Boulder County Business Hall of Fame

10/02/2026

What a night! On Wednesday, we honored the newest inductees, and celebrated the Class of 2026.

We celebrated the family legacies of Dean Callan & Company, Inc.'s founder Dean and his daughter and current CEO Becky Gamble, the Cervantes family who curated the La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant Longmont, CO to provide spaces for gathering, and Sandy and Sally Bracken, who have touched many industries, including education, healthcare, and animal welfare with their deep love for this community.

We also honored Gerry Agnes's dedication to helping the community thrive through legislative advocacy and his time leading Elevations Credit Union, Denis Nock's decades of leadership and mentorship within the business community, and Rich Lopez' appreciation for strategic planning as a means to help organizations serve the community.

And special guest Congressman Joe Neguse joined us to honor their individual efforts that have led Boulder County to be what it is today.

We raised a toast led by president Doyle Albee to all of them as difference-makers, "Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

09/28/2026

We are honored to recognize Denis Nock in the 2026 class of Boulder County Business Hall of Fame inductees!

Nock has left his mark on nearly every corner of the region’s commercial and entrepreneurial landscape. He arrived in Boulder in 1980 as president of Valleylab Inc., bringing an executive perspective he quickly put to work for the broader community. He served as president of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce for seven years before becoming the inaugural director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado.

Read more about Denis Nock in BizWest!

09/25/2026

Join us in congratulating Rene and Maria Cervantes on being inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
More than 37 years ago, Rene and Maria Cervantes arrived in Longmont with little more than hard work, hope and a determination to build something for their family. What began as a small burrito shop became La Mariposa, a beloved regional restaurant institution with multiple locations across Boulder County. Their business has not only created jobs and served generations of families but has also become a symbol of the Latino business community's contributions to Boulder County's economic and cultural fabric.
Learn more about the Cervantes Family's impact on the Boulder County community in BizWest!

Rene and Maria Cervantes, owners of the La Mariposa restaurants, are among nine individuals to be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame.

09/24/2026

Last call to register! Join us next Wednesday to celebrate the Class of 2026.

Wed, Sept 30th | 4:30pm
Boulder JCC
Tickets available: https://halloffamebiz.com/events/

We will induct Gerry Agnes, Sandy and Sally Bracken, Dean Callan & Becky Callan-Gamble, Rene and Maria Cervantes La Mariposa Mexican Restaurant Longmont, CO, Richard Lopez, and Denis Nock. You will certainly leave inspired by their stories, and their impact on Boulder County!

09/23/2026

Congratulations Rich Lopez on induction into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame Class of 2026!
Raised in California, Rich Lopez worked in agricultural fields as a young man before serving in the National Guard. He went on to study architecture and planning at California Polytechnic State University and Cornell University, later earning his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law. His professional career began in city planning, where he contributed to Boulder’s first Community Energy Management Program, early planning for Denver International Airport and major land-use, transportation, energy, solid waste and bikeways initiatives. His civic service includes two years on Boulder’s Planning Board and four years on City Council, where he served as Deputy Mayor. Lopez’s community leadership extends well beyond his professional work. He has chaired major boards, including the Denver Foundation and Boulder Community Health, led wildfire and flood relief efforts for the Community Foundation serving Boulder County and guided the Cal-Wood Education Center through the dual challenges of a pandemic and wildfire.
Learn more about Rich Lopez in BizWest!

Rich Lopez, an attorney who held several positions in Boulder city and county governments, is among nine individuals to be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame.

09/21/2026

Congratulations to Becky Callan-Gamble on the well-deserved honor of joining the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame class of 2026!

For more than six decades, Becky Callan-Gamble and the late Dean Callan have helped shape Boulder County's commercial real estate landscape through Dean Callan & Company. Founded by Dean in 1963 with a community-first approach, the firm has played a vital role in supporting businesses and guiding the region's growth. Since joining the company in 1992, Becky has continued that legacy as CEO, leading with the same commitment to excellence and community.

Their impact extends far beyond real estate. Dean served on several community boards, while Becky has dedicated her time to organizations including the Boulder Economic Council and helped establish the University of Colorado's Gamble Steps Program, preparing student-athletes for life beyond athletics.

A true Buff family tradition—even Becky and Dean each served as president of the CU Buff Club.

Read more about Becky Callan-Gamble and Dean Callan in BizWest.

Becky Callan Gamble and her father, the late Dean Callan, are among nine individuals to be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame.

09/19/2026

The Boulder County Business Hall of Fame is proud to welcome Sandy and Sally Bracken into the Class of 2026!

Sandy, who served as the 19th president of the University of Colorado and later held the Quigg and Virginia S. Newton Endowed Chair in Leadership at CU Boulder, has spent decades studying and modeling the qualities that elevate organizations and individuals alike. He began his career in higher education at Anderson College in Anderson, Ind., and then transitioned to the business world, working for Ball Corporation in Westminster and Boulder. The Brackens have been deeply engaged with the Community Foundation Boulder County and have long used their resources and influence to invest in the region's future.
Sally Bracken has spent more than four decades helping shape Boulder County into the community it is today. Sally served as a trustee of the Boulder Community Health Foundation and, together with Sandy, made a landmark $1 million gift to Boulder Community Foothills Hospital in 2012 for a state-of-the-art inpatient cancer and urology unit, a space that now bears the Bracken name.

Read the full Bracken Family profile in BizWest.

09/18/2026

We're proud to celebrate Gerry Agnes, whose leadership and service have earned him a place in the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

As president and CEO of Elevations Credit Union for 17 years, Gerry Agnes transformed a community financial institution into one of the most recognized credit unions in the country. Under his leadership, Elevations grew to more than $3.5 billion in assets and earned the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award twice. A fixture in Boulder's business community for nearly two decades, Agnes was repeatedly recognized as one of BizWest's Most Influential Business Leaders and served in numerous civic and industry leadership roles. He retired in February 2026 after a tenure that touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of community members across the region.

Discover more about Gerry Agnes' remarkable career in BizWest.

Gerry Agnes, who served as president and CEO of Elevations Credit Union for 17 years, is among nine individuals to be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame.

09/16/2026

Every sponsor plays an important role in preserving Boulder County's business legacy.

Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors for helping make this year's Boulder County Business Hall of Fame celebration possible. Your generosity supports our mission of recognizing outstanding business leaders while investing in the next generation through scholarships.

We're proud to have each of you as part of this community.

09/10/2026

Join us to celebrate the Class of 2026! September 30th, at the Boulder JCC.

Doors open at 4:30pm, and the program will begin promptly at 5:00pm. Learn about how these leaders have left their marks on Boulder County, and walk away inspired by their stories!

Induction Ceremony Join us for the 2026 Induction Celebration. Everyone is welcome! We will honor and induct the class of 2026 on Wednesday, September 30th, at the Boulder Jewish Community Center. Doors will open at 4:30pm and the program will begin at 5:00pm. We will recognize Alexander and Sally B...