The nonprofit Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation has renamed itself the to better reflect its goal of training and developing the next generation of leaders.
Foundation president Ed Wingfield said the foundation began working independent of the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce several years ago.
The two organizations continue to work together and support each other, he said, “but we were really ready to focus on training and development.”
For the past seven years, the foundation has focused solely on providing leadership training and advancement services through its 10-month Chamber Connect program.
More than 250 people have graduated from Chamber Connect. The program trains participants in business, political and community leadership and introduces them to some of Colorado’s most influential business leaders, including Downtown Denver Partnership chief Tami Door, Colorado State University president emeritus Albert Yates and Wells Fargo Bank executive Pat Cortez.
The foundation recently hired Ryan Ross as program director and Monique Dyers as events director. They and the foundation board, led by chairman Wellington Webb, plan to roll out new programs in the next 24 months.
