Denver Institute recently welcomed Andrew Wolgemuth as a board member. We spoke with Andrew about his professional background and his involvement with Denver Institute since the very beginning. The conversation below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Denver Institute (DI): Can you give us a brief overview of your work & professional experience?
Andrew Wolgemuth (AW): I've had two main jobs over the past 20 years. I started in IT project management at a global company but after a couple of years I shifted to work with my uncle at a literary agency, where I’ve been ever since. It’s a blend of project management and relational work—helping Christian authors develop books that serve the church. I love working with people I care about on projects I believe in, and I’ve been deeply shaped by the idea that faithfulness in the process matters just as much as the final product.
DI: What has been your interaction and involvement with Denver Institute? How has Denver Institute helped you personally in your vocation?
AW: I think what Denver Institute has helped me realize is how deeply our work shapes us—that we don’t just bring ourselves to our jobs and step out unchanged. There’s a constant interplay, where work is forming us at a core level. Once you start to see that, you can’t unsee it. I’ve found myself thinking, “If I had taken a different career path, I’d be a different person,” and that’s significant. It’s also shown me a gap in the local church—how little we engage with what’s actually happening to people in their nine-to-five. That’s intimidating, but also a huge opportunity if we learn to do it well—in any context, from a pallet shop to publishing.
DI: Why do you care so much about the Denver Institute mission?
AW: It’s hard to know where to start because there’s so much to love. Every time I’m in a Denver Institute event, whether it’s the board meeting or a casual conversation, I think of people who need to hear about this. It’s refreshing to be part of an organization where the challenge isn’t coming up with good ideas but getting the message out to more people. I think about a secular book I recently read about purpose in the workplace. It made me realize how inadequate it is to think that just the work itself can provide that. Denver Institute addresses a huge pain point in our culture—whether in blue-collar or white-collar jobs—by pointing to the gospel and integrating it into our work in a meaningful way. More people need to engage with this and see its potential.
DI: What are you most excited about in Denver Institute’s future?
AW: I’m excited because I’ve seen the growth and impact of Denver Institute firsthand. From when I first started connecting with Jeff [Haanen, the founder of Denver Institute], just as he was launching into this work, to now seeing how the team has developed under Ross’s leadership—it’s incredible. I remember when Jeff hired Brian [Gray, VP of Formation at Denver Institute], and people outside the organization were amazed by the hire. It was such a testament to what Jeff was building, and a sign of how far the organization has come. I’m excited to see how much more impact Denver Institute will continue to make, building on these milestones as it grows.
I am thrilled for Andrew to join the Denver Institute Board of Directors. He’s been around our organization since the beginning, lives out his faith through his work, and brings a steady and gracious voice to the board. I’m also personally excited about this because he’s also a Taylor University alum like me! His experience in publishing is a welcome addition to the team, too!
