We are continuously influenced by regional issues that affect our resort economy. It’s not a stretch to suggest that these regional issues are often more impactful to our community than many larger scale global issues.
On a positive note, we have the ability, at a local level, to impact regional issues and provide positive outcomes for our local community. What can be done at a local level to tackle and address some of these challenges? Politically, even in an election season, we should all be able to agree that working shoulder-to-shoulder at a local level in an effort to address our regional issues is a good tactic. Working together to achieve business outcomes and positive benefits is a key foundation to collaboration and is key to our rural resort economy having a larger voice at a regional and state level.
Vail Valley Partnership is proud to take a leadership role on many regional issues and to help represent our community, and raise the awareness of our business interests at a regional and state level. Together, we can make a difference and can make Eagle County a better place to do business – which, of course, makes this a better place to raise a family and achieve the goal of a high-quality of life.
We’re happy to host the Vail Valley Business Forum on Tuesday, July 22 to help bring discussion of a variety of these regional issues to our community. The Vail Valley Business Forum is a gathering of ideas and innovation. The theme for the Business Forum this year is “Regional Challenges, Local Solutions.”
Four keynote speakers will first present on their area of expertise, followed by a question and answer session with local industry leaders. Planned keynotes will focus on the following four challenge areas facing the Vail Valley economy; regional economic development & collaboration, workforce, healthcare, and transportation. We’ll review each of these topics in detail over the next few weeks leading up to the Business Forum on July 22.
Kelly J. Brough is the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber represents over 3,500 businesses with 300,000 employees working for those businesses in Colorado. Kelly will be speaking to attendees on the importance of regional collaboration.
Ms. Brough is uniquely qualified to lead the discussion on regional collaboration as the Denver Metro Chamber’s membership spans the seven county metro area and her organization’s mission includes a focus to, “collaborate and convene with other community organizations to achieve mutual goals.”
Prior to joining the Chamber, Brough served as Chief of Staff for the city and county of Denver and Mayor John Hickenlooper, overseeing a general fund of $857 million. She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of the Denver Office of Accountability and Reform, and was the first female director of human resources for the City of Denver.
Brough earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1989 and a bachelor’s degree in sociology, criminal justice from Montana State University in 1986. She currently serves on the boards of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, VISIT DENVER, the Denver Public Schools Foundation and the corporate board of Delta Dental. She also serves as a member of the Women’s Forum and The Chamber 100 with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Brough was recently named as one of Colorado’s 10 Most Influential Women by The Denver Post, and one of Denver’s most influential people by 5280 Magazine. In 2012, Brough received the University of Colorado Denver Campus Alumni Recognition Award. She has attended a number of leadership programs including the JFK School of Government’s program at Harvard for state and local public officials. She was also named an American Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2001.
Ms. Brough is uniquely experienced to speak on the topic of regional collaboration and we will follow her presentation with questions from attendees and a moderated discussion from local leaders.
Please save the date for the Vail Valley Business Forum on Tuesday, July 22 from 8:30-11 am at the Four Seasons Resort Vail. Visit vailvalleypartnership.com for more details on additional regional topics to be presented or to RSVP. Tickets are available to Vail Valley Partnership members for $15 and to non-members for $30.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership