Sarah Konradi Named 2026 ColoradoBiz Icon for Leadership in Community‑Centered Design
DENVER — June 17, 2026 — Design Workshop Foundation announced today that its Executive Director Sarah Konradi has been selected as a 2026 ColoradoBiz Icon, recognizing leaders with more than 15 years of exceptional impact in their fields. Konradi accepted her ColoradoBiz Icons and Achievers Award on June 16, 2026 at Mile High Station.
“Sarah is a transformational leader who identifies root causes, builds trust, and guides complex, multi‑stakeholder efforts toward meaningful, lasting outcomes,” said Becky Zimmermann, CEO of Design Workshop. “She is not only an organizational leader, but a catalyst for change, a mentor to emerging professionals, and a champion for inclusive, community‑driven design across Colorado.”
Konradi was selected for her transformational leadership in advancing equitable, community‑driven design across Colorado. As Executive Director of the Design Workshop Foundation, she has strengthened the organization’s role as a trusted partner to communities historically excluded from traditional planning and design processes. Under her guidance, the Foundation has delivered nearly $500,000 in pro bono design services, expanded educational and workforce development programs, and deepened partnerships with civic, nonprofit, and grassroots organizations.
Konradi’s leadership has shaped signature initiatives including the Five Points Green Infrastructure Toolkit, the Globeville I‑70 Green Infrastructure Partnership, and community‑led resilience projects across Denver. She has also expanded the Foundation’s youth and emerging‑professional programs, including City Lab at Bruce Randolph School and the Dr. Charles Fountain Internship, which provide immersive, real‑world experience for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Konradi served as National Director of Design & Engagement at the National Wildlife Federation, where she led a multistate initiative transforming parks and schoolyards into nature‑rich, equitable spaces. Her work has reached more than 500,000 children and families nationwide, supported by more than $5 million in philanthropic investment.
Konradi is also recognized nationally for her thought leadership in design and community wellbeing, including her TEDxMileHigh talk, Designing Playgrounds for Happier, Healthier Children, and her authorship of best‑practice guidelines used by organizations such as Head Start and New America.
Learn more about the awardees, here. ICONS & Achievers - ColoradoBiz
