Commerce City announces new eco devo director

With input from local business and citizens, Commerce City has named Brittany Morris as the new director of economic development. Morris will join the city on Dec. 15 as a member of the city’s executive staff, according to City Manager Jerry Flannery.

"I was extremely pleased with the pool of applicants, and that we found the right person for this position," Flannery said. "I believe Brittany has the credentials to help the city establish a vision for economic development that will guide the city toward what we want to accomplish. My expectations, as well as those of the community and the City Council, are high and I am very confident that Brittany will exceed them."

"There were a number of qualified candidates, but it was a unanimous decision of the interviewing panels to choose Morris," Flannery said.

City planners are updating the comprehensive plan and Morris will play a key strategic role in this process. She will also be evaluating city assets such as the E-470/DIA corridor, Prairie Gateway area and the Mile High Racing Park. Other development projects include Derby revitalization, Ivy-K Shopping Center and the I-270 and Highway 85 redevelopment.

"I’m very excited to be a part of a city that is growing and becoming a major player in the Denver metropolitan area," Morris said. "Commerce City has come very far in just the past few years, I’m looking forward to the challenge in helping take the city to the next level."

Morris joins the city from CRL Associates, Inc., in Denver, where she was the senior vice president. CRL Associates is a political consulting and public affairs firm that represents major businesses and organizations including Cherokee Denver, Colorado Restaurant Association and Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association, Waste Management, Xcel Energy and Kroenke Sports Enterprises, to name a few.

"Brittany certainly will be missed here at CRL Associates," Maria Garcia Berry, CEO of CRL Associates, Inc., said. "All of us are so proud knowing that her strong skill set has launched her on an exciting new career path. We congratulate Commerce City for selecting her."

Morris is currently enrolled in the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s flagship Leadership Denver program for 2009. She also is the vice-chairperson for the Denver Women’s Commission, which advocates for equal opportunity for women and children at the state and local government level. Morris has a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado-Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado in Boulder.