Thayer is vice chairman and CIO of El Pomar Foundation. He has been with El Pomar since 1983. He received the Business Citizen of the Year Award from the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce (2009). He is chair of the Investment Committee for the United States Olympic Foundation and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Foundation, serves on the Investment Committee of the Geological Society of America, and is a board member and past president for the National Recreation Foundation Board. Thayer sits on the Boards of Trustees and is treasurer for the Colorado Springs Health Foundation, the Colorado Springs World Arena, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Foundation, and The Hundred Club of Colorado Springs. He is treasurer for The Air Force Academy Foundation. In addition, he is the president of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Foundation, president of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Endowment Fund, and past president of Penrose St. Francis Health Systems Board of Trustees. He is president of The Garden City Company of Garden City, Kansas, and serves on the board of UMB Bank of Colorado. Thayer is a professional member of The Financial Analysts Federation. He and his wife Melani have two sons.