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The chamber also created the David May Advocacy Award that will be presented next year to someone who exemplifies the principles of free enterprise, advocacy for better communities through sound economic principles and a sustainable business climate.
More than 250 chamber members and others attended the 116th celebration virtually this year.
With the theme #MarchOn2021, the chamber acknowledged the challenging environment in 2020 and recognized the partnerships and relationships that were forged to benefit the business community.
Key resources, including NoCoRecovers.com, ReIgnite Northern Colorado, #KeepNoCoOpen and Larimer County Level Up all came about last year to help local businesses.
The chamber was able to activate key partnerships and relationships that allowed us to help business not only survive, but in some cases to thrive,” said Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.
May, who
retired at the end of 2020, served 17 years at the helm of the chamber, which during his tenure worked to develop a regional focus in collaboration with other chambers of commerce in Northern Colorado.
He is credited with achieving 5-Star Accreditation for the chamber and with helping launch Leadership Northern Colorado, Northern Colorado Prospers Strategic Initiative and the Talent 2.0 Regional Workforce Strategy.
He also spearheaded a project called Fix North I-25 in which governments, chambers and businesses joined forces to leverage $935 million to expand the capacity and upgrade Interstate 25 from Longmont to Fort Collins. He has been involved with a broader transportation effort in the state called Fix Colorado Roads.
Economic developers from Weld, Larimer, Broomfield and Boulder counties expect the new year to be somewhat better than the year just past, but they have caveats.
“We’ll hold the line in 2021, and it could be a reasonably good year if we see similar stimulus activity,” said Josh Birks, economic health director for the city of Fort Collins.
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FORT COLLINS Fort Collins native Ann Hutchison considers herself to be in “a pretty special spot” as the future advocate for the members and larger community of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I just have such tremendous appreciation for the businesses in our community,” said Hutchison, certified association advocate, CAE, and president and chief executive officer of the chamber, effective Jan. 1, 2021. “Business owners and business leaders are passionate about creating an amazing community. To have the opportunity to serve those people in a different way is exciting.”
David May
Hutchison is replacing David May, who will retire at the end of the year after serving the organization since 2003 and working with chambers of commerce since the early 1980s.