2024 Speaker Lineup

Kourtny Garrett became President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership in January 2022, following nearly seven years as President and CEO of Downtown Dallas, Inc. With 25 years of experience advancing livable communities, she is recognized for building social, cultural, and economic vibrancy through inclusive, people-centered development. Guided by Jane Jacobs’ belief that cities thrive when created by everybody, Garrett has helped drive transformative change, including more than $11 billion in investment and the revival of over 40 vacant buildings in Downtown Dallas, alongside a decade-long effort that led to the district’s first public elementary school.

Originally from Colorado, Garrett’s impact extends nationally and internationally through her work with the International Downtown Association, Brookings Institution, and German Marshall Foundation. She is a Marshall Memorial Fellow and an honorary member of the Texas Society of Architects and AIA Dallas, with honors including Dallas-Fort Worth’s “500 Most Influential Business Leaders.” Locally, she serves on the boards of Visit Denver and CU Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning. Garrett holds a BA in Communications from Austin College, pursued graduate studies in Urban Affairs at UT Arlington, and studied abroad at the University of London while working with CNBC Europe.