Our Team
At Trimpa Group, we pride ourselves on our fundamental commitment to promoting progressive political and societal issues. Under the leadership of Ted Trimpa, Principal and CEO, we serve a diverse set of clients through thoughtful and innovative advice that makes an impact and meets the demands of an ever-changing world. From our offices in Denver, Colorado, our team draws from unique skills and expertise to facilitate groundbreaking public policy solutions at the state and federal levels.
Ted Trimpa is the Principal and CEO of Trimpa Group and brings more than a decade of government relations and political consulting experience with a proven record of results. Ted is one of the country’s most sought-after advocates resulting from his deep understanding of the national and multi-state public policy, political and nonprofit landscape. Trimpa also serves as a board member for numerous organizations, including the Democracy Alliance, ProgressNow, Third Way, and Voices for Progress.
Called “Colorado’s answer to Karl Rove” by The Atlantic, Trimpa is a nationally recognized Democratic strategist and operative. He is considered a key architect of the political infrastructure that facilitated the Democratic Party’s resurgence in Colorado after decades of Republican dominance—a turnaround so dramatic National Review dubbed it the “Colorado miracle.” Campaigns & Elections recently named him one of the top five Democratic political players in the state.
Trimpa brings more than a decade of government relations and political consulting experience with a proven record of results. Known as a shrewd negotiator who finds common ground, Trimpa successfully brokered a détente between business and labor in 2008, under which both sides agreed to withdraw proposed ballot initiatives that would have had negative effects on Colorado workers and the business community. In 2010, he brought together environmentalists and natural gas companies to pass landmark legislation that established health-based emission standards for power plants—making Colorado the first state in the country to do so.
In addition to his work in Colorado, Trimpa is a nationally recognized thought leader and a leading advisor to progressive donors and foundations. He is also a visionary within the gay rights movement and considered an early pioneer in advocating for political strategies focused at the state level. He has been recognized in national publications, including The Weekly Standard, The Atlantic, National Review, and The Advocate, for his central role in designing cutting-edge public policy strategies.
Trimpa was raised on a small family farm in southwestern Kansas and got his start in politics by working for U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum. Prior to forming Trimpa Group, Ted was a shareholder at both Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and Hogan Lovells where he was responsible for matters before the Colorado General Assembly and had a multi-state public policy practice.
Ann Margaret DeForest joined the Trimpa Group eight years ago and serves as chief of staff. Having previously worked in the non-profit arena, private sector, and having served in both the Ritter and Cuomo administrations, DeForest brings a unique depth and breadth of experience and knowledge to her role.
Shaped by her honorary adoption into the Hunkpapa Lakota Nation by Joseph Flying Bye and her participation in the inaugural AmeriCorps program, DeForest comes by her dedication to the advancement of social equity naturally. An honors graduate in History and Sociology from Metropolitan State University, she has invested her talents volunteering with several organizations, including The Spot urban youth center; Association of Flight Attendants Government Affairs, AFA-CWA; and Denver University’s Bridge Program.