Z3Talent Retained by FreshLo to Lead CEO Search
February 27, 2026 – Denver, CO-based executive search firm Z3Talent was recently retained to lead the search for the founding chief executive officer of FreshLo, a non-profit grocery enterprise expanding in Montbello and other Denver neighborhoods. Steve Ziegler and Paula Stolebarger are leading the assignment. This is a build-from-scratch leadership mandate with meaningful operating complexity and community impact. “This is a rare opportunity to build and scale a new model at the intersection of retail operations and social impact,” Z3Talent said in a LinkedIn post.
“Excited to be leading the search for FreshLo’s CEO,” Ms. Stolebarger said in a LinkedIn post. “Their vision to expand access to fresh, affordable food while building a sustainable, community-driven operating model makes this both complex and deeply meaningful work.”
FreshLo is launching a network of community-driven grocery stores designed to improve access to fresh, affordable food in areas facing food insecurity. The incoming CEO will partner closely with the board and community stakeholders to stand up operations, build the leadership team, secure funding, and scale to multiple store locations over the next several years. The role requires a builder-operator who can navigate nonprofit governance while running a disciplined, multi-site retail operation.
FreshLo is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its founding CEO. This leader will bring a proven track record of success across key areas essential to advancing their mission of addressing food insecurity by creating grocery stores that provide healthy, affordable food in low-income communities. This is a rare opportunity for the right person to take an incredible concept and, supported by a network of mission-driven organizations across Denver, turn it into a thriving organization that changes the way communities across Denver access healthy food.
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The CEO will report to the board and quickly build the team necessary to open and operate at least three stores over the next two years. The successful candidate will be a self-starter with an entrepreneurial builder’s mindset, paired with demonstrated experience in building high performing teams. They will be community-oriented with the ability to build trust quickly both with external and internal stakeholders.
Non-Profit Grocery Store
FreshLo Market is a non-profit grocery store whose mission is to provide fresh, tasty, convenient, and nutritious food to communities most in need at prices everyone can afford. FreshLo will open its first three locations in 2026 in Denver in the Montbello, Sun Valley, and Mariposa neighborhoods.
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Z3Talent is a retained executive search firm for entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and private equity-backed companies. Mr. Ziegler founded the firm in 2014 as a small boutique firm leveraging his 18 years as an entrepreneur and executive in the human capital industry. Throughout his career, he has placed nearly 1,000 professionals spanning most industries and functions, however, his passion is partnering with entrepreneurs and investors in identifying hard to find executives for their companies.
Ms. Stolebarger is director of recruiting and non-profit practice leader at Z3Talent. She brings 25 years of experience as a key contributor for two high-profile, international executive search firms. Ms. Stolebarger has supported numerous top producing search partners while leading the execution process resulting in the placement of hundreds of executives. In 2016, she joined Z3Talent to lead recruitment and operations. Her industry expertise is within the nonprofit, construction, technology, manufacturing, energy, engineering, financial services, and natural resources business sectors.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
