DENVER, October 8, 2019 —The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative (DFEI) at the University of Colorado Denver Business School announces that Bob Hottman, partner at Plante Moran, has been selected as the 2019 Bill Daniels Ethical Leader of the Year. Now in its fifth year, the award will be presented to Hottman at the State of Small Business on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, hosted by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the University of Colorado Denver Business School.
“Mr. Hottman’s ethical principles clearly guide his leadership style and business practices,” said Ira Selkowitz, DFEI Director at the CU Denver Business School. “Mr. Hottman’s personal and professional accomplishments exemplify Bill Daniels’ commitment to integrity, fairness, accountability, and transparency in all that he does.”
A student selection committee considered the largest pool of nominations to date consisting of local leaders committed to ethical business practices and evaluated each nominee based on the eight Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles:
Integrity – Act with honesty in all situations.
Trust – Build trust in all stakeholder relationships.
Accountability – Accept responsibility for all decisions.
Transparency – Maintain open and truthful communications.
Fairness – Engage in fair competition and create equitable and just relationships.
Respect – Honor the rights, freedoms, views and property of others.
Rule of Law – Comply with the spirit and intent of laws and regulations.
Viability – Create long-term value for all relevant stakeholders.
“Bill Daniels was an amazing leader and his legacy continues through many programs, including the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the CU Denver Business School,” Hottman said. “I am honored and humbled to receive this award and delighted to see Bill’s legacy continuing to guide and inspire leaders in the Denver business community.”
Hottman is a partner and leader of the family office practice for the Rocky Mountain region at Plante Moran, one of the nation’s largest certified public accounting, tax, and consulting firms. He was previously a founding partner at EKS&H, where he led his firm through the lens of accountability, respect, and transparency, to make his organization the largest accounting firm in the Rocky Mountain region before its combination with Plante Moran last year. He has been providing accounting and advisory services for individuals, closely-held businesses, and public companies in the manufacturing, distribution, real estate, hospitality, club, and service industries since 1977.
Hottman has consistently proven his commitment to leading the Denver community with firm ethical integrity. He was the 2015-16 Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce board chair, serving as a fair and trusted advisor while the Chamber was tackling key legislative issues. He also served on the board of Children’s Hospital Colorado in 2012, where he helped lead a major renovation with careful consideration of all perspectives and stakeholders to ensure long-term success of the hospital. In addition, Hottman has served on the boards of Junior Achievement, The Global Leadership Council for Colorado State University’s College of Business, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more.
“Bob Hottman has earned his reputation as a leader who puts others before himself,” said Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “For Bob, it’s about the people. He is always focused on the success of others. It means many people seek him out for advice – and that is always rooted in integrity, trust and respect.”
Past award recipients include Gregory Anton, Chairman and CEO of ACM (2018); Pat Hamill, CEO and Founder of Oakwood Homes (2017); Kate Paul, President and CEO of Delta Dental of Colorado (2016); and Evan Makovsky, Managing Partner at NAI Shames Makovsky (2015).
About the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Colorado Denver Business School
The University of Colorado Denver Business School received a five-year grant in 2015 from the Daniels Fund to participate in the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program, aimed at strengthening ethics education for business students and extending ethical behavior beyond campus and into the community. The Business School uses the grant to instill a deep and unwavering ethical foundation into students through curriculum, events, and community collaboration.
About the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program
The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program drives the strengthening of principle-based ethics education with the ultimate goal of instilling a high standard of ethics in our young people. Based on Bill Daniels’ personal commitment to ethics and integrity, the Daniels Fund Board of Directors established the Collegiate Program in 2009.
The effort was officially launched in early 2010 with eight business schools at universities in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming as initial partners. The Collegiate Program continues to grow its reach and effectiveness, with more than 500,000 people impacted. The Collegiate Program now includes ten business schools and one law school as partners.
