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Best of Colorado 2023 — Personal Fulfillment
Check out this year's winners and finalists for our Best of Colorado 2023 awards in the Personal Fulfillment sector!
ColoradoBiz Staff //June 13, 2023//
Best of Colorado 2023 — Personal Fulfillment
Check out this year's winners and finalists for our Best of Colorado 2023 awards in the Personal Fulfillment sector!
ColoradoBiz Staff //June 13, 2023//
Many of this year’s Best of Colorado winners embody the art of specialization. They don’t pretend to be something they are not, rather they concentrate on one element and aim to perfect it. That in turn has clearly helped them make a name for themselves.
Our readers (Best of Colorado customers) not only remember them but make a concerted effort to vote for them. That’s a tremendous accomplishment in this era of overwhelming messages, marketing and mindshare. But that takes time. Here at ColoradoBiz, we’ve heard many serial entrepreneurs and CEOs depict their success as a climb rather than a meandering journey. After all, the highest summits are always uphill and rarely scaled on the first day.
So, here’s to this year’s Best of Colorado winners. They have found a way to perfect their craft, grow their brand, and be recognized for their specialization. They have scaled the summit of success.
Check out our Best of Colorado 2023 issue here!
BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
Recognized as one of the country’s leading research universities among public institutions, CU Boulder offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs — in one of the most breathtaking settings to be found anywhere.
The university offers more than 4,300 academic courses across 150 fields of study. More than 7,000 degrees are awarded each year, the most of any university in Colorado. CU Boulder has been named a “Best Value” university every year since 2009 by The Princeton Review, and 87 percent of graduates are employed, in grad school or in the military within six months of graduation.
Runners-up:
- Colorado State University – Fort Collins
- University of Denver
- Metropolitan State University of Denver
BEST MBA PROGRAM
THE DENVER MBA, DU DANIELS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
The Denver MBA focuses on core business challenges, not just core business courses. Every student receives customized, ongoing one-on-one and team coaching throughout the program. Small class sizes enable highly personalized instruction. Tuition includes a trip abroad to work with an international organization on one of its business problems.
Scholarships are available to accepted students, including a 50% scholarship for Colorado residents. More than 80% of students receive scholarships.
DU’s MBA program ranked as the top full-time MBA in Colorado by Bloomberg Businessweek (2022–2023) and ranked No. 10 in the country for Best Green MBA by the Princeton Review in 2023.
Runners-up:
BEST EXECTUTIVE MBA PROGRAM (THREE-WAY TIE)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
For executives who want to bolster their skills without career interruption, the EMBA program at CU Denver allows students to pursue their degree in the heart of the city while aligning with exceptional faculty and senior business executives from around the country.
Students in the EMBA program come from diverse backgrounds, functional areas and career stages, exposing the cohort to critical conversations and experiences. The knowledge, connections, and networking opportunities produce
real-time impact on the careers of graduates and their organizations.
A new cohort for the executive MBA begins each August. Admissions are made on a rolling basis, meaning decisions are made as applications are completed.
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER DANIELS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
The executive MBA program at DU’s Daniels College of Business is specifically tailored to the strengths and needs of professionals with 10 to 20 or more years of experience. It provides an integrated perspective to challenge students’ thinking and empower them to take the next step in their careers, whether that’s starting a venture, pivoting to a new industry or moving to a position of greater responsibility.
DU’s EMBA curriculum is dynamic, changing as necessary to meet the topic of the day, and customizable with a variety of short electives.
CSU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ONLINE MBA
The Online MBA from Colorado State University’s College of Business has a positive reputation with Best of Colorado voters as a top executive degree. Top ranked in the U.S. and No. 16 worldwide for employability, the Online MBA teaches in-demand skills in leadership, innovation, finance, data analytics and using business for a better world. The 42-credit, 21-month program uses the latest online learning technology to deliver an immersive student experience and offers flexibility with a choice of five annual start dates.
BEST PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL
REGIS JESUIT
Regis Jesuit is a Catholic college preparatory high school in Aurora serving grades nine through 12 and offering single-gender education by operating as two separate divisions. The school’s 1,700 students come from nearly 100 middle schools and more than 95 area zip codes. Half the students come from Catholic or independent schools; the other half come from public and charter schools.
