Boulder, Colorado – October 20, 2023 – The 2023 Boulder Economic Summit: Our Evolving Economy, hosted by the Boulder Economic Council, the economic vitality arm of the Boulder Chamber, convened at UCAR Center Green Auditorium on October 19 and featured Keynote Speaker Dr. Thomas Cech, Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for this annual insider review of the Boulder economy and its key industry sectors.  

With the bioscience industry booming in Boulder, Dr. Cech's conversation on RNA and Bioscience on the Front Range provided a unique insight into the evolution of scientific advancements within the Boulder region. Dr. Cech punctuated his presentation with snapshots of the impact bioscience has on the Boulder economy. 

“We look forward to this event every year as it provides the subjective context to the economic data we publish,” commented Scott Sternberg, Executive Director of the Boulder Economic Council and Associate Vice President for Economic Vitality. “These insights and stories always resonate with those working within the region as they represent real solutions to real challenges.” 

Alongside the insightful presentation from Dr. Cech, those in attendance received an exclusive look at "The Sink: 100 Years" documentary along with an intimate conversation with The Sink Co-Owner, Chris Heinritz. Chris spoke about the importance of location, legacy, and history for the longevity of a business and the future of this cornerstone establishment for the Boulder dining ecosystem.  

 Reports on the state of different industry sectors from across our economy rounded out the Economic Summit, with industry leaders providing insights on the challenges and opportunities they’re confronting. Panelists included Chris Heuston, Director of Apprenticeships, Front Range Community College; Bhavna Chhabra, Senior Director (Engineering), Boulder Site Lead, Google; Becky Gamble, President, Dean Callan & Company; Trent Hein, CO-CEO, Rule4; Steve Ouellette, President, The RIO Alliance; and Moderator Jessica Erickson, Director of Business Development, Sun Construction.
 

“The crowded room of local and regional business leaders testified to the thirst for information on the state of our foundational industries and the story it tells about the direction for our economy,” said John Tayer, Boulder Chamber President & CEO. “With this knowledge, we can all better navigate the complexities that characterize the current economic climate.” 

 The 2023 Boulder Economic Summit was co-presented by Elevations Credit Union and CU Boulder.  

For follow-up questions regarding the Boulder Economic Summit, please contact Courtney Warford, Marketing and Communications Manager, at courtney.warford@boulderchamber.com. 

About the Keynote Speaker: Dr. Thomas Cech, Nobel Laureate  

Dr. Tom Cech is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry at CU Boulder. He shared the 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Sidney Altman for their independent discoveries of the catalytic properties of RNA. As president of Howard Hughes Medical Institute, he was a staunch advocate for science education. In 2009, Dr. Cech stepped down as the president of HHMI to return to teaching and research. Returning to Boulder, Cech became the first executive director of the BioFrontiers Institute, a position he held until 2020. His current research aims to understand the various roles of RNA in cancer. 

About Boulder Chamber  

The nonprofit Boulder Chamber is the region’s flagship business advocacy and support organization. With more than 110 years of dedicated service to its members and the Boulder community, the Boulder Chamber’s innovative programs help local businesses succeed while sustaining an economy that preserves Boulder’s high quality of life, including its environmental and cultural assets. Together with its member businesses, the Boulder Chamber is building a smarter, more vibrant economy – sustaining Boulder’s position as a global capital of innovation and a thriving center of economic vitality. For more information, visit http://www.boulderchamber.com.