Betsy is a Denver native, attending Slavens Elementary School, Graland Country Day School and Thomas Jefferson High School. She tells this story of her childhood. “ I wasn’t a great kid. I remember my grandfather telling me at his 90th birthday that I reminded him of that nursery rhyme, “ When she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid.” Betsy loved growing up in Denver. “Denver was a large town, now it’s a small city. I always felt connected and liked that we knew all of our neighbors.” The friends she has now are friends she grew up with, many from elementary school days. “ Since I’ve returned to Denver, I’ve run into many of my old friends and we’ve re-established our friendships.” Betsy considers her life very fulfilling, “ My life is so great right now, I wouldn’t want to go back to any other time. In fact, if I could stick with where I’m at right now, I would.”
While attending UCLA she interned for a celebrity public relations firm. Her love for the Olympics began when she was hired by ABC to serve as a bus hostess during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She developed her expertise in sports related PR and special events with a variety of companies, until 1996, when, after working on seven Olympic Games, she decided to start her own business.
Her husband, Gareth, became her partner a few years later and together they operate MorSports, a company that manages travel, hospitality and special projects for both corporations and sports events. Their repertoire of sporting events, includes ten Olympic Games for major sponsors, three World Cup events and a variety of other sports related events including skiing, boxing, soccer, football and golf. Not content to rest on their laurels, the couple recently undertook a new venture, MorEvents, which manages non-sports related events. The company works with corporations and non-profits on meeting planning, special events, trade shows, board meetings and galas. Betsy says, “ In the future we would like to do more locally for non-profits and area events. We’ve worked on the Annual Meeting for the Allied Jewish Federation and we handled the Kempe Foundations Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. We’ve also coordinated corporate meetings and trade shows. Presently we’re working with the DaVinci Institute, a non-profit organization that’s conducting the Future of Money Summit at the Omni Interlocken, October 27th through the 29th and Reel Hope, A Jewish Family Services event. Of course, we continue to work on our sports events, the two biggest being; the 2004 and 2006 Olympics and the 2003 and 2006 Soccer World Cup.”
Betsy believes in giving back. She acts as a volunteer for Kempe Foundation, Project Pave, Allied Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services, and Anti-Defamation League, where she currently sits on the board. In the future, she wants her company to work closely with non-profits, helping them to achieve their fundraising goals so that they can assist more of those in need.
Which social event is your favorite? Love the Kempe Foundation Dinner, Project K luncheon and Blues, Booze and Boxing. There are so many great events, where do you begin?
Favorite restaurant? Adega
Who is the most interesting celebrity you have ever met? Jerry Garcia. In 1981, I was working as a front desk clerk at the Embassy Suites on Hampden. The Grateful Dead were staying there and I didn’t know who they were. They asked if I wanted to go to a concert and I said sure. I went with Jerry Garcia and Mr. Wonderful in their limo. It was quite an event for a young girl. For inspiration, it’s Billy Jean King. What she has done for woman’s sports is outstanding. She started the movement.
If your life were a movie, whom would you want to play your part? Barbara Streisand. I love everything about her. She’s a great role model with everything she’s accomplished. My humorous side says it would be Lily Tomlin.
When you move, what will your home tell its next owner about you? That we were very clean and had lots of great memories in the house
What word describes you best? Feisty
How would you like others to describe you? Friendly and compassionate
What was your first job? Worked at Joyce’s Submarine Sandwiches on Colorado Blvd but my real first job was working as a “caddy” at Bridge Tournaments, moving boards and collecting scores. My dad was a world class bridge player.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being a perfectionist
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not asking questions
What is your greatest indulgence? Chocolate
What is the best gift you have ever given? Babysitting time for my friends that are new parents. We give them a certificate for babysitting.
What is the best gift you’ve received? Flowers every month from my husband. The gift still keeps coming.
What or who is the greatest love in your life? My husband and my son
What is your current state of mind? Happy
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My son and working 10 Olympics
What is your most treasured possession? My scrapbooks
What is the quality you most like in a man? Humor
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Humor
Favorite books/writers? Red Tent and Lovely Bones
What is the best advice you have ever received? Never go to bed mad
Do you have a motto? Live, love, laugh and be passionate and surround yourself with others that do the same.
What are your hobbies? Other interests? Love to ski, scrapbook, bowl and hang out with my girlfriends
Who is your mentor? My father
What would you most like to be remembered for? My compassion
If you could go anywhere and do anything, what would it be? I have been a lot of places, but I think; an African Safari
How has Denver changed from when you were a child growing up here? It was a small town, now it’s a small city. It went from cow town to urban living with the redevelopment of downtown and LoDo and the popularity of living in town. It’s much more sophisticated than it was, but is still way more laid back than other big cities. In other towns, people ask who you are and what you do, but here they ask your name and if you ski, bike or hike.
