Team

Dennis Houston is the CEO of the Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. Windsor is one of the fastest growing communities in the state of Colorado. Dennis is recognized as an innovative leader and change agent who impacts communities that he serves. His strong work ethic was honed during his first jobs as a kid working on farms in western Iowa. He believes that you should zig when everyone zags. He believes that every community and organization must be future ready. He believes that leaders must be change agents who dream big, think big and do big things that make an impact. He believes that you should blaze your own trail and not simply follow the path left behind by others. He believes that you should not do what everyone else is doing just because it’s easy. He certainly does not believe in the status quo. Dennis’ mantra is: Dream big. Think big. Do big. Dennis also founded Zig Zag Institute. As CEO, he has trained chamber of commerce, economic development, nonprofit and business leaders in 23 states. Previously, Dennis was the President and CEO of the Parker Colorado Chamber of Commerce. He successfully led a regional effort to create a $22,000,000 career and tech education campus in the south Denver region to address regional workforce challenges and build career paths for underserved students. Dennis is an advocacy warrior who speaks up for and fights for the business community. He has led five White House Roundtables under both the Obama and Trump administrations. He has testified before the United States Congress on economic development issues that impact communities and create change. Prior to moving to Colorado, Dennis was the President and CEO of the Norfolk Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, the Norfolk Chamber was named the 2013 National Chamber of the Year. The Norfolk Chamber was also the 2011 National Chamber of the Year Runner Up. Dennis has been a National Chamber of the Year Judge for the last 6 years. Dennis is the former State Chair of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Association and was named the Colorado Chamber of Commerce CEO of the Year by his statewide peers. He also served as the State Vice Chair of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Association. As a creative entrepreneur, Dennis co-founded and led a 13-person marketing advertising and public relations agency in Omaha, Nebraska for 12 years. As an Omaha successful business entrepreneur, Dennis was very active in the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and served on its Board of Directors Executive Committee as well as chaired many chamber initiatives. Dennis spent many years in corporate America as a marketing and public relations director for American Express and First National Bank of Omaha. Dennis and his wife Sheryl, live in Windsor, Colorado and consider it their new hometown. Their two boys are both United States Marines. Jack is a recent Marine Scout Sniper and Ryan is currently in Marine Intelligence at the National Security Agency. They have three dogs as family members. Nala is a Boxer; Spud is a Great Dane /Boxer mix and Astro is a 120-pound Great Dane puppy. The entire Houston family is excited that they returned home to Colorado! In addition to being an avid golfer, hiker and mountain biker with his family, Dennis is a big music fan and recovering drummer. He once camped outside overnight in a blizzard for Bruce Springsteen concert tickets. And yes, it WAS worth it!