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Announcing our 2025 Annual Meeting Speakers

From Denver to Detroit, from Austin to Seattle, center cities are being reimagined and revitalized. On October 16, join us for a one-of-a-kind gathering to hear from national leaders in city building who will share insights on what downtown evolution looks like not only here in Denver, but in urban centers across the nation, and emerging possibilities and untapped potential for downtown areas.


We’re thrilled to our first two featured speakers joining us for our national exchange:


Often compared as one of Denver’s market competitors, Downtown Austin has evolved into a dynamic center city in the last decade. We’re delighted to have Davon Barbour join us to share more about Austin’s momentum with investment and growth. Barbour, named CEO this year, previously revitalized New Orleans' downtown and has transformed urban communities from Baltimore to LA.


Following our 2025 Urban Exploration trip to Detroit, we’re honored to have Eric Larson join us to further our conversations around downtown pride and shifting perceptions of downtowns. A longtime Downtown Detroit Partnership board member turned CEO, he's also founder of Larson Realty Group.


As one of the major West Coast cities, Downtown Seattle has achieved remarkable milestones including completing the decade-long Alaskan Way Viaduct removal and waterfront reconstruction. However, like Denver, Seattle faces challenges with high office vacancy and public safety. As our final featured speaker, we're excited to have Jon Scholes, President and CEO of Downtown Seattle Alliance, who has led the organization's growth and pandemic response, turning DSA as one of the three largest downtown organizations in North America.


This isn't just another business event —it's a strategic conversation about the future of where we work, live and thrive. You'll gain actionable insights while connecting with the visionaries who are actively shaping America's urban future.



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