Expert: Turbulent times, but ahead of the curve

Don Elliman Jr. isn’t a Pollyanna about the state’s economy.

“We’re clearly in a turbulent economic time,” said Elliman, director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for the past year. He will give a free lecture in Colorado Springs tonight.

But he said he believes Colorado is in better economic shape than many, if not most, other states.

“We’re a little ahead of the curve, and Colorado Springs mirrors the state,” he said in a phone interview Monday.

“The Colorado Springs economy is buoyed by a high-quality, educated work force and, like the state as a whole, has an economy grounded in small entrepreneurial companies. They’re more adaptable to changing times than larger companies, and that’s to our benefit.”

Elliman will discuss his views on “Economic Development for Colorado from a Global Perspective” today at Colorado College, as the third and final speaker in the Economics and Business Student Advisory Board Symposium on local and global perspectives on economic development.

Elliman retired in 2004 as president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises and oversaw the business of the Pepsi Center, the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche.

He worked at Time Warner for 32 years, retiring as an executive vice president of Time Inc. He had also been publisher of People Magazine and president of Sports Illustrated.

On the economic front, he advocates additional funding for state university systems, including the University of Colorado, and says the state’s transportation needs are evident by the congestion on major highways.

Overall, Elliman said, Colorado’s economic strengths outweigh its weaknesses.

“We still believe there will be at least some job growth in Colorado this year,” he said.

“It may not be as robust as last year, which was very strong, but every forecast I’ve seen calls for modest growth in the Colorado economy in jobs and gross domestic product.”

In his job, Elliman oversees domestic and international business development, smallbusiness programs, the Colorado Tourism Office and the Colorado Economic Development Commission.

The strength of the tourism sector is difficult to predict for this year, he said, but this winter has been strong.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0235 or debbie.kelley@gazette.com

- SPEAKER

Colorado College Economics and Business Student Advisory Board Symposium

Speaker: Don Elliman Jr. Topic: “Economic Development for Colorado from a Global Perspective”

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Where: Palmer Hall, 1025 N. Cascade Ave., third floor

Cost: Free, open to the public