Over 400 Denver community leaders and entrepreneurs gathered on November 3 at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s State of Small Business event to celebrate the achievements of the 2015 Bill Daniels Ethical Leader of the Year Award winner Evan Makovsky.
The State of Small Business event was presented by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center in partnership with the University of Colorado Denver Business School, to give Colorado’s leaders and entrepreneurs insight into trends among the region’s small business community.
The event commenced with the presentation of the inaugural Bill Daniels Ethical Leader of the Year Award to Evan Makovsky, Managing Partner at NAI Shames Makovsky, a Denver based commercial real estate firm. The award was presented on behalf of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Colorado Denver Business School, and is intended to honor a member of the Denver business community who exemplifies the same ethical business practices for which cable pioneer Bill Daniels was well known. Makovsky was selected by a committee of talented Business School students who based their ranking on the demonstrated application of ethical principles for personal and organizational decision making and leadership practiced by Bill Daniels during his long and successful career in business.
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kelly Brough reinforced Makovsky’s contributions for the greater good of Denver. “When I think about ethics, from honesty and integrity to grit and hard work, Evan is the first person who comes to mind,” said Kelly. “He had two great models in his father and in Bill Daniels, who worked not only toward success in business but also to create success in the community. We’re lucky to have business leaders like Evan who model and teach others that being ethical isn’t just a buzzword—it’s part of how we do business here in Colorado.”
“Doing the right thing” and how Makovsky incorporates the Daniels Ethical Principles in all of his business dealings were shared with the audience in a video presentation featuring Business School Interim Dean Gary Kochenberger, Downtown Denver Partnership President Tami Door, Gold Crown Foundation Founder Ray Baker and Sage Hospitality CEO Walter Isenberg.
The Bill Daniels Ethical Leader of the Year Award will be presented annually by the Business School at the Denver Metro Chamber’s State of Small Business event. If you would like to nominate someone for next year’s Award, please contact Ira Selkowitz at ira.selkowitz@ucdenver.edu for a nomination form.