Runners-up:
- Holy Family High School
- Lutheran High School
- St. Mary’s High School
- Denver Christian High School
- Mullen High School
BEST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
DENVER EAST HIGH SCHOOL
Located in Denver’s City Park neighborhood, East opened in 1875 as Denver’s first high school and is one of the city’s four original high schools (the others are North, West and South). Though plagued by three highly publicized shootings at or near the school during the 2022-2023 school year, East has often been honored as one of America’s top high schools. Most recently it was ranked 23rd among Colorado high schools and 974th nationally by U.S. News “Best High Schools.”
Famous East High alumni are too numerous to name, but a few include actor Don Cheadle, former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, businessman and investor Robert Smith; singer Judy Collins, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire, and countless other high achievers.
Runners-up:
PROCO360 talk show host Dave Tabor recording an episode in the studio.
BEST BUSINESS PODCAST
PROCO360
PROCO360, a three-peat winner in this category, derives the “360” part of its name from the notion that “Coloradans tend to live life with a more multidimensional spirit,” explains podcast creator and host Dave Tabor.
Tabor keeps that spirit at a high level with episodes covering VC and other funding, inventions, business leadership, sales, startup success stories and other topics.
Runners-up:
- Ramos Law Difference Makers Podcast
- Un-Common Podcast
- Imprint Digital
- Totem Podcast
- VOE Podcast
- The Succeeding Small Podcast
BEST FITNESS CLUB
JEAN-ROBERT’S GYM
Beginning in 1989 as a humble 400-square-foot facility in Aspen, the gym created by renowned trainer Jean-Robert Barbette has steadily grown to more than 15,000 square feet, offering cutting edge equipment, personal training and a multitude of other features that have made Jean-Robert’s Gym synonymous with the health and fitness ethos of Aspen – and beyond.
Now with three locations – Aspen, Basalt and Glenwood Springs – Jean-Robert’s Gym offers personal and group training, spin classes, pilates, yoga and boxing as well as massages, steam rooms, hot tubs and more.
Runners-up:
LIFE COACHING
BE BOLD SERVICES
Alexis Goggans, founder and president of Be Bold Services, is a Certified Professional Coach, accredited by the International Coaching Federation. She’s also a certified Life, Career & Executive Coach, among her many other certifications and designations.
Goggans works with organizations, executives and other individuals, believing that human potential is limited only by the beliefs we place on ourselves. With a coaching style that is engaging, thought-provoking and playful, she brings more than 200 hours of training in self-development and systems thinking.
Runners-up:
BEST FUNDRAISER/CHARITY EVENT
COURAGE CLASSIC
In 33 tours, the Courage Classic Bicycle Tour has raised more than $56 million for Children’s Hospital Colorado. Funds benefit patients and families served by the hospital and beyond.
This year’s event takes place the weekend of July 15-16. Route options for participants range from 12 to 79 miles through the Rocky Mountains, starting and ending in Copper Mountain.
Runners-up:
BEST NONPROFIT
FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES
Food Bank of the Rockies is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Rocky Mountain region. Since 1978, it has put the power of community to work for neighbors in need through partnerships, programs and people.
The organization distributes about 178,000 meals per day, providing food and necessities to more than 800 Hunger Relief Partners across Colorado and Wyoming. These partner organizations then provide their local communities with the needed food, necessities and support. Food Bank of the Rockies also operates its own direct programs, from Mobile Pantries to food-support programs for children, older adults and families facing difficult times.
Runners-up:
BEST PLACE TO MOVE TO OPEN A BUSINESS
COLORADO SPRINGS
Ranked by WalletHub as one of the top 30 cities in the U.S. to start a business, Colorado Springs has much to offer fledging entrepreneurs, including some of the state’s most affordable office space, spectacular mountains at the base of the city, and a comfortable four-season climate.
While Colorado Springs’ housing market has been hot as one would expect, housing remains affordable compared with many U.S. cities. The average work commute for locals is 20 minutes, compared with the 27-minute national average. For longer business travels, there’s Colorado Springs Airport, and Denver International Airport is just 90 minutes away under normal conditions.
