The Arvada Chamber hosted the 2024 Meet Your Community Leaders Luncheon on June 12, inviting nine community leaders to share updates and answer questions from members in attendance. This luncheon, hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn, is part of the Chamber’s four-part 2024 Leadership Luncheon Series. Attendees heard from the following Arvada Community Leaders:
- Lorie Gillis | City Manager, City of Arvada
- Chief Ed Brady | Arvada Police Department
- Chief Kirk Lock | Arvada Fire Protection District
- Philip Sneed | President & CEO, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
- Jeff Glenn | Executive Director, Apex Park and Recreation District
- Iza Petrykowska | Executive Director, Arvada Economic Development Association
- Maureen Phair | Executive Director, Arvada Urban Renewal Authority
- Joe Hengstler | Executive Director, Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District
- Jean Gordon | Executive Director, Arvada Visitors Center
Six takeaways from the luncheon:
1. Apex Park & Recreation District serves 145,000 people every year, including 25,000 residents outside of Arvada. In the summer season, Apex counts over 900 employees.
2. Chief Brady highlighted the diversity of the Arvada Police Department through its new bilingual program. Over a dozen officers speak a different language, including Spanish, Dutch, and Polish.
3. The Arvada Center is the second-largest theater in the Rocky Mountain region and its theater production (design, building, direction, and much of the cast) is by Colorado artists. Philip Sneed mentioned that the role of Arvada Center is to “educate and challenge… and address the world as it is today and not just entertain.” As an example, he invited the community to its August 10th “Community Celebration & Concert with Baaba Maal.”
4. The Arvada Fire Protection District responded to 17,000 incidents in 2023 across its nine stations. The District is one of only 122 fire departments in the country with a ISO 1 accreditation.
5. The City of Arvada employs over 700 people and was named a Top Workplace by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, American Public Works Association, and Government Finance Officers Association.
6. Arvada Economic Development Association saw a 167 net brick and mortar increase in Arvada businesses in 2023 and supported almost $800,000 in Colorado Enterprise Fund Active Loans.
How to engage with each organization
City of Arvada
- Boards and Commissions – learn and advise
- Ask Arvada – report and improve
- Neighbors Connected – engage, support and enhance
- Council – inform
Arvada Police Department
- Power Engage Survey
- Social Media
- Say “Hello” to an Officer
Arvada Fire Protection District
- Dave’s Locker
- Community Risk Reduction (CRR)
Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities
- Visit the Center
- Come to a theatre performance or concert
- Visit our galleries
- Take a class
- Volunteer your time
- Make a donation
Apex Park & Recreation District
Attending an event, take a program, or visit one of the 12 facilities. See what Apex can do to help you socially, emotionally, and physically. Email: Info@ApexPRD.org if you ever need anything.
Arvada Economic Development Association
- Business Retention Visits (bizinfo@arvada.org)
- Annual Events and Monthly Communications
- Strategic Partnership Engagement
- Come visit the new office located at 5603 Yukon St.!
Olde Town Arvada
- Volunteer for events.
- Join one of its committees.
- Sign-up as a sponsor.
- Continue to support local businesses.
Arvada Visitors Center
- Engage on social (not just follow!)
- Do You Plan Arvada events? Add your event on our calendar!
- Sign up for email newsletters
View the full presentation PowerPoint from the luncheon here.
0 Comments