We are honored to welcome Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver, as this year’s Keynote Speaker.
A former educator, state senator, and now Mayor of Denver, Mike Johnston has earned national recognition for his ethical leadership and innovative responses to complex societal challenges — from homelessness and housing to human migration. With roots in Vail, Colorado, Johnston returns to the valley not just as a leader on the national stage, but as someone shaped by the very community hosting this year’s forum.

This year’s theme — Leading Ethically in an Age of Division — dares us to confront the paradoxes at the heart of democracy.

 When values collide, when truth itself is contested, and when political divides deepen, ethical leadership demands more than quiet consensus-building. It calls for the moral courage to face conflict without flinching, the compassion to truly hear those we oppose, and the integrity to hold fast to what is right — even when the cost is high.

At the heart of this year’s message are two simple truths: the highest form of leadership is bringing people together, and unity is not the absence of disagreement but the triumph of shared purpose over division.

In an age where democracy’s greatest strengths can also be its greatest vulnerabilities, we will explore how leaders can transform ethical challenges into the very fuel that propels us beyond polarization — toward a future where differences sharpen our vision rather than shatter our bonds.