Janice Sinden

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) welcomed Janice Sinden as President & CEO in September 2016. She leads the 300 artisans and administrators who have made the 40-year-old cultural gem the largest non-profit theatre organization in the nation. Janice is committed to building upon the DCPA’s rich history of inspiring audiences, as well as supporting all six lines of programming to engage our community at large. 

Previously, she served as Chief of Staff for Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock for five years where she managed 60 appointees, 26 departments and the day-to-day complexities that come with running a major metropolitan city. During this time, the Hancock Administration and the Department of Arts and Venues developed Denver’s first cultural plan since 1989 titled IMAGINE 2020, as well as “The Next Stage” process to reimagine the future of the 12-acre Denver Performing Arts Complex as a vibrant epicenter of entertainment, education and commerce. 

Prior to joining the Hancock Administration, Janice served as the Executive Director of Colorado Concern, an alliance of top executives from across the state who care about the well-being of Colorado’s business climate. She pushed politics into action by overseeing the organization’s comprehensive legislative agenda, getting involved with numerous ballot campaigns and supporting statewide candidate elections. 

The diversity of Janice’s career path has allowed her to support her personal passions of rich cultural experiences, access to education, and giving back to her community through her interest in politics. She co-founded Pinnacle Public Affairs, a Denver-based political and non-profit consulting firm, and served as the Manager of Community Relations for Sharp HealthCare in San Diego. She is no stranger to working in a fast-paced environment, and has coordinated dozens of large public events, facilitated two constitutional challenges to the Colorado Supreme Court, co-founded EPIC (Executives Partnering to Invest in Children) and co-led the effort to establish the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline. 

Her love for community building and public service sparked after her graduation from the University of Northern Colorado when she moved to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Senator Wayne Allard. In this role, she managed the Senate Renewable and Energy Efficiency Caucus and served as the Senator’s state lead for the introduction of federal legislation to designate Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site as a National Wildlife Refuge. This legislation passed by Congress and was signed by the President in 2002. 

Janice has been recognized by 5280 magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in Denver, by the Colorado Women’s Foundation as one of the 25 most influential women in Colorado, by the Girl Scouts of Colorado as a Woman of Distinction, and by the University of Northern Colorado Department of Political Science and International Affairs as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. During her career, she has been actively involved with more than ten nonprofits, and currently serves on the boards of the national Performing Arts Centers Consortium, the University of Northern Colorado, the American Transplant Foundation, the Denver Preschool Program, EPIC, and Mental Health Colorado. Previously, she was appointed by Governors Owens and Ritter to serve on the Colorado Creative Industries Council which invests in Colorado’s artistic workforce so creative entrepreneurs and enterprises will flourish. 

She is born and raised in Fort Collins and enjoys skiing, hiking, traveling the world and experiencing local shows, exhibits and events with her friends and family.