Profits & Purpose: Telling the Story that Business Is Good: Recent Episodes
Colorado Business Roundtable
Colorado Business Roundtable unapologetically tells the story that business is good through conversations with Colorado's business leaders. Why? Because, every day businesses provide Coloradans across our state with income and benefits, valuable products and services, tax revenue, and funding for vital charities. It’s easy to forget that Colorado businesses aren’t buildings, they are people - the business owners, employees, suppliers, investors - that are the foundation of Colorado’s economic success. This shared success, an interconnectivity, is critical to keep all four corners of Colorado economically vibrant.
Ron Gusek has served as Liberty Energy’s Chief Executive Officer and board member since February 2025 and President since November 2016, and previously held the VP of Technology and Development role. Over the past 25 years, Ron has garnered extensive oil and gas experience in North America and extended his knowledge of operations through travels to Asia, Russia, and the Middle East. Within Liberty, Ron’s focus includes new technology and innovation, service quality, efficiency, and optimization.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Ron joins Debbie to discuss the perpetual innovation of Liberty Energy, the oil and gas industry in general, the regulatory landscape in Colorado (and how decisions made here have ripple effects felt across the world), and his own career journey. They discuss Ron's predecessor, and current Secretary of the Department of Energy Chris Wright, how important culture is to success in business, and the importance of global access to energy in terms of pulling people out of poverty. It's a stimulating chat that covers a lot of ground and one you won't want to miss.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Carrie Goddard is the General Manager of Operations at Chevron, leading production, facilities, pipeline, and remote operations across Colorado. In this role, she drives performance and innovation to safely and responsibly develop one of Chevron’s most dynamic businesses and the state’s most vital energy assets. Previously, Carrie served as General Manager of Business Services, overseeing supply chain, land, regulatory permitting, commercial strategy, and value chain optimization, demonstrating her ability to integrate diverse business disciplines to consistently unlock enterprise value.
Chevron’s recent acquisitions, including Noble Energy in 2020 and PDC Energy in 2023, have significantly expanded our presence in Colorado. Chevron’s operations in Colorado now encompass more than 600,000 net acres and produces approximately 400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. These strategic moves underscore our dedication to providing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy to meet the state’s growing needs.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Carrie shares with Debbie her professional journey through Chevron and across the country. How did she end up in Colorado? How has she found the regulatory climate? What does she want policymakers and other leaders to know about Chevron or the oil and gas industry in general? What does she see when she peers into her crystal ball about the future of the business in this state? An interesting, friendly, wide-ranging chat awaits.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Empower Field at Mile High, Colorado Business Roundtable hosted a signature event: Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy. The event is described thusly: Colorado’s workforce landscape is full of reports, rankings, and projections—but what do they actually mean for employers trying to hire, retain, and grow? Built for executives, HR and talent leaders, and workforce and higher-ed partners, this Future of Work convening cut through conflicting signals and translated the latest labor-market and skills insights into practical, employer-led strategies to keep Colorado competitive.
We have captured audio from each of our sessions and made them available to you on podcatchers everywhere. This is Session 1:
New Frontiers in Work-Based Learning: The Employer Outlook
New research from the Burning Glass Institute highlights both the promise and the gaps in Colorado’s work-based learning ecosystem. The question isn’t what’s been done, but what’s next? This session shares key findings from a Colorado landscape analysis followed by a candid discussion with industry leaders on practical pathways to grow work-based learning.
Research Briefing: Erik Leiden, Managing Director of Workforce Strategy, Burning Glass Institute
Employer Discussion:
Moderated by Isis Artze-Vega, Project Director, Burning Glass Institute
Sean Grubb, Global Technical Training Director, CoorsTek
Danny Moore, President/Owner, DeNOVO Solutions
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Empower Field at Mile High, Colorado Business Roundtable hosted a signature event: Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy. The event is described thusly: Colorado’s workforce landscape is full of reports, rankings, and projections—but what do they actually mean for employers trying to hire, retain, and grow? Built for executives, HR and talent leaders, and workforce and higher-ed partners, this Future of Work convening cut through conflicting signals and translated the latest labor-market and skills insights into practical, employer-led strategies to keep Colorado competitive.
We have captured audio from each of our sessions and made them available to you on podcatchers everywhere. This is Session 4:
Inside the AI Workforce Shift: A Look Inside NVIDIA and HPE
AI is evolving quickly — but what does that actually look like inside the companies building it? Leaders from NVIDIA and HPE offer a behind-the-curtain look at how AI is reshaping their own workforce, from shifting roles and in-demand skills to real-world approaches to upskilling and reskilling. Grounded in real experience, this conversation moves beyond theory to focus on what is changing, what is coming next, and how organizations can respond.
Keynote Fireside Chat
Moderated by Debbie Brown, President, Colorado Business Roundtable
Sean Young, Director of Enterprise Industry Marketing, NVIDIA
Baradji Diallo, Innovation Architect, AI & Technology Strategy, HPE Labs, Office of the CTO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Empower Field at Mile High, Colorado Business Roundtable hosted a signature event: Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy. The event is described thusly: Colorado’s workforce landscape is full of reports, rankings, and projections—but what do they actually mean for employers trying to hire, retain, and grow? Built for executives, HR and talent leaders, and workforce and higher-ed partners, this Future of Work convening cut through conflicting signals and translated the latest labor-market and skills insights into practical, employer-led strategies to keep Colorado competitive.
We have captured audio from each of our sessions and made them available to you on podcatchers everywhere. This is Session 3:
Session 3: Colorado Business Roundtable Workforce Survey: From Signals to Strategy
What are employers actually seeing — and how are they responding? New findings from the Colorado Business Roundtable workforce survey, with insights and analysis from Accenture, highlight key trends shaping talent strategy, from AI adoption to critical skill gaps. A practical, employer-driven look at how to turn workforce signals into action.
