New Owner, New Era for ColoradoBiz

When BridgeTowerMedia announced on Feb. 8 the acquisition of ColoradoBiz, it signaled a bold new direction for the brand that has been the authoritative voice of business statewide since 1973.

BridgeTower owns more than 40 media and research brands across the country. The addition of ColoradoBiz to the fold marks its first foray into Colorado, and BridgeTower President and CEO Hal Cohen made it clear he has high expectations for his company’s newest brand.

READ: BridgeTower Media Acquires ColoradoBiz for Its Growing Business-Intelligence Media Portfolio

“Business is booming in Colorado, and we see an opportunity to accelerate growth in ColoradoBiz through this acquisition by leveraging the power of BridgeTower Media’s audience platform and best-in-class capabilities,” Cohen said. “For decades, ColoradoBiz has been an indispensable part of the business community in the Centennial State. We look forward to delivering even more value to readers and advertisers in the years ahead.” 

The allure of covering business in a state as vast and diverse as Colorado has been evident since media visionary Bob Tisch launched Colorado Business more than 50 years ago. (The magazine was re-branded as ColoradoBiz in 1999.)

“There’s tremendous opportunity in Colorado, especially Denver, and where there’s opportunity, of course, you have an ample amount of challenge,” Tisch said in a 1984 interview on C-SPAN, another enduring media platform he co-founded. 

Those elements — opportunity and challenge — have been constants for ColoradoBiz, which was acquired by WiesnerMedia in 1985 and owned by the Wiesner family until the acquisition by BridgeTower in February. 

Chief among the challenges and opportunities ColoradoBiz has successfully navigated throughout its history has been covering business and businesspeople in a state where 70 percent of the 5.9 million residents live along the Front Range urban corridor, yet where so much vital commerce — notably agriculture, natural resource development and most of the $27.7 billion tourism economy — emanate from the Western Slope or Eastern Plains. 

The aim, always, has been to convey to our audience through our magazine and vibrant website, the issues, achievements and stories of people doing business not merely along I-25,but throughout the state, from Burlington to Durango, Walden to Lamar, and everywhere between.

Features introduced over the years to fulfill this statewide mission of coverage include Colorado Companies to Watch, Top Company Awards, Made in Colorado, Top Entrepreneur, Executive Golf Guide, and authoritative lists such as the Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies, Top 200 Private Companies and Top 50 Family-Owned Companies. 

Those offerings and others yet to be unveiled or perhaps even yet to be conceived can only benefit from BridgeTower’s proven expertise in leveraging its national platform to optimize marketing and audience reach.

“BridgeTower Media is a B2B super-power with over 40 business products,” said WiesnerMedia CEO Dan Wiesner. “They have a super-aggressive growth plan, and they have the talent and resources that can help ColoradoBiz get to the next level on its digital transformation.” Added BridgeTower’s Cohen: “We’re thrilled and honored to be aligned with such a prestigious brand. ColoradoBizis the statewide authority for relevant and high-utility information business leaders rely on.”