Draper chosen to direct Boulder Economic Council

BOULDER – Frances Draper, a veteran banker and marketer, has been hired to head the Boulder Economic Council.

Draper has extensive experience in marketing, finance and operations. After 14 years in banking in Denver as a senior executive, where she was also on the board of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Draper joined Boulder-based GE Access (now Access Distribution in Westminster) as a vice president first in financing and later in marketing/relationship management.

Draper, 50, said after 25 years working in “corporate America” she gave herself a “sabbatical” to think about how to combine her business background with something more community oriented.

Directing the economic council fits that bill. “I got a call and thought this might just be it,” she said. “I think it’s a place where I can bring all those things together.”

Draper replaces Sean Maher, who headed the economic council for the past 2 1/2 years and announced his intention to resign in the spring to pursue new business ventures.

Maher had been working closely with Boulder City Manager Frank Bruno on economic development under a contract that expires at the end of this year. Under the contract, Maher completed a business retention package and a survey of primary employers to determine strengths and opportunities in the Boulder business environment, and created a program to establish regular visits to employers on behalf of the city and business community.

Draper said it’s likely that “cozy” relationship will continue, but she didn’t know the exact details, yet.
She’s also working out of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce office, unlike Maher who used city offices in order to have greater access to city staff.

“The city actually needs that space, and I’d rather be at the chamber anyway since I can get to know the people and the resources and let them get to know me,” Draper said.

Draper did not know her budget yet – which is funded by memberships, Boulder County economic development funds and city of Boulder funds – and would not disclose her salary.

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