David Welsh Joins the Downtown Denver Partnership as Executive Vice President of Economic Development and Real Estate
The Downtown Denver Partnership announced that David Welsh will step into the role of executive vice president of economic development and real estate.
David brings more than 30 years of experience in regional and urban economic development. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Sun Corridor Inc., now the Chamber of Southern Arizona, where he led business recruitment and expansion efforts that generated significant job growth and capital investment. Earlier roles include executive leadership at Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, director of economic development for the Town of Oro Valley, and founding leadership of regional business organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
“We’re thrilled to welcome David Welsh to lead our economic development work and elevate downtown Denver as the place to do business on a national platform,” said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “David’s more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of economic development, real estate, and public-private partnership is exactly the combination of disciplines downtown needs right now.”
As Executive Vice President of Economic Development, David will lead the Partnership’s efforts to attract and retain businesses, jobs and investment in downtown Denver. Drawing on expertise in real estate development and finance, public-private partnerships, and capital markets, David will work to move development projects from concept to completion, connect the business and investment community to downtown opportunities, and serve as a key advocate for policies that support downtown’s long-term economic vitality. David will also oversee business recruitment and retention strategies, engage with developers, brokers, and lenders to support the real estate pipeline, and contribute as a senior member of the Partnership’s executive leadership team.
“Downtown Denver has long been a market I’ve watched closely and genuinely admired. To now have the opportunity to contribute to that work is something I don’t take lightly. Economic development is most powerful when the right partners are aligned around a shared agenda, and what I see in downtown Denver—the caliber of the private sector, the strength of the public-private relationships, and the momentum already in motion—gives me tremendous confidence in what’s ahead. I’m eager to get to work.”
David Welsh holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder. He serves on the board of Arizona Capital Source Corporation and as an advisor to ZelosDx.
The HCR Group Appoints Denver Resident Gina Kelley as Vice President of Marketing
As The HCR Group continues building its commercial roofing platform across the Western United States, the company is strengthening the leadership team supporting that growth. The HCR Group has appointed Gina Kelley as vice president of marketing, further reinforcing the platform-level capabilities designed to support its regional companies.
The addition reflects the company’s continued focus on building the team and infrastructure needed to support its long-term vision: becoming the commercial roofing partner of choice across the Western United States.
Kelley brings more than 15 years of marketing leadership experience across construction, commercial property services, manufacturing, and architectural products.
Most recently, she served as marketing director at DCPS, where she led marketing strategy for a multi-division commercial property services contractor, supporting seven service lines and driving significant growth in marketing-generated opportunities and pipeline.
Throughout her career, Kelley has focused on building marketing systems that align closely with sales teams, strengthen brand positioning, and support scalable growth across multi-location organizations.
As Vice President of Marketing, Kelley will lead marketing strategy and execution across The HCR Group platform to support brand development, demand generation, and marketing programs that help regional teams grow within their local markets.
“Gina understands how to build marketing systems that support field teams and generate real business results,” said Erekson. “Her experience working across multi-division service organizations makes her well-positioned to help strengthen how our companies go to market.”
Tina Axelrad Adds Land Use Expertise to Brownstein’s Real Estate Department
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Tina Axelrad of Game Plan Consulting has partnered with the firm’s Real Estate Department as a part-time land planner consultant, where she will support the firm’s entitlement strategy and navigate land use issues on special projects.
A seasoned professional with 35 years of experience in city planning and land use law, Axelrad has held key leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, including successful tenures as Denver’s zoning administrator and as a principal project manager/principal city planner for Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department for nearly two decades.
“Having worked extensively with policymakers and developers throughout her career, Tina understands how land use decisions are made in Denver,” said Blair Lichtenfels, chair of Brownstein’s Real Estate Department. “Her strategic advice on development and community planning, including zoning and land use, will add immediate value for our clients.”
Axelrad’s expertise spans zoning administration, legislative analysis and code drafting, city planning and plan implementation, real estate development, and team leadership and management. She has a proven record of zoning expertise, managing complex teams, overseeing significant projects and conducting professional seminars on land use regulations.
Axelrad earned her master of urban planning degree from New York University Wagner School of Public Service and her law degree from New York University School of Law.
