Shughart Thomson & Kilroy Attorney Gene Commander Named New Chair of Downtown Denver Partnership

DENVER, Oct. 22, 2007 – Gene Commander, an attorney and shareholder at the law firm of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C., has been selected chair of the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP). Commander has been on the DDP Management Group for the past five years and will serve as chair through July 2008.

“Downtown Denver needs ambassadors–people in the business community who have a passion for ensuring that our urban core remains vibrant and safe,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. “Gene Commander has proven himself to be a leader in both the short and long-term success of Downtown Denver.”

One of Commander’s priorities as chair is to continue implementing the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, which will reflect the community vision for a livable, healthy, economically vibrant and exciting Downtown. By building upon Downtown’s existing natural, cultural, social and physical assets, the plan will provide a foundation for strategic actions that will shape Downtown’s future development, enhance connections to surrounding neighborhoods and strengthen Downtown’s role as the heart of the region.

Commander, the DDP and the Management Group are also examining the 16th Street Mall’s role in Denver’s evolving downtown. The mall, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in October 2007, is the No. 1 visitor attraction in the Denver metro area according to Longwoods International Studies.

“Downtown Denver is a growing, diverse and vibrant economic center for our region,” said Commander. “I look forward to continuing my work with the Downtown Denver Partnership to maintain the momentum the Partnership’s members and management group have created to support further development.”

Commander is vice-chair of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy’s Construction Practice Group and has practiced law in Denver since 1981. He has represented owners and developers, design-builders, general contractors and subcontractors, architects and engineers. His experience includes international business transactions and related U.S. litigation. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator for construction and commercial proceedings administered by the American Arbitration Association. He has been a speaker at numerous real estate and construction conferences and has written articles for many industry publications.

In addition to his work with the DDP, Commander is a co-chair for the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation’s 2007 Leadership Exchange, which takes place in Phoenix Oct. 25-27, and a member of the Board of Governors for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.

About Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.
Founded in 1940, the Kansas City-headquartered law firm of Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C., (www.stklaw.com) is a full-service, client-focused business law firm with more than 175 attorneys in six offices: Denver, Colo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Kansas City, Springfield and St. Joseph, Mo.; and Overland Park, Kan. Serving corporate, institutional and individual clients regionally, nationally and worldwide, Shughart Thomson & Kilroy is known for successfully applying forward-thinking strategies for both straightforward and complex legal matters.

Author: G. Stephen (Steve) Long
Firm: Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.

More news »