Meet Kat Correll | Resource Choreographer + Community Catalyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kat Correll and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kat, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As a state-wide association supporting downtowns, our business helps communities be better environments for people, businesses, and fun. Downtowns are the heart of the community and intersection of the ideas people share and roads people travel. Downtown Colorado, Inc, fosters a fertile climate for public-private partnership by diving into the goals of different parties in enhancing quality of life and a sense of place. As the public sector removes unnecessary restrictions, they are able to create an invitation to entrepreneurs to solve community challenges. This creates pathways for entrepreneurship and relieves the pressure on the public sector to be everything to everyone.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My talents are in choreographing goals and resources for communities. My current role is working to establish public-private partnerships that often link creative solutions to address the needs of a community. I feel very blessed to have found this role, and each step from education to different jobs, has been just the support and training I needed to get here. Before this role, I worked internationally doing something very similar. Eventually, I decided I should return to my home state of Colorado and try to build stronger community rather than working abroad. It required a reinvention and redirect, lots of learning, but I found the same skills and talents were needed here.

I have learned that I am able to understand, connect, and magnify the work that others are doing. Often times, people and projects just need to find the right connections and champions to find success. I am a connector, a head hunter, a cheer leader, a partner, a fund finder, and more.

I would like the world to know that it is okay to be a generalist, it is important to be able to connect silos and bridge differences, and often that can only be done by someone who can see a creative new vision for the same old things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I generally guide people for things to do in both Denver and Colorado. When people come to visit, I like to say there are things for an hour, a half day, a full day, weekend, or a week. In Denver, I like Broadway from 6th to just past Alameda. There is a diversity of restaurants with an international array of choices, live music, bowling, movies, dancing and more. For a half day trip, I recommend Garden of the Gods with lunch in Old Colorado City and some fun walking in historic Manitou Springs. Or a trip to Idaho Springs for river rafting, mountain biking, or a walk through the historic downtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to send a shout out to Heather Garbo. She was a partner supporting me and Downtown Colorado, Inc. She ensures a focus on excellence and is a staunch believer in community and downtowns.

Instagram: @ladykco

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-correll-59a0902/