Former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, who is now Colorado Springs’ mayor, will be among the first to receive a Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal Thursday night.
Thursday night at the Governor’s Mansion, Gov. John Hickenlooper will congratulate the first class of recipients of the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal.
The group of the governor’s honorees includes former Colorado attorney general and current Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers. Hickenlooper created the medal by executive order, with the support of former governors, to honor Coloradans who have “made meritorious contributions to strengthen Colorado communities and develop new opportunities for Coloradans throughout the state,” according to an announcement.
“From remarkable economic growth to hosting one of the country’s most highly educated workforces, Colorado is at the forefront of creating new opportunities and inspiring future generations of proud Coloradans,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “This success would not be possible without the generous and collaborative contributions within our business, government and nonprofit communities. This medal honors their commitment to making Colorado a great place to work, live and play.”
The honorees were characterized this way in the announccment:
Growth and Innovation: Nancy Phillips, co-founder, president and CEO of ViaWest – This award is given to an entrepreneur who has led with exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities for others. A 30-year veteran of the telecommunications, infrastructure and technology industries, Ms. Phillips embodies Colorado’s spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Public Service: John Suthers, mayor of Colorado Springs – This award is reserved for a government leader who serves the public with innovation, operational excellence and progressive vision. From his previous tenure as Colorado’s attorney general to his current position as mayor of Colorado Springs, Mr. Suthers’ service to Colorado runs deep and epitomizes true public service.
Emerging Community Leader: Craig Smith, president of HomeAdvisor – This award recognizes a young business or nonprofit leader who has demonstrated professional excellence and positive impact on the community. Mr. Smith’s commitment to his business and community – most notably through his work with Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Corporate Leadership Council and the Beanstalk Foundation – has made far-reaching impacts throughout Colorado.
Vanguard Legacy Award: Daniel L. Ritchie – This award is given to a business leader who has made transformational contributions to the community throughout his or her career. Mr. Ritchie has made countless transformational contributions to Colorado’s educational, arts and community organizations through his work with the University of Denver and The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, among others.
Corporate Citizenship: Zayo Group – This recognition is reserved for a Colorado-based company that has made a significant positive impact in the community. Zayo extends its passion for innovation into the local community where it works with organizations to promote entrepreneurship, draw underrepresented groups to STEM fields and empower Colorado’s technology community.
“I hope that we have created a lasting tradition of living governors standing together to celebrate leaders doing good in the community,” former Colorado Gov. Bill Owenssaid in a statement.
The board of the , a non-partisan, not-for-profit leadership organization, and a designated selection committee established a list of finalists for the governor to choose from.
Next year’s selection committee will be chaired by Jerre Stead, the Stead was appointed by Hickenlooper as the state’s interim chief recovery officer in the aftermath of the 2013 floods.
