Idaho Springs Woman Named Next President of Colorado Forum

The parking lot outside the Clear Creek County courthouse is quiet on a Tuesday morning. Kelly Flenniken stands by her car, keys in hand, looking out toward the foothills that frame Idaho Springs. She’s 47, a Colorado native who has spent her career in the trenches of local government and nonprofit leadership. But starting November 2, she won’t just be working on the ground; she’ll be steering one of the state’s most influential civic organizations from a desk in Denver.

Flenniken, who currently leads Colorado Counties Inc., was named the next president of the Colorado Forum on Tuesday. The announcement, reported by Colorado Sun publisher Larry Ryckman — a member of the Forum himself — marks a significant shift in leadership for a group that has shaped policy debates since the late 1970s. Flenniken was selected from a pool of more than 70 applicants to take over the reins from Gail Klapper, an 83-year-old civic icon who has led the organization since 1989.

The Forum is a peculiar beast in Colorado politics. Its membership is capped at 80, and it prides itself on a strict nonpartisan stance. To issue a position on any public policy issue, the group requires 100% consensus among its members. It’s a high bar. It means the Forum rarely speaks, but when it does, its voice carries significant weight with legislators and business leaders alike.

Flenniken sees the move as a natural evolution of her career. She told Colorado Sun that her passion has always been about working collaboratively in all four corners of the state to deliver impactful solutions. “The mission of the Forum is so closely connected to my career,” she said. Her current role with Colorado Counties Inc. supports local officials in all 64 counties, a mission she describes as similar to the Forum’s but with “maybe just a slightly different partnership” because the Forum also pulls in business leaders.

Klapper, who announced her departure in June after 37 years, was clear about why she chose Flenniken. She didn’t just want a manager; she wanted a consensus builder. “She is a person who really enjoys other people,” Klapper said. “She’s easy to get along with... She doesn’t flout her own sentiments about issues.” Klapper noted that Flenniken checked every box the search committee had identified as critical for a successor.

The transition will be gradual. Flenniken officially assumes duties on Nov. 2, but Klapper will stay through the end of the year to help with the handoff. Flenniken, who lives outside Idaho Springs in Clear Creek County and earned her undergraduate degree at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, expressed a mix of humility and excitement about stepping into what she called “big shoes.”

For locals in the valley, this isn’t just a corporate board reshuffle. It’s a change in who gets to define the state’s policy direction during a period of intense debate over water, housing, and infrastructure. The Forum’s consensus model means its positions are often moderate, but they are also durable. By requiring unanimity, the group forces members to find common ground rather than lean on party lines.

Flenniken’s background suggests she’ll keep that model intact. She comes from a world where 64 different county governments have to work together, often with limited resources and competing interests. That experience is exactly what the Forum needs as it navigates the complex policy landscape of a growing state.

Back in Clear Creek County, Flenniken is already planning her first steps. She knows the weight of the role. She knows the history. And she knows that in a state as diverse and polarized as Colorado, finding 100% consensus is less about agreement on every detail and more about a shared commitment to getting it done. The parking lot is empty now, but the work ahead is just beginning.