CWCC Names Former State Representative Shannon Bird as 2026 Advocacy Award Honoree

Join us in Recognizing Legislative Leadership

The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) is proud to announce former Colorado State Representative Shannon Bird as the recipient of the 2026 Advocacy Award, recognizing her exceptional legislative leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing women in business across Colorado. Bird will be honored at the 2026 State of Women in Business Luncheon on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

This prestigious award celebrates champions who drive meaningful policy change—and Bird’s legislative record demonstrates the powerful role advocacy plays in strengthening economic opportunity, reducing workforce barriers, and supporting women-owned businesses statewide.

Policy Leadership That Delivered Real Results

Throughout her time in the Colorado General Assembly, Bird advanced policies that provided practical solutions for businesses and working families. Her work has helped reshape Colorado’s business landscape, particularly for women entrepreneurs and professionals navigating evolving workforce challenges.

• Small Business Recovery Loan Program
  As co-sponsor of this critical COVID-19 relief legislation, Bird helped create a $250 million loan program that filled gaps left by federal PPP lending. The initiative supported businesses with 5–100 employees, many of which were women-owned and minority-owned companies without established banking relationships, providing essential capital during an unprecedented crisis.
• Innovative Industries Workforce Development Grant
  Bird created this grant program to help Colorado employers build strong talent pipelines while supporting workers—especially women—in gaining skills needed for higher-paying roles in growing industries. The program has helped businesses compete for talent while expanding opportunities for women across the state.
• Credentialing and Licensing Reform
  Recognizing the barriers many professionals face when entering or reentering the workforce, Bird championed legislation to streamline credentialing requirements across multiple industries. Her work reduced bureaucratic hurdles and financial burdens, enabling professionals—from electricians to midwives—to begin working sooner and more affordably.
• Small Business Fee Reduction
  Bird also advocated for lowering fees that impact small business owners, reducing operational costs, and helping make entrepreneurship more accessible for women launching or growing businesses.

Leadership in Colorado’s Fiscal Policy

Bird’s influence extended beyond individual bills. As Chair of the House Finance Committee, Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, she helped shape Colorado’s tax policies, budget priorities, and economic strategies—ensuring women business owners and professionals were considered in decisions that impact the state’s economy.

Her work reflects CWCC’s core policy pillars: Access to Opportunity, Affordability, and Workforce Equity—values that remain essential as Colorado works to retain talent and build an inclusive economy.

Join Us During Women’s History Month to Celebrate!

CWCC members, business leaders, and community partners are invited to celebrate Shannon Bird’s legacy of advocacy and policy impact at the 2026 State of Women in Business Luncheon:

CWCC State of Women in Business Luncheon, presented by HCA HealthONE
Thursday, March 5, 2026
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Seawell Ballroom, Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Moving Beyond Business As Usual
In 2025, women left the workforce in record numbers. Burnout, lack of flexibility, caregiving responsibilities, and the erosion of inclusive practices are no longer just workforce challenges—they are business risks that directly impact Colorado’s economic competitiveness. Held during Women’s History Month, the State of Women in Business: Moving Beyond Business as Usual Luncheon brings together Colorado’s business leaders, policymakers, and advocates to confront this moment and focus on what works.

Featuring:

• State of Women in Business Address by Simone D. Ross, CEO of the CWCC
• Local Leaders Panel Discussion Colorado business leaders discuss what’s driving talent loss and what’s working
• CWCC Chamber Champion Award, Maureen McDonald
  Recognizing Maureen McDonald and her dedication to promoting the mission of the CWCC
• CWCC Advocacy Award, Shannon Bird
  Recognizing Shannon Bird and her commitment to advancing equitable initiatives and policy

More About Former Rep. Bird

A Commitment Rooted in Lived Experience

Raised by a single mother and grandmother in Reno, Nevada, Bird learned early about the realities many families face and the importance of creating pathways to economic stability. After moving to Colorado to study economics at CU Boulder, she went on to earn graduate degrees in finance and business administration from CU Denver and a law degree from the University of Denver.

Her professional experience in public finance and law, combined with her community leadership—including volunteering in schools and co-founding an organization dedicated to educational equity—shaped her approach to public service. Bird served in the Colorado House from 2019 to 2026, where she championed policies supporting small businesses, workforce equity, and economic growth.

Join us! Learn more: www.cwcc.org/state-of-women-in-business

About the CWCC
The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce cultivates a business community that is more inclusive of and empowering for women in Colorado. With programs designed to support leadership advancement, community connections, access to resources and advocacy, CWCC is driving work that works for all. Learn more at www.cwcc.org.