Colorado Competitive Council (C3) announces director

The Colorado Competitive Council (C3) announced Sara Cassidy as the director of the statewide business advocacy organization on September 8, 2010.

Cassidy takes the helm of the five-year-old organization, which is focused on enhancing and protecting Colorado's top 11 industry clusters and the state's overall business climate.

The Colorado Competitive Council (C3) was created as a statewide lobbying affiliate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2006. The organization will remain housed at the Denver Metro Chamber, but has its own investors and decision-making body.

Prior to taking on this role, Cassidy served as the director of public affairs for the Chamber for 10 years. Early in her career, she worked in Washington, D.C., serving on the staff of United States Senator Wayne Allard and Congressman Bob Schaffer. Cassidy also served on the Edgewater City Council.

"The Colorado Competitive Council (C3) has grown over the past five years, both in membership and in its presence and strength at the capitol," said Perry Pearce, chairman of C3. "Bringing Sara on board to manage the organization - with her history, knowledge and expertise of the issues - will be of great value to the state's business community."

The Colorado Competitive Council (C3) is made up of 28 investors and a steering committee of 50 chambers of commerce and trade associations from all across the state.  The organization is unique in that model and its industry cluster focus.

"C3 has provided great leadership on key business issues that have statewide impact," said Diane Schwenke, president and CEO of the Greater Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the C3 Steering Committee. "Having Sara in this new role will ensure that legacy of strength continues, which is critical in these challenging economic times."

"As businesses of all size, in every corner of our state, lead the way toward economic recovery and job creation, it is imperative that C3 actively pursues - and defends - public policy that supports a healthy business climate," Cassidy said. "It is an honor to join C3 to represent its investors and steering committee members in industry clusters that are critical to Colorado's success."