This Wednesday, Troy McWhinney and David Crowder join us to address the importance of regional economic development, and to reminisce about the extensive history of the McWhinney family in this area.  The history started with Troy’s great great grandfather, John Hahn, who homesteaded in this area and served as  one of the first Larimer County Commissioners.  Our speakers will relate highlights of the hundred-plus years this family have lived in this area, and share how the family company created Centerra in 2004.  This development is now one of the biggest economic drivers of Northern Colorado with 60 percent of shoppers coming from out of the area.

McWhinney, as this Colorado corporation is known, is based out of Loveland, with offices in Denver as well.  It was co-founded by Troy and his brother in 1991 to “Create exceptional places”. Toward this end the company has also recently developed the Elizabeth Hotel.  Troy and David will update the club on a number of projects the company has on tap in Fort Collins.  At McWhinney, Troy handles investor relations, strategic planning, operational systems and securing investment opportunities.  Troy has received entitlements for over 5,000 acres of Colorado land consisting of over 14,000 residential units and approximately 20 million square feet of commercial development at full buildout

David Crowder is the Director of Community Development and GM of Centerra. In that capacity, he manages and oversees the strategy, vision and the development of this 3,000-acre master-planned community. Before coming to McWhinney, David oversaw acquisitions and development for DMB Pacific Ventures in California.

November 14, was our annual celebration of the Rotary Foundation.  Martin Limbird presented some facts and figures about the Foundation - $13.5 million dollars invested last year and a total of over 3 billion spent on projects over the past 101 years.  Eight club members were awarded their most recent Paul Harris Certificates and pins.

Robin Steele presented a video on the Rotary Foundation and we heard a brief history of this organization starting with the first donation of $26.50 in 1917.  The mission of the foundation is to support improvements in health,education and to eliminate poverty.  Robin (and other members) reviewed the variety of projects that FCRC has been/will be involved in during the period 2016-2019, including water projects, peace studies, economic projects, bioenergy production, disease and disability prevention and orphanage support.   Finally, we learned how projects start, get reviewed and and funded. An inspirational short video about our club's involvement closed the meeting.