Lucy Peterson/Aspen Times
Roaring Fork Valley business leaders gathered Wednesday morning for a forum hosted by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA) to learn how to better civically engage their businesses and employees.
ACRA leaders hosted a forum to discuss the importance of public engagement from a business perspective to fostering successful businesses in communities whose goals are supported by elected officials. Several speakers and local leaders spoke about their experiences with civic engagement and ways to encourage others to participate.
ACRA Public Relations Manager Alisin Bektesh said, “Our strategic plan focuses on public relations, ensuring that the needs of the business community and workforce are fully represented in policy discussions.” “By empowering our business leaders to advocate for themselves and their staff and developing individuals across the business sector to engage in civic engagement, we will ensure that Aspen thrives both socially and economically. Masu.”
Andrea Palm Porter, executive director of Roaring Fork Leadership, and Lauren Schwartz, executive director of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Alliance, both spoke at the forum and encouraged businesses to increase their community involvement. He talked about how he was guided.
Palm-Porter cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of businesses working with elected leaders to communicate their legislative needs as a business.
“The COVID-19 crisis has been a great example of our community coming together because…we have things we need to deal with immediately, issues we have never dealt with before, and we don't know what to do. I didn’t,” she said. “As a community, when we are under that kind of pressure, we come together to solve problems.
“When the pressure is off, we don't tend to stick together as much as we do when things are exciting,” she added.
Advocating as a business at the citizen level can help local businesses and the regional economy grow stronger, she said.
Schwartz said the main issues facing Colorado businesses include housing and cost of living issues, which are even more acute in the Roaring Fork Valley. As business leaders, advocating for housing solutions at the political level can help alleviate these pressures.
Public participation is important, but it's often not the most important thing in someone's daily life, speakers said. ACRA officials urged business leaders to help their employees become more civically engaged, including reminding them of upcoming public meetings and teaching them how to make public comments at meetings.
Dwayne Romero, CEO of Romero Group, moderated a panel of three local leaders during the forum to discuss how they have engaged with their communities. Emily Taylor, communications and development manager for the Aspen Physics Center, talks about her role on the Aspen Fire Protection District board, her experience with nonprofit organizations, and how the 2018 Lake Christine Fire shaped her He talked about how it inspired him to become an environmental activist. valley.
Hannah Berman, senior manager of sustainability and philanthropy at Aspen Ski Company, talks about how she helps employees prepare public comments at government meetings and makes bold claims about climate action. He spoke about how companies working together behind the scenes to ensure they are 'on the right path'. And how she plans to continue her work as a newly elected Basalt Town Council member.
Ben Wolf, managing partner and owner of Frias Properties, has spoken on behalf of Frias Properties at several Aspen City Council meetings lobbying against tax increases and restrictions on short-term rental permits. explained the role of
