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As president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the leading voice for Colorado's business community, J. J. Ament is focused on effectively advocating for small and large businesses in our region. Before being appointed to his current position, he served from 2017 to 2021 as the chief executive officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, a part of the Chamber family of organizations and the largest privately funded and governed economic development organization in Colorado. With experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, J. J. brings a unique combination of expertise to the role. An investment banker for most of his career, he participated in more than $15 billion of transactions for governments and public-private partnerships throughout the U.S. before leaving the industry in 2016. J. J. has been a member and chairman of the Colorado Economic Development Commission, where he considered state economic development incentives, grants and tax credits for business and tourism projects statewide.

The Downtown Denver Partnership has announced that Kourtny Garrett will lead the organization as CEO beginning in January 2022. Garrett will join the Partnership from Downtown Dallas, Inc. (DDI), where she has served as President and CEO for nearly six years.

In August, the Partnership’s current President and CEO Tami Door, announced that she would step away from her role after 17 years leading the organization.

At DDI, Garrett has worked on the revitalization of Downtown Dallas for nearly two decades, a period that includes more than $11 billion of investment, public-private partnerships that have brought more than 40 vacant buildings back to life, and a steady rise in residents from just a few hundred to more than 13,000.

Garrett, originally from Colorado was selected from over 400 candidates through a national executive search under the leadership of Downtown Denver Partnership Management Group Board Chair Sarah Rockwell and a search committee, led by immediate past board chair, Mike Zoellner.

“Bringing Kourtny on as our CEO marks an exciting new chapter in the Downtown Denver Partnership’s history and means great things for our center city as we look ahead,” said Rockwell, “Kourtny brings unique and robust experience in place-based economic development and under her leadership, she will continue our organization’s strong legacy as a national leader in citybuilding.”

“I am honored to be selected as the next leader of the Downtown Denver Partnership, bringing me back to Denver and a special place for my family,” said Garrett. “I am passionate about the power and importance of cities in driving economic development, innovation, and vibrancy, and I look forward to building on Tami and her team’s incredible work making Downtown Denver a place for all people.”