Tami Door, the former chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, is getting back into downtown management for another major city in the metro region — at least for a little bit.

The Downtown Boulder Partnership named Door as its new interim CEO, taking over from Bettina Swigger who has led the organization for two years. Door will begin Dec. 1.

Swigger will step down on Dec. 8 for a personal sabbatical and focus on a writing career, Boulder’s downtown organization said on Thursday.

“While I had hoped for a longer tenure here, changes in my personal circumstances have led me to recognize that now is the right moment to pause, recharge, and invest in my personal growth and creativity,” Swigger said in a press release.

Door was the president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership for 17 years between 2004 and 2021, credited with shepherding downtown Denver through its Union Station revival, redeveloping 14th Street, founding the Commons on Champa entrepreneurial center and laying the groundwork for 16th Street’s redevelopment.

She also founded Denver Startup Week, now called Colorado Startup Week, with Erik Mitisek. It’s become Denver’s largest event for the technology industry and is hosted in downtown Denver every year.

Before she came to Denver, she was the executive vice president for the Detroit Regional Chamber. She also served as Chair of the International Downtown Association.

Door is set to stay at the Downtown Boulder Partnership temporarily until the organization’s board finds a permanent leader to run it. She’ll lead downtown Boulder through the first half of 2026.

“We are grateful to Bettina for her meaningful impact here in Boulder,” said Aaron Spear, Downtown Boulder Partnership Board chair. “We are fortunate to have a leader of Tami’s caliber to guide us during this transition. Her experience and steady leadership will ensure continuity for our staff, members, and community partners as we advance important work on behalf of downtown Boulder.”

Boulder’s city center has several major events and initiatives in progress, such as planning for Pearl Street Mall’s 50th Anniversary and the relocation of the Sundance Film Festival in 2027.

Door will also work with the city on its exploration effort to create a Downtown Development Authority, a tax-increment financing tool that uses future sales and property taxes increases within its boundaries to pay for public improvement projects.

Denver recently expanded its DDA that funded Union Station’s restoration and will soon buy Denver Pavilions and two parking lot parcels connected to it for potential redevelopment.

Door was working as a consultant with Boulder, helping it with several of its initiatives, when she was asked to step in temporarily, she said in an interview with The Denver Gazette Friday.

While many downtowns across the U.S. are recovering following the pandemic, she said Boulder has “enormous” potential.

“There’s actually very strong momentum in Boulder,” Door said. “And there’s a strong sense that the community wants to continue their efforts around growing and attracting companies.”

It was important for Downtown Boulder to have continuity as it navigates its major projects and needs to continue it’s basic services such as keeping it clean and safe, she said.

Her goal is to capitalize on the opportunities Boulder has in its favor, she said, such as making the most of becoming the future host of the Sundance Film Festival.

“All of these things bring in fresh eyes, fresh connections,” she said. “And then, of course, the power is in leveraging those throughout the year. And I really think Boulder’s prepared to do it.”