Barbara Grogan has been a role model for women in this community

“Holiday and Olivia followed Barbara’s lead and turned passion from a very personal experience to a philanthropic entity that creates innovative ways to support research and help others. Of her many accomplishments, Barbara is most proud of the philanthropic base she has laid for her family ”

Barbara Grogan has been a leader and role model for many women in this community. I have admired her driving passion, and I’m inspired by the extraordinary dedication she regularly shares with a variety of nonprofit organizations. Throughout her career, Barbara has led in industries where women’s voices were few. Barbara founded Western Industrial Contractors and served as the CEO and Chairman until selling in 2004. She was the first female Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch, as well as the first female Chairman of the Board of the Greater Denver Chamber of Commerce. She served on three publicly traded corporate Boards of Directors, and she also served on the Board of Directors of Winter Park Recreation Association, and the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., and the Committee for Economic Development in New York City. Barbara has been a trailblazer and has set a standard for being a strong and thoughtful leader. 

Barbara’s inspiration has always been her family and the sincere interest to pass down a passion for giving back. When Barbara established her DAF at The Denver Foundation, she shared the following sentiment, “I’ve seen money empower people. I’ve seen money destroy people. I want it to be a positive influence, to help my children and grandchildren learn the joy of giving. We have been very blessed, and we need to remember the saying, ‘to those whom much is given much is expected’.”