Executive edge: Elbra Wedgeworth; Former city councilwoman credited with bringing 2008 Democratic convention to Denver.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: Attitude at altitude - Interview

On Jan. 12, Elbra Wedgeworth burst into tears in her District 8 City Council office. The phone had just rung: Denver had landed the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

"I just started crying," said Wedgeworth, who has since resigned from City Council to become director of community outreach at Denver Health. "No one thought I could do it and that my idea of bringing the convention here was pie in the sky."

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Wedgeworth, who grew up the youngest of six children in public housing in the Curtis Park neighborhood, is largely credited with single-handedly launching the push nearly two years ago to bring the Democratic convention to Denver.

"I was City Council president at the time and was thinking how it would be the 100-year anniversary of Denver hosting the 1908 Democratic convention and figured it was our time, our turn to do it again," Wedgeworth said.

"Denver had hosted the Summit of the Eight, the pope and the NBA All-Star game so I said, 'I think we can host 35,000 Democrats.' Everyone said I was dreaming, but being a focused woman I said, 'I'm doing it.' When you see that light and you're the only one seeing it, it's up to you to act."

She contacted Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and tossed Denver's hat in the ring, putting in motion the preparation of a 600-page bid book that weighed 15 pounds and gave every detail of Denver's attributes as a host city.

"Within months, the list of potential host cities went from 35 to 11. Then the idea that Denver might host the convention really started gaining momentum," Wedgeworth said. "Even Mayor Hickenlooper didn't believe it until he got a call from the New York Times asking about Denver's bid."

Today, Wedgeworth is president of...