Eli LaVaude was born in the Roaring Fork Valley but raised in rural Vermont, Eli returned to Carbondale with a clear mission: to bridge the gap between creativity and commerce in his home community. His background is a unique convergence of art and analytics; after earning a degree from Berklee College of Music, Eli pivoted from audio engineering to finance, developing a sharp eye for both technical detail and big-picture strategy.

Eli acts as a strategic partner to Voices through his consultancy, Chromatic Ventures. Since May 2025, he has worked closely with Amy and MinTze to deliver bookkeeping services and financial clarity for the nonprofit. Through detailed reporting, he helps the team understand their financial health and make informed decisions about programming and budgets. As a small business committed to supporting community-oriented organizations, Chromatic Ventures takes pride in helping Voices sustain their vital work amplifying local voices through the arts.

Beyond his work with Voices, Eli is deeply integrated into the valley’s business ecosystem. He serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Finesse Funds, an RIA and economics research firm in Basalt, and co-owns Chromatic Ventures with his wife. Committed to the community culture that drew him back, Eli also serves on the board of KDNK, bringing his mix of financial expertise and creative perspective to every partnership he builds.