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Downtown Denver Partnership Welcomes Leadership Program Class of 2026

The Downtown Denver Partnership is pleased to announce the selection of 63 local leaders who began their intensive nine-month leadership development journey with the Downtown Denver Leadership Program (DDLP) today.


Established as one of Denver’s premier civic leadership development programs for more than two decades, DDLP continues to foster emerging leaders through its comprehensive curriculum featuring project-based experiential learning and strategic professional development opportunities.


This year's cohort will explore a vital question: How do we create a Downtown Denver where everyone feels they belong? Belonging is foundational to thriving communities. According to the 2024 Colorado Belonging Barometer Report, just over half of Coloradans feel a true sense of belonging within their communities. At the Downtown Dever Partnership, we recognize that downtowns are essential to fostering connection while building a resilient downtown that serves all. Through collaborative sessions with community leaders and hands-on project development, participants will examine the challenges and opportunities that shape how people from all walks of life experience our center city. The Class of 2026 will then choose projects aligned with the new Downtown Area Plan.


The DDLP Class of 2026 represents a diverse cross-section of Denver’s private, public and nonprofit sectors. Each participant has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community engagement, enthusiasm for Downtown Denver's future, and dedication to advancing their leadership capabilities and civic influence.


The Downtown Denver Partnership extends its congratulations to the incoming DDLP Class of 2026:

  • Michelle Sulahian, AECOM

  • Amber Cook, Auraria Campus

  • Kaylee Hart, Bank of Colorado

  • Moira Griffith, Booz Allen Hamilton

  • Kate Madden, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

  • Maia Thompson, Calibre Engineering, Inc.

  • Kate Madigan, CBRE

  • Lauren Glantz, Charles Schwab

  • Karen Good, City & County of Denver - DOTI

  • Samuel Kirchner, Civitas, Inc.

  • Rebecca Greek, Cuningham

  • Chris Muir, Cushing Terrell

  • Emily Stading, DaVita

  • Shannon Robb, Denver Art Museum

  • Katrina Van Marter, Denver Biennial of the Americas

  • Lisa Eldred, Denver Botanic Gardens

  • Kelsey Murphy, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity

  • Kristen Rauch, Denver Independent Network of Restaurants Inc. (dba EatDenver)

  • Kirsten Decker, Denver Public Library

  • Eric Krohngold, Design Workshop

  • Gregory Adelberg, Dig Studio, Inc.

  • Max Gesten, Downtown Denver Partnership

  • Ruby Jones, Empower Media Exchange

  • Collin Tierney, FH Construction Group

  • Abigail Parr, Gensler

  • Briana Gonzales, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver

  • Tim O'Connor, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

  • James Marino, HDR, Inc.

  • Amanda Fry, Hensel Phelps

  • Adrianna Jimenez, Husch Blackwell

  • Corrine Kalleberg, Hyatt Hotels - Denver

  • Chelsea Lawrence, Interior Environments

  • Evan Davis, Iron Horse Architects

  • Katie Christensen, JE Dunn Construction

  • Lily Armstrong, JLL

  • Gordon Goetz, JNS

  • Zach Kotel, Lavender Hill Cultural District

  • Jordan Hofmann, Matrix Design Group

  • Rachel Kargas, MetrixIQ

  • Gabriel Woodcox, Metropolis

  • Jonathan Saint Andre, Milender White Construction

  • Jenna Mersy, MillerKnoll

  • Andrew Naleid, Mortenson

  • Carlon L. Manuel, Nxt Chapter

  • Collin Anderson, Ovintiv

  • Clement Cros, Oxy

  • Joseph Anastasi, OZ Architecture

  • Jason Stauber, PCL Construction

  • Carter McDonnell, Polsinelli

  • Evan Kurtis, Revesco Properties

  • Michele Smith, Rider Levett Bucknall, Ltd.

  • Ethan Chiang, Sasaki

  • Haley Stone, Shears Adkins Rockmore Architects

  • Alexander Person, SmithGroup

  • Clint Hughey, Snooze Eatery

  • Emily Finch, Stantec Architecture

  • Dane Erickson, Street Soccer USA

  • Devin Snyder, SurePods

  • Jami Toombs, The Community College of Denver

  • Jackson Pitofsky, Thornton Tomasetti

  • Steffi Acevedo Barradas Turner Construction Company

  • Noel Thomas, Vectra Bank Colorado


A special thank you to our generous 2026 program sponsors! Our Networking Sponsors are JE Dunn, SAR+ and Interior Environments. Our program partners are Gabriella Parente, Ashley Seeley of Excellence Advantage and Chris Herndon of Herndon Leadership Institute. Our program supporters are the Denver Foundation’s Belonging Colorado Program and the Boettcher Foundation.


Additional sponsorship opportunities are available and can be viewed here! For DDLP questions, please contact Sarah Fritzinger at sfritzinger@downtowndenver.com

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