Our Mission

Crowd of people attending an outdoor event or festival in a city with trees and buildings, under a colorful striped canopy.

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.

A digital illustration of a segment of the map of the Americas in a shade of teal blue.
A group of diverse people sitting in a semi-circle during a meeting or discussion, with notebooks, drinks, and papers on their tables, in a modern room with yellow walls and plants.

Our Values

Inclusive and diverse communities 

Collaboration through curious leadership

Cultural empathy and global experiences

Appreciation for people and planet

Meet the Team

  • FloraJane DiRienzo. Portrait of a woman with straight black hair, wearing a colorful striped top, smiling softly against a warm brown background.

    FloraJane DiRienzo

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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  • Mariana Diniz Esteves. A woman with long dark hair and a black top, smiling and resting her head on her hand against a plain white background.

    Mariana Diniz Esteves

    DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

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  • Sarah Vinton. A smiling young woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, standing outdoors with a blurred green and yellow background.

    Sarah Vinton

    DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

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  • Kimberlee Ward. A young woman with styled dreadlocks, wearing a sleeveless tan top, smiling at the camera, with a blurred logo or artwork in the background.

    Kimberlee Ward

    GRANTS & IMPACT SPECIALIST

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  • Apple. Person with short brown hair, light skin, and blue eyes wearing a matching lime green jacket and top, standing against a lime green background.

    APPLE

    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

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  • Grace Fries. Portrait of a young woman with brown hair, wearing a light blue striped shirt and jewelry, standing against a plain white wall.

    Grace Fries

    CONTENT & STORYTELLING COORDINATOR

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  • Juan Felipe Pinto Castelblanco. A young man with dark hair and a slight smile, wearing a gray sweater, standing against a plain white wall.

    Juan Felipe Pinto Castelblanco

    YOUTH CONGRESS MANAGER (COLOMBIA)

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Board of Directors

  • Maria Garcia Berry‎ | ‎Board Chair

    Chief Executive Officer | CRL Associates

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  • Mike Fries. A smiling man in a dark pinstripe suit, light blue dress shirt, and light blue tie, standing against a blue background.

    Mike Fries | Honorary Chair

    President/CEO | Liberty Global

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  • Mike Johnston. A smiling man in a navy suit and red striped tie standing outdoors in front of a building with his arms crossed.

    Mike Johnston | Honorary Chair

    Mayor | City and County of Denver

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  • Mark Falcone. A middle-aged man with glasses and gray hair, wearing a blue suit and shirt, posing for a professional headshot against a blurred brown background.

    Mark Falcone |‎ Vice Chair

    Founder | Continuum Partners

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  • Piero Bonadeo. A man with glasses and curly hair smiling outdoors among green tropical plants.

    Piero Bonadeo | Board Secretary

    International Advisory Consultant

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  • Laura Aldrete. A portrait of a mature woman with short gray hair, wearing a light pink top, pearl necklace, and pearl earrings, smiling softly against a plain background.

    Laura Aldrete

    Regional Director | Urban Solutions USA

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  • Jacqueline Bove. A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a dark top, a colorful patterned scarf, a necklace with a pendant, and earrings, standing outdoors with blurred autumn trees in the background.

    Jacqueline Bove

    Managing Director | CoBank Project Finance Banking Division

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  • Mike Coakley. A man with a beard and short hair smiling, wearing a suit and a patterned tie, in an indoor office environment with blurred background.

    Mike Coakley

    Vice President, Head of Communications│Liberty Latin America

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  • Kerri Conway. A smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, wearing large earrings and a patterned top, outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Kerri Conway

    Special Advisor to the Chancellor and Director of International Agriculture | CSU Spur Campus

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  • Tyler Coombe. Headshot of a man with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard, wearing a dark blazer and a light blue collared shirt against a plain dark background.

    Tyler Coombe

    Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig LLP

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  • Mizraim Cordero. Portrait of a smiling man wearing glasses, a dark blue suit, a light blue tie with red polka dots, and a white shirt, with a green leafy plant and wooden wall in the background.

    Mizraim Cordero

    Director, State and Local Government Affairs, Mountain Region | United Airlines

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  • Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas. A woman with curly dark hair and glasses standing in front of a red brick wall, wearing a patterned shirt.

    Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas

    Curator

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  • Andrea Lovelady. Portrait of a smiling woman with short brown hair, wearing a bright pink blazer, black beaded necklace, and patterned top against a light background.

