Metro Denver’s businesses are filled with extraordinary community-minded people, including this year’s Chamber Champions. These individuals are continuously involved in Chamber activities and leadership roles – and they go above and beyond to make the Chamber, the business community and the metro area stronger. Take a closer look at the Chamber Champions and get to know them. Congratulations to Andrés Chaparro, Laura Olmedo, Veronica Regan and Adeeb Khan.
Fall 2018 Chamber Champ Andrés Chaparro has been a steward of the community. In his former role as president of Telemundo Denver, Chaparro helped the 
Chamber raise awareness about the prescription savings offered by the Colorado Drug Card – a free pharmacy discount program. And, he helped foster a number of educational events for Chamber members. “Andrés has a passion and drive to unite people and communities – and he has done that at the Chamber, too,” said Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kelly Brough.
Winter 2018 Chamber Champ Laura Olmedo, financial advisor for New York Life Insurance 
through 5 Peaks Capital Group, knows small businesses are key to our region’s success. She works to engage hers with others at the Chamber through Leads Groups, Your Conversation With, Gold Member Alliance Program (GMAP) and the Ambassador Program.
“If you want to be more involved in your community, focus on what you’re passionate about first,” Olmedo said. In addition to her passion for small business, that means helping the youth succeed. She mentors high school students through college and scholarship applications through the Denver Stapleton Rotary Club in addition to serving as the organization’s membership chair and president-elect.
Olmedo entered the financial services industry with her very first job: working in the mailroom at MetLife in Denver. It taught her to “always be curious and ask questions.” This skill is instrumental in helping her clients achieve their goals today, she said. Olmedo is “excited to be in the financial services industry in Colorado’s growing business community to help entrepreneurs take control of their businesses.”
Spring 2019 Chamber Champ Veronica Regan, vice president of commercial banking and 
relationship manager at BOK Financial, has always had a service mindset. It goes back to her first job as a babysitter. She would clean her client’s house without being asked – going the extra mile always made the difference.
“You need to be engaged and have a service mindset. Helping others will yield long-term benefits for yourself,” Regan said.
Today, Regan serves on several boards including the Adams County Food Bank and Spark the Change Colorado. At the Chamber, she has engages with Leads Groups and has judged the Chamber’s Business Awards over the last four years. For Regan, whether in work or the community, it all comes down to people.
And it’s easy to do business here in Colorado because people are “friendly and looking for ways to collaborate with each other,” Regan said. When the community is great to work with, going above and beyond is easy.
Summer 2019 Chamber Champ Adeeb Khan, director of corporate social responsibility for 
TIAA, has always had a customer-first mentality instilled from observing his parents, Pakistani immigrants, work in the hospitality industry.
“From a young age I took pride in always leaving the customer happy and feeling welcomed. I strive to make each touch point as meaningful as possible and creating authentic bonds with many colleagues around the community,” Khan said.
He spent 10 years in the nonprofit sector before joining TIAA, where he coordinates over 75 volunteer events a year. He helped to stir collaborative efforts between the Chamber, Leadership Foundation and its new partner, B:CIVIC, including the launch of the first-ever Good Business report that featured giving and volunteering trends among Colorado businesses.
For Khan, in the community it’s about quality, not quantity.
“Find the right fit and stay committed,” he said. “Building a long-term relationship with one organization is better than spreading yourself out too thin.” He’s built those long-term relationships serving on the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s board and sharing his expertise and thoughtful leadership.
To our Chamber Champs, we thank you for your work — you make a difference to the Chamber and our community.
Join us in celebrating this year’s Chamber Champs at our 2019 Annual Meeting on Sept. 5.
Natalie Allen is the customer service coordinator for the Denver Metro Chamber.