The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s incoming chief executive said Friday that she will focus on returning the Colorado business community — stung like others by the recession — to its “former vitality.”
“I want the chamber to touch every business it can and provide the services those businesses need to grow and thrive,” said Kelly Brough, who assumes her role at the advocacy group Oct. 1.
She said she will work to forge new relationships with communities and organizations beyond the Front Range.
Her remarks came at the chamber’s 125th annual membership meeting at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
The event marked a changing of the guard as the chamber also welcomed Chuck Ward as chairman of the board of directors for 2009-10. Ward, Qwest’s state president, succeeds Mimi Roberson, who said the past year was politically, financially and personally challenging for the chamber.
In addition to dealing with the recession, the business community was involved in a contentious ballot-initiative fight with labor unions.
Looking forward, the chamber will continue to work on landing a nonstop flight from Denver to Asia, Ward said.
Also Friday, the chamber presented the Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award to Don Kortz, chairman of Fuller and Co., a commercial real estate broker.
The chamber, which represents 3,000 businesses that employ 300,000, said Kortz is a longtime volunteer with the Rose Community Foundation and Children’s Hospital.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
