Keeping Colorado Competitive – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

As President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Kelly Brough leads the Chamber’s efforts to serve the Colorado business community.  Kelly has a passion for her job and for Colorado.  We welcome Kelly to discuss Legislative, Economic and Social issues that affect Colorado’s reputation, its economic vitality and quality of life.

The Chamber is a powerful advocate for both small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels.  It covers issues such as Water Resources, Transportation, Education and Health Care.  It has served Colorado businesses for nearly 150 years and its current membership includes 3,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees.

ABOUT KELLY BROUGH

Kelly Brough is the President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber represents over 3,000 businesses with 300,000 employees working for those businesses in Colorado. 
Prior to joining the Chamber, Kelly served as chief of staff for the City of Denver and Mayor John Hickenlooper, overseeing a general fund of $857 million.  Kelly also served as deputy chief of staff and director of the Denver office of accountability and reform for the City.  In this role, Kelly’s key responsibilities were to implement the new 3-1-1 customer service system and create an organizational culture that embraces performance management and continuous improvement.
 
Kelly was the first female director of human resources for the City of Denver.  She successfully moved the human resource department from an authoritarian culture to one based on service delivery and focused on outcomes.  During her two years in this role, Kelly led significant reforms including moving the City to a full pay for performance system and establishing the City’s first bonus plan program.

Kelly also directed an internationally recognized leadership program at the University of Colorado at Denver—the Rocky Mountain Program.  She served as a consultant to many local governments facilitating decisions, managing large public processes and comprehensive planning efforts, mediating disputes, and providing strategies to build stronger public/private partnerships.

Kelly earned a Master’s of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Denver in 1989 and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology, Criminal Justice from Montana State University in 1986.  Kelly currently serves on the Board of Directors of Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, Denver Zoo and Visit Denver; the Graduate School Bioscience Advisory Board for University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus; and the Corporate Board of Delta Dental. She is also a member of the Women’s Forum and The Chamber 100 with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Brough was recently named as one of Colorado’s 10 most influential women by The Denver Post, and one of Denver’s most influential people by 5280 Magazine. In 2012, Brough received the University of Colorado Denver Campus Alumni Recognition Award. She has attended a number of leadership programs including the JFK School of Government’s program at Harvard for state and local public officials. She was also named an American Marshall Memorial Fellow in 2001.

ON THE MENU

Soup du Jour en Croute
 
Rocky Mountain Trout with Lemon Beurre Blanc

OR

Baby Romaine & Frisee, Asparagus, Wild Mushrooms
Raspberries & Brie Cheese, Sherry Vinaigrette