Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain, Inc. and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the 2016 inductees into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame, representing Colorado’s most distinguished business leaders from the past and present.
Laureates, selected for their enduring and innovative professional contributions to Colorado, inspirational and ethical acumen and philanthropic endeavors, will be inducted at the 27th annual Colorado Business Hall of Fame Dinner on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
The event is generously underwritten by UMB Bank. Special thanks also goes to laureate sponsors Great-West Financial and Empower Retirement. Support is also provided by Fidelity Investments, IMA Financial, Lockton Companies, Comcast, ColoradoBiz Magazine and the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.
2016 Colorado Business Hall of Fame Laureates
ELLIE & GEORGE CAULKINS
While George Caulkins’ business interests ran from oil and real estate to citrus groves and banking, it will always be his involvement in the very early days of Vail for which he is most remembered. As a result of his tireless efforts, Vail opened on schedule, Dec. 15, 1962.
Ellie Caulkins has been active on the board of Opera Colorado since its beginnings, serving several terms as chair of its board and now lifetime honorary chair. In 2004, the Calukins family pledged $7 million to be used to build the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver in recognition of Caulkins’ dedication to local and national performing-arts organizations.
ANNE EVANS
Anne Evans played a major role in helping develop many of the institutions that transformed Denver into a viable, modern city. Among them are the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Public Library, the restoration of the Central City Opera House and the development of the Central City Summer Opera Festival. All of these cultural jewels required tireless and ingenious fundraising. Anne Evans was truly a businesswoman of her time whose many contributions helped define Denver as the business and cultural center it is today.
THE FULENWIDER FAMILY
Under three generations of leadership, the Fulenwider family has changed the face of the city and helped make Denver one of America’s most livable communities. L.C. Fulenwider, Inc.’s most lasting achievements are in the projects it has developed. Most notably, part of the 40,000 acres of land L. C. Fulenwider, Sr., assembled during the early 1900s has become the site of Denver International Airport.
Today, Cal Fulenwider, III, president, and a five-member Board of Directors lead the company. He continues to hold Colorado Real Estate License #1, which originally belonged to his grandfather.
ENOS MILLS & F.O. STANLEY
Enos Mills and F.O. Stanley worked together to propose, promote and persist in encouraging members of Congress to set aside large land areas for preservation of scenery and the wildlife inhabitants. Finally, in 1915, Rocky Mountain National Park was officially designated.
Over their lifetimes, Mill’s and Stanley’s contributions to Estes Park were immense. Together, they helped to shape the future of tourism in Estes Park and were instrumental in helping to restore wildlife to the area.
LARRY A. MIZEL
Larry A. Mizel founded the company that became M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC), one of the nation’s top homebuilders and a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. He serves as chairman and chief executive officer of MDC, parent-corporation of Richmond American Homes. Under his tenure, MDC realized revenues of nearly $5 billion in 2005, and over the past decade, has consistently maintained one of the strongest financial positions in the industry.
RONALD W. WILLIAMS
Ronald W. Williams has been a member and treasurer of the Executive Committee of the National Western Stock Show since 2004 and is now the chairman of the National Western Stock Show Board of Directors. He is the former president and chief executive officer of the Gary-Williams Company.
