Author: finola.annibella@yahoo.com

June Meeting: 2025 Legislative Session, Impacts to Colorado Businesses

We are excited to host Dave Davia, CEO of Colorado Concern who will recap the 2025 legislative session and explain how it will impact the Colorado business climate.

Called “a person of action and someone who knows how to build an organization, raise money, take the tough meeting, and make the hard ask,” Dave Davia’s position as CEO and president of Colorado Concern is a fitting role given all that he’s accomplished not only professionally, but also as a charitable, civic, and governmental leader. Dave Davia is a tenacious agent of change.

For nearly 30 years, Davia has served the state of Colorado’s economic viability in a variety of private and public capacities. Most recently, he accepted the invitation to join Colorado Concern as its CEO, leading more than 140 CEOs in a collaborative effort to accelerate a positive, non-partisan business environment for Coloradoans. His sphere of influence includes advocating for practical business solutions and unifying community leaders against tough economic challenges with common-sense answers.

He’s worn the hats of CEO, board chair, member, founder, chief fundraiser, and city councilor, to name a few. A business and finance major from Metropolitan State University, Denver, and a fifth-generation Denver native, Davia brings political savvy to the table that transcends party lines. Ultimately, he believes that a unified government and diverse voices foster the most meaningful change for all Coloradoans.

January Meeting: Eric Lazzari, Civic Center Conservancy

The Civic Center Conservancy named Eric Lazzari the Executive Director in November of 2019. 

He joined the Civic Center Conservancy in November 2011, bringing extensive event operations and program management experience to his initial role as Director of Programs and Events. Eric was promoted to Director of Strategic Operations in May of 2018.

Eric is a proud member of the 2020 Class of Leadership Denver. He was also a member of the Downtown Denver Leadership Program’s 2014 class, where he was selected as the winner of the John Parr Leadership Award and elected by his peers as the class trustee.

Prior to joining the Conservancy, Eric served as the Program Operations Manager for USA Swimming in Colorado Springs, developing and managing various programs, clinics and series. He previously served as Director of Special Projects for the Metro Denver Sports Commission, leading event production for the 2008 Frozen Four and coordinating sponsorship development and activation for the CU vs. CSU Rocky Mountain Showdown. He received his bachelor’s degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and his MBA from the University of Denver.

August Meeting: Hilary Blair, Executive/Leadership Presence

Join us as we host Hilary Blair presenting on Executive/Leadership Presence:

  • Discover what Leadership Presence is and what it looks like, to make you and your team work better, boost retention and reduce recruiting costs.
  • Insights and strategies to cultivate an active presence that exudes confidence and authority.
  • Gain tools to shift communication patterns that may sabotage Leadership Presence and Influence.
  • Voice your ideas with confidence and conviction, to be heard above the noise and have influence, to help facilitate reaching the objectives of the company.

Recent Presentations Delivered:

  • Unlocking Success through Interpersonal Communication: The Power of Authentic Presence.
  • Increasing Leadership Presence and Influence through Heart-Based Communication.

Hilary Blair, CEO, CSP, Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, weaves her professional acting experience into programs for corporate teams and individuals to elevate presence, communication, and connection. She’s certified in Conversational Intelligence™ (CIQ) and CultureTalk and trained in ORSC (Organizational Relationship Systems Coach) and approaches coaching from a wholistic systems perspective.

She holds a BA from Yale University in Psychology and an MFA in Acting from the National Theatre Conservatory.