The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain Inc. have announced the 2007 Colorado Business Hall of Fame inductees, who will be honored at a banquet early next year.
Now in its 18th year, the Colorado Business Hall of Fame pays tribute to Colorado’s distinguished business leaders from the past and present, and promotes the free-enterprise system.
“These individuals embody the heart and soul of a Colorado business leader,” said Joe Blake, president and chief executive of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s inductees are:
Herb Bacon, whose banking career helped shape growth on the Western Slope. His work with the United States Bank of Grand Junction spanned nearly four decades. He held several positions, including chairman, president and CEO. He has been a director of the bank since 1952, which is now part of Wells Fargo.
Pioneering builder Henry Cordes Brown, who came to Denver in 1860. In 1863, he claimed 160 acres, known as “Brown’s Addition” in Denver. Brown donated 10 acres to the state, part of which is the current site of the state Capitol. He built the Brown Palace Hotel on part of that land, completing it in 1892.
Developer Al Cohen began his career in construction in 1952 with the company he founded, Cohen Construction Co. Cohen’s firm built the 54-story Qwest Tower and helped create Genesee Business Park and Inverness Business Park, and he held a prominent role in building Vail into an international destination. Cohen died last year at the age of 84.
John E. Fuller founded Fuller and Co. in 1955, now Fuller Real Estate. It and its subsidiaries employ about 300 people and had $1.5 billion in sales last year.
Ralph Peterson, president and chief executive of CH2M Hill since 1991. Peterson has been a vocal advocate for sustainable development, serving on the Clinton administration’s “Technology for a Sustainable Future” initiative. He has led several CH2M Hill’s environmental cleanup projects, including the Rocky Flats project.
The 2007 laureates will be formally inducted at the Colorado Business Hall of Fame dinner on Feb. 7 at the Denver Marriott City Center.
INDUCTEES
Henry Cordes Brown
Early Denver building pioneer
Al Cohen
Qwest Tower builder
John E. Fuller
Denver real-estate giant
Ralph Peterson
CH2M Hill executive
Herb Bacon
Grand Junction banker
