Governor John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper was sworn in as governor of Colorado on January 11, 2011, and was sworn in for his second term on January 13, 2015.

Hickenlooper began his career as a geologist and later opened a series of restaurants and brewpubs across the country, including the Wynkoop Brewing Co. in downtown Denver, which helped spark the revitalization of the city’s now-thriving Lower Downtown (“LoDo”) district.

He served as the mayor of Denver, Colorado, from 2003 to 2011. As mayor, he reduced the size of city government, streamlined services and introduced successful programs to reduce homelessness and promote sustainability.

Since taking the oath of office, Hickenlooper and his team have championed innovation, collaboration and efficiency, working to ensure that Colorado and its business-friendly climate is one of the most desirable places to live, work and play.

Under his leadership, the state legislature has passed five consecutive balanced budgets with bipartisan support, and his administration has tackled some of the state’s toughest challenges, through bold initiatives such as the Colorado Blueprint and the Colorado Innovation Network. These programs engage Coloradans to work together to help the state define and achieve its goals.

Hickenlooper graduated from Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in geology.