FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 4, 2017 | Grand Junction, CO) – The Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) is pleased to announce that local resident Robin Brown has accepted the position of executive director effective December 11. Brown will replace Kristi Pollard, who stepped down in late October.

Brown is well-known in the community as the founder of Brownhouse PR and lifestyle publication Spoke+Blossom, as well as a weekly columnist for The Daily Sentinel. Previously, Brown led a major capital campaign for The Historic Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction. She is an active member of several boards, including the Colorado Mesa University President’s Advisory Board, Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority Board, Outdoor Recreation Coalition Board and Western Colorado Community Foundation Board. Brown is also an engaged U.S. Army veteran, who has had her personal story documented on film and in two nationally publicized books.

“We reviewed numerous highly qualified candidates during our national search for GJEP’s new executive director. What made Robin [Brown] stand out is not only her breadth of experience but her well-documented passion for this community and for its economic prosperity,” said Tim Fry, GJEP chair. “She also demonstrates a tenacity and an unequivocal ability to take a vision and bring it to life. We are thrilled to have her on board.”

In her new role, Brown will lead the overall economic development efforts for Colorado’s Grand Valley with the mission to increase capital investment and primary job opportunities in the region. She will be supported by GJEP’s existing three-person team, which includes Jennifer Seal, director of operations and investor affairs, and Cilia Kohn, director of marketing and communications. Steve Jozefczyk will assume a greater role moving forward, as GJEP’s new deputy director.

“Along with this new hire, we also wanted to recognize Steve [Jozefczyk] for his tremendous contribution to GJEP over the past three years,” said Fry. “Steve is on the front lines every day, encouraging businesses to relocate to the Grand Valley. We owe much of our current momentum to his hard work and to the dedication of the entire team.”

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