Class I Briefs: BNSF, CPKC
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Accepting BNSF’s Partnership of the Year Award from the Economic Development Council of Colorado were Lindsay Van Meter BNSF Regional Manager, Economic Development; David Polzin BNSF Director, Economic Development; and Ryan Dwiggins, JLL Manager, Economic Development. (BNSF Photograph)
BNSF earns a partnership award from the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC). Also, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) names the CPKC Women’s Open as the LPGA tournament of the year for the second straight year.
BNSF
The EDCC last month presented its 2023 EDIE Awards, recognizing members, organizations, communities, companies, individuals and legislators for their outstanding achievements in economic development in the state of Colorado.
BNSF was one of 12 honorees. It received an Economic Development Partnership of the Year Award.
“The EDCC has recognized our integral role in marketing Colorado’s assets, support of economic development offices, investments in economic activities, expansion of rail infrastructure, service on the EDCC Board of Directors and membership committee, attendance at their annual conference, and support of the state’s economic development,” BNSF wrote in a Nov. 15 LinkedIn post. “We are honored to have received this award. Thank you to all the BNSF employees who have worked hard in and around the state of Colorado to help us to receive this honor.”
The other honorees were:
- Small Community of the Year: Town of Frederick
- Medium Community of the Year: Town of Windsor
- Large Community of the Year: City of Lakewood
- Legislator of the Year: Senator Janice Rich
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement Award: Senator Rachel Zenzinger
- Legislator Lifetime Achievement Award: Representative Shannon Bird
- Company of the Year: Greeley Hat Works
- Volunteer of the Year: Commissioner Tim Redmond
- Rookie of the Year: Beth Kremer, San Juan Development Association
- Chairman’s Choice Award: Bonnie Petersen, Retired, formerly with AGNC
- Economic Development Achievement Award: Stacy Brown, Town of Windsor
“The historic Avalon Theatre in downtown Grand Junction was the perfect place to honor this diverse and talented cast of contributors to Colorado’s economic development community,” said Drew Kramer, EDCC Board Chair and Economic Development Program Manager for Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. ”Each of the winners represents a key piece of the complex puzzle we must complete to ensure an economically viable future for Colorado—from large and small communities to national corporations and local businesses to elected officials and individual professionals and advocates.”
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
CPKC on Nov. 15 thanked the LPGA for honoring the railroad and Golf Canada by naming the CPKC Women’s Open as the LPGA tournament of the year for the second consecutive year.
“We are so proud to sponsor this event that raised nearly $3.5 million dollars for children’s cardiac care in British Columbia,” CPKC wrote in a LinkedIn post. “In our decade as the title sponsor of the CPKC Women’s Open, the tournament has raised nearly $20 million for children’s heart health. See you next year, July 22 to 28, at the Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary for the 50th year of the tournament!”
In a related development, CPKC last month reported signing a 10-year naming rights agreement with the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
