Sean Maley
Sean Maley is President and Co-Owner of CRL Associates, a Denver-based public affairs and government relations firm founded in 1981 that serves clients across Colorado. With over two decades of experience and a long-standing leadership role, Sean leads client-facing strategy, business development, and complex client engagements across an evolving and dynamic policy landscape.
Sean is known for his passion and competitive spirit, having helped lead countless high-profile projects and issues to success. His cross-sector work spans government and regulatory affairs, land use and real estate, energy, technology, sports and entertainment, nonprofits, and more. Sean is recognized as one of the state’s top experts in land use and entitlements—with industry-leading knowledge, contextual depth, and strategic insight across all aspects of planning, zoning, permitting, community engagement, and coalition building.
Sean has led or advised on many of Denver’s most high-profile and complex projects, including Cherry Creek West, the McGregor Square redevelopment, the Golden Triangle neighborhood-wide rezoning, and preservation of the Coors Field view plane. He contributed regulatory expertise to the 2010 Denver Zoning Code update and other regional land development code efforts. Outside of land use, Sean has also played a key role in shaping public-private agreements, including energy and telecommunications franchise agreements, community benefit agreements, and broader policy initiatives such as affordable housing.
As a former aide to a busy and diverse Denver City Council office, Sean blends technical expertise with strong political instincts and deep relationships across local and state government. He volunteers his time with the Urban Land Institute, Jeffco EDC, First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, and Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies. As a father of three and committed husband, Sean spends his personal time golfing, snowboarding, coaching youth sports, or traveling. Sean holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s degree in Political Science, with a focus on Public Policy and Leadership, from the Center for New Directions at the University of Colorado Denver.