Six Inducted into 2022 Colorado Business Hall of Fame

Story by Lorenzo Chavez

Photos by Lorenzo Chavez

2022 Colorado Business Hall of Fame:

at Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center benefiting Colorado Business Hall of Fame at 6 p.m.

Six influential entrepreneurs and community pioneers were inducted to the Colorado Business Hall of Fame on May 3 to a full house of some of Denver’s top community leaders representing the civic and corporate elite. This year’s inductees are: Robert L. Albin; Clara Brown (1800-1885); Tim Gill; Robert Newman; Nancy and Curt Richardson; and Donald L. Sturm.

Due to the pandemic it’s been two years since the Business Hall of Fame has been held in person. This year’s event–sponsored by UMB Bank–was held at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center.

Emcee Brian Sanders, morning anchor for The Denver Channel-KMGH, introduced the evening with a celebration of several past inductees representing Denver’s top business leaders and innovators. He was joined on stage by Junior Achievement student ambassadors who introduced video bios of new inductees and other program segments. The laureates were selected “for their enduring and innovative professional contributions to Colorado, inspirational and ethical acumen, and philanthropic endeavors.”

Philanthropist Donald L. Sturm, a banker, real estate investor and longtime supporter of the University of Denver, thanked his family and guests for the Business Hall of Fame honor.

Each year the event is organized by Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The six inductees thanked their loved ones, partners, business associates and the audience for the recognition and support.

The 2022 Inductees are:

Robert L. Albin
Albin co-founded American Salesmasters, Ltd., a world-wide sales and management training firm. The company presented large sales rallies annually in 35 major cities throughout the U.S., Canada, and Australia, featuring world-famous authors and speakers from the business industry. As the company expanded into 18 countries around the world, the demand for American sales expertise led the company to also produce and market audio tapes, films, and videos.

Clara Brown (1800-1885)
Clara Brown was a formerly enslaved woman from Virginia who became an entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. She aided with the settlement of newly freed slaves during the time of Colorado’s Gold Rush. She is known as the “Angel of the Rockies” and is recognized as was one of Colorado’s first African American pioneers.

Tim Gill
Perhaps best known as the developer/founder of desktop publishing software Quark, Gill is a computer programmer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and nationally-recognized leader in the advancement of LGBTQ rights and equality. In 1999 he sold his 50 percent stake in the company in 1999 for $500 million, setting aside $300 million for causes that advanced rights and inclusion for LGBTQ people. In 2015, Gill co-founded the smart home technology start-up JStar LLC and is now the chief technology officer.

Robert Newman
Robert “Bob” Newman is an entrepreneur and, along with his wife, Judi, is a major philanthropist for Denver arts and education institutions. He manages a venture capital company called Greenwood Gulch Ventures, investing primarily in tech startups. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Newman are key supporters of the Newman Center for Performing Arts at the University of Denver, the Newman Center for Arts Education at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and the Freyer-Newman Center at Denver Botanic Gardens.

Nancy and Curt Richardson
Formally trained as a designer, Nancy Richardson helped develop the award-winning design for the OtterBox headquarters and Canyon Place in Fort Collins. She also founded and serves on the board of OtterCares Foundation. Curt Richardson is the founder of OtterBox, a Fort Collins-based innovator of protective smartphone cases and many other wireless tech accessories. He began his entrepreneurial journey in seventh grade, starting Curt’s Lawn Service before owning and running Genie Plastic Tooling at just 21 years old. Together the couple oversee The Richardson Foundation.

Donald L. Sturm
Donald L. Sturm and his family currently own ANB Bank with branches in Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas, and Colorado real estate statewide. Through the Sturm Family Foundation, he and his wife, Susan, help fund and support charter schools to benefit economically disadvantaged children. A former trustee of the University of Denver, he is now serving as an Honorary Life Trustee, and two facilities on the DU campus bear the family name.

Junior Achievement (JA) was founded to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a 21st century global economy. JA serves roughly 100K students annually via programs that provide practical career readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship for K-12 students. Programs are offered at no cost to schools or families thanks to donor support and a network of 5,300 volunteers. For more information, visit www.JAColorado.org.

For more than 150 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a statewide membership representing businesses of all sizes, the Chamber advocates for small and large businesses.

For more information on this event please visit www.coloradobusinesshalloffame.com