Denver N. Ritz, Sales Consultant, Field Support Training & Guest Experience Consultant
Denver N. Ritz is currently a Sales Consultant, Field Support Training & Guest Experience Consultant at Sysco.
Ritz has worked within the HR umbrella for 19 years with major focuses in learning and development, performance improvement, talent acquisition, equity and inclusion, program development, leadership, coaching, and mentoring.
He has a Master’s of Science in Management & Strategic Human Resources from Purdue, a Bachelors in Organizational Development, Associates of Leadership Studies, is a graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute's Community Leadership Program, Calibrate, and Community Connect.
Ritz is a Board Director of the Iowa Asian Alliance celebrating 15 years of involvement in various leadership capacities in the annual CelebrAsian festival. Past professional roles include Director of Talent Development, Workforce Inclusion, and Youth Leadership for the Greater DSM Partnership, and Sr. Learning Consultant as well as Diversity/Inclusion leadership roles for Wells Fargo, Athene, & ING.
In addition to Ritz’s professional resume, he brings over 22 years of restaurant, bar, and nightclub experience including front-of-house management, training, and consulting. He was a three-time ‘Best of Des Moines’ bartender.
In his spare time he likes to spend time with his partner Forrest, work out, cook, travel, hang out with his brothers, spoil his niece (Peighton) and nephews (Carter & Rowan), and keep up on his hospitality skills by picking up spotlight bartending/serving shifts at local venues.
Accolades: 2007 Role Model of the Year, ING| 2011 Global Corporate Responsibility Award, Athene | 2011 Corporate Impact Award, Athene | 2013 Character Counts Award | 2014 & 2015 Militia Man Award, Iowa National Guard, ESGR | 2016 Forty Under 40, Des Moines Business Record | 2016 Distinguished Leader, Community Visionary, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute | 2016 Ruby J. Knight Community Service Award | 2017 Imperial Court of the Americas Cherokee Rose Service Award | 2018 Community Champion Award, Homemakers Furniture |Various key-note addresses spanning 2012-2020 | 26 board, council, and committee appointments spanning 2004-Current.