Space Command headquarters will remain in Colorado Springs after two-years of conflict over the potential relocation to Huntsville, AL. The decision preserves the nearly 1,400 Colorado jobs and annual economic impact of $1 billion reliant on Space Command’s HQ in Colorado Springs.
“The decision to keep Space Command in Colorado is in the best national security interests of the United States, and it respects what our military professionals have articulated all along,” said J. J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “Colorado is a leader in the aerospace industry, and Space Command’s military and civilian workforce and their families, are valued in our communities. The Chamber and our partners worked tirelessly to advocate for Space Command remaining here, and we’re proud to support the lead efforts of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC. We’re especially grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for their advocacy in elevating operational readiness over politics.”
Colorado is renowned for its access to talent and the state’s leadership role within the aerospace industry. Many unique space assets, including a highly cohesive ecosystem of aerospace companies, academic organizations, military partners and economic development groups work to make Colorado the best place for the aerospace industry. Colorado is also the nation’s #1 state for employment concentration in aerospace.
The state’s central location in the country also attracts aerospace industries and workers from coast to coast and globally. Simultaneously, the state’s abundance of high-tech companies are developing viable, cutting-edge technologies in fields such as renewable energy, cyber and quantum. This dynamic atmosphere for business growth further supports aerospace through cross-sector industries that advance aerospace development.
“Colorado is a unique and unmatched ecosystem of space and advanced industry, and with the second largest private space economy in the U.S., it’s where Space Command belongs,” said president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and executive vice president of the Denver Metro Chamber, Raymond H. Gonzales. “Space Command’s dedicated workforce plays a major role in our communities and in Colorado’s economic growth, development and prosperity. We’re thrilled to have Space Command remain in Colorado, and we’re proud to have advocated with our colleagues in Colorado Springs to keep this important headquarters in our state.”
For 156 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the state, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses. The Chamber’s family of organizations includes the Metro Denver EDC, the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center, the Colorado Competitive Council and B:CIVIC. For more information, go to denverchamber.org.
About the Metro Denver EDC
Often called a “center of influence,” the Metro Denver EDC was the nation’s first regional economic development organization. A division of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, from Castle Rock to Fort Collins and Golden to Greeley, we represent the nine counties and 66 communities that contribute to our robust economy and incredible culture. As the economic development function of the broader Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the EDC serves a 9-county territory that represents two-thirds of the state’s population and three-quarters of the GDP.
The Metro Denver business community heard from a panel of regional mayors about the strengths and challenges of their cities at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 State of the City event, presented by United Airlines. The event provided a platform to discuss the current state of the Metro Denver region and how local representatives are addressing local issues.
The panel for the event featured a variety of mayors from throughout Metro Denver. The conversation was moderated by the Managing Principal of Civic Results and the Executive Director for the Metro Mayors Caucus, Heidi Williams. Panelists included Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. The conversation focused on the three priorities the Chamber held during the 2023 legislative session: economic competitiveness, housing and sustainability.
Prior to the panel, Mayor Mike Johnston provided remarks covering his first 10 days in office and priorities for his first year in office.
Johnston outlined major challenges, saying “[The] Top priorities I’ll be focused on next year… the top among those is homelessness… also deeply focused on affordability and housing… focused intensely on the economic revitalization of downtown… and also of course focused deeply on public safety.”
The mayoral panel followed Johnston’s remarks, focusing on economic competitiveness, housing and sustainability for the region.
Beginning with economic competitiveness, Williams started the panel with a question for everyone, asking, “How can cities work together to retain, grow and recruit business along the Front Range?”
Mobolade and Coffman both focused on working together with different cities and collaboration in their answers. “There’s a strong emphasis on making sure we’re not competing with each other… we’re one state,” said Mobolade.
Brockett and Johnston both discussed transportation and workforce in their responses. “I want to call out regional transportation in this area,” said Brockett. “We just got a final grant to build bus traffic between Boulder and Longmont… as well as a regional bikeway,” Brockett continued with how improved transportation will help connect and build organizations and workers throughout the region.
Johnston discussed how developing the region’s workforce will help businesses by providing skilled workers for jobs. He stressed the need for affordable housing as well, so workers can, “up-skill themselves for any stage in their career… in a way that doesn’t result in debt.”
The conversation switched to a deeper dive into housing, with Williams asking how they plan to work with their colleagues to address housing and homelessness, as well as issues like construction defects.