Data Briefing: Survey Results Revealed featuring: Eyal Darmon, Managing Director of Public Service, Accenture
Employer Strategy Discussion: Moderated by: Sara Cotter, Managing Director of Public Service, Accenture
Eve Lieberman, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Jeanie Kelley, Vice President of Human Resources, RK Industries
Joel Orn, Site Director, Entegris
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Empower Field at Mile High, Colorado Business Roundtable hosted a signature event: Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy. The event is described thusly: Colorado’s workforce landscape is full of reports, rankings, and projections—but what do they actually mean for employers trying to hire, retain, and grow? Built for executives, HR and talent leaders, and workforce and higher-ed partners, this Future of Work convening cut through conflicting signals and translated the latest labor-market and skills insights into practical, employer-led strategies to keep Colorado competitive.
We have captured audio from each of our sessions and made them available to you on podcatchers everywhere. This is Session 2:
From Purpose to Performance: What the Data Says About an Engaged Workforce
Nearly half of employees say they work primarily for a paycheck — yet those who feel a strong sense of purpose are significantly more engaged and less likely to leave. Justin Lall of Gallup breaks down the data behind “purpose at work” and what it means for employers navigating retention, burnout, and culture in today’s labor market.
Featuring: Justin Lall, Principal, Gallup
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Andy Boian is the CEO of dovetail solutions. He founded dovetail solutions in 2005, with this idea of facilitating the intersection of the corporate world with non-profit organizations/NGOs, and local, state and federal governments to accomplish seemingly intractable goals in communications, branding and marketing, community, and civic involvement, with results driven solutions. As its founder, Andy drives the direction, growth and strategy for the firm. Andy has a long and impressive resume and background, some of which you can read here.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Andy shares his personal and professional journey that saw him work in the Clinton White House, work in corporate communications and with a variety of nonprofits on the road to founding dovetail solutions. He and Debbie discuss how to disagree civilly in the name of shared goals, projects that stand out in his mind, why remains active in such a broad spectrum of projects, and what goals remain for him after a long and impressive career. Andy also tells a particularly harrowing story that served as an inflection point in his life.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Steve Forbes is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media. Steve’s newest project is the podcast “What’s Ahead,” where he engages the world’s top newsmakers, politicians and pioneers in business and economics in honest conversations meant to challenge traditional conventions as well as featuring Steve’s signature views on the intersection of society, economic and policy. Steve writes editorials for each issue of Forbes under the heading of “Fact and Comment.” In both 1996 and 2000, Steve campaigned vigorously for the Republican nomination for the Presidency. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits and a strong national defense. Steve continues to energetically promote this agenda.
Naomi Boyd, PhD, serves as the 24th dean of the Daniels College of Business and a professor in the Reiman School of Finance. She is a seasoned leader with a diverse background spanning industry, government and academia, and over three decades of expertise in strategy, fiscal management, research and academic administration. Passionate about the intersection of business and industry, she is dedicated to equipping the next generation of principle-based, agile business leaders with cutting-edge skills and an entrepreneurial spirit. Dean Boyd’s commitment to philanthropy and community engagement has revitalized fundraising efforts at the institutions she has served, resulting in record-breaking contributions and impactful industry collaborations. Her career is anchored at the intersection of industry, academia and regulation. Her focus is on transformative leadership, impactful students experiences, an unwavering commitment to education, a relentless pursuit of innovation and shaping a brighter future for business education with true societal impact.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table Mr. Forbes and Dr. Boyd share a stimulating conversation about business, entrepreneurship, how elected officials can utilize business leaders and learn from them, how to equip younger generations for success and much, much more. We are intensely grateful for the opportunity to connect with such outstanding and thoughtful leaders and know you will get a lot out of this conversation.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
As Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, Dr. Marielena DeSanctis is committed to empowering students, faculty, and partners to build a stronger Colorado—one learner and one community at a time. Through the System’s 13 colleges, she champions access, affordability, and inclusive excellence, ensuring that every learner has a pathway to success, no matter where they start or where they are headed. A former engineer turned educator, she brings over 26 years of experience spanning K–12 and higher education and a deep belief in the power of community colleges to transform lives and communities.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Dr. DeSanctis shares her unique professional journey that has led her to leading CCCS. She dispels myths about community college, provides insights about graduates' and attendees' ROI from their time in the system, and offers a vision for the future of education. She touches on current pertinent issues like AI, higher education funding, workforce development and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Join State Business Roundtable Presidents from across the country for a candid conversation offering state-by-state perspectives on the top issues shaping business and public policy. Leaders will discuss how national and state trends impact their states, the issues top of mind for business, and how regional perspectives can drive a stronger U.S. economy. Recorded on March 12, 2026. This discussion features:
Debbie Brown, President, Colorado Business Roundtable
Pat Tiberi, President/CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable
Rob Lapsly, President, California Business Roundtable
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Chase McQuillen serves as Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director at Loenbro. Loenbro provides comprehensive industrial and mission-critical services—including new construction, maintenance, fabrication, electrical, data center, insulation, scaffolding, pipeline, heat treatment, and inspection solutions—delivering safety-focused, turnkey support for energy, manufacturing, mining, federal, and infrastructure projects across the U.S. Since joining the company in 2013,he has played a central role in its evolution from a founder-led regional contractor into a diversified, multi-region operator. Appointed COO in 2024,Chase holds full P&L responsibility for all operating companies, regions, and acquisitions.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Chase shares his professional journey and provides many lessons learned along the way. He discusses what goes into the infrastructure that is the backbone of the United States, how the COVID pandemic forced their business to pivot, how data centers are evolving how they interact with the public and utilize resources, and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Join State Business Roundtable Presidents from across the country for a candid conversation offering state-by-state perspectives on the top issues shaping business and public policy. Leaders will discuss how national and state trends impact their states, the issues top of mind for business, and how regional perspectives can drive a stronger U.S. economy. Filmed on February 19, 2026. This discussion features:
Debbie Brown, President, Colorado Business Roundtable
Adam Knapp, CEO, Leaders for a Better Louisiana
Justin Yancy, President, Texas Business Leadership Council
Michael Simas, President/CEO, The Florida Council Of 100
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Lyle Wallace is the partner-in-charge of the Colorado and Nevada offices for Taft, which refers to itself as "The Modern Law Firm." Lyle explains exactly what that means as part of our wide-ranging conversation with him that covers his professional journey, the type of work he does, his philanthropic efforts, his outlook on the business climate and much more.
