Signature Events
CWCC hosts various high-profile signature events annually. Our signature events recognize, honor, and celebrate women in business who make a significant contribution to our business community, those who value diversity in their organizations, and young women who are working to overcome barriers to success. Our events connect our members with business and community leaders, as well as helps enrich their careers and grow their businesses.
The 2021 Athena Award
December 2nd, 2021
We will be awarding an outstanding woman in business and in her community with our Athena Award at our December Powerful Voices event. Download the 2021 ATHENA Nomination Form Here and submit to nominations@cwcc.org by October 22, 2021 by 5pm.
Powerful Voices presents the ATHENA Award (In-Person!)
December 2nd, details TBA
For more than 20 years, the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce has presented the ATHENA Leadership Award in Denver. The ATHENA Leadership Model® was developed by ATHENA International through a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in 1982. Since the program’s inception, more than 7,000 awards have been presented in over 500 communities in eight countries.
ATHENA Leadership Award Nominees must meet each of the following three criteria:
- Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession
- Provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in their community
- Actively assist women in achieving their full leadership potential
- Must be a Colorado woman
- Individuals cannot be nominated more than 2 times in row
- CWCC awards the ATHENA to one successful and accomplished woman in our community who exemplifies leadership traits such as authenticity, community service, and courage.
Previous Winners:
2020: Michelle Lucero, Children’s Hospital Colorado
2019: Christine Benero, Mile High United Way
2018: Donna Lynne, Former Lt. Governor, Colorado
2017: Jean Galloway, Prosono
2016: Dr. Dorothy Horrell, University of Colorado
2015: Pat Cortez, Wells Fargo
Top 25 Most Powerful Women Gala
August 19th 2021
Our most popular event and gala returns this summer!
This event is sold out!
In its 9th year recognizing over 225 women, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business Gala, presented by KeyBank, celebrates and recognizes women who operate at the highest level of business performance and community leadership. This event recognizes the professional achievements and contributions to the Denver community by these women. The women are chosen by a selection committee that includes some of our past Top 25 honorees. Due to COVID restrictions, individual tickets will be limited.
Nominations(CLOSED)
You are encouraged to work closely with your nominee to complete their nomination.
• Nominations for Top 25 Most Powerful Women must be submitted using the nomination form and format.
• You may include up to five (5) additional pages of supporting documents (i.e. letters of recommendation, articles, testimonials etc.). Articles links must be sent in a document – do not put in the body of an email.
• To be considered all applications must be on time, this means nominations must be submitted no later than 5pm on June 11th, 2021.
- Nominations and any additional documents submitted by nominator must be included in one email.
- Include nominee’s first and last name in the subject line.
Please send all nominations and additional documents in one email to:
nominations@cwcc.org. To ensure proper delivery, please use this email and do not send to CWCC staff.
Download 2021 Top 25 Most Powerful Women Nomination Form Here
Registration for the event will open in a few weeks. You can check out our event page here.
Presenting Sponsor:
Premier Sponsor:
Award Sponsor:
VIP & Beverage Sponsor:
Sustaining Sponsor:
State of Women in Business
May 19th 2021, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out 30 years of progress for women in the workforce. It’s time for action.
The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce is partnering with TARRA on the 5th Annual State of Women in Business event, presented by HealthOne. Join us to dive into the devastating impacts of COVID-19, the subsequent Shecession, and what we can all do to course correct.
This unique event will feature a data presentation, community engagement opportunities, and the launch of CWCC and TARRA’s Getting Women Back to Work Executive Roundtable Discussion Series, presented by Metropolitan State University, Denver. This landmark roundtable series is bringing together local thought leaders, research experts, and corporate executives to determine a path forward for our communities to actively address the post-COVID “Shecession.” It’s going to take all of us to get female-identifying individuals back to work.
We are committed to creating safe spaces, and if this topic is in your shared experience—or you’d like to become an ally—please join us!
The Impact On Women in Business:
- Women lost 5.3M jobs during the pandemic. Women’s labor force participation is at a 33-year low.
- Caregivers are in crisis. Nearly a million women who’ve left the workforce are mothers. Black, Hispanic, and single moms are among the most affected
- Unemployment is higher for BIPOC women. Overall, unemployment stood at 6.3% in January. It was 5.1% for white women vs. 7.9% for Asian women, 8.5% for Black women, and 8.8% for Latinas.
- The gender pay gap could get worse. Economists estimate the pandemic could increase it from 81 cents on the dollar to 76 cents.
About Getting Women Back to Work Executive Roundtable Discussion Series: - Launching at State of Women, this roundtable is bringing together executives, hourly workers, business owners, women who have left the workforce and more to:
- Create guidelines to ensure LGBTQ, BIPOC & AAPI women have equal access to professional opportunities, affordable childcare and flexible work options.
- Develop a recommended set of solutions and guidelines for businesses and corporations to ensure women are hired back, paid equal wages and given a clear path to equal opportunities for promotion.
- Draw a roadmap for our communities to address the needs of what women need now to get back to work.