“We want reform and we want relief,” stated Coffman in response to the question. “We are the first city to sign up for Proposition 123, so we are dedicated to increasing affordable housing.” Coffman also focused on getting more people access to treatment and aide for drug addiction, hoping this would help homelessness in the city.
Mobolade started with, “I believe the ability to learn from each other… is going to be key,” stressing how other cities have solutions they can share for housing. A big topic for Mobolade was the “not in my backyard” mentality, known as NIMBYism. “We as government leaders have to think of new ways to educate and help our cities see… that these are real people who are affected by a lack of housing, and it has real consequences… to our city,” said Mobolade.
Both Brockett and Johnston focused on increasing access to starter homes and condos through zoning and permitting. “We’re past the point of teachers not being able to afford to live in town,” said Brockett. “Neurologists can’t afford to live in town,” making the point to stress that many people have no access to homes despite being in well-paying jobs. Johnston stressed the need to make construction of these units easier, “[the] permitting process is so impossible to navigate… and that is driving up the cost of housing.”
The final topic covered was sustainability, with Williams asking, “What is one program or policy in your city that you think your colleagues could utilize… to increase sustainability efforts?”
Johnston centered on the electrification of fleets throughout the city, stating, “This also includes partners like the airport… we have our first all-electric fleets at the airport, so we’d love to see more of those rental fleets.”
Brockett also stressed electrification by saying, “As the grid is getting greener and greener… the next phase is to electrify everything. This is a decades-long process… so it’s something we need to get working on sooner rather than later.”
Coffman emphasized the water conservation efforts in Aurora, saying, “the city of Aurora is leading in terms of water conservation.” Coffman referenced the water conservation ordinance approved last year in Aurora, which limits the use of grass for homes and aesthetic purposes as well as water features.
Mobolade focused similarly on Colorado Springs’ efforts to promote native plants, smaller lot sizes and increase walkability in the city. He stated the need for, “sustainability efforts to meet the future growth of our city.”
The event was closed out by the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, J. J. Ament. Ament thanked the mayors for their participation. He also stressed the need to use incentives over mandates in passing litigation to help cities meet their economic competitiveness, housing and sustainability goals. “We like incentives, but the threat of not achieving a technologically or financially reachable goal, it creates an incentive but not the incentive we want,” said Ament.
The Denver Metro Chamber’s 2023 State of the City event was presented by United Airlines.
About the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce:
For 156 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the state, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses. The Chamber’s family of organizations includes the Metro Denver EDC, the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center, the Colorado Competitive Council and B:CIVIC. For more information, go to denverchamber.org.
Robin Wise, president and CEO of JA-Rocky Mountain, cited the contributions of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees to the free enterprise system. “Through their actions and accomplishments, the laureates were selected for their enduring entrepreneurial efforts and business excellence, ethical standards and philanthropic endeavors that have made Colorado stronger,” Wise said. “They are outstanding role models for the next generation as they take the reins of leadership in the years to come.”
2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureates
Bill Berger
Katherine Berger, daughter of Colorado Business Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Berger
Bill Berger began his career by managing equity portfolios for Colorado National Bank’s trust department in 1950. Over the next 40 years, he helped establish Denver as one of the largest mutual fund centers outside of New York and Boston and had a hand in the growth of at least three families of mutual funds. These included the Centennial Fund and Gryphon Fund (the two later merged into the Founders Growth Fund), and what would eventually evolve into Invesco Funds family of mutual funds, which is now part of Amvescap PLC, a global money manager.
In 1974, Berger founded Berger Associates to manage two portfolios – the Berger 100 fund, which invested in small companies, and the Berger 101 fund. As a portfolio manager, he led the Berger 100 fund to top-five status among diversified mutual funds in the country. In 1994, he sold Berger Associates to Kansas City Southern Industries, the railroad and financial-services company.
Berger also served as chairman of Urban League of Colorado as a member of the Budget Committee for United Way. Following the sale of Berger Associates, he formed two charitable foundations – one for art education, Berger Collection Education Trust, and WMBBerger Foundation, which offers opportunities for young people to connect with nature and experience outdoor activities.
After his college career was interrupted while he served as a volunteer ambulance driver in the American Field Service with the British Eighth Army in Italy, Berger graduated from Yale in 1948.