As mergers and acquisitions counsel, Lyle guides corporations and private equity groups through acquisitions, dispositions, and mergers, both domestic and international. He has represented clients in hundreds of transactions during his career and has developed a reputation not only as a talented legal practitioner but also as a practical problem-solver. A client has referred to Lyle as “the most pragmatic and solutions-oriented attorney we have ever worked with.”
Get to know Lyle on this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
On January 28, 2026, Colorado Business Roundtable hosted its annual State of the State event at the Denver Art Musem. At that event, we took a look at Colorado’s progress in recent years and the priorities that will shape its long-term competitiveness. We had a forward-looking dialogue on what the future demands from both policymakers and employers. After short opening remarks, Governor Polis participated in a moderated Q&A with executives from some of Colorado’s leading employers. The members of the panel were:
David Coors - Chairman and Head of Business Relations at Molson Coors Beverage Company
Erin Waggoner - Senior Director of State and Local Government Affairs at Verizon
George Sparks - CEO of Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Debbie Brown - President of Colorado Business Roundtable
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report produced by the Colorado Workforce Development Council identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage. The CWDC released the 2025 Talent Pipeline Report on Dec. 16, 2025. This twelfth iteration of the Talent Pipeline Report analyzes and explains labor market information, highlights talent development strategies, and provides data-informed opportunities to enhance the talent pipeline in Colorado.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Debbie welcomes Talent Pipeline Senior Analyst Ryan Gedney and Managing Director Lee Wheeler-Berliner to the show to discuss the findings of this year's report. Where is there growth? Where are there opportunities? What challenges still exist? All of these questions and much more will be answered.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Ryan Gedney is the talent pipeline analyst for the Colorado Workforce Development Council and the Colorado Department of Higher Education. In this shared-agency position, Ryan’s role is motivated by data creation and collection as an analytical tool for informed decision making. He supports the CWDC’s efforts to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development system through his empirical research and analyses centered on Colorado's workforce from both demand and supply perspectives.
As the Managing Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office, Lee manages the execution of strategies to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development system in Colorado. By forging relationships with industry and public partners at the local and state level, Lee helps to ensure the alignment of talent development efforts statewide. Lee has been with the CWDC since 2014 and brings extensive project management and leadership experience to this role.
Chad brings more than 28 years of leadership experience to his role as President & CEO of Ent Credit Union. Since he became CEO in October 2017, Ent has doubled in assets, members, employees, and locations. Ent continues to receive community, state, and national level recognition as a “best of” credit union and employer. Chad joined Ent in September 1999, as the Manager of eCommerce and was responsible for implementation of web-based online banking and progressed over the years to the Chief Information Officer role. During his tenure at Ent, he has held several leadership roles in Technology, Marketing, and Operations, prior to becoming President & CEO. Prior to Ent, Chad held technology positions at ADC Telecommunications and Nationwide Insurance.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Chad shares more about his professional journey, the challenges and opportunities present when incorporating new technology like online banking in the past and AI today, as well as what excites him going forward. He talks about Ent being active in the community, championing financial literacy, and what differentiates Ent from traditional banks and other credit unions.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Mark Cornetta is Senior Vice President of Media for TEGNA and President & General Manager of KUSA/KTVD (9News) in Denver. This portfolio includes KUSA Channel 9 as well as KTVD Channel 20 9NEWS.com and others. Launched in the 1990s and now a vital news source for Coloradoans that updates news, weather and sports 24 hours a day. 9NEWS+, a free streaming app on Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, Android TV, and Apple TV, launched in 2022. From their "About Us" page on their website: "The story of 9NEWS is an evolution of people and technology. Film to videotape. Black and white to color. Analog to digital. But one thing that hasn't changed since 1952 is our commitment to bring Colorado the best programming possible."
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Mark shares his professional journey and how he ultimately ended up at 9News. He chronicles the evolution of the business from his unique viewpoint and discusses the current challenges and opportunities facing local news, how the industry proceeds from here, what he expects from the FCC, and much, much more. Mark has worked in this industry for more than 40 years, and his insights about the current state of affairs, as well as where things head from here are valuable and incisive.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
George Sparks has been the President/CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science since November 2004. He spent 24 years in the electronics measurement business at Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. His career included marketing, sales, and general management of global businesses in software, systems, and services.
George's passion is public policy, particularly around science and education. He is a member of the Colorado Forum, Colorado Concern, and is on the Boards of Colorado Education Initiative, Colorado Business Roundtable, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Denver Council of Foreign Relations, and Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
George is also the founder of the Institute for Science & Policy, a program of the Museum., which strives to make science a second-nature consideration in public discourse. The Institute works across divides to help solve our most complex statewide, national, and global challenges. We are non-partisan, policy neutral, and serve as a convener and honest broker. With polarization rising, trust in institutions falling, the media seen as increasingly biased, and cultural divides creating challenges for our common humanity, the Institute is positioned to address the wicked collective action issues that define our modern world. If we are to make progress, we need a trusted space where people can learn, share, and work towards science-based solutions.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Kyle Koontz is Chief Executive Officer of BPX Energy, headquartered in Denver. In September 2018, BPX Energy formally opened its 160,000-square-foot headquarters in Denver. From there, BPX manages world-class assets in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins in Texas, and Haynesville Basin in Texas and Louisiana. BPX supports more than 1,900 jobs throughout the state and has spent more than $1.5 million within local communities in support of education, the environment and Denver homeless shelters since 2019.