    Andrea Lovelady

    Denver Office Managing Partner | EY

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  • Cristal Torres DeHerrera. A woman with black hair smiling, wearing a shiny satin blazer and star-shaped earrings, against a dark gray background.

    Cristal Torres DeHerrera

    Chief Operating Office | Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

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  • Rhys Duggan. A middle-aged man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a dark blazer, standing in front of a gray textured background.

    Rhys Duggan

    President, CEO, & Managing Partner | Revesco Properties

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  • Stephanie Garnica. A woman with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a friendly smile, wearing a black cardigan over a blue and white patterned blouse, against a dark blue background.

    Stephanie Garnica

    Director of Global Business Development | Denver's Economic Development & Opportunity Office

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  • Neelima Joshi. Close-up of a woman with long brown hair, smiling, sitting in a stadium with empty blue seats in the background.

    Neelima Joshi

    Entrepreneur, Community Leader, Curator, Philanthropist

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  • Adeeb Khan. Portrait of a smiling man with dark hair and beard, wearing a blue suit jacket and white shirt, outdoors with greenery in the background.

    Adeeb Khan

    Executive Director | Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO)

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  • Esther Lee Leach. A woman with short, curly black hair and bright red lipstick smiling outdoors on a sunny day, wearing a black textured jacket with decorative buttons.

    Esther Lee Leach

    Senior Advisor, Community Partnerships | The Office of The Mayor, City & County of Denver

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  • Flavia Light. A woman with long dark hair smiling, wearing a purple top, a necklace, and a watch, standing against a plain background.

    Flavia Light

    Vice President of Tourism│Visit Denver

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  • Marcela de la Mar. A woman with light brown hair smiling, wearing a royal blue dress, gold hoop earrings, and a gold necklace with an oval pendant, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Marcela de la Mar

    Chairwoman | Mexican Cultural Center

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  • Danielle Oliveto. A woman with long brown hair, smiling, wearing a black turtleneck and gold hoop earrings, with a partially visible red, white, and blue background.

    Danielle Oliveto

    Deputy Chief of Staff | Office of the Governor

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  • Juan Padro. A man with short dark hair and wearing a navy blazer and a white shirt with small dots, sitting indoors near a window with blurred buildings outside, looking at the camera.

    Juan Padro

    CEO | The Culinary Creative Group

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  • Bill Peffer. Businessman wearing a dark suit and tie, smiling, standing near a window with tall buildings outside.

    Bill Peffer

    Attorney - Equity Member | Sherman & Howard LLC

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  • Nico Probst. A man smiling in a formal suit with a white shirt, standing outdoors in wintertime with snow on trees in the background.

    Nico Probst

    Regional Public Policy Lead | Amazon

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  • Jenn Ridder. A smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a white sleeveless top, standing outdoors.

    Jenn Ridder

    Chief of Staff | Mayor Mike Johnston

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  • Suzanne Schoettger. A woman with long, blonde hair smiling at the camera against a plain white background.

    Suzanne Schoettger

    Managing Director, Chief of Staff | Office of the CEO - Liberty Global

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  • Alicia "Bruce" Trujillo. A woman with curly brown hair, tattoos on her arms, wearing a white shirt with black patterns and red lipstick, sitting on a beige armchair, smiling in a room with a blue wall and chalk writing.

    Alicia "Bruce" Trujillo

    Founder | Manos Sagrados

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  • Jamie Van Leeuwen. A man with short blonde hair, glasses, and a white shirt standing with arms crossed in front of an orange wall.

    Jamie Van Leeuwen

    CEO | Global Livingston Institute

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Americas Members

  • Senator John Hickenlooper. A smiling middle-aged man with short light brown hair wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, and patterned tie. He is standing outdoors with trees and a building in the background.

    Senator John Hickenlooper

    U.S. Senator (D-CO)

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  • Adam Lerner. A bald man with glasses, smiling, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, standing in front of a gray brick wall.

    Adam Lerner

    JoAnn McGrath Executive Director | CEO of the Palm Springs Art Museum

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  • Erin Trapp. A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing glasses, smiling, outdoors with a blurred background.

    Erin Trapp

    Deputy Executive Director, Major Events and Strategy | Los Angeles World Airports

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  • Yolánda Chase. A woman with medium-dark skin, wavy black hair, and a confident expression, wearing a dark blue top and a multicolored chunky necklace.

    Yolánda Chase

    Founder and CEO | The Diversity Way-Maker™

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An outdoor music performance at dusk with an audience seated in front of a small stage, city skyline with tall buildings in the background, string lights hanging over the stage, and a band performing.

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.