Mid-Year Economic Forum Hero Image


BizWest’s Mid-Year Economic Forum will convene top business leaders, government officials, academicians and entrepreneurs to highlight innovations and changing economic dynamics in Northern Colorado. The forum will include in-depth conversations about the regional economy, including high-growth industries and the impact of higher education.


The forum will include interactive exhibits, insightful panel discussions, and distinguished speakers including representatives from Colorado State University, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College and Front Range Community College, along with elected officials and entrepreneurs.

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Colorado’s Economy

Phyllis Resnick round
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Phyllis Resnick
Executive director & lead economist
Colorado Futures Center
Dr. Phyllis Resnick will explore the state economic outlook informed by recent forecasts from the Colorado Future Center’s ColoradoCast model, what it means for the Northern Colorado economy, and what other Center models of disproportionately impacted communities and social factors affecting student success mean for future state and regional competitiveness. 

Reading the Market: What M&A and Capital Trends Signal for the Rest of 2026

Keynote Speaker:
Matt Rupprecht
Managing Director
PMCF

Matt Rupprecht will examine current M&A and capital market trends, how activity in the first half of the year has compared to expectations, and what transaction, financing, and investor dynamics may signal for the remainder of 2026. Drawing on both national and Rocky Mountain region perspectives, he will discuss the factors shaping business valuations, deal activity, and growth opportunities across the region.

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SPEAKERS

Kamel Haddad, Interim President, University of Northern Colorado
Ann Hutchison round

Ann Hutchison, President & CEO

Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research, Colorado State University
Rose Nash round
Rose Nash, founder & CEO, Biota
Larry Pakowski
Larry Pakowski, Vice President for Student Affairs, Aims Community College
Business Development Director, Colorado Quantum Incubator
Ken Reardon round
Associate Dean for Research, Colorado State University
Phyllis Resnick round
Executive Director & Lead Economist, Colorado Futures Center
Managing Director, PMCF
Justin Siebert, COO, Ursa Major Technologies Inc.
Colleen Simpson
Colleen Simpson, President, Front Range Community College
Ann Stevens, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Colorado Boulder
Richard Werner
Rich Werner, President & CEO, Upstate Colorado Economic Development

Event Agenda

7:30 a.m. Check-in

8 a.m. Registration, Interactive Exhibit Area, Networking and Continental Breakfast

9 a.m. Welcome Remarks

9:10 to 10 a.m. Segment II | The Future of Higher Education

10:05 to 10:55 a.m. Segment III | Economic Drivers – Fueling Entrepreneurship in Targeted Industries

10:55 to 11:05 a.m. Intermission

11:05 to 11:40 a.m. Segment II | The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Colorado’s Economy

11:40 a.m. 12:10 p.m. Segment IV | Reading the Market: What M&A and Capital Signal for the Rest of 2026

12:10 p.m. Closing Remarks

Event sponsorship, vendor booths and tickets are available.

For more information, contact your account executive or Jeff Nuttall, jnuttall@bizwest.com.

For program and panel information, contact Chris Wood, Publisher/Editor, cwood@bizwest.com.

Economic trends are shifting constantly in 2026, and the Mid-Year Economic Forum will provide critical updates on the state of the Northern Colorado economy, as well as deep dives into key industry sectors.

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Host Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Associate Sponsors

Alchemer