At the helm of BPX Energy, Kyle's focus is on steering the company through a transformative era in the energy sector. He maintains a strategic approach to asset management, fostering a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and financial prudence. With almost two decades of experience in the industry, Kyle's expertise lies in manufacturing process improvement and new business development, ensuring BPX Energy thrives in a competitive market.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Tim Taylor is Co-Founder and President of America Succeeds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to engaging business leaders in modernizing education systems to drive equity and opportunity.
America Succeeds was founded in 2014 with a vision of building public education systems to prepare every student to succeed in the competitive global economy and contribute to their local community. For us, that means ensuring business leaders are engaged as education champions. It is our belief that businesses have the obligation, opportunity, and capacity to foster greater student achievement, build an educated workforce pipeline, and protect our future economic vitality.
Tim passionately leads with a belief in education’s power to transform life trajectories and drive economic mobility. He combines executive, nonprofit, and public policy experience in a way that’s as rare as it is effective. Before launching America Succeeds, he served as the founding president of Colorado Succeeds.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Tim shares the fascinating work America Succeeds does and discusses the organization's findings about what employers want from their workforce, the "durable skills" that are highest in demand, and where the future of work is likely to take us. His knowledge and passion shine brilliantly as he shares his many learnings with our audience.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Mel Stricklan is Executive Director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow, the premier initiative dedicated to closing the space industry’s growing STEM talent gap while driving the development of a highly skilled, and mission-ready workforce. Powered by leading industry, government, and academic partners, SWFT is structured to INSPIRE, PREPARE, and EMPLOY the next generation of space professionals.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Mel shares her professional journey that saw her fall in love with astronauts, space, and science from a very young age and then navigate her way through an impressive array of stops before landing at Space Workforce for Tomorrow. She shares the challenges currently facing the industry, discusses how she works to address them, and what the future of talent looks like in this exciting, dynamic and cutting edge field.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Jason Janz co-founded CrossPurpose with Juan Pena in 2008, influenced greatly by spending his childhood and adolescence in poverty. With the goal of abolishing relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through career and community development, Jason’s passion for social entrepreneurship and serving the poor is satisfied through his role as CEO where he builds the team, sets the organizational culture, and raises funds.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Jason joins Debbie Brown and discusses how CrossPurpose differs from other similar organizations and focuses not only on the axiom of "teaching a man to fish" but by giving him the right fishing pole and understanding how best to utilize skills with the ultimate goal of building generational wealth. It's a fascinating chat with an organizational leader who is truly inspiring and approaches societal issues with creativity, humanity and dedication.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
In Colorado, and throughout the country and much of the world, frankly, the name "Coors" is instantly recognizable. Founded in 1873 in Golden, Colorado, Molson Coors has grown, evolved and endured for more than 150 years. The youngest of 6 children to former face of Coors Brewing and its Chairman for many years, Pete, David Coors is currently executive chair of Coors Spirits Co. and current Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.
David joins A Seat at the Table to give us insight into the history of Coors, his journey through it holding various management positions throughout his career, and a snapshot of some of the trends in the beer, spirits, and other beverage categories. He discusses the origin of Coors Spirits Co., tells an amusing story about the development of Blue Moon, and discusses at length the family and company's commitment to staying involved in the Colorado business, civic and nonprofit community.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Mike Coffman grew up in Aurora, attended Aurora Public Schools, graduated from the University of Colorado, and completed the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a combat veteran with service in both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps and was an Aurora small-business owner for 17 years. Coffman served in the State House of Representatives, State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, in addition to being elected Colorado State Treasurer and Secretary of State. Coffman was first elected to serve as mayor of Aurora in November 2019 and re-elected in 2023.
Mayor Coffman joins A Seat at the Table to discuss all things Aurora. Included in this episode are discussions about fixing the immigration system, President-elect Trump's pointed words about the city and about immigration generally, economic revitalization, why Aurora is a great place to do business, and much more. Mayor Coffman is a champion for his city, and makes the case for why businesses should look to Aurora's bright future as they consider expansion or relocation.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
The United States, Mexico and Canada have a unique relationship with each other in terms of trade, immigration, the economy, and a host of other issues. How will the relationships evolve with the looming change in leadership in both the U.S. and Mexico? What can we expect? What can we hope for? What would an ideal path forward look like? Addressing these questions with COBRT President Debbie Brown are Enrique Perret, Managing Director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation and Justin Yancy, President of the Texas Business Leadership Council.
Enrique Perret is a prominent leader with a long history of commitment to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico. During his time in the Mexican government, Enrique was known for his focus on leading governmental commitments and business development strategies between the two countries. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the US-Mexico Foundation and is the President and Founder of the North Capital Forum, an initiative of the USMF that seeks to promote North America as an economic, social, and political powerhouse.