Mary Pat Link
Mary Pat Link accepting Colorado Hall of Fame induction
Mary Pat Link has been a leader in innovation and champion for nonprofits for more than 40 years. She founded Interlink Group, later acquired by Dell Computer, and now serves alongside husband John Strohm as a founding member and managing partner of Farrell-Roeh Group.
Originally from Illinois, Link started her career in Chicago as a computer programmer in 1981. She relocated to Colorado and in 1989 started an independent computer consulting business, which eventually became Interlink Group Inc. Under Link’s leadership, Interlink Group grew from one employee to 400, with offices in six states and Pune, India. Link’s other career highlights include serving as a co-founder and board member of Countermind-Ventures LLC, a software company with mobile and wireless product offerings.
Link currently is involved with the Strohm-Link Family Foundation she started with her husband and family, through which she helps provide financial support and leadership to various organizations in Colorado and nationally. Link earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Iowa and completed her graduate studies in Burgos, Spain.
Jay Precourt
Jay Precourt
Beginning in his 30s, Jay Anthony Precourt embarked on a career in oil and gas and has since founded five successful energy companies, including a NYSE company that sold in 12 years for 21 times the initial investment, and another for 24 times in five years.
Throughout his career, Precourt has held extensive public company board positions, serving in a range of roles from board chairman to leading various executive committees with Hamilton Oil, Timken Co., Apache Corp., Baroid, Dresser Industries, Halliburton, Tejas Gas Corp., as well as several large private industrial corporations and nonprofits.
Precourt has supported the efforts of the Vail Valley Foundation in notable ways. He was instrumental in the 2001 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater capital campaign and has been a generous contributor to the Foundation’s YouthPower365, which helps serve more than 4,200 youth in early childhood, kindergarten through 12th grade and career-college readiness programs.
At Stanford, Mr. Precourt is the founding donor of the Precourt Institute for Energy and is vice-chairman of its Advisory Council. He is a member of the Woods Institute for Environment’s Advisory Council and founded Global Energy Forum, now located at Stanford.
Precourt holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard.
Frederick Ross
Frederick Ross
Frederick Ross founded Frederick Ross & Co. in 1888 – a real estate company that touched almost every corner of Colorado. The company, now Newmark, has built Denver’s skyline for 134 years.
At 22 years old, Ross moved to Colorado to help alleviate symptoms of his tuberculosis. At the time, Denver was a simple “cow town.” Because of Mr. Ross’ foresight and gumption to begin a real estate company, Denver began to come to life. Under his leadership and partnership with other business leaders, Ross worked to secure water rights for the city and oversaw the planning of the Moffat Tunnel, which provided a way for water to travel through the Continental Divide. He worked alongside elected officials to transform what was once a slum into what we now know as Civic Center Park. He improved the Denver Public Library and was instrumental in helping build the library’s first permanent site at Colfax and Bannock in 1910.
Ross’ career wasn’t solely focused on commercial feats. He envisioned housing beyond the central business district. He helped develop the Country Club Place subdivision near the Denver Country Club, as well as the Park Hill subdivision. Ross’ impact extends decades; Frederick Ross & Co. is one of the only real estate companies to span from the 20th to the 21st century. After his passing in 1938, leaders in Ross’ real estate company continued to build Denver and its metro area, fundamentally changing the city and real estate industry forever.
Ross served as president of the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, was a charter member of Denver’s Planning Commission, and as a member of the Denver Parks Committee appointed by the mayor, which oversaw the acquisition of Red Rocks, Evergreen, Summit and Echo Lake parks. In 1915, he worked with the Joint Committee of the Real Estate Exchange and Chamber of Commerce, persuading Congress to create one of Colorado’s most iconic parks – Rocky Mountain National Park.
When Ross died, his will outlined the formation of the Ross Library Trust, securing funds for the building of branch libraries across the state.
Colorado’s business community has also benefited from Smith’s real estate development contributions, including development in Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Breckenridge, Keystone Resorts, Riverfront Park in Denver, and Union Station in downtown Denver. His leadership and vision in the master planning and development of both Riverfront Park and Union Station communities was acknowledged when he received the Urban Land Institute Global Award for Excellence.
