Our Mission
The mission of the Biennial of the Americas is to create connections, build community, and inspire change across the Americas through the transformative power of ideas and art. By curating innovative exhibitions, thought-provoking discussions, and collaborative initiatives, we aim to enrich the cultural landscape and promote a shared vision for a brighter future.
Our Values
Build City-to-City Connections
Feature and Promote Rising Leaders
Create Educational & Learning Opportunities
Amplify & Embrace Diverse Cultures
Meet the Team
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FloraJane DiRienzo
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Mariana Diniz Esteves
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
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Sarah Vinton
DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS
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Kimberlee Ward
GRANTS & IMPACT SPECIALIST
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APPLE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
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Grace Fries
CONTENT & STORYTELLING COORDINATOR
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Juan Felipe Pinto Castelblanco
YOUTH CONGRESS MANAGER (COLOMBIA)
Board of Directors
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Maria Garcia Berry | Board Chair
Chief Executive Officer | CRL Associates
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Mike Fries | Honorary Chair
President/CEO | Liberty Global
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Mike Johnston | Honorary Chair
Mayor | City and County of Denver
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Mark Falcone | Vice Chair
Founder | Continuum Partners
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Scott Hefner | Board Treasurer
Managing Partner | EY
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Piero Bonadeo | Board Secretary
International Advisory Consultant
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Andrea Albo
Deputy Chief of Staff | Denver International Airport (DEN)
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Laura Aldrete
Regional Director | Urban Solutions USA
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Jacqueline Bove
Managing Director | CoBank Project Finance Banking Division
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Mike Coakley
Vice President, Head of Communications│Liberty Latin America
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Kerri Conway
Special Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of International Agriculture | CSU Spur Campus
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Tyler Coombe
Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig LLP
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Mizraim Cordero
Director, State and Local Government Affairs, Mountain Region | United Airlines
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Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas
Curator
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Andrea Lovelady
Denver Office Managing Partner | EY
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Cristal Torres
DeHerrera Chief Operating Office | Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
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Rhys Duggan
President, CEO, & Managing Partner | Revesco Properties
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Stephanie Garnica
Director of Global Business Development | Denver's Economic Development & Opportunity Office
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Neelima Joshi
Entrepreneur, Community Leader, Curator, Philanthropist
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Adeeb Khan
Executive Director | Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)
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Esther Lee Leach
Senior Advisor, Community Partnerships | The Office of The Mayor, City & County of Denver
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Flavia Light
Vice President of Tourism│Visit Denver
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Marcela de la Mar
Chairwoman | Mexican Cultural Center
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Danielle Oliveto
Deputy Chief of Staff | Office of the Governor
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Juan Padro
CEO | The Culinary Creative Group
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Bill Peffer
Attorney - Equity Member | Sherman & Howard LLC
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Nico Probst
Regional Public Policy Lead | Amazon
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Jenn Ridder
Chief of Staff | Mayor Mike Johnston
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Suzanne Schoettger
Managing Director, Chief of Staff | Office of the CEO - Liberty Global
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Alicia "Bruce" Trujillo
Founder | Manos Sagrados
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Jamie Van Leeuwen
CEO | Global Livingston Institute
Americas Members
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Senator John Hickenlooper
U.S. Senator (D-CO)
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Adam Lerner
JoAnn McGrath Executive Director | CEO of the Palm Springs Art Museum
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Erin Trapp
Deputy Executive Director, Major Events and Strategy | Los Angeles World Airports
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Yolánda Chase
Founder and CEO | The Diversity Way-Maker™
The colorado Connection:
Unparalleled Location and Spirit
We are empowered by the uniqueness of our home in Denver, Colorado. The Colorado Rocky Mountains stand at the center of North America, connected to the American Cordillera mountain range, which reaches from the Gulf of Alaska, through the Canadian Rockies and the Andes, to the southernmost tip of Tierra del Fuego. At The Biennial of the Americas, we leverage Colorado’s collaborative and innovative environment to seek solutions to the complex problems facing our world.
Colorado is ideally suited for this kind of examination, with a tradition of rolling up our sleeves and overcoming differences to find common ground. In the state, people are welcomed and judged only by their ideas and their willingness to work hard, not by where they came from. This open and entrepreneurial spirit imbues the hands-on work we do during the Biennial and yields innovative ideas, investments and action.
Land Acknowledgement
The Biennial of the Americas acknowledges that we gather on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples who have cared for this continent for millennia, from the northern reaches of Canada and the Caribbean to the southern tip of Chile. We recognize the shared histories and connections that span the American Cordillera—the continuous chain of mountain ranges, including the Rockies and the Andes—that unite our diverse cultures across borders.
We honor the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and all Indigenous nations whose lands we are on today, as well as the many other Indigenous communities throughout the Americas. Their wisdom, resilience, and deep connection to the land continue to inspire and guide us.
As we come together to celebrate creativity and cultural exchange, we commit to amplifying Indigenous voices and respecting the rich cultural heritage that transcends borders across the Americas.