Justin Yancy joined the Texas Business Leadership Council (TBLC) as its President in July 2001. Established in 1994, the TBLC is a statewide network of CEOs and senior business executives who advance a long-term vision of a prosperous Texas in a globally competitive business environment. Justin is responsible for all aspects of the TBLC’s mission and organization including managing membership involvement and overseeing policy work and general operations.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Kristina Scala is Founder and President of Aspen Academy and a litany of other organizations. Aspen Academy is involved with and supports 25+ local, state, national and international organizations through a robust and integrated service learning program, fostering servant leadership fundamentals. Scala’s vocal and continual commitment to service within the Aspen Community is that service is a requisite norm in a life committed to doing good: when we commit to doing good we grow, and our community grows.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Kristina shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, discusses her fierce advocacy for evolving our education system, and talks at length about her guiding principles as both a business owner and a change agent. She and Debbie talk about workforce needs both present and future, and they delve into how Aspen Academy is equipping the learners of today with the skills they need to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
David Scott is the Construction Industry Advocate at Encore Electric, where he helps the company continue to grow within the Rocky Mountain West. During his years at Encore Electric, Scott has helped to reshape the Human Resources Department to fit the company’s expanding needs. His emphasis on a culture that focuses on teamwork, collaboration and ethics, and that rewards success, has placed Encore Electric among the top electrical contracting firms in Colorado. His extensive leadership and apprenticeship training programs support the company’s long-term growth goals and incorporate knowledge gained over his 23 years in a wide variety of industries and disciplines within Human Resources.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, David discusses his fierce advocacy for the skilled trades, talks at length about Encore's unique apprenticeship program, and he and Debbie go in depth about the future of both education and labor.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Kim McHugh is a second-generation driller who grew up in the industry, oversees Chevron’s exploration and production activities in the Colorado DJ Basin and on the Western Slope as the Vice President, Rockies Business Unit. Chevron has 327,000 net acres (1,323 sq km) in Colorado’s DJ Basin In 2020, net daily oil-equivalent production was 148,000 barrels, composed of 98,000 barrels of liquids and 301 million cubic feet of natural gas (a combined 36,000 barrels of oil-equivalent attributable to Chevron in 2020).
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Kim shares her remarkable journey through the energy industry that led her ultimately to Colorado. She and Debbie discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Colorado, working as a woman in a male-dominated industry, the present and future of energy, and much more. Kim is a thoughtful, effective leader whose insights on a wide variety of topics are incisive, vital, and nuanced.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
John Marshall is the 11th president of Colorado Mesa University (CMU), a mid-sized comprehensive public university in Grand Junction, Colorado. He also serves as an instructor in CMU’s early start programs and as a lecturer of political science. Prior to his current role, Mr. Marshall served as the vice president for student services where he was responsible for enrollment management and student affairs, which included leading the Admissions Office, University Center, Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Life, International Student Programs, student health clinic services, student mental health services, diversity and advocacy, and campus safety/police.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, John talks about his unique career journey that saw him as an undergraduate student at Colorado Mesa University, and now sees him leading the institution. He talks about the critiques of higher education, where he sets Colorado Mesa apart, the future of higher ed, and how to engage with the workforce needs of today and tomorrow.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Edgar Papke is a business & leadership psychologist, a best-selling author, an award-winning speaker, a teacher, coach, and consultant. He is globally recognized for his pioneering work in the science and art of alignment. His purpose is helping people align and live better lives. He works worldwide with organizations, governments, teams, and leaders to achieve greater levels of innovation, success, and fulfillment. He is the bestselling author of the books True Alignment and The Elephant in The Boardroom, and coauthor of the Amazon bestseller Innovation by Design, a Soundview Business Book of the Year.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Edgar shares his professional journey, the insights he's gained along the way, and discusses at length the importance of personal, professional, and organizational alignment. His insights are unique and should prove useful to businesses and leaders of all stripes as they navigate their professional lives.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Kenneth Monfort is a fifth-generation Colorado business owner committed to enriching the lives of all Coloradans. As owner and EVP of Monfort Companies, Kenneth invests in ventures and develops commercial properties that serve as economic drivers and growth engines for both rural and urban communities. Born in Greeley, Kenneth has deep roots in Colorado and is committed to building a next-generation company that honors his family’s legacy in agriculture, real estate and energy.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Kenneth shares his personal journey and discusses his roots in Northern Colorado in the cattle business. He also discusses his work in real estate and investing and why he's optimistic about the future of Denver. Kenneth is a thoughtful, insightful leader whose Colorado roots run deep, which he has channeled into a multitude of successful business ventures.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Chris is the managing partner for the Denver office at Deloitte Consulting LLP. He is responsible for driving client and business growth, facilitating cross-functional teaming, and further enhancing strategic positioning in the Denver market. In his more than 20-year career with Deloitte, he has seen the Colorado practice grow from 200 professionals to over 1,300 across four offices.
Chris is also former Chair of the Colorado Business Roundtable. On this week's episode, Chris shares his professional journey, provides insights into the work of Deloitte, how the company has adapted to new issues like artificial intelligence, and provides an outlook for the coming years.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Katie Brown is Founder and Chief Learning Officer of EnGen, a skills-focused, virtual English language learning platform for organizations and employers working with limited English proficient employees. Katie holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and over twenty years of experience in applied language research. EnGen is her brainchild.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Katie shares her experience from all over the world of teaching adult learners English. She discusses why so many English learning programs fail here in the United States, what COVID taught us about online learning, why English is a workforce skill, how dual language speakers have a superpower and much more. This is a conversation not to be missed as Katie's unparalleled experience and insight gives her unique perspective into the workforce needs of today and tomorrow.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Eve Lieberman is the Executive Director of The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) creates a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. We advance the state’s economy through financial and technical programs under the leadership of the Governor and Executive Director. Their mission is to empower all to thrive in Colorado's economy.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Eve discusses her own personal journey which started in Washington, DC where she worked for then Representative Jared Polis and then compelled her to relocate to Colorado to work under the now Governor. She talks about what draws her to work in government and politics, the work of OEDIT, her successes, how she views the future and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Eve Lieberman was appointed by the Governor to serve as the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade on January 2nd, 2023. Prior to that, she had served as the Chief Policy Advisor and Legislative Counsel for Governor Jared Polis for all four years of his first term. She managed the legislative policy and federal affairs teams and oversaw many successful Governor priorities, including the passage of Free Full Day Kindergarten, the implementation of universal preschool, historic investments in transportation, and economic recovery programs.
