From Connersville to Colorado: CHS Graduate Named to Southern Colorado’s “40 Under 40”

A Connersville native is earning recognition hundreds of miles from home after being named to the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list, honoring rising leaders making an impact in business and their communities.

Jimmy Girot has always held his Connersville roots close to his heart.

A proud Grandview Elementary Wildcat, Girot graduated from Connersville High School in 2007 before attending Hanover College, where he earned his degree in 2011. After college, he spent the first seven years of his professional career working in the Indianapolis area before life took him in a new direction.

“My wife is also from Indiana, and we made plans to live in Colorado after a few trips there together,” he said. “Once I got a job offer near Denver, that served as a forcing function to finally make the move.”

Interestingly, Colorado became home not once, but twice.

“After our second kid was born, we moved back to the Indy area. For a variety of reasons, including work, we chose to return to Colorado — it was a much harder move the second time.”

Today, Girot works in the technology sector, specializing in marketing for software companies. Since relocating to Colorado, he has worked with several tech companies based in the region or with a presence there.

In a previous role, he led teams at a crime intelligence software company headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand. Currently, he leads marketing for a company that develops emergency notification applications, helping organizations communicate critical information during emergencies.

In addition to his primary career, he also owns a small research and consulting business focused on public safety and enterprise security technology. His expertise has also led to opportunities to serve his community in advisory roles. Girot currently volunteers as an advisor for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and for the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Recently, his professional achievements were recognized when he was named to the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest’s 40 Under 40, an honor given to young professionals who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and community involvement.

Despite the recognition, he says the honor came as a surprise.

“I was surprised. It’s not something you think about or expect, especially knowing how much talent lives and works in this part of the country,” he said.

Meeting the other recipients left a strong impression as well.

“Meeting the other winners was humbling. Like the organizations they come from, they were super impressive; it’s easy to feel like an imposter in rooms like that.”

Reflecting on his career path, he credits a combination of hard work, curiosity, and consistency over the years.

“It took a lot of consistency and hard work to get here, but I’ve also tried countless things in my career,” he said. “It really took curiosity, not caring what other people think, and recognizing when to pace myself versus when to take a big risk.”

Girot notes that continuously learning new skills and staying curious has made a significant difference over time.

“Learning new skills, flexing curiosity, and being consistent are all things that have seemed to compound over the past 15 or 16 years.”

When it comes to inspiration, he says many mentors throughout his life have shaped his perspective, especially coaches who helped guide him during his younger years.

“I’ve had so many mentors at every stage of life, but I don’t really seek out inspiration or try to model my life after other people. I do think about my football coaches from high school and college a lot, especially Scott Snodgrass,” he said. “They all had a ‘whole-life’ coaching approach, which was critical for my development as a young man.”

However, he says his biggest inspiration comes from his wife and kids.

Looking ahead, he expects Colorado to remain home for the foreseeable future, though he jokes that he might be open to an international move, if he could talk his wife into moving to New Zealand. 

While he doesn’t return to Connersville as often as he would like, the hometown connection remains strong.

“I don’t come back often, but always enjoy our time there when we can,” he said. “Connersville is a special place, and I miss having a true sense of community like it has.”

For younger generations planning their futures, he offers a piece of advice that may challenge some conventional wisdom.

“Be skeptical of any advice, especially if it rhymes or doesn’t include ‘it depends,’” he said.

He encourages young people not to feel pressured to chase a specific career simply because it’s considered prestigious or financially rewarding.

“There’s honor in most work, assuming it’s ethical,” he said, “so don’t get wrapped up in finding a passion if you don’t have one, or trying to choose a career field based on money alone.”

Instead, he advises young people to focus on what they are good at and curious about and to stick with it long enough to grow.

“The social hierarchy you’ve been taught that’s based on career and class is completely fake. The ‘best careers in 2026’ lists and their average salaries are inaccurate. Insecure adults feed this to younger generations with good intent, but it’s based on fear and not experience. Find the things you’re good at and curious about, then do them for 10+ years.”

His journey from a small-town Indiana graduate to a recognized professional in Colorado serves as a reminder that career paths can take unexpected turns and that curiosity, persistence, and community roots can help shape success along the way.

The Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest’s “40 Under 40” is a recognition program that honors young professionals who are making a significant impact in business and their communities across Southern Colorado. The program highlights 40 professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate strong leadership, innovation, and community involvement in their fields. The goal is to recognize emerging leaders who are shaping the future of the region’s economy and civic life.