Jala Curtis

About Jala

Jala is the kind of person who walks into a room and immediately wants to know everyone's story. With more than 20 years in marketing, communications, and business development, she has built a career around one simple belief: the best places are the ones where everyone feels welcome, seen, and glad they showed up. She leads teams, shapes programs, and drives the kind of community-forward vision that turns a great downtown into a destination people genuinely choose.

As Marketing and Communications Program Supervisor for the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, she leads the Business Marketing and Communications Program with a whole lot of heart, championing the small businesses that make Downtown Fort Collins worth showing up for. She has a genuine love for places that feel alive, walkable, and accessible to everyone, and she is fiercely passionate about making sure Downtown Fort Collins is a destination people across the region and beyond keep coming back to. When downtown businesses thrive, the whole community wins. That is the mission, the motivation, and the best part of the job.

How does being part of this community shape the way you approach your role?

"Downtown Fort Collins is more than a destination. It is a reflection of the people who shape it every day, and that perspective drives everything I do. I want every message we put out and every partnership we cultivate to feel like it genuinely belongs here. Marketing is more than promotion. It is advocacy, a powerful way to elevate voices, create opportunity, and build shared pride in the places we call home."

One of my favorite local businesses or hidden gems downtown is...

"Who really only has one favorite? That feels like a trick question. If I absolutely had to choose, you are equally likely to find me at The Still Whiskey Steaks or Maida Trattoria, and honestly, the district makes that choice nearly impossible. Anyone who knows me knows I am a foodie through and through with a serious appreciation for the craft of whiskey, so The Still feels like it was practically made for me. Warm atmosphere, thoughtful hospitality, and a menu that is bold and refined all at once. And Maida? Pure magic on a plate, with warmth to match. Both are places built with real vision and genuine care, and that kind of intentionality is exactly what keeps me coming back."