Downtown Denver Partnership Announces New Committee Leadership

December 19, 2016

The Downtown Denver Partnership’s Downtown Denver, Inc. Board of Directors has appointed new leadership of two of its councils and committees. Terrance D. Carroll, partner at Butler Snow LLP and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, has been appointed to chair the Economic Development Council. Adam Sands, senior vice president at FirstBank, has been appointed to chair the Member Experience Committee. The Partnership’s councils and committees play a significant role in supporting Partnership Boards in driving strategic initiatives outlined in the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, the long-term strategy for Downtown, forward and offer a significant level of engagement for senior business executives to positively impact the center city.

Under Carroll’s leadership, the Partnership’s Economic Development Council (Council) identifies, develops and facilitates the Partnership’s role in city, regional and state economic development activities to enhance and maintain the economic vitality of Downtown Denver. The Council was previously chaired by Kristin Bronson, who stepped down upon her appointment as Denver City Attorney.

“It goes without saying that Terrance has an incredible background working on policies and programs that have helped shape Denver and the state,” said Rob Cohen, chairman and CEO of The IMA Financial Group, Inc. and chairman of the Downtown Denver, Inc. Board which manages the Council. “We are thrilled for him to take on a larger leadership role within the Partnership to drive business issues that will strengthen our center city.”

Carroll was the 54th Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and served in the legislature from 2003 until being term-limited in 2011. He is currently a partner in the business services as well as the government and regulatory policy practice groups at Butler Snow LLP and has been named by 5280 Magazine as one of the “50 Most Influential People in Denver.” Carroll has served on the Partnership’s Downtown Denver, Inc. Board since 2014 and also serves on the boards of Metropolitan State University of Denver and the National Western Stock Show. He earned his law degree at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, bachelor’s from Morehouse College and a Master of Divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology.

Sands, senior vice president at FirstBank, will lead the Partnership’s Member Experience Committee, which establishes strategies and policy recommendations to ensure that the Partnership recruits and retains business members from diverse industries representing Downtown.

“As one of our most committed members and member organizations, it is appropriate that Adam lead our member-focused initiatives to ensure that the Partnership can attract and retain businesses that are committed to the future of the center city,” said Cohen.

Sands is senior vice president for the Denver market at FirstBank, where he has experience in many areas of real estate lending. He earned his bachelor’s from the University of Northern Colorado and graduate banking degree from the Pacific Coast Banking School. He serves on the Partnership’s Denver Civic Ventures Board of Directors where he also serves on the Housing Taskforce and Finance Committee, and is also involved in leadership positions for Del Notre Neighborhood Development Corporation, the KATA Foundation and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

FirstBank is also a corporate sponsor for technology of the Partnership.