Employee Spotlight: Dustin Roberts
Where is your hometown?
Fremont, Nebraska
Tell us something unique about you.
I’m not very interesting (see answer to #1). I get to experience being part of a wonderfully diverse family and raise multiracial children. That’s been a huge gift for me, particularly coming from a small town in the Midwest. It’s given me more first-hand opportunity to grow, think, and parent in broader ways than I think I would otherwise.
What do you like best about working at Innovest?
We have some terrific teammates at Innovest, but the best thing for me are the various connections to our communities through many of our retirement plan clients – governments, non-profits, and companies – which is enhanced by volunteer work.
How do you give back to the community?
I’ve had the opportunity to support and volunteer with a lot of great organizations, such as Junior Achievement and Bicycle Colorado locally, and Delta Upsilon nationally. Currently, my largest commitment is to DIRT Coffee as a member of their board of directors. They are doing impressive and innovative work with limited resources, and I’m excited to see the impact it has on workforce development for neurodiverse young adults in the next few years. They also happen to excel at coffee, which is its own public service. My wife and I are actively involved with our sons’ elementary school through the Parent Teacher Organization and other events. The community is a strength there, and families can have a big impact the quality of the student experience in a similar way that culture can make the difference at a company.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Let’s be honest, our family (kids) are my main interest or hobby right now. Cycling, skiing, running, traveling, and reading would top my list, but I’ve neglected a few of those more than I care to admit in recent years. I’m a fan of learning new things, so I’m hoping to add something to my skillset this year, such as golf or bike mechanic.
Tell us about your family.
My wife, Kateri, and I have known each other for about 20 years and have been married for about 15. We have two sons, Alexander (7) and Declan (11). They’re amazing. Kateri is thoughtful and vibrant, people can’t help but like her. Her sister, Lauren, is her closest friend, an incredible aunt, and one of my favorite people. Kateri and Lauren grew up in southern California. Their parents still live there but are both originally from Louisiana. I’m the youngest of three. My mom is a retired special education teacher, and my dad is a retired state law enforcement officer (game warden). They’re from an even smaller community in Nebraska and have known each other since they were teenagers. One brother, Eric, lives in Fremont with them. Tad, the oldest, lives in the Denver area and has two kids who are 10 and 14, and our boys are close with their cousins.
What is your favorite dessert?
Hershey’s Nuggets mini candy bars, obviously. Just kidding. I love sweets, and I rarely discriminate unless it’s lemon or carrot-forward. If I had to pick a favorite, it’d depend on the day, but a quality chocolate shake is very high on the list.