Developer Ray Pittman, named 2010 Chair
Ray Pittman, founder and president of Pittman Development Group, Inc., a leading commercial development and investment company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has been named chair of the board of the Aurora Economic Development Council. He succeeds Jay Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., former vice chancellor for external affairs of the University of Colorado Denver and currently president of Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, who served as chair for 2009. Pittman will direct the board for a one-year term. This will be Pittman’s ninth year serving on the Aurora Economic Development Council board of directors. 

“In his tenure, Ray Pittman has been in the middle of some of Colorado’s most notable and prestigious developments and mixed-use projects,” stated Wendy Mitchell, president and CEO of the Aurora Economic Development Council. “Ray’s first-hand development expertise makes him an excellent selection to lead the Aurora Economic Development Council in 2010 as chair of the board.”


Ray Pittman, founder and president of Pittman Development Group, Inc., and Aurora Economic Development Council 2010 Chair

Buckley contributes more than $1 Billion to the economy for sixth straight year
Aurora's Buckley Air Force Base recently announced the base's economic impact for 2009 was $1.044 billion, according to Col. Clint Crosier, commander of the 460th Space Wing. In fact, Col. Crosier stated that continued growth at Buckley is certain in coming years with a new satellite system in the works. The base provides everything from services for military members and their families to superior global surveillance, worldwide missile warning and expeditionary forces for combatant commanders, and support to Homeland Defense missions. Buckley is home to 6,699 active military personnel, 5,399 contractors and civilians and 16,748 dependents (spouses and children that live on the base). This marks the sixth year in a row the base has surpassed the billion dollar mark. Buckley will also become the first site in the Air Force Space Command to install a major solar project. The base's new $7.3 million project will include more than 5,000 panels. Construction should be completed by May 2010.

National Space Symposium exhibition hall passes available
The 26th National Space Symposium, the largest gathering of space professionals in the world, is scheduled for April 12 - 15 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. As a member of the Colorado Space Coalition, the Colorado Space Business Roundtable, and as a leader in the advocacy of the aerospace and defense industry in the region, the Aurora Economic Development Council will be an active participant again this year. Aurora Economic Development Council board members are invited to be our guest at the symposium exhibition hall on Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14 to interact with more than 8,000 civil, commercial, and military leaders of the space industry to discuss critical issues affecting space exploration, space commerce and national security. Leonard Nimoy, who has inspired people around the world to explore the wonders of science, space, and technology through his television and motion picture portrayals of Star Trek's Mr. Spock, will be honored April 15 by the Space Foundation as the winner of the 2010 Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award. The award will be presented on the final evening of the 26th National Space Symposium at the Space Technology Hall of Fame Dinner, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, where Nimoy will also appear as the featured speaker.

To obtain an exhibition hall guest pass, e-mail info@auroraedc.com and submit your contact information.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction selected to build new APS high school
Adolfson & Peterson Construction was recently chosen as the general contractor for Aurora Public Schools’ new 216,000-square-foot high school that includes a “green roof,” which is partially covered with vegetation and soil. The yet to be named high school is located at 24500 6th Avenue and will be part of the new P-20 campus. The school will include state-of-the-art classrooms, two gyms, a theater, fitness and cardio rooms, three soccer fields, three baseball fields, and a football stadium. Adolfson & Peterson is targeting a LEED Certification for the project. The organization is one of the top 50 construction companies in the U.S, providing construction management, design/build and general contracting services to public and private clients. For more information on Adolfson & Peterson, visit www.a-p.com.


Rendering of the yet to be named new APS high school to be constructed by Adolfson and Peterson Construction.

Companies select Aurora
Virtuoso Sourcing Group, a business process outsourcing and debt collections company, selected Aurora for a new call center to be located at 3033 S. Parker Road. The company will hire 100 employees by the end of this year and anticipates building its workforce further in years to come. W.J. Whatley, a supplier of composite lighting poles and lamp posts, chose Aurora as the best location for its business. The company currently has 38 employees at its 3550 Odessa Way facility in Aurora and is hoping to expand. The Aurora Economic Development Council provided incentive assistance to both companies.