The 5280 Fifty

We rank the Mile High City's most influential powerbrokers in our primer on who's running Denver. Plus: A look at whose stars are rising—and whose stock is plummeting.

Rising Stars

Developer

With fatherly mentoring from business partner David Steel, the son of Phillip Anschutz is emerging from his father's considerable shadow by taking increasing leadership roles in local real estate and business development.

Chief Operating Officer, Sage Restaurant Group

Having served as the operations director for Philadelphia's wildly successful Starr Restaurant Organization, Karpinski knows a thing or two about running restaurants. Since taking over at Sage, he's opened up the Corner Office downtown and Second Home in Cherry Creek North—only the first two of his many future conquests, we suspect.

Head Coach, Denver Broncos

Had we compiled this list three months ago, McD would've been in the top 30. The brash boy wonder figures to be a local fixture for years to come.

CEO, Slipstream Sports

In a sport where doping has been unchecked for decades, Denver native Vaughters made worldwide headlines in 2007 when he announced that his Boulder-based pro squad, Team Garmin-Transitions, would have the most rigorously tested cyclists in the world. The tough policy hasn't hurt the team's success—Garmin riders placed in the top five in the 2008 and 2009 Tour de France.

Chief of Staff, Mayor's Office

The former manager of Denver's Department of Human Services took over as Hickenlooper's chief of staff last September. Insiders say she's a quick study and already has the mayor's office running better than any of her high-powered predecessors.