Lower Downtown District, Inc.

Annie Warhover, DDPI President/CEO

Mar 27, 2000

A polished, successful professional who's anything but a pencil pusher?…
Annie Warhover, DDPI President/CEO
LDDI Personal Profile by Laurie Rachkus Uttich

Imagine the "typical" banker. Picture a person who's more focused on spreadsheets than vision statements?…who would rather spend time with a calculator than a committee?…who believes the bottom line and doubts talk of "possibilities."

Then take a look at Annie Warhover. Yes, she's a number cruncher - she was a banker for 15 years before becoming the Senior Director of Economic Services at the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) in 1992 - but she's also a passionate, well-spoken leader who sees people as the Partnership's greatest assets. Annie, who was promoted to President/CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership last year, believes "The main strength or our group is its staff and its board." The uniqueness of the Board, Annie says, is its commitment to Downtown. "Everyone on the board has there own personal interests and I'm always impressed at how they put that aside and use their expertise for the benefit of downtown." This focus and commitment to Downtown is crucial. In the last eight years that Annie has been with the Downtown Denver Partnership, she's seen activity in the area double. "Basically, there are twice as many pedestrians, fuller hotels, more residents, more sports fans, more people looking to be entertained?…and with that increase comes new challenges." One of these challenges is maintenance. "More people mean more trash," says Annie. "And as more people visit LoDo and Downtown, we're in greater need of developing a more comprehensive maintenance program?…because if it's dirty, people won't keep coming here." And keeping people coming is, perhaps, one of the main purposes of the Downtown Denver Partnership - and one reason why Annie works so closely with LDDI. "We share a lot of common goals with LDDI and we don't want to duplicate efforts," says Annie. "Working together to bring people to the are and improve it only strengthens both of our organizations."

What do you like best about Colorado?
There's a general openness about the area. People try more things and are more active. It motivates me to do thins that I probably wouldn't have done living somewhere else.

What kinds of things?
I play roller hockey with my kids and I'm very active. My weekends are full of bike rides and mountain hikes as well as watching the kids play sports.

What was the best movie you saw recently?
"American Beauty" was one. I kept wondering, how many people walked out of the theater wondering, "Is that us?"