Kirk Mielenz is co-founder and the CEO of RevGen Partners, a Colorado-headquartered business and technology
consulting firm. As CEO, Kirk views his role primarily as “enabler-in-chief” providing the vision, direction,
resources, and trust to empower people – employees, clients, and the broader community. In 2008, Kirk and his fellow co-founders took a leap of faith and embarked on a journey to build RevGen, a professional services firm that that would enable its clients, people, and community in new and significant ways.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Kirk discusses everything from new developments in AI to uncovering hidden biases in business to the importance of engaging with policymakers and helping them understand hidden impacts to business as they craft well-intentioned policies. Kirk is a thoughtful, engaging leader whose entrepreneurial drive has emboldened him to serve his business, his clients, and his community.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Diana Higuera is the Executive Director and founder of the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, a not-for-profit organization with the mission of fostering intercultural learning, understanding and integration among immigrants, refugees and the Colorado residents, where she oversees all aspects of the development of the center. Prior to founding the Rocky Mountain Welcome Center, Diana was the Executive Director of the Aurora Welcome Center, leading the merger of AWC. In addition, she is responsible for the development of the award-winning Natural Helpers program in partnership with the City of Aurora.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Diana shares her own personal story that led her to this role. She also discusses the challenges faced by migrants and refugees and what to do about it, including providing workforce training and authorizations to work. As someone on the front lines of the issue, she shares her unique insights and discusses the issue with nuance, depth, and sophistication.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Lynn Granger is Midwest/Mountain West Region Director at American Petroleum Institute. She has a rich background that includes a stint in the United States Army, prestigious business group Colorado Concern, and now finds herself advocating for the oil and natural gas industry through API.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Lynn shares her professional journey, discusses the incredible technological advances made by the oil and natural gas industry in recent years, the continuing need for oil and natural gas for a growing population, the challenges facing this industry in Colorado and much more. Lynn is a talented professional and she offers candid and important insights into one of Colorado's most vital industries.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Alexandre Padilla, Ph.D., is the chair and professor of the Department of Economics at Metropolitan State University of Denver. His areas of expertise include insider trading, business economics, stock exchanges, securities and regulation, economic analysis of political decisions and business ethics. He is currently teaching Principles of Microeconomics. Padilla has taught at MSU Denver since 2002. He serves as the director of the Exploring Economic Freedom Project at MSU Denver, which educates students and the general public about the role of economic and political freedom in promoting entrepreneurship, economic growth, prosperity and peace.
Alex also emigrated from France and that experience has lent him unique insight into the immigration process for the United States. He joins Debbie for a conversation about both legal and illegal immigration. How does the system work (or not work)? What can be done to improve it? How do we stack up against other countries? And what does the future hold? All of these questions and more are answered on this week's show.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report produced by the Colorado Workforce Development Council identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Debbie welcomes talent pipeline economist Caitline McKennie and managing director Lee Wheeler-Berliner to the show to discuss the findings of this year's report. Where is there growth? Where are there opportunities? What challenges still exist? All of these questions and much more will be answered.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Caitlin McKennie is the talent pipeline economist for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office and the Colorado Department of Higher Education. In this shared-agency position, Caitlin’s role is motivated by data creation and collection as an analytical tool for informed decision-making. She supports the CWDC’s efforts to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development network through her empirical research and analyses centered on Colorado's workforce from both demand and supply perspectives.
As the Managing Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office, Lee Wheeler-Berliner manages the execution of strategies to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development system in Colorado. By forging relationships with industry and public partners at the local and state level, Lee helps to ensure the alignment of talent development efforts statewide. Lee has been with the CWDC since 2014 and brings extensive project management and leadership experience to this role.
Shelli Brunswick is Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983, offering a gateway to education, information and collaboration for space exploration and space-inspired industries that define the global space ecosystem. She brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem — from a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role, including overseeing Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance. Advocating for space technology innovation and entrepreneurship, Shelli collaborates with government, commercial and educational sectors on initiatives for space commerce, young professionals, teacher development, and space-inspired curriculum.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Shelli shares her own professional journey, passion for space, and unique insights into how the space industry impacts our daily lives in ways we either don't know, or don't think about. She discusses how Colorado is a hub for the space industry, how to be more inclusive of underserved groups in the future of the space industry, and much more in a wide-ranging and friendly chat.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Patty Salazar is the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA is the state's umbrella regulatory agency, charged with managing licensing and registration for multiple professions and businesses, implementing balanced regulation for Colorado industries, and protecting consumers. As DORA’s Executive Director, she leads a Department of roughly 600 employees with a $120 million budget, and provides support to DORA’s 10 distinct divisions, as well as the Colorado Office of Policy, Research and Regulatory Reform (COPRRR), the Broadband Deployment Board, and the communications, legislative and operational services located within the Executive Director’s Office.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Patty shares additional insights into the agency, her own personal journey, why the agency is important to all Coloradans, and more. She sits at a unique intersection of business, regulation, and consumer protection that is sometimes overlooked by the public. Her insights are tremendous, and the conversation varied and engaging.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Jenifer Waller was promoted to Chief Executive Officer and President of the Colorado Bankers Association in January 2022 after serving as President since 2020. Waller joined CBA in 1999 as the Senior Vice President responsible for state government relations and banking advocacy. In 2016, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer accountable for the daily operations and management of the association. Prior to her days at CBA, Waller spent almost five years as a bank examiner for the Colorado Division of Banking.
Shawn Osthoff is President of the Bank of Colorado, one of the oldest banks in the state, with their first charter issued in Ft. Lupton in 1900. Bank of Colorado serves communities throughout the Eastern Plains, the Front Range, the Western Slope and the Four Corners Region. He is a Colorado native, and has been serving our communities since 1995. Attending both the University of Northern Colorado and Colorado State University, Mr. Osthoff is a proud Coloradan.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, these two important cogs in the Colorado banking scene discuss the current lay of the land for banks in Colorado and beyond. They delve into how banks establish and maintain trust, why the recent bank failures in California and New York are unlikely to happen in Colorado, and what lies ahead for the industry this year and beyond. Banks are in many ways the barometer of the economy at large. This episode provides an inside look at the banking industry from two industry insiders.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
September is Workforce Development Month, and we're pleased to welcome Lisanne McNew, Chair of the Colorado Workforce Development Council and Vice Chair Jonathan Liebert to the show to discuss the work CWDC does, what workforce centers do and what services they offer, and talk about overall workforce issues in Colorado.
