Last week, Douglas County EDC had the honor of joining more than 130 Colorado business and civic leaders in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the 2025 Denver Leadership Exchange (LEX). This high-level delegation, organized annually by the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, brings together leaders from across the state to learn, collaborate, and bring back global best practices to our communities.
Our time in Dublin was both inspiring and energizing. We were welcomed by Senator Mark Daly, toured Ireland’s Parliament, and met with leaders at the National College of Ireland and Dublin Town Hall. From sessions on innovation and finance to conversations about the future of work and learning, the agenda was packed with insights directly relevant to the opportunities we’re working on back home in Douglas County.
One of the highlights of the trip was hosting the official Community Dinner on behalf of Douglas County. This gathering gave us the chance to showcase our community to state leadership while deepening connections with global partners. The conversations reinforced that Douglas County’s strengths — from aerospace to advanced industries to a culture of collaboration — resonate far beyond Colorado.
What stood out most is that the challenges and opportunities we face in Douglas County — workforce, infrastructure, innovation, and sustainability — are shared globally. Seeing how Dublin has addressed these issues gave us new ideas and fresh energy to continue building a stronger, more resilient local economy.
We’re proud to have represented Douglas County on this international stage and look forward to bringing these insights home to benefit our community.