in a virtual sales role, as well as held key roles in networking and professional groups.
Her extensive training in sales includes working with and consulting hundreds of professionals in the real estate, lending, banking, and the financial services industry. Kim has a dynamic outlook and perspective for best practices in business through real world experiences. She brings this expertise to Invalesco to establish our core team and provide them the correct tools to continue to thrive.
Priscilla Negreanu is Invalesco’s Developer & Project Liaison. In this role, she is often the first point of contact for our builder and developer clients. She is a business connector, CU Denver Alumna, and former advertising sales executive.
Priscilla started her career in the advertising industry working with Fortune 500 companies, including Tribune Media and Comcast Spotlight, where she sold and managed multi-million-dollar advertising solutions across multiple platforms including broadcast, cable, digital, and strategic partnerships to both local and national businesses.
Priscilla got her feet wet in the real estate industry, as an advertising sales executive, when she noticed a challenge for commercial real estate developers to promote their initiatives and developments to Colorado communities.
As a result, Priscilla worked one-on-one with developers in creating nationally recognized campaigns that focused on bringing people to new developments across the state, including office, residential, retail, and restaurant spaces.
Since leaving the advertising industry, Priscilla focuses on building profitable business relationships with companies in the construction and homebuilding industry. Priscilla has secured hundreds of partnerships with respected companies and leaders responsible for the continued growth of Colorado’s infrastructure.
Priscilla is an active member of the Denver Metro Home Builders Association and serves as a Basics Team Foundation business and life skills coach dedicated to coaching, teaching, and mentoring Denver's homeless population.
Katie is a Colorado native with a strong background in residential and commercial title and escrow insurance. Passionate about the real estate industry, she excels at helping others set and achieve tangible goals through clear communication and problem-solving. In her role, she supports a team of advisors by helping them stay organized and manage their time effectively, both in day-to-day tasks and long-term strategic planning. Outside of work, Katie enjoys climbing mountains with her pup, embracing Colorado's natural beauty.
Melissa Cruz is a multifaceted professional—mom, daughter, sister, spouse, realtor, coach, and author—dedicated to guiding others and positively impacting her community and the real estate industry. Licensed in real estate since 2016 and as a broker since 2018, she has earned accolades such as Associate with Highest Outgoing Referrals (NC Region, 2018), GRI Designation (2019), and 25 Under 40 Honoree (2020). A graduate of the Florida Realtors Leadership Academy (2022) and TLR Leadership & Academy (2023), Melissa continually strives for growth.
Her passion for coaching began in 2019, mentoring real estate agents, and she joined The Locker Room as a coach in 2021. Melissa has spoken at various national real estate events and led a Women's Workshop in 2023. As an author, she co-authored the international bestseller "EmpowerHER Story Anthology," published articles in Florida Realtor Magazine and Health & Wellness Magazine, and developed two real estate courses in 2022, launching a 12-week course in 2024.
Melissa's dedication extends to volunteer work, including over four years on the Education Committee, serving as Secretary and Director on her local board, and contributing to the Diversity State Committee. She also serves at DMAR on the Industry Partner and Leadership Academy and the DMAR Gives Committee. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys time with her family, music, puzzles, hiking, and cooking—values that guide her in every aspect of her life.
Meet Jill Blacksmith, the talented mixologist behind every Invalesco event. With a dynamic personality and an exceptional knack for crafting unforgettable cocktails, Jill brings a unique flair to our gatherings. Her creativity and expertise make her a joy to work with, and she is an indispensable part of our event team. Whether she's mixing up classic favorites or inventing new concoctions, Jill ensures every Invalesco event is a memorable experience.