About Us
The Mile High Business Alliance is a non-profit membership organization of local Denver Metro businesses and supporters committed to nourishing our community through enhancing local business - building a sustainable economy which provides a healthy environment, meaningful employment and strong communities.
We see the Denver Metro community of businesses as a laboratory for innovation and economic transformation. We work with local businesses that have the autonomy to make any transformational change in their business that they can imagine… reexamining where we buy goods and services, how we consume energy, grow and distribute our food, build homes, and even, how we define success in business. Mile High Business Alliance is supporting a community of innovators in green building, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, supporting independent businesses in town centers, and mentoring a new breed of entrepreneurs that have designed their business with a sustainable vision.
In autumn of 2006, several initial meetings were held to determine the interest of business owners in forming an alliance to promote local business. After the idea cooled over the winter and spring, a few of us decided to lead the charge to make the business alliance a reality. We incorporated the Mile High Business Alliance on August 1, 2007. Read on to learn more about the leaders and partners in the Business Alliance.
Directors
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Neil Strandberg grew up in Denver, leaving only briefly to attend Macalester College in St Paul, MN and work a year's stint as a bookseller in Marin County, CA. He returned to Denver in 1989 and has since been a member of the Tattered Cover Book Store where he currently serves as manager of operations. Neil is active in the bookselling community and works with colleagues and organizations around the country to support independent book retailing. In 2007 he received the Gordon Saul Bookseller of the Year Award from the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Neil and his wife Suzanne live in Centennial with their two young children, Elin and Wilhelm. |
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Sarah is an Associate Publisher of the ReDirect Guide. A local Tetris champion, Sarah adds her commitment to sustainability and nifty fashion sense to the Alliance. |
 Tim
Martinez, TreasurerTim currently works in the Office of Economic Development for the City and County of Denver. This role involves the management and creation of programs designed to assist Denver businesses to grow and add jobs to the economy. Previously Tim was the Director of Business Development for the Colorado Credit Union League, District Manager for MEMBER Financial Services and the Executive Director of the US/Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Tim holds a Masters Degree from the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) with an emphasis on development in Latin America and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. Tim is a fourth generation Coloradan. He grew up in Arvada, has been married for 12 years and spends most of his time with his 3 sons aged 5, 7, and 8 as a soccer coach and skateboarding apprentice. He releases stress playing competitive soccer and riding his mountain bike. Tim currently lives in Lakewood, Colorado. |
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Arthur Brock,
Co-Founder |
Staff
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With passion for community building and local business, Mickki brings her many years of broad experience to the day-to-day development and management of the Mile High Business Alliance. Starting her career as a dishwasher and janitor, her work has also included property management and leasing, web site development, bookkeeping, sales and marketing, and various positions in the restaurant industry. Her strangest work includes being a school bus driver, lunch lady and kindergarten teacher. She has over nine years experience working with non-profits; first as a volunteer with organizations such as Colorado Youth at Risk, then as a Program Director for the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation. A social entrepreneur, she co-founded Targeted Currencies Network, LLC in 2004. The focus of TCN is leveraging trust and information systems for community building and economic development. This work has prepared her to design programs for MHBA that bring businesses together to strengthen our experience of community. When she's not working to build stronger communities, Mickki marvels at the worms in her large garden and dances with bees. She wishes she could practice yoga more often, and is grateful for the many amazing friends and co-conspirators in her life. |
 Sarah Marden, Membership CoordinatorOriginally from Massachusetts, Sarah graduated from the Governor’s Academy of Byfield, MA in 1999. After a few years of travelling, she settled in Durango, CO where she studied Sociology and Political Science at Fort Lewis College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities in 2005. Having just recently moved north, Sarah is excited to get to know and become involved in the Denver community. Sarah joined the MHBA in January as a Membership Coordinator. |
We are a member of the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), a network of over 50 networks dedicated to nourishing a local economy.
Find out more about the businesses and organizations we're partnering with to build the Mile High Business Alliance.
