In the bustling landscape of Aurora’s business community, one leader stands out not just for her professional acumen but for a deeply personal commitment to inclusion. The president and CEO of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce brings a unique perspective to her role, one shaped by her mixed heritage and a life-long lesson in building community. Her journey, rooted in her Okinawan heritage, has made her a powerful catalyst for growth and representation in Aurora.

For years, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce has championed diversity and inclusion, a mission the executive director sees as fundamental to her work. This commitment is reflected not only in the Chamber’s goals but also in its very composition. She takes immense pride in her diverse team, which includes Asian Americans, South Asians, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans. Their collective backgrounds, she notes, have provided a greater understanding of different cultures, enriching the organization from within. This ethos extends to the community, where recent initiatives have made a tangible impact. A key project with Booz Allen Hamilton provided over 500 volunteer hours to six small, minority-owned businesses. The results were transformational, with one business reporting that the support helped it triple in size and prepare to hire new staff.

This professional drive is a direct reflection of her personal history. Her mother, who came from Okinawa, Japan, in 1968, created the Okinawan Ken Jin Kai in Colorado Springs. This group was more than just a cultural club; it was a way to create a family connection for Okinawans in a new country. Her mother would teach traditional cultural dances, and the twice-yearly parties became celebrations of hard work and dedication. 

Today, the CEO carries this philosophy with her every day. She understands the challenges of business owners who pour their hearts into their work, and her job, as she sees it, is to help them feel like they are part of a larger community and family. She is passionate about ensuring they have the support they need to succeed and gain visibility.

Colwell’s personal journey has given her an extraordinary ability to connect with people from all walks of life. She loves learning about people’s back- grounds and has a knack for finding common ground. One of her favorite parts of these conversations is the discovery of a shared Asian heritage, a bond that instantly strengthens the connection.

She notes that throughout her life, people often assume she is Hispanic, an experience she embraces as it allows her to fit into and work with a multitude of communities. This ability to bridge cultural divides is a significant advantage in her role. The Chamber’s key partnerships, like its collaboration with the Havana Business District and the Community College of Aurora, are a testament to this, bringing together diverse groups to support students and entrepreneurs.

Looking to the future, her priorities are clear: grow the Chamber’s membership and represent as many businesses as possible. More than anything, she wants to be a mentor and a resource for the next generation of AAPI leaders and entrepreneurs. She hopes they see her as someone they can talk to and walk with, happy to introduce them to her network and be a catalyst for their growth. She believes that while all leadership is important, being a representative of a specific culture provides a unique opportunity to educate and learn from others. Her leadership is not just about helping businesses prosper—it’s about building a connected, supportive, and inclusive community, one personal connection at a time.