In 1991, Kim Jordan co-founded New Belgium Brewing Company and became CEO a decade later as the company expanded. Jordan transformed New Belgium into a leading craft brewery by emphasizing environmental responsibility and employee ownership. Her approach set a high standard for business practices. When she sold the company to The Lion-Kirin group in 2019, her co-workers received nearly twice the value Jordan and her family did, a true testament to broadly shared equity. A Fort Collins staple, Jordan, along with her co-workers, started the Tour de Fat, an annual bicycle parade and fundraiser for local non-profits. She is active in the community, serving on several boards, and founded the Mighty Arrow Family Foundation for impactful philanthropy. Jordan has received numerous awards, including the Colorado Governors Citizenship Medal for Growth and Innovation (2016), the Brewers Association Recognition Award (2019), and the Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Conservation Achievement Award (2021).

The daughter of labor workers, Anita Padilla-Fitzgerald started her mortgage industry career at the age of 18 as a receptionist at Silver State Savings and Loans. Rising through roles, including President/CEO of First City Financial Corp, she founded MegaStar Financial Corp in 1991, a top 100 U.S. mortgage lender. She also owns MegaStar Holdings, which handles real estate investments. Padilla-Fitzgerald founded Take3Tech to innovate mortgage technology, creating LoanMAPS and TheRuleTool® to streamline mortgage processes. Her goal is a seamless, digital approval process that enhances customer experience and cuts costs. Recognized by Inman, she has also been honored with the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber’s National Latina Trail Blazer Award, Padilla-Fitzgerald is also active on the Board of Directors for 1st Bank Holdings and the Mortgage Bankers of America Board of Governors. She and MegaStar support the Latinas First Foundation, which aids Latina professionals in achieving their full potential.

Winfield Scott Stratton moved to Colorado Springs in 1872. He worked as a carpenter and prospecting for gold and silver. In 1891, he discovered a gold vein at the Independence Mine in Cripple Creek, becoming the first millionaire of the Cripple Creek Gold Rush. He sold the mine for $11 million in 1899. Stratton also improved Colorado Springs’ infrastructure, including the Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway, and built the city’s first professional baseball stadium. Many streets, parks, and buildings throughout the city are named after him to this day. His philanthropic efforts included funding Colorado Springs City Hall, the Mining Exchange Building, and the Post Office and Federal Courthouse. He supported individuals in need, provided bicycles to laundresses, and helped those affected by the Cripple Creek Fire. Stratton was inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame and the Hall of Great Westerners.