Cody Wertz, Co-Founder

Cody is a strategic media, communications and government affairs consultant based in Denver, Colorado. Cody co-founded Freestone Strategies, LLC after spending nearly 3 years working as a principal at Stratton-Carpenter & Associates. At Stratton Carpenter, Cody excelled at crisis communications, media relations, public affairs and communications strategies for local, regional and national clients. Wertz’ clients included landowners, utilities, business developers, environmental and sportsmen non-profits and more. Before, Stratton Carpenter, Cody was a principal at GBSM, Inc where he spent much of his tenure orchestrating the four-year campaign to protect Colorado’s largest ranch from a huge transmission line. The Ranch is now preserved forever with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. 

Prior to joining GBSM, Cody ran former U.S. Senator Ken Salazar’s communications efforts as director and chief spokesman in Washington, D.C. and Denver. While working with the Senator, Cody helped bring cross-country acclaim to Salazar’s actions and unique history by working closely with national media outlets such as CNN, NBC Nightly News, the New York Times, Time Magazine and more. During his time with the Senator, in 2007 the Colorado Statesman inducted Cody into its inaugural “Fifty for the Future” class as a “Young Mover and Shaker in Politics and Public Policy.”

Cody began his public relations career in 2001 as Communications Director for the Minority Communications Office of the Colorado State House of Representatives working for then House Minority Leader Dan Grossman. After winning positive acclaim from the capitol press corps through Westword bestowing “Best Office” on the Minority Press Communications office, Cody went on to lead communications efforts for the Colorado Democratic Party.

During the 2003 Denver mayoral election, Cody served as spokesman for then Denver Auditor, Don Mares’ campaign. That same year the Colorado Democratic Party honored Cody with its “Rising Star” award. Following the election, he joined Community Shares of Colorado as Marketing Director. Cody returned to life on the campaign trail in 2004 as Communications Director for then Attorney General Ken Salazar’s U.S. Senate race.

While not quite a Colorado native, Cody graduated from high school in Fort Collins, CO and then graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors Degree in History. Cody lives in NW Denver with his wife Mary Ann and their daughter Catherine.