Strategic Partnerships, Inc. salutes you, public sector officials: The Profiles in Power section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across America’s public sector landscape. This Profile in Power is of Alan Salazar, CEO of Denver Water.
My public career highlights and education
I’m a fifth-generation Coloradan, and I’ve been fortunate to spend my career in public service working on issues that affect the places and people I care about most. Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in federal, state and local government and to learn from remarkable leaders, public servants and community members across Colorado.
Today, I serve as CEO/Manager of Denver Water. One of the things that attracted me to this organization was the people and the public mission. Denver Water has spent more than a century helping build prosperity across Colorado, and I have the privilege of helping carry that work forward. Looking back, the common thread throughout my career has been the belief that communities are strongest when people come together, take care of the resources they depend on and plan thoughtfully for the future.
What I like best about public service
What has kept me committed to public service throughout my career is the opportunity to work on issues that matter to the people and communities I care about. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside talented people who are willing to take on difficult challenges in service of something larger than themselves.
That sense of shared purpose, and the chance to help leave things a little better for future generations, continues to inspire me.
Some of the best advice I have ever received
One of the best pieces of advice I received came from a mentor early in my career, B.J. Thornberry, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Roy Romer. She told me that in public service, your word and your reputation are your stock in trade. If people stop trusting your honesty or your commitment to treating others fairly, the value of that reputation declines. I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my career and continue to believe that your reputation is your most valuable asset in public life.
Something I wish more people knew about my division of government
What often surprises people is how much of our work is about the future. The water that comes out of the tap today depends on decisions, investments and stewardship that began decades ago.
What we have today is due to the foresight of past leaders, and we have a responsibility to do what they did in terms of planning for the future. People see the water come out of the tap, but the story of Denver Water is really the story of the people behind it. It is not just about dams and pipes. It is about human hands, human ingenuity, interactions and the collective work required to provide safe, reliable water for our communities. The success of this organization has always depended on people working together and acting as good stewards of the resources we all rely on.
A current project or initiative that I am working on
One of our most important responsibilities right now is helping our community navigate a historic drought while continuing to plan for the future. We can hope for a robust snowpack recovery, but hope is not a plan.
At Denver Water, that means investing in infrastructure, advancing conservation efforts and working alongside our customers to protect the water resources we all depend on. It also means preparing for climate uncertainty and making decisions today that help keep our system reliable through a range of future conditions.
The message I’m sharing with our customers is simple: use only what you need and help save water wherever possible. Every gallon conserved today helps strengthen our ability to meet the challenges ahead.
What gives me confidence is the response we’ve seen from our community. Time and again, people have shown they are willing to adapt, conserve and work together when it matters most. That shared commitment will be essential as we prepare for the future.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about me
Many people may be surprised to learn that I was a practicing Buddhist for a number of years. While I no longer actively practice, I learned lessons that have stayed with me, particularly the importance of being present, staying grounded and focusing on what can be done today rather than being distracted by things outside our control.
On a lighter note, I’m also a devoted fan of the films of Pedro Almodóvar.
