There’s nothing like losing an effective leader to make an organization take stock of its future.

Kristi Pollard’s tenure as executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership now functions a prism for the board of directors who must replace her. Her accomplishments refract the skills and strengths that will be required for her successor to maintain the tremendous momentum she built over the past two and half years.

It’s a tall order, but made easier by the “healthy place” in which Pollard leaves the organization, GJEP board members told the Sentinel’s editorial board Friday. The fact that the Jefferson County Economic Development Corp. lured Pollard away with the proverbial offer she couldn’t refuse speaks volumes of the strong organization GJEP has become under her leadership.

Pollard racked up impressive wins for the community by knowing the “science” of economic development – aggregating the tools, statistics, systems and staff to showcase Mesa County’s business potential. But her biggest impact may have been as a broad collaborator who created buy-in for a community vision of prosperity.

Read more at The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.