With an audience of 220 distinguished guests, the luncheon celebrated downtown businesses and individuals for their contributions to the downtown district
[Boulder, CO] April 10, 2017 – The 2017 Downtown Boulder Partnership Annual Luncheon took place on Friday, February 3rd at the St Julien Hotel and Spa. The luncheon recognized the downtown business owners who contribute to the economic vitality of the district through hard work and community service. The awards given this year included Business of the Year, the George Karakehian Community Service Award and the Ron Porter Achievement Award. The following businesses / individuals were recognized:
Business of the Year – Galvanize Boulder
The Business of the Year award is presented to a downtown business that has contributed to the quality and diversity of downtown through outstanding innovation, exemplary customer service and/or significant economic impact.
Founded in 2012, Galvanize is a network of campuses providing education, training, workspace and community resources for students, startups, and large companies. As one of nine urban locations across the nation, Galvanize Boulder recently opened a 26,000 square foot campus on Walnut St. which features conference and event space, shared and private co-working modules, classrooms, and public coffee shop called Gather Cafe. Their innovative and collaborative approach, paired with their diverse and growing pool of talent and startup members, has positioned Galvanize as a significant contributor to the economic and social climate of our downtown community.
George Karakehian Community Service Award - Alan Rogers (Downtown Boulder, Inc. Board Member)
The George Karakehian Community Service Award was established in 2015 and is presented to an individual that has demonstrated commitment to social responsibility and exemplified strong community involvement.
Alan Rogers has worked tirelessly over the past year on the transition of Downtown Boulder, Inc. to the Downtown Boulder Partnership. He has dedicated endless hours of planning and preparation to ensure a smooth transition for the organization into the future. He is a strong supporter of the downtown business community and an integral member of the organization. Alan will serve as a board member of both the Downtown Boulder Partnership (formally DBI) and the newly created Downtown Boulder Foundation a 501(c)3.
Ron Porter Special Achievement Award - Molly Winter (Executive Director of Community Vitality)
The Ron Porter Achievement Award is designated for an individual who exemplifies Downtown Boulder ideals by donating time, positive energy, and expertise. The selected individual has noteworthy accomplishments, long-standing contributions to the downtown community, and an array of community service efforts. This is a lifetime achievement award for longtime participation in and service to Downtown Boulder.
Molly Winter is the Executive Director of the City of Boulder Community Vitality Department. For over 20 years in this position, she has been been an incredibly ally to the downtown district. She has worked with the business improvement district and membership organization to help develop one of the most successful examples of public/private collaborations/partnerships in the nation. From transportation to streetscape improvements, Molly and her outstanding team have provided insight, direction, funding and support to ensure Downtown Boulder's continued success as a thriving district.
Following the awards, the presentation featured three lightning round talks on the theme of “past, present, and future” in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Pearl Street Mall. These talks were presented by Silvia Pettem (Independent Historian), Bobby Stuckey (Frasca Food and Wine, Pizzeria Locale & Scarpetta) and Seth Levine (Foundry Group).
The 2017 Downtown Boulder Partnership Annual Awards Luncheon was presented by First National Bank. Click here to visit our website to view the 2017 event photo gallery.
About Downtown Boulder Partnership
Downtown Boulder Partnership (DBP), originally founded in 1984 as Downtown Boulder Incorporated, is a non-profit organization dedicated to continued preservation, promotion and enhancement of Downtown Boulder as the heart of the greater Boulder community. With a mission to maintain Downtown as the center of commerce, government, culture, and leisure, DBP’s membership supports the overall vitality of Downtown through public advocacy, political involvement, and by producing year-round community events that enhance the Boulder experience for residents and visitors. (https://boulderdowntown.com)
Contact:
Press Release - Hannah Sherrod, Marketing & Communications Department
Terri-Takata Smith, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Downtown Boulder Partnership
303-449-3774 | terri@downtownboulder.org