Colorado's Most Powerful People of 2017

The potent, influential and the formidable forces behind the scenes of the business, projects and initiatives defining our state

Mike Taylor //May 22, 2017//

Colorado's Most Powerful People of 2017

The potent, influential and the formidable forces behind the scenes of the business, projects and initiatives defining our state

Mike Taylor //May 22, 2017//

 

 

 

 

 

Back after several years’ absence, the ColoradoBiz Most Powerful People issue highlights 25 figures who exert influence on local and statewide matters through a variety of roles. Money helps, but wealth by itself doesn’t connote power if the willingness to wield it is absent.

The wealthy people among these 25 have demonstrated power by choosing where and for what causes to allocate their money. Political office holders, on the other hand, demonstrate power by their ability to champion policies that impact lives, and by their access to media that provides a forum for them to enlighten, inspire and embolden others. Corporate leaders – who can usually be counted among the wealthy – wield power by their ability to impact local economies, community identity and the charitable causes they choose to align their companies with. This year’s Most Powerful cast includes all of the above.

Perhaps most of all, the people selected by the magazine's editorial staff and profiled (in no particular order) on the following pages are doers. Influencers. They are notable not so much for their titles, what they own or their net worth, but for what they’ve accomplished and, in many cases, enabled others to do. If you want something done, these are people you would want to call. Many Coloradans have.