Mark Smith, founding principal and managing partner of Slifer Smith & Frampton, as well as founding principal of East West Partners, has been inducted into the 2023 Class of the Colorado Business Hall of Fame, which honors outstanding individuals who have made legendary contributions to the free enterprise system and provide inspiration for the next generation.
“I couldn’t be more honored to receive this prestigious award alongside such a distinguished group of friends and colleagues,” said Mark Smith. “It has been my life’s work and greatest pleasure to help shape the future of some of Colorado’s most iconic places and I appreciate this recognition tremendously.”
The 2023 laureates were inducted on February 6, at the 34th Colorado Business Hall of Fame Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center. Laureates are selected for their enduring and innovative professional contributions to Colorado, inspirational and ethical acumen, and philanthropic endeavors. This annual event, hosted by Junior Achievement – Rocky Mountain, Inc. and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce honored five of Colorado’s most distinguished and influential business leaders by recognizing their professional accomplishments and long-term impact on the state’s economy, and philanthropic contributions to the community.
“This tremendous honor recognizes Colorado’s most verdant and longstanding business leaders that inspire change through their professional and philanthropic work, which exemplifies the incomparable Mark Smith who I have had the pleasure of working with for more than three decades,” said Harry Frampton, founder & principal of East West Partners and principal at Slifer Smith & Frampton. “I have witnessed the innumerable professional accomplishments, and his extensive philanthropic work that has truly impacted Coloradoans across the state from Denver to the Vail Valley. He is tirelessly committed to making Colorado a better place for all.”
This well-deserved honor comes after 50 years of experience in real estate development, sales and marketing. Commonly described as a visionary, Smith started his development career with the creation of Beaver Creek Village in the Vail Valley and has played a role in numerous iconic projects throughout the mountain communities including Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Breckenridge and Keystone resorts. He has also grown Slifer Smith & Frampton into the leading independent brokerage firm in Colorado with 270+ brokers and 120+ team members. It now has 34 offices located throughout Boulder, Denver, the Vail Valley, Summit County and the Roaring Fork Valley with $10B in sales volume since 2020.
After developing in the mountains of Colorado for 13 years, Smith brought his East West Partners expertise to downtown Denver in 1999. Beginning with Riverfront Park and eventually taking on Union Station, Smith and East West Partners helped reshape Denver and the metro area, having developed $1.4 billion of real estate comprised of 23 total projects, 1,429 residences, 745,000 square feet of commercial space and 150,000 square feet of retail. His leadership and vision in the master planning and development of both Riverfront Park and Union Station communities was acknowledged by receiving the Urban Land Institute Global Award for Excellence.
Despite this success, he is most proud of the significant contributions he has made to his community by being the founder of highly impactful organizations, including Youth Foundation (now Youth Power 365), Platte Forum, and Riverfront Park Community Foundation.Mr. Smith’s community involvement extends to the boardroom as well, with current board affiliations with Colorado Forum, First Western Financial, Forbes Global Properties, Riverfront Park Community Foundation, Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation, and Chief Executives Organization. He has served as chairman of the Beaver Creek Metropolitan District, Bravo Colorado Vail Valley Music Festival, Central Platte Valley Metropolitan District, and Downtown Denver Youth Foundation.
Smith also served as a director of numerous youth and education-focused organizations, including Denver Public Schools Foundation, YPO Rocky Mountain Chapter, Teach for America Colorado, Colorado Succeeds, Mayor’s Leadership Team on Early Education, Colorado Uplift, and the Charter Fund, among many others.
“At Slifer Smith & Frampton we’ve always had a shared vision: to cultivate careers and communities that thrive together,” said Jason Cole, CEO of Slifer Smith & Frampton. “We are committed to investing in people, places, and local business in a way that builds us all up for the greatest good of our communities. These were the founding principles of our partners and we are thrilled to see Mark join Harry Frampton (2008) and Rod and Beth Slifer (2013) in the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.”
