DURA Board Appoints New Chair
The Board of Directors of the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) has elected Denise Burgess as the chair of DURA’s Board of Directors. Ms. Burgess is the first woman to be elected chair in DURA’s 50-year history. Ms. Burgess replaces Jim Basey who had previously served as Chairman. In addition, the Board named three Vice-Chairs: Jim Martinez, Toya Nelson and Jesús Vásquez.
Ms. Burgess is the President and General Manager of Burgess Services, a local construction/construction management firm. Started by her father in 1974, Ms. Burgess joined the family business in 1994 and became its President in 2001.
Ms. Burgess has been on the DURA Board since 2004. She previously served as Co-Chair of the City and County of Denver’s Construction Empowerment Initiative Advisory Council. Active in the Denver community, she was named the Clara Brown Businesswoman of the Year by the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2002.