In addition to serving as Chair for the CWDC, Lisanne McNew is President & CEO of SAFE Engineering, a customer focused technical services provider that provides comprehensive engineering and maintenance support to include evaluation and approval of repairs and modifications, evaluation of process specifications and development of specialized installation and tooling procedures. Jonathan Liebert is CEO/Executive Director of Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado. Since August of 1980, Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado has helped consumers find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. BBB of Southern Colorado serves 25 counties throughout Southern Colorado and sets standards for marketplace trust – to create a community of dependable businesses and charities – by encouraging and supporting best practices, educating consumers and businesses, celebrating business role models, and calling out and addressing substandard marketplace behavior.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
In honor of Workforce Development Month, we welcome Tracy Marques, Executive Director/CEO of Pikes Peak Workforce Center and Stephanie Mufic, Business Innovation and Strategy Unit Manager for Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The Pikes Peak Workforce Center connects vital businesses with work-ready job seekers and employer-driven services. They help residents of El Paso & Teller Counties with career transition, whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or employed. Clients range from entry-level to professional, including youth, adults, people returning to the workforce, and those with barriers to employment. They provide job search and training opportunities, including 20 different job seeker workshops at no cost.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Tracy and Stephanie share their passion for helping people reach fulfillment in their careers, discuss how workforce development centers actually function, tell engaging anecdotes about success stories, and share their own personal journeys into this field. It's an interesting look at how workforce centers serve as connective tissue between firms looking to hire and job seekers looking for ideal landing spots.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Tamra Ryan is the CEO of Women’s Bean Project, a social enterprise providing transitional employment in its food manufacturing business to women attempting to break the cycle of chronic unemployment and poverty. She serves as an Economic Mobility Fellow for Common Sense Institute Colorado.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Tamra shares her professional journey that led her to Women's Bean Project, discusses the issues many of the women she works with face, and gives an overview of the report she completed with Common Sense Institute titled "Colorado’s Workforce Woes Should Spell Opportunity for Economic Mobility." Here's the summary of that report:
"Colorado’s labor force is facing an unprecedented shortage, and conventional trends alone won’t resolve the issue. The state’s tight labor market, with 2.7 jobs for every unemployed person, is resulting in a significant $46 billion loss in annual GDP. A substantial portion of the unemployed and marginally attached to the labor force are people with barriers to employment, such as disabilities, past incarceration, lack of childcare, and educational attainment challenges. To address these issues, employers, educational institutions, and the workforce system need to innovate and better align with the jobs of the future. Integrating basic education with job training, as seen in Washington State’s I-BEST program, and adopting Utah’s One Door policy for improved data sharing and support services are potential solutions. By addressing these barriers, Colorado can bridge the gap between labor demand and supply, leading to economic growth and improved opportunities for its workforce."
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Sylvain Fabi is the Consul General of Canada in Denver. He joined the Consulate General of Canada in Denver in October 2020. As Canada's Consul General in the U.S. Mountain West Region, Mr. Fabi oversees a team of 17 people who work within Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Utah and Wyoming to strengthen trade and economic ties; enhance political, academic and cultural links; and assist Canadians visiting or living in the five-state territory. He is also Canada’s chief negotiator for the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty with the United States.
Kathryn Burkell is the Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada, Denver Colorado
Kathryn Burkell is from Vancouver and joined the Trade Commissioner Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in 1994. She began her foreign service career with various assignments in Ottawa and, in 1998, was appointed Vice Consul and Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, followed by assignments in Vancouver, Panama and Barcelona. In September 2019, Kathryn joined the Consulate General in Denver, where she is delighted to lead an excellent team of trade commissioners covering the Mountain West region, and enjoys exploring the mountains and plains of these beautiful states.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Sylvain and Kathryn join Debbie to discuss just how intertwined Canada and the United States are, why the depth of the relationship is so important, how Colorado specifically ties into things, and issues they're keeping an eye on. If you were unaware of just how deep this relationship goes, this episode is both informative and stimulating.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Mary Zappone is CEO of Sundyne, one of the few companies that design & manufacture both pumps and compressors. Through organic & inorganic growth, Sundyne has assembled industry-leading brands that provide customers with a wide range of fluid and gas handling services and solutions.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Mary shares her own professional journey, the insights and advice she gained along the way, and what opportunities and challenges face a company like Sundyne. The episode touches on issues of energy security, geopolitics, workforce development, and Sundyne's impressive global footprint.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Dee Daniels Scriven is the Director of The Office of New Americans serves as the point of contact for state agencies, private sector organizations, and the public to advance the integration and inclusion of immigrants and refugees in Colorado communities. The office falls under the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. In recognition of New Americans’ significant economic, cultural, and civic contributions to Colorado, on June 25, 2021, Governor Jared Polis signed HB 21-1150, creating an Office of New Americans in Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment. The bill expands the work of the New American Integration Initiative, which launched in November of 2019. The bill also requires that the office implement a statewide strategy to facilitate economic stability and promote successful economic, social, linguistic, and cultural integration by investing in the success of immigrants in Colorado.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Dee Daniels Scriven talks about her career journey that led to her taking the helm of this new department in Colorado. They talk about the immigrant journey, the roadblocks and obstacles that exist for New Americans, how the office helps to overcome those, and much more in a stimulating and informative chat.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
BOK Financial is a top 25 U.S.-based bank, offering sophisticated wealth, commercial and consumer products and services. For more than ten years, Bill Sullivan has led BOK Financial’s Colorado Market as President and Chief Executive Officer. In his role, Bill works to strengthen the community – by investing in our community’s greatest needs or funneling capital into growing companies and the local economy. Marisa Famariss joined BOK Financial in 2008. She has more than 30 years of Treasury experience from both regional and money center financial institutions. Marisa’s primary focus throughout her career involves educating companies on emerging technologies and the benefits they deliver.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Bill and Marisa share their own personal journeys into their current roles, how BOK Financial maintains solid relationships during economic times both good and bad, how they work to make a positive impact on the Colorado community and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
The University of Northern Colorado is creating a College of Osteopathic Medicine – a project that will expand the program offerings in the health sciences and position the university to better meet the workforce needs of the state and region. A College of Osteopathic Medicine at UNC will greatly enhance the strength, health and prosperity of our people and our communities.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Debbie welcomes UNC President Andy Feinstein and Founding Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine Beth Longenecker, DO, MS, FACOEP, FACEP. They discuss the current state of healthcare, workforce development in Colorado, how much of an employment driver healthcare is, and why osteopathic medicine is the right course of UNC. It's the intersection of many issues pertinent to Colorado business - education, healthcare, and workforce development.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
We live in a time where broadband access is no longer a luxury, but a critical tool – connectivity is essential for individuals and businesses. Colorado set an ambitious goal to connect 99% of Colorado households to high-speed broadband by the end of 2027. While there are many methods for broadband expansion, microtrenching is a minimally invasive, rapid, cost efficient, and environmentally-friendly method to deploy fiber infrastructure across the state. Over the last few years Crown Castle has been updating wireless infrastructure in several Colorado communities with fiber and small cell builds.
