BEC starts search to replace Draper

BOULDER – Frances Draper is leaving the helm of the Boulder Economic Council for a key role at the University of Colorado at Boulder – she’ll be the associate vice chancellor for strategic relations.

Draper has served as executive director of the Boulder Economic Council since 2006, an arm of the Boulder Chamber. A search will begin immediately for her replacement, said Susan Graf, chamber president.

“We’re sad that she’s leaving, but grateful for what she has done in terms of leadership for the Boulder Economic Council,” Graf said. “We will begin our search, and we’re looking for someone who is the right fit.”

In her new job, Draper will manage university communications and government, community and business relations for the Boulder campus. She also will serve on the chancellor’s cabinet and provide advice to other university leaders. Draper is slated to start her new job on Monday, Feb. 14.

“I think the university is absolutely ground-zero for our economic engine in this town,” Draper said. “We have a fabulous university here, and we just need to create the alliances so that everybody realizes it.”

Draper will make $154,000 per year in the strategic relations job, said Bronson Hilliard, a CU spokesman. Her predecessor, Michael L. Warden, made $157,000. Warden left the post in December to serve in a similar capacity at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

“We’re very excited to have her on board,” Hilliard said of Draper. “For someone who knows the landscape with the business community and government relations … one thing we’re very pleased about is that she can hit the ground running.”

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