Welcoming New Leaders to the Downtown Denver Partnership

The Downtown Denver Partnership has recently welcomed new leadership and celebrated a number of internal promotions on our management team as we focus on the needs in downtown today and the remarkable opportunities ahead. It is crucial that we continue to grow city-builders for the heart of our city, with strong leadership at the helm.

We are pleased to announce the following internal promotions and additions that complete our Leadership Team.

Please help us welcome …  

Chiyoko Yokota | Chief Financial Officer 

Chiyoko joined the Partnership in July. She comes to the Partnership from Metro Denver Habitat for Humanity. Prior to her time at Habitat, Chi led the finance and administration teams at Colorado Public Radio and Denver Rescue Mission. She has already had an impact on the organization by tackling the yearly audit and reimagining the budgeting process in her first couple of months. We’re thrilled to welcome Chi to the Partnership team and look forward to her continued success in her role.

Esther Lee Leach | Vice President, Development and Fundraising 

Please join us in welcoming Esther Lee Leach as our key leader in streamlining and propelling our development and fundraising efforts forward. Esther’s first day at the Partnership will be Monday, October 24. Esther built the community at Clayton Member’s Club in Cherry Creek where she served as the Director of Membership Development, Events, and Partnerships.

Kate Barton | Chief of External Affairs and Managing Director 

Kate will continue to lead strategic partnerships, communications, marketing, fundraising, stakeholder and community relations, and policy and government relations.

Aylene McCallum | Vice President, Civic Leadership and Engagement 

Aylene serves as the strategic lead overseeing member recruitment and retention and creating programs that educate, inform, and inspire the Partnership’s stakeholders.

Andrew Iltis | Vice President, Planning and Community Impact  

Andrew is responsible for fostering the vision and implementation of plans, programs, and projects that advance downtown Denver as an inclusive, equitable, economically vibrant place that is welcoming to all.

Josh Schneider | Vice President, Marketing and Communications  

Josh is a key leader in organizational decision-making to help tell the story of the Partnership, amplify the story of downtown Denver, and enhance the impact of our work.

Thank you all for your feedback and support as we shape the Downtown Denver Partnership priorities. We look forward to the strong vision each of our team members will bring to move downtown Denver forward!