Smith’s community involvement extends to the board room as well, with current board affiliations with Colorado Forum, First Western Financial, Forbes Global Properties, Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Slifer Smith and Frampton Foundation, and Chief Executives Organization. He has served as chairman of the Beaver Creek Metropolitan District, Bravo Colorado Vail Valley Music Festival, Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District, and Downtown Denver Youth Foundation. Smith also served as a director of numerous youth and education-focused organizations, including Denver Public Schools Foundation, YPO Rocky Mountain Chapter, Teach for America Colorado, Colorado Succeeds, Mayor’s Leadership Team on Early Education, Colorado Uplift, and the Charter Fund, among many others.
A thriving economy depends on recruiting and retaining a quality, educated workforce. Recruiting and retaining a quality and educated workforce depends on building a community of informed and active citizens. So how do we build an informed and active society that can address these workforce challenges? Civic engagement.
Civic engagement is described as how individuals strive to improve the quality of life in their community by becoming involved in activities that address issues of public concern. Successful civic engagement initiatives are dependent on community members considering themselves to be an integral part of society and accepting a level of personal responsibility for addressing community challenges. Such people recognize the moral and civic impact of issues facing their own community and are willing to engage personally to correct them.
Colorado is fortunate to have organizations like Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA) and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (DMCC) that lay the groundwork for individuals to engage and make a positive impact in their communities throughout their lives. Both offer educational programs that inspire youth and young adults to value civic engagement in overcoming the challenges our state faces.
Junior Achievement’s primary focus is to help young people ages 5 to 25 become more financially literate, work and career ready and — even better — able to start or run a business, should they choose that path. Personal finance, business ownership, or just having a good job are impacted by decisions made by elected and appointed leaders at every level of government.
This is why civics education is an area covered in JA’s learning experiences. We expect our young people to become adults who can make informed decisions about buying a home, saving for retirement, borrowing for college, or applying for permits and licenses to start a business. But this expectation should be accompanied with the knowledge needed to understand how policymakers and regulators influence these aspects of our daily lives. It is critically important that we all stay informed about how our government works and engage in democracy.
Like JA, the DMCC promotes greater civics knowledge and civic participation with middle school students through the Metro Denver Civics Bee. But we continue learning throughout our careers, and Chamber leadership programs are transformative for adult business professionals who are looking to elevate their engagement in civic leadership.We build and equip community champions through in-depth education and experiences with a close network of personal and professional relationships.
The significant value that early and continued training in civic engagement provides our communities cannot be overstated. Informed and active citizens make for a strong state, a strong economy, and a strong workforce, and our continued prosperity depends on the strength of all three.
Robin Wise is the President & CEO of Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain and J.J. Ament is the President & CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
The 2023 National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. The Denver competition will inspire 6th, 7th and 8th graders to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce believes that understanding how government works is foundational and essential for every citizen.
Businesses and our economy rely on sound policy and effective governing at the local, state, and federal level. It can be a daunting task to keep up with the constantly moving process of government. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce takes on the task of keeping up with the relentless last-minute changes and sudden roadblocks of public policy for its members, ensuring that we are advocates for practical policies that impact businesses large and small.
Our commitment to spreading knowledge and awareness of business-impacting policy has encouraged us to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in bringing the National Civics Bee to Denver.
To encourage teachers to further promote civic engagement and curiosity in their classrooms, the Denver Metro Chamber will be awarding $500 to any teacher that has their entire classroom apply for the Denver Civics Bee competition.
The first-place winner of the Denver competition will receive a $2,000 grand prize, and their school will be matched the $2,000 prize amount as well. Second place will receive $1,000, and third place will receive $500 (with the schools receiving matching funds). These top three winners will then proceed to the Colorado state Civics Bee competition.
Application deadlines are Feb. 24 at midnight!
We hope the National Civics Bee sparks a passion and interest in young people for civic and civil engagement so they are well-prepared to enter the workforce or start their own companies.
Last month on April 29, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (DMCC) bestowed its highest business honors to six organizations — two nonprofits and four companies — at Infinity Park, in Glendale. The awards and celebration were presented by BOK Financial and emceed by Reggie Rivers, former Denver Broncos running back and president of The Gala Team.
This annual event recognizes outstanding local businesses and organizations that are making an impact in Colorado and across the globe in their respective industries — from counseling, recycling, to plumbing services. Last year, the DMCC pivoted to a virtual award show due to COVID concerns but was pleased to be back in-person this year. In attendance, were 316 business and community leaders, including ColoradoBiz.
