BARBARA BARNES GROGAN
Barbara Grogan founded Western Industrial Contractors (Western) in 1982 with a very inauspicious beginning. She bought a 1969 orange pick-up truck for $500, rented offices on an unpaved street, and hired her first three employees. Western made its mark that first year by moving an entire gasket manufacturing plant from New Jersey to Texas.
Western became a nationally recognized industrial construction company. They worked for some of the country’s most prominent companies nationwide and on security and baggage handling systems at more than 300 airports. They were the “white knights” who installed the alternate baggage handling system for Rapistan that allowed Denver International Airport to open in 1995. In September 2004, Grogan sold her interest in Western, and the company continued to thrive.
In addition to serving as the CEO and chair of Western, Grogan has served on several NYSE corporate boards. She was the first female chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch, and was the first female chairman of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Grogan has received numerous awards for significant accomplishments. She is the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advocate of the Year Award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Business Leaders of the ’90s Award, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Responsibility Award.
In addition to business development initiatives, Grogan is deeply involved in the nonprofit community. She was one of the founding board members of Bright Beginnings. She was also the chair of Denver’s Road Home and Volunteers of America. She served on the board of the Denver Scholarship Foundation, the National Civic League, and the Denver Foundation.
Western became a nationally recognized industrial construction company. They worked for some of the country’s most prominent companies nationwide and on security and baggage handling systems at more than 300 airports. They were the “white knights” who installed the alternate baggage handling system for Rapistan that allowed Denver International Airport to open in 1995. In September 2004, Grogan sold her interest in Western, and the company continued to thrive.
In addition to serving as the CEO and chair of Western, Grogan has served on several NYSE corporate boards. She was the first female chairman of the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch, and was the first female chairman of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Grogan has received numerous awards for significant accomplishments. She is the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Advocate of the Year Award, the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Business Leaders of the ’90s Award, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Responsibility Award.
In addition to business development initiatives, Grogan is deeply involved in the nonprofit community. She was one of the founding board members of Bright Beginnings. She was also the chair of Denver’s Road Home and Volunteers of America. She served on the board of the Denver Scholarship Foundation, the National Civic League, and the Denver Foundation.