Julie Bender, who helped shepherd the land around Denver International Airport from windswept prairie to thriving development hub, will step down as leader of the DIA Business Partnership at the end of the year.
A search committee will be formed to look for Bender’s replacement, although partnership members said they haven’t determined what they will look for or where they will look.
“This is a situation where the board and committee will have to come together to discuss our accomplishments and the direction we’re going,” said lawyer Penfield Tate Jr., a member of the partnership’s executive committee. “We’ll have to talk about what we need in terms of our direction.”
Bender has led the partnership since it was founded as a task force in 1996. She became president and executive director in 2000, when it became a stand- alone organization.
The partnership represents an area of 300 square miles that includes parts of Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City and Denver. It is composed of public and private entities and acts as a booster for the region.
“The partnership has an ambitious agenda to create the best airport-centered region in the country,” Bender said. “The area is well on its way, and there remains a lot to do.”
She said she plans to pursue other professional opportunities, although she declined to specify.
“She was the heart and soul of the DIA Business Partnership,” said Tom Markham, executive director of the Lowry Redevelopment Authority, a partnership member that develops land within its boundaries.
Markham credited Bender with successfully coordinating the many cities, businesses and other stakeholders at a time when the direction of development around the airport was largely unknown.
“When we started out, there was nothing. It was the new baby in town, and she just grew everything,” said Brighton Mayor Jan Pawlowski.
Since DIA opened in 1995, the northeast metro area has become the fastest-growing region in the Denver area. The area has 317,700 residents and 184,000 workers. Its annual economic impact of $15 billion is expected to grow to $85 billion by 2025. The region is expected to account for 30 percent of the metro area’s employment growth.
Although the availability of open space and the proximity of the airport laid the groundwork for growth, partnership members credit Bender with building the momentum.
“She has provided vision and really strong leadership for placing the DIA corridor on the map,” said Landri Taylor, vice president of community affairs for Forest City Stapleton, which is developing the former Stapleton Airport into a mixed-use community.
“She has … been responsible for making sure we are focused on the issues surrounding economic development,” he said.
Before joining the partnership, Bender served in the Denver Office of Economic Development and as president of the Aurora Economic Development Council.
Staff writer Kristi Arellano can be reached at 303-820-1902 or karellano@denverpost.com.
