Downtown Denver Leadership Program Class of 2025 Delivers Three Impactful 16th Street-Focused Projects
- Downtown Denver Partnership
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The Downtown Denver Partnership is proud to celebrate the Downtown Denver Leadership Program (DDLP) Class of 2025, who have completed their intensive nine-month leadership development journey and delivered three impactful projects that continue the legacy of civic engagement and downtown revitalization.
Established as one of Denver's premier civic leadership development programs for over 20 years, DDLP continues to nurture emerging leaders through its comprehensive curriculum featuring project-based experiential learning and strategic professional development opportunities through specialized workshops designed to foster influential leaders who drive progress within their organizations and throughout the Denver community.
The 2025 Class Projects
Over the course of the last nine months, the Downtown Denver Leadership Program Class of 2025 completed three different projects that contributed to the reopening and reactivation of the newly renovated 16th Street. Participants heard from civic and business leaders about the strategic vision for downtown, then channeled their learnings, professional expertise and passion into three distinctive projects that aligned with the Partnership's priorities.
The Welcome Moment – 16th Street Art Installation Map Project
This project group created an innovative solution to help visitors discover the unique art installations along 16th Street. The team designed a visual map highlighting the street's gems like the Between Us Alleyway Art, the new Beehive and Howdy Trouty. Using a collaborative process that included walking the street, mapping existing art, and voting on which pieces to feature, they created a double-sided, hand-held map that showcases 16th Street's mile-long art. This "welcome moment" celebrates what downtown has to offer in an accessible and creative way.
Alleyway Activation – History on 16th Street
The Alleyway team tackled the challenge of transforming dark, underutilized alleyways into vibrant public spaces. After identifying alleyways needing activation and selecting a location at the Larimer Place Condos, this group created "A Historical Stroll Down 16th Street." The team partnered with Denver Public Library's Digital Collections to curate 67 historic images spanning from the 1880s to 2010s, which project team members voted to select the final 16 images. With printing support from Gensler and installation by local artist Juan Fuentes, the wheatpaste installation transformed a previously blank wall into an engaging timeline of Denver's iconic street, creating an educational and photogenic destination that brings history to life.
Sweat on 16th – Summer Workout Series
The third project group activated Skyline Park through a free outdoor fitness series that brought people downtown on Saturday mornings. "Sweat on 16th" featured four workout classes followed by a local coffee activation. The team secured a corporate sponsorship from Otten Johnson, along with partnerships with Buspresso coffee and local fitness studios, including HIIT with Barry's Bootcamp, HIIT with Alchemy 365, and yoga flow with Fit Collective. Over 500 participants registered for the series, creating social media buzz and positive downtown experiences that promoted Denver businesses while providing accessible wellness programming.
Congratulations to the DDLP Class of 2025
The DDLP Class of 2025 represented a diverse cross-section of Denver's private, public and nonprofit sectors. Each participant demonstrated exceptional commitment to community engagement, enthusiasm for Downtown Denver's future, and dedication to advancing their leadership capabilities and civic influence.
Please join us in congratulating the DDLP Class of 2025:
Jenna Michieli, Anderson Mason Dale Architects
Alyssa Nilemo, Auraria Higher Education Center
James Carter, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Lorez Meinhold, Caring for Denver Foundation
Mark Lindgren, Corum Real Estate Group
Gabe Suszynski, Crescent Real Estate
Emily Abbott, Crescent Real Estate
Camille Lasky, Cumming Group
Nora Bland, Cushing Terrell
Byron Zick, Davis Partnership
Meg Touborg, Denver Architecture Foundation
Desiree Sotomayor, Denver Public Library
Rachel Vagts, Denver Public Library
Ashley Muramoto, Denver Public Schools Foundation
Emily Burrowes, Design Workshop
Apoorva Gundu, Downtown Denver Partnership
Kit Landry, E2M Ventures
Benjamin Dlin, East West Partners
Tim Gannon, Enclusive Real Estate & Enclusive Development
Allison Abrams, FH Construction
Allison Seyler, Gensler
Matthew Judy, Gensler
Mike DelliVeneri, GFM|Center Table
Sophia Banks, Guild Mortgage
Lara Rausch, Harris Law Firm
Shaida Libhart, HDR
Josh Murphy, Hensel Phelps
Preston Hardy, IMA Financial Group
Zach Pearson, Jacobs
Adam Ritchey, JE Dunn Construction
Janessa Biller, JLL
Stephanie Pope, Kaplan Kirsch
Madeleine Reinke, Kimley Horn
Christine Fronczak, Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Adam Bent, Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers
Jeff Lasker, Matrix Design Group
Miranda Johnson, Matrix Design Group
Stephani Bradley, McWhinney
Filip Blaszczyk, Metropolis
Laura Enger, Milender White
Jack Mortenson, Mortenson
Tai Bickham, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Sydney Byer, Next50 Foundation
Lindsey Diedrich, Otten Johnson
Channing Evans, Oxy
Jennifer Fumoso, OZ Architecture
Amanda Deoliveira, PCL Construction
Nicholas Weber, PNC Bank
Samantha Volk Jennings, Public Health Institute at Denver Health
Henry Bestor, SAR+ Architects
Charlie McQuillan, SAR+ Architects
Reme Shipley, Stantec
Madeline Goldkamp, Stantec
Samantha Eichhorn, The Beck Group
Jesse Bright, Thornton Tomasetti
Narda Rodriguez Gonzalez, Tryba Architects
Jacob Kirn, Turner Construction
David Lysaught, Vectra Bank
Danielle Schell, Workplace Resource
Jo Ann Stockton, Xcel Energy
Thank You to Our Sponsors
A special thank you to our generous 2025 program sponsors who made this transformative leadership experience possible!
Supporting Sponsors: JE Dunn, SAR+ Architects, and E2M Ventures
Community Sponsors: Cumming Group and East West Partners
Applications are now open for the 2026 Downtown Denver Leadership Program! We strongly encourage you to apply, nominate your colleagues and help us spread the word about this incredible opportunity for Denver's emerging leaders.
Every year, the DDLP class gains an understanding about citybuilding and works to unravel the complexities of urban placemaking through impactful and hands-on projects related to the Downtown Denver Partnership's current priorities and initiatives. Our 2026 class will tackle a vital question: How do we create a Downtown Denver where everyone feels they belong?
Apply now and join a community of leaders committed to building a more welcoming and dynamic downtown for everyone. Applications close on Wednesday, January 6, 2026.