For the past 15 years, Allen Hanano has lived on 80 acres in Nathrop, Colorado, with a stunning view of Mount Princeton in the Sawatch Range. His neighbors are wild animals who have become a regular part of his life and heightened his appreciation of how important animals are to the well-being of humans.
That awareness and a visit to Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences inspired the long-time Denver businessman to make a planned gift of $2.5 million to help advance education and research in animal wellness at the college’s new Veterinary Health and Education Complex.
“Large animal veterinary science is a very important area,” said Hanano, “mainly because it’s tied to food and, more critically, to addressing different viruses, such as avian flu and mad cow disease. All that affects our food supply, which makes it a very significant area.”
Learn more
A public groundbreaking celebration for the new VHEC is planned for Thursday, May 2, at the future site of the complex. Click here to register to attend the event.
For more information about how you can make a life-changing gift to students or programs at CSU, visit giving.colostate.edu.
Additional information for VHEC can be found at futureofvetmed.colostate.edu. Visit vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu for information about the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and vetmedbiosci.colostate.eduvth for information on CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The VHEC will include a new state-of-the-art Primary Care Clinic, Veterinary Education Center, and Livestock Hospital to house both in-patient and ambulatory services. The current James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital opened in 1979 and sees more than 47,000 veterinary patient visits per year; hospital staff also cares for animals on farms and ranches through livestock and equine field services.
“The VHEC construction project will transform veterinary medical health care delivery and veterinary student education at CSU,” said Dr. Sue VandeWoude, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Hanano for his generous support and commitment to our mission and excellence.”
The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of veterinarians. The new complex will strategically position CSU to expand student enrollment by 20 percent and deliver an entirely new, experiential-based DVM curriculum, which will result in many more highly qualified veterinarians caring for all species of animals and conducting research to improve the health of animals and humans.
“On behalf of everyone at CSU, I would like to thank Mr. Hanano for his legacy gift to our newest innovative complex,” said Derek Dictson, vice president for University Advancement. “His vision for supporting veterinary medicine will have a tremendous impact on our future leaders, and the communities they’ll serve, for generations to come.”
From packaging to consulting
Born in Yokohama, Japan, Hanano attended Zama American High School before coming to the United States in 1966 to earn a bachelor’s degree in math and an M.B.A. from the University of Denver. He then went to work for Packaging Systems International, a Denver-based industrial machinery company that engineers and builds custom packaging equipment for many Fortune 500 chemical and food-processing companies. One of their local customers was Nestlé Purina in Denver.
In 1982, PSI, Inc. was acquired by St. Regis Paper Company of New York and became the PSI Division of St. Regis. Hanano eventually repurchased the PSI Division from St. Regis in 1985 and ran it for more than 20 years.
When he sold PSI in 2008, Hanano founded The Economic Development Consultancy, which specializes in aligning international investors with U.S.-based investment opportunities, especially in Colorado. To accomplish that endeavor, Hanano created a network of professionals and executives across major economic sectors in manufacturing, engineering, finance, legal, insurance, communications, hotels, health care, real estate, and higher education who work together to help international companies establish operations in the U.S.
“For many reasons, we’re very selective about the companies we choose to work with,” Hanano said. “We do a lot of vetting to ensure we’re bringing in the right kind of businesses so they succeed, and it’s a good fit for them as well as Colorado.”
Building on success
TEDC tours businesses statewide throughout the year to become better educated about different industries and emerging markets. Past tours have included visits to the United Airlines Flight Training Center in Denver, Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and Boom Technology in Dove Valley, to name just a few. In May 2023, the group toured CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and learned about the current program and plans for the VHEC, which motivated Hanano’s generous gift.
“I was so impressed with everything,” he said. “I was impressed with the staff, the curriculum, the size of the college, the infrastructure, and that you are the number two vet school in the nation. That’s impressive. I was also quite impressed with the magnitude and breadth of animal species treated there, which I don’t think most people realize.”
In early December, President Amy Parsons attended the TEDC holiday luncheon in Denver to announce the gift on behalf of the University.
“Allen’s extraordinary lead gift will support CSU in becoming the unparalleled global leader in veterinary medicine,” said Parsons. “We are grateful for Allen’s friendship and his inspiring vision. His generous contribution to the new VHEC will create student opportunities, increase research capacity, and advance animal healthcare.”
Hanano, who also serves on the board of directors for corporations based in Germany and Mexico, wants his gift to help elevate the importance of veterinary medicine, and he is in good company. Last month, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the Colorado General Assembly that would provide $50 million for a package of funding proposals intended to bolster the state’s healthcare workforce, including veterinarians and nurses. If passed, the new legislation would provide funding to CSU and make historic investments in other Colorado institutions of higher education working to address healthcare needs.
