Downtown Denver Partnership hands out citizen awards

The Downtown Denver Partnership celebrated 60 years of city building at its annual meeting this week, also outlining strategic initiatives for the coming year and recognizing outstanding contributions to downtown by its leaders and members. The annual meeting, presented by Grant Thornton, is an opportunity for the Downtown Denver Partnership to showcase activities that align with the high-impact strategies outlined in the 2007 Downtown Area Plan and report on progress toward building an economically healthy growing and vital downtown.

“The Partnership is honored to celebrate 60 years of building a world-class center city,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “We know that great cities don’t happen by accident, and through focus, collaboration and strategic planning, downtown Denver is thriving.”

The Partnership reported on accomplishments over the past year through its 2014-15 Annual Report and announced it will sustain positive momentum by continuing to focus on projects and initiatives to significantly drive progress in four strategic areas:

• Grow the economic base through place-based economic development that attracts businesses and residents, supports a diverse array of housing and amenities, and cultivates a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. This will include co-producing the fourth annual Denver Startup Week from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 and advancing community-building and programming at The Commons on Champa, a public campus for entrepreneurship located at 1245 Champa St.

• Create energized public spaces and districts through activating, funding and managing Downtown’s public spaces including partnering with the City on The Mall Experience: The Future of Denver’s 16^th Street Mall study. The study, alongside Partnership efforts to develop a comprehensive security action plan for the Mall, will ensure the 16^th Street Mall reaches its full potential as a world-class destination and premier public space.

• Connect everyone to everything to ensure downtown attracts the future workforce and residents by remaining the region’s largest, most comprehensive and convenient transit district. This includes funding and supporting key plans like the Civic Center Transit District Plan, and sustaining efforts to build a bicycle city through the successful installation of protected bike lanes on Arapahoe and Lawrence Streets.

• Build a premier organization through member engagement, growing downtown’s leadership base and expanding strategic programs and initiatives.

The Partnership also recognized the leadership of outgoing chairman of the Partnership, David Kenney, CEO and founder of The Kenney Group. Joe Vostrejs, principal of City Street Investors LLC, was elected as chairman of the Partnership for 2015-16. In addition, the Partnership announced Rob Cohen, CEO of The IMA Financial Group, Inc., was elected chairman of Downtown Denver Inc.; Bill Mosher, senior managing partner for Trammell Crow Company, was elected chairman of Denver Civic Ventures; and Walter Isenberg, president and CEO of Sage Hospitality, was elected chairman-elect for the Partnership.

Several members and community partners were also recognized for their significant contributions to the Partnership’s efforts in the urban core.

Honorary Partner Award: Presented to a member who exhibits strong leadership and engagement in the Partnership for a period of at least 10 years.

• Honorable Elbra M. Wedgeworth, chief government and community relations officer, Denver Health.

Inaugural Peter Bowes Award: Presented to a member who exemplifies the legacy of Peter Bowes, past chairman of the Downtown Denver Partnership.

• Kathy Holmes, president, Holmes Consulting Group.

President’s Award: Recognizes a significant contribution to an initiative that is important to Downtown and The Partnership.

• The Commons on Champa Partners.

Volunteer of the Year Awards: Presented to members who have made significant contributions to the Partnership’s programs and initiatives over the last year.

• Lori Davis, managing partner, Grant Thornton.
• Jim Holder, senior vice president of sales, Mountain States Region, Cigna.
• Jennifer Johnson, vice president, HKS Architects.

For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com/.