The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce pledged Wednesday to take on three major issues this year: education, water storage and the overcrowded Interstate 70 corridor west of Denver.
New chamber chairman Rob Cohen will lead the charge.
“None of these issues are easy issues,” said Cohen, chairman and chief executive of Denver’s IMA Financial Group. “These are all long-term systemic challenges, but there are very specific things the business community can do.”
Cohen said the chamber plans to establish task forces to research the three problems and recommend solutions.
In the past two years, the chamber threw its support behind two major ballot initiatives – Referendum C, which suspends the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights for five years, and the $3.5 billion FasTracks light-rail measure.
“I think the chamber has a lot of political clout right now,” said Cohen, 44.
He is also president of the Metro Denver Sports Commission, which is pushing Denver as a host for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Local business leaders praised Cohen’s energy.
“He’s going to be part of Denver’s next generation of leadership,” said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., a chamber arm.
Cohen spoke at the chamber’s 122nd annual membership meeting Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. More than 900 attended. Several said they were surprised water storage was named a priority.
“It’s an interesting twist,” said Steve Sander, principal at Denver’s Pure Brand Communication and vice president of the sports commission.
The chamber gave awards and thanked Tom Honig, regional president of Wells Fargo Bank, for his service as chairman for the past year. Wayne Hutchens, president and CEO of the University of Colorado Foundation, was given the Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award. David Miller, CEO of the Denver Foundation, received the Leadership Denver Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-954-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