“All of the organizations we’ve recognized today have been so different in budget, size, service, and industry,” said J. J. Ament, president and CEO of DMCC. “But all of them are similar in that they play a crucial role in strengthening Denver’s economy and community. They help make Metro Denver a great region for living, working, and doing business, and we are so happy that we could bring everyone together today.”
The awards were presented in six categories: Small Nonprofit, Large Nonprofit, Small Business, Woman- or BIPOC-owned, Start-up, and Disruptor of the Year.
(VIDEOS AND PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF: DENVER METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)
About the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Our goal has been simple: to put more Coloradans to work. We’ve been doing it for 150 years with a reach that goes beyond the metro area representing 3,000 companies and their 300,000 employees. We have resources for businesses large and small, whether you want to grow your business by making key leads or you want to build relationships with our region’s leading executives while shaping public policy and economic development. With our affiliates, the Chamber plays a vital role in defining the economic landscape of our state.
A winner will be chosen for each of the six categories by a panel of judges, and for the first time, there was also a community vote available for members of the public to show their support for these organizations.
“The Metro Denver business community has been incredibly resilient during the past two years in the face of some extraordinary hardships,” said Chamber president and CEO, J. J. Ament. “We are thrilled to recognize these fantastic organizations and their incredible achievements through this year’s Business Awards.”
“Our goal has been simple: to put more Coloradans to work.” -Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
This year’s Business Awards are celebrating a wide variety of businesses and organizations, ranging from a family-owned plumbing business and a music retail store to nonprofits serving local families and a youth apprenticeship program.
The Chamber is searching for organizations that have a positive impact across both their community and different business sectors.
GoQAV – Quality Audio Video is a global leader in design-focused technology solutions for homes and businesses. Awarded best demo space in the world for smart home solutions in 2019, GoQAV continues to innovate and create elements that bring experiences to life in any space while driving emphasis toward interior design.
MIKADO International is a culture-first advertising agency that strives to create a more connected world through multicultural marketing. Founded in 2010, MIKADO empowers organizations to celebrate diversity, equality, and inclusion in their communication to achieve unparalleled success while building a brand for the world tomorrow.
A Precious Child is more than a resource center; it is a one-stop shop for families in crisis to receive the goods, opportunities, and resources they need. These additional resources provide more than a bandage of services; they provide the foundation families require to become empowered to achieve their full potential, for children to grow up to be secure, self-reliant, contributing members of their community.
CareerWise Colorado’s youth apprenticeship system creates new, diverse talent pipelines for employers and new career pathways for students to access high-demand, high-paying careers. Student apprentices work toward high school graduation and earn post-secondary credit, industry credentials or both in their chosen career path.
Mile High United Way, the first United Way in the world, was founded in Denver 135 years ago in 1887. Working side by side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing our seven-county footprint including the Metro Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield communities.
Woman or BIPOC-owned Business of the Year, sponsored by Xcel Energy
Barefoot PR is a group of purpose-driven public relations and design professionals who work with nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and companies focused on community impact. The team believes people have the power to change our world for the better and uses their skills to help facilitate this change.
Diverse Talent, LLC is an executive search and placement firm that specializes in dispelling the notion that a pipeline issue exists between diverse candidates in the STEM, legal, business, and nonprofit realm. Diverse Talent’s sister organization Colorado REACH (Respecting Ethnic and Cultural Heritage) specializes in providing diversity, equity, and inclusion training and education.
Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, M.A., LPC and Associates was previously a psychotherapy group practice and has transitioned to consultation, training, and coaching for companies and nonprofit organizations to help mitigate the impact of trauma and build resilience in their workforce, with particular emphasis on working with BIPOC employees. Over the past 15 years, the company has provided trauma therapy to help individuals resolve and heal their most difficult life experiences.
High 5 Plumbing is a local, family-owned plumbing company that offers comprehensive plumbing, sewer, and drain services throughout the Denver Metro area. The business was established in 2012 by professionals with nearly two decades of experience in the industry and a commitment to providing service with honesty and integrity.
Rupp’s Drums is a locally owned music retail business selling new, used, and vintage drums, electronics, world percussion, parts, and accessories. The company also offers rentals, repairs, and private drum lessons.
Tributary Real Estate leverages its trusted relationships, depth of experience, and robust real estate knowledge to provide a customized approach to commercial real estate brokerage and investment services in Denver. Founded in 2015, the company believes that the best results come from building lasting, mutually beneficial relationships, and works hard every day to cultivate those relationships with clients and within the Denver community.
