Urban Legend Honoree

Michael B. Hancock

Michael B. Hancock is a highly respected global business and executive leader with over 30 years of leadership experience, including 20 years as a municipal elected official and three terms as Mayor of the City and County of Denver. He possesses proven expertise in extensive organizational management, strategic planning, crisis management, global business development, budget creation and financial management, infrastructure investment, economic development, capital planning, program development and implementation, and organizational governance.

Michael is the Principal Consultant and CEO, as well as the founder of Hancock Global Services, LLC (HGS). The company provides executive and senior advisory services in public affairs, crisis management, strategic communications, and public-private partnerships for both private and public sector organizations and their leaders. He is frequently invited to speak to audiences nationwide.

Additionally, he is the founder and CEO of the Hancock Foundation, Inc. The mission of the organization is to “Strengthen democracy and civic engagement through cultural education and awareness. The Foundation organizes an annual Heritage Fellowship and Heritage tours to historic sites.

Before launching HG, Michael served three terms as mayor of the City and County of Denver (2011-2023). As a strong mayor, Michael was tasked with driving the city out of the Great Recession. When he took office, Denver faced a $100 million deficit. By gathering regional economic development experts and partnering with the private sector, Michael led a strategy to establish a stable financial foundation through job creation, business growth and attraction, and workforce preparation for the 21st century. The result was one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation; more than 18,000 new companies moved to Denver before the COVID pandemic, generating over $6.6 billion in investment in downtown.

Michael is a proud father and grandfather of three. Although he travels globally on a regular basis, Denver remains his home. He earned his graduate degree in Public Administration Management from the University of Colorado at Denver.