Carlo Kriekels

Co-Founder & Executive Director of the YESS Institute

Carlo was born in Belgium and is a first-generation American Citizen. He taught leadership and emotional intelligence skills in Europe. In 2001, he co-founded the YESS Institute to bring the benefits of emotional intelligence to youth and role models.

24 years later, YESS has served 11,000 students. As YESS’s CEO, Carlo has trained over 5,000 youth and role models at national, regional, and local conferences, including at MENTOR’s National Mentoring Symposium in DC. He has been one of the key leaders in creating the statewide agency Mentor Colorado. Carlo is also one of the lead curriculum developers of the nationally recognized Forums: “Youth Outreach Project – Bridging the Gap: Cops and Kids”.

Carlo is the author of the audio course and e-book: “The 9 Key Components of Peer Mentoring.” He received the 2011 “Heavy Lifting Award” from the Denver Mayor’s Office for Education and Children. Kriekels accepted the 2016 “My Brother’s Keeper Award” from Mayor Michael Hancock for work with young men of color.

In 2021, he was recognized by Titan100 as one of Colorado’s top 100 CEO’s for exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. The Belgian Ambassador to the United States nominated Kriekels in 2022 for the prestigious Christoffel Plantin award, which honors Belgians who elevate Belgium's prestige abroad.

Carlo lives in Denver with his wife and two sons, both in college. In his free time, he enjoys cycling over and across the Colorado Rockies.