Grand Junction, Colorado (March 20, 2024) —

The Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) is pleased to announce that Kurtis Minder, CEO & Co-Founder of GroupSense, will be this year’s keynote speaker for the highly anticipated 2024 Western Colorado Economic Summit. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th at Colorado Mesa University.  

 Kurtis Minder has built a robust cyber reconnaissance operation protecting some of the largest enterprises and government organizations. His company, GroupSense, is a leading provider of digital risk solutions. Minder has successfully navigated and negotiated some of the largest ransomware, breach, and data extortion cases worldwide. With over 20 years in the information security industry, Minder will bring a unique blend of technical, sales, and executive leadership experience to his keynote presentation.  

In an era where cyber-attacks pose a formidable threat to our global economy, Minder’s keynote will shed light on cybersecurity’s pivotal role in safeguarding both overarching economic interests and the operational integrity of individual entities. In his keynote presentation, Minder will address the unique role of cybersecurity, leadership essentials, and why a Tech Hub in Mesa County is crucial to hardening our critical infrastructure through cyber protection. 

“The economic impact of cyber-attacks is escalating. The larger public needs to be better informed on how to protect themselves. Further, these attacks are impacting critical infrastructure. I am honored to take the stage and discuss how the Western Slope and the Grand Junction community can make a difference,” stated Kurtis Minder.  

Kurtis Minder is known for leading conversations about digital protection and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Fortune, CNN, and BBC. In 2023, Minder partnered with a local cohort, including the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and Colorado Mesa University, to apply to the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the Tech Hubs Program as part of the CHIPS and Science Act. While this application did not receive tech hub designation for the Grand Junction area, its work uncovered the need to protect critical infrastructure, such as the Colorado River, through cybersecurity measures, a vision this local cohort intends to continue pursuing.  

“We are honored to have Kurtis Minder speak at this year’s Western Colorado Economic Summit. His unparalleled expertise and visionary leadership will be invaluable in informing our community on the importance of cybersecurity and ways leaders can protect their organization from potential threats,” stated Curtis Englehart, Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership.  

The 2024 WCES will also feature a breakfast keynote presentation from Dr. Nathan Perry, an Economics Professor at Colorado Mesa University, sharing a comprehensive look at Mesa County’s economic landscape. The agenda will include conversations with our community’s civic leadership, discussions on the future of education and workforce development, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and more.   

The Grand Junction Economic Partnership will also provide its annual update detailing the organization’s economic impact, recent wins for our community through business relocations or expansions, and upcoming goals. Englehart shared, “2023 was a record year for the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. We are very eager to share our year-end numbers with the community as we look to build on that success for 2024.” 

The Western Colorado Economic Summit is made possible through the support of its sponsors, including Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties and Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties, Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, FCI Constructors, Colorado Mesa University, and Conquest Development.  

Tickets and sponsored tables are now on sale. Please visit www.gjep.org/wces for more information on this year’s Western Colorado Economic Summit.