The Chamber has had a long tradition of this space being dedicated to a “list of thanks” each Thanksgiving week.  To stick with tradition, here goes…

I’m so thankful for the team at the Chamber.  Our small band of advocates has been working all the way through the pandemic and beyond to serve our members and the community.  They are the smile you get at the front door, the “canary in the coal mine” at City Council meetings, the connector you meet at Red Carpet and so much more. Our team shows up every day ready to make a difference in our community.  Hats off to our full-time and our contract team members:  Kim, Janel, Chad, Jenn, Kevin, Suzanne, Carol, Joe, Kelsey, Amanda and Nikki.

The same thanks goes to the hundreds of volunteers that share time with the Chamber.  We enjoy heaping cups of leadership EVERY DAY thanks to the unending faith and dedication of so many people.  Thank you Board of Directors, Local Legislative Affairs Committee, Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, Red Carpet Committee, Leads Groups, Fix North I-25 Business Alliance, Leadership Fort Collins Steering Committee, Leadership Northern Colorado Steering Committee, Talent 2.0 Steering Committee, Past Chamber Chairs and so many others for sharing your skills, energy and time with our organization.

I’m equally thankful for our members and the larger business community. You’ve had a tough haul business – and yet you keep innovating, creating products, providing services and creating community.  Business is not for the faint-hearted—especially when the rules keep changing.  I admire and appreciate anyone that has taken a risk to turn their idea into business.  Thank you for making our community special.

The last 20 months have been filled with interesting and new partnerships and I am so thankful that the Chamber is surrounded by government and non-profit partners that have rallied to save our local economy.  We sometimes talk about “being in the fox hole” together and I am so thankful for the people that have risen to be impactful for all of us. You are making a difference every day, and I appreciate you.

Personally, I’m thankful for my health, my family and my friends.  I am so fortunate to be surrounded by great humans that indulge my desire to do and attend all the things – CSU football, volleyball and basketball games, trips around the country, every live music show we can find, the latest dramatic performance and more. We have some tremendous people in northern Colorado that make Fort Collins a very special place.

I hope you and your family have an amazing Thanksgiving—filled with joy!