Commander Selected as New Chair of Downtown Denver Partnership

Gene Commander, an attorney with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, will serve as chair of the Downtown Denver Partnership through July 2008.

Photo courtesy of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy

Gene Commander, an attorney and shareholder at the Kansas City-headquartered law firm of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, with offices in Denver, has been selected as chair of the Downtown Denver Partnership. Commander has been on the DDP Management Group for the past five years and will serve as chair through July 2008.

“Downtown Denver needs ambassadors people in the business community who have a passion for ensuring that our urban core remains vibrant and safe,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership Inc. “Gene Commander has proven himself to be a leader in both the short- and long-term success of downtown Denver.”

One of Commander’s priorities as chair is to continue implementing the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, which will reflect the community vision for a livable, healthy, economically vibrant and exciting downtown. By building upon downtown’s existing natural, cultural, social and physical assets, the plan will provide a foundation for strategic actions that will shape downtown’s future development, enhance connections to surrounding neighborhoods and strengthen downtown’s role as the heart of the region.

Commander, the DDP and the Management Group are also examining the 16th Street Mall’s role in Denver’s evolving downtown. The mall, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last month, is the No.1 visitor attraction in the Denver metro area, according to Longwoods International Studies.

“Downtown Denver is a growing, diverse and vibrant economic center for our region,” said Commander. “I look forward to continuing my work with the Downtown Denver Partnership to maintain the momentum the Partnership’s members and management group have created to support further development.”

Commander is vice-chair of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy’s Construction Practice Group and has practiced law in Denver since 1981. He has represented owners and developers, design-builders, general contractors and subcontractors, architects and engineers. His experience includes international business transactions and related U.S. litigation. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator for construction and commercial proceedings administered by the American Arbitration Association. He has been a speaker at numerous real estate and construction conferences and has written articles for many industry publications.

In addition to his work with the DDP, Commander is a co-chair for the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation’s 2007 Leadership Exchange, which took place in Phoenix Oct. 25  through Oct. 27, and is a member of the Board of Governors for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.

Click here for more DDJ Features >>