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President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. invites you to attend the Spring 2025 SPEAKER RECEPTION honoring Navin Dimond, Marathon Award Recipient
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Jacquard Hotel
222 Milwaukee St.
Denver, Colorado 80206
MSU Denver’s Marathon Award is Metropolitan State University of Denver’s most prestigious honor. The Award is bestowed on individuals, families, or organizations whose contributions, service, and leadership, exemplify the Roadrunner Difference. These individuals have a meaningful, transformative, and enduring impact on the University and its progress. MSU Denver’s Marathon Award celebrates our mission and the collective impact of our students and scholars on the communities and people of Denver, state of Colorado, nation, and world.
A flock of roadrunners is called a marathon. Honorees personify the spirit of determination our students display and in particular, in the early days of the University, as they navigated and sprinted across Denver’s busy streets to attend class. It’s the Roadrunner Difference. Marathon Award recipients reflect our diverse, purposeful, and tenacious students at the highest levels.
MSU Denver’s Marathon Award is given annually, during Spring Commencement ceremonies.
Event Contact: Selene Figueroa at [email protected]
About Navin Dimond
Copford Capital Management, LLC, “Copford” was founded by Navin Dimond. Named after his beloved boarding school in England, Copford is the home of his family business. Over thirty years ago, Navin and Rita Dimond co-founded Stonebridge Companies, a hotel management company with 160 hotels in their portfolio and over 5,000 employees. As Founder & Chairman, Mr. Dimond leads corporate investments. Under his guidance, Stonebridge Companies has paved the way in hospitality management.
In honor of his achievements, Mr. Dimond was the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2007, and the prestigious Hilton Hotels Multi-Brand Developer of the Year Award. Additionally, Navin served as Chairman of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, “CH&LA”. In 2008, Mr. Dimond was inducted into the CH&LA Hall of Fame. He earned his place in the Denver and Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame in 2015.
Education is paramount to Navin. In 2014, in appreciation of their generous donation, Metropolitan State University of Denver endowed its hotel management program with the Dimond namesake. A portion of their contribution also went towards establishing the Dimond Fellowship Program at MSU Denver, offering annual scholarships and internship opportunities to students. Equally noteworthy is the Dimonds’ 2020 gift to the University of Denver, which facilitated the construction of a new freshman residence hall. A true steward of the city, Mr. Dimond has served on the Board of Directors for Visit Denver as well as the Board of Trustees for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
Mr. Dimond is a graduate of Washington State University and the University of Denver, where he earned his MBA in Real Estate and Construction Management. Presently, Mr. Dimond serves on the Washington State University Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Executive Leadership Board, Dean’s Advisory Board – Cornell School of Hotel Administration, and the Board of Trustees for the University of Denver. Dimond also sits on the esteemed board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
Navin and Rita have been married for 38 years. Both born in England, they are the proud parents of two daughters, Ashley and Sonja. Apart from his work, Navin enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
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