About Getting Women Back to Work Executive Roundtable Discussion Series:
Launching at State of Women in Business, this roundtable is bringing together executives, hourly workers, business owners, women who have left the workforce and more to:
- Identify key challenges and roadblocks women face in the post-COVID business environment
- Create guidelines to ensure LGBTQ, BIPOC & AAPI women have equal access to professional opportunities, affordable childcare and flexible work options
- Develop a recommended set of solutions and guidelines for businesses and corporations to ensure women are hired back, paid equal wages and given a clear path to equal opportunities for promotion
- Draw a roadmap for our communities to address the needs of what women need now to get back to work
This event is free and open to all. Save your spot today and register here.
Sponsorships are available. Reach out to Heather Howerton, hhowerton@cwcc.org to learn more.
About TARRA
TARRA is a curated network for women professionals and entrepreneurs designed to advance thriving careers, champion innovative businesses and promote fulfilling lives. By facilitating access to effective resources—collaboration, community, learning, mentorship—TARRA is cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders with the goal to create a more diverse, vibrant business community.
TARRA.co | @_tarraco
About Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce
The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce focuses on strategies to help professional women work smarter, network effectively, and compete successfully. Our programs cultivate business development, professional excellence, alliances and leadership. We seek to make Colorado the state in the nation for women to advance in business.
CWCC.org | @cowomenschamber
Presenting Sponsor:
State of Women – Executive Voices Sponsor:
Sustaining Sponsor:
Partners:
Champions of Change
January 14th, 2021 I 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Who are the influencers making a difference for female leaders and women of color? Which companies in our community are shaping the future by advancing women in business?
This event recognizes the top change-makers and trail-blazers in our community at the Colorado Women’s Chamber Champions of Change Reception and Awards Program.
CWCC Champions of Change Awards, presented by Vectra Bank, will be presented to companies and organizations of various sizes that are actively and strategically advancing women in business through their commitment to creating inclusive, supportive and empowering cultures.
Businesses are rated on:
- Strategic imperative to advance women within the business
- Pipeline advancement through inclusive, supportive, and empowering culture and workplace
- Benefits packages supportive to women and families
- Ensuring employees are being paid based on performance, skill, or education to ensure no gender gap exists
- Specific outcomes experienced by female employees through testimonials or measurable results
- • Allyship – Looking at what organizations are doing to create allyship for diverse communities that lead to support and promotion of these communities.
Download 2020 Champions of Change Nomination Form Here.
Social Impact:
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
This category recognizes businesses whose core purpose is to create meaningful change to corporate systems and cultures. These organizations are working hard to help share inclusive and diverse work environments that have resulted in employee engagement, retention, and cultures that challenge the status quo.
Mission Minded:
HealthONE
This category recognizes organizations that have prioritized the strategic advancement and support of women in their organizations and in the community where they reside. They believe that in order for their people to succeed, we need to lift others up around us as well – so much so- that it is woven into the thread of their businesses.
Small But Mighty:
STEMBlazers
With their humble teams, this category recognizes organizations that are creating quite the impact, not just internally, but in their industries and for the people they serve. They have proven that despite the size of an organization, flexible work environments, and out of the box structures can be implemented to meet the needs and wants of their employees and the greater community.
Corporate Change-Makers:
VF Corp. and The VF Foundation
This category recognizes corporations that are examples that, even with locations across the country and thousands of employees, it is possible to give them the development opportunities and benefits that support all of their needs and advancement.
Innovation:
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
This category recognizes organizations that have taken their efforts to the next level by creating innovative solutions that develop employees, support their needs, and advance women in business. What these organizations, large and small, have created for their people is out of the box and industry changing.
Industry Trailblazers:
Empower Retirement
This category recognizes organizations that saw opportunities to get creative in how they challenge industry standards and create new ones that better support the advancement of women in business. Through their efforts, they are raising the bar, challenging the status quo, and blazing trails for others to follow.
Advocate for Change
(Individual) Champion:
Sarah Miller, Wealth Management Advisor,
Northwestern Mutual
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor:
Sustaining Sponsors:
Business Owners Growth Immersive (formerly Business Owners Bootcamp) March 2021
.Imagine a day filled with education and inspiration and insights, and it’s geared just towards you and your business! An entire day designed specifically with women entrepreneurs in mind. Join some of Denver’s leading entrepreneurial experts who will share their secrets to successfully gain access to small business vendors and other female entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their business.
Join some of Denver’s leading entrepreneurial experts who will share their insights on growth for your business (and life):
- Growing your business to meet your end goal
- Understanding the management of growth
- Mindset
- Financial Health and Strategy for Business
Who Should Attend?
Female Entrepreneurs with three to five years under their belt looking to grow their business. The Business Owners Boot Camp targets driven, innovative entrepreneurs and their team(s) who have the desire to seek advice, education, valuable business strategies and new skills to stay on top of their game. This event will take your business to the next level of success.
Hosted and Sponsored by:
Girls Rising: Building a Pipeline of Women Leaders
TBD
This critical event will highlight what our community is doing to create a pipeline of young women into non-traditional careers. This year’s virtual program will include a keynote presentation, highlighting the path of a female leader who took the path less traveled and scholarship reception for five females pursing construction management, tech, engineering, entrepreneurship, and trade skills.
We are working to create a longer lasting impact with this event. Stay tuned as we have opportunities to engage throughout the year with scholarship recipients, share intern and job shadow opportunities, and bring business leaders together to discuss how we can continue to make change for girls and women in male dominated industries.