Retirement after 27 years at the helm
As part of the retirement celebration from her 27-year career as senior general manager of Park Meadows Retail Resort, Pam Schenck-Kelly and her entire family recently took a seven-day cruise to all four of the main Hawaiian islands; here they are on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu.
On August 4, longtime resident of The Village Pam Schenck-Kelly is retiring from her 27-year career as senior general manager of Park Meadows Retail Resort. She has held the role since the mall opened its doors in the summer of 1996.
“Park Meadows has been the crown jewel of my career – much due to the great retailers, restaurants and phenomenal managers I have been able to work with over all of these years,” stated Schenck-Kelly, whose shopping center career spans more than 40 years.
Park Meadows Retail Resort forever changed the landscape of south metro Denver, and it continues to grow, flourish and remain current. At its inception, the 1.58 million square-foot retail center featured Colorado’s first and largest Nordstrom and Denver metro’s first Dillard’s. With the ever-evolving line up of retailers, the mall has adapted and found ways to continually improve and stay relevant.
“The business community of south Denver, Douglas County and Lone Tree is the best Colorado has to offer,” said Schenck-Kelly. “We continually strive to stay in the forefront of the evolution of retail.”
Park Meadows was built as a unique concept in retail. Marketed as a “retail resort,” the architecture features expansive timber ceilings, impressive stone fireplaces, beautiful water features and many other distinctive attributes that evoke a true Colorado feel.
“From the beginning, our mission was to be the only retail resort in Colorado. We brought in $1 million of commissioned art by Colorado artists and provided overstuffed chairs and other seating so people felt relaxed,” said Schenck-Kelly. “Coming to Park Meadows should be experiential because the real satisfaction is in the experience itself.”
Retirement means Schenck-Kelly will slow down a bit. She will continue to work with Park Meadows Improvement District and with her favorite philanthropies. And of course, she wants to spend more time with her family and friends. “I have not had Thanksgiving weekend or time around Christmas off for most of those 40 years,” she said. “We already have big plans.”
Schenck-Kelly is a member of the The Village Castle Pines Garden Club and looks forward to attending the activities and enjoying fellowship with its members. She is eager to travel with her husband, Jim, and rediscover the simple things in life. “I hope to return to doing some of the things I did before I got so busy: tennis, golf, painting and, of course, cooking,” she concluded.
By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Pam Schenck-Kelly