Dress for Success Denver empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Economic Literacy Colorado’s (ELC) mission of empowering Colorado students to achieve a lifetime of economic understanding and financial security begins with educating teachers, personally and professionally. ELC is Colorado’s only nonprofit dedicated to economic and personal financial professional development for teachers.
WeeCycle was founded in 2008 and strives to improve the welfare of families and their children raised in poverty. The organization collects “weecycle” and matches essential baby gear, including baby formula, baby food, diapers, and wipes, to families in need.
An Artist Prints is a graphic design company that brings over a decade of experience in apparel, promotional, and other print forms. The team matches customers with the best production companies to suit their needs.
BreakAway Meetings creates custom boxes for attendees of virtual and hybrid events, employee and client appreciation gifts, and hotel welcome gifts for in-person events in the Metro Denver area. Every order is customized to the specific event, attendees, themes, and budgets.
Collective Counseling Solutions was founded in Denver and is a national collective of skilled and passionate clinicians in private practice who share in the common value of accepting insurance benefits for mental health treatment. Therapists live and practice all over the country, offering high-quality mental health counseling to clients of all genders, age ranges, orientations, and cultural/ethnic backgrounds.
The finalists for the Denver Metro Chamber’s 2022 Business Awards seem just as excited as the Chamber to receive these nominations:
“It is an honor to be recognized for the hard work our team has put into building both a strong business and an enviable culture,” says Barefoot PR co-founders Sarah Hogan and Cori Streetman. “Even better to see Barefoot PR listed alongside Diverse Talent and Marisol Solarte-Erlacher and Associates, businesses also focused on uplifting the voices of individuals who have too often been overlooked. We are so proud to be part of this community of women- and BIPOC-led businesses who are making Denver better.”
“Economic Literacy Colorado is thrilled to be recognized as a Small Nonprofit Finalist for this year’s Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Business Awards,” says Debbie Pierce, president and CEO of Economic Literacy Colorado. “As champions of economic and personal financial education for teachers and their students, we thrive on knowing that more and more students are learning real-world skills that influence decision-making in their personal, professional, and civic lives. And that impacts all of us. Thank you, Denver Chamber!”
CEO and founder of GoQAV, Tyson Rabani, says, “We are honored to be recognized as a finalist for Disruptor of the Year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. There are many amazing businesses across Colorado creating positive and disruptive change within their industries, and so we are humbled to be among the best.”
Claire Doye, Marketing Director for High 5 Plumbing says, “What an incredible honor for High 5 Plumbing to be chosen as one of the finalists for the Denver Metro Chamber Small Business of the Year award. Our team strives to provide top notch customer service, be a champion in our community, and embody a positive company culture each and every day. We are truly excited to be recognized alongside the other amazing organizations and wish everyone good luck!”
For more than 150 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the seven-county metro region and includes 3,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees, the Chamber is a powerful and effective advocate for both small and large businesses at the local, state, and federal levels. Learn more at: Denver Chamber.
The Chamber Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and Executive Committee Co-Chair Trey Rogers announced the appointment of recognized business leader J. J. Ament as the new Chamber President and CEO.
J. J. brings proven leadership to his new role along with financial acumen, a deep understanding of what organizations and communities need now to succeed, and pro-business passion to create a climate for growth and opportunity.
The Chamber chose J. J., in part, for his previous experience working within the Chamber ecosystem and oversight of the state’s largest private sector economic development organization.
His intimate knowledge of the Chamber, the business community and the region is invaluable for bringing stability, continuity and consistency to our complex organization.
He demonstrated to the Executive Committee his readiness to lead and presented a vision that clearly articulated the Chamber’s future.
“It’s a great privilege and responsibility to continue the collaborative, inclusive and bipartisan leadership of the Chamber, representing the diverse voices of our vibrant community to create advantages for Denver-based businesses.” – J. J. Ament, President and CEO, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Navigating the New World of Work
The Chamber is focused on helping its members to navigate the new world of work with the insights, tools and resources they need to be successful in this new normal. J. J. understands the dynamics of business and that the way we do business is forever changed.
With his proven success at the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, leadership skills and strong relationships, he is poised to make an immediate impact at the Chamber. This partnership with J. J. will usher in a new era for the Chamber, focused on efforts to solve the state’s most pressing issues and to strategically accelerate Colorado’s growth.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Free Newsletter
