Ritter taps ex-magazine publisher for development job; Don Elliman also ran Kroenke Sports

BYLINE: James Paton, Rocky Mountain News

Don Elliman, the former president of Kroenke Sports and publisher of People magazine, has been tapped by Gov. Bill Ritter to serve as the state's economic development director.

With the move, Colorado's new governor has completed his Cabinet.

Elliman, 62, said friends encouraged him to throw his hat into the ring. "The governor ran on a centrist platform which I believe in," Elliman said in a telephone interview Monday. "I think he has a chance to get a lot of things done, and I came to the conclusion I'd like to be a part of it."

Ritter has highlighted economic development, renewable energy and education among his top priorities.

Creating jobs - luring new companies and getting current ones to expand - is a big part of the job. But John Dill, who played the role from 1995 to 1998, said it's more complex.

"It involves transportation and education and other issues, which make up the entire the ball of wax," Dill said.

Elliman explained that the job "wasn't something I thought I would be able to do" but that he gradually warmed to the idea of overseeing the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, a position previously held by Brian Vogt.

"The governor is a very persuasive person," Elliman added.

Elliman in 2004 retired from his position running Stan Kroenke's company, which owns the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Avalanche and Pepsi Center, among other entities.

Since then the veteran publishing executive has kept busy working on about a dozen boards of directors.

He is the past chairman of the board of Children's Hospital in Denver and has served on the boards of the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver, Colorado Public Radio and the Gates Family Foundation.

Elliman, publisher of People for a few years in the mid-1980s and later publisher of Sports Illustrated, said he will step down from most of the board spots before starting the new job in March. Stewart Bliss will stay as interim director until then.