Scott Harry is the Government Affairs Manager at Crown Castle, the nation's largest provider of shared communications infrastructure - cell towers, small cells, fiber - which connects businesses to the data, technology, and wireless services we all rely on every day. The company's comprehensive infrastructure portfolio consists of more than 40,000 cell towers, approximately 70,000 on-air or under-contract small cell nodes, and approximately 80,000 route miles of fiber.
Mark Guillen an external affairs leader specializing in Public Affairs, Government Relations for Telecommunications, Healthcare, Municipal Water and Energy Recovery Management. Experienced in building partnerships and coalitions that drive corporate goals across multiple states in the western region of the United States. Mark currently directs Public Affairs efforts in the 13 Western states for Crown Castle Inc.
Scott and Mark join A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown to discuss microtrenching technology and upcoming legislation that would be conducive to Crown Castle and other companies speeding up broadband deployment in the state. They also discuss how the pandemic highlighted the vital importance of having access to reliable broadband internet, what opportunities they see ahead, and the general state of our country's infrastructure, and more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee proudly serves as the sixth President of the Community College of Aurora in Colorado. In addition, Dr. Mordecai publishes frequently, including serving as a columnist for EdSurge. He also teaches for Lamar University within the College of Education & Human Development and serves as an international keynote speaker. Dr. Mordecai has been featured on a number of local, state, and national platforms including the American Association of Community Colleges Community College Journal, NASPA Leadership Exchange, EdUp Experience, and EdTech Magazine. This year, Dr. Mordecai was named 40 Under 40 by the prestigious Denver Business Journal and the Community Leader of the Year by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, he was featured by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine as a “New School” leader representing the next generation of college presidents.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Debbie Brown welcomes Dr. Brownlee to discuss his personal and professional journey to becoming the President of the Community College of Aurora. The two met and hit it off at a gathering of business and higher education leaders as they discuss how higher education can evolve to meet the needs and challenges of growing and developing a robust workforce in Colorado. Dr. Brownlee is someone with bold ideas, a tireless work ethic, and a hunger for creative partnerships which makes this a dynamite conversation.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Richard Goering is Chief Operating Officer for CAP Logistics. Since 1982, CAP Logistics has specialized in providing freight solutions to industries that cannot afford expensive downtime. Our business began with a focus on 24/7/365 emergency air freight and expedited truck shipments. While these services continue to be core competencies, CAP’s service offering has expanded to include truckload, LTL, managed transportation, and air charter services.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Richard shares why CAP Logistics has undertaken an ESG program, worked to track its carbon footprint, and install solar panels on its warehouses not only to benefit the environment, but their neighbors as well. He discusses how CAP does what it does, why being a good neighbor is good business and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Few topics in the business community are more hotly debated than Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG). On this edition of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Debbie welcomes Carrie Johnson, Shareholder at Brownstein in their Denver office, and Jason Downs, Shareholder at Brownstein in their Washington, DC office. They have a frank discussion about the risks, benefits and future of ESG. This topic is not going away, so it behooves business leaders to understand ESG from a variety of angles, and Carrie and Jason provide vital insight, analysis and commentary on the state of affairs.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Carrie Johnson focuses on litigation related to complex contract, corporate governance, fiduciary duty, fraud and securities issues. In particular, she has extensive expertise in managing both internal and external crises for businesses and their owners, using her business acumen and proven instincts to create and execute multifaceted strategies.
Jason Downs taps into his experience managing one of the premier AG offices in the country and his reputation as a top-notch trial attorney to help clients engage with government enforcement agencies. As co-chair of both the State Attorneys General practice group and Environmental Social Governance (ESG) group, he serves as lead counsel for clients facing enforcement action, takes a creative approach to educating the state AG community on behalf of clients and helps businesses understand the authority of state attorneys general.
Affordable housing is on the minds of every Coloradan from elected officials to business owners to citizens. Where we call home is an existential question, no matter what part of the country you're in. But what do we do about it?
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Debbie Brown welcomes the Housing Fellows from Common Sense Institute, Evelyn Lim and Peter LiFari, to discuss the issue in depth. How did we get here? What is the best path forward? How do we need to completely reinvent and rethink our approach to housing in this country and in this state? In a spirited and feisty conversation, Peter and Evelyn share their insights from years of working in this space in a multitude of roles both within and outside government, and discuss elements from their CSI report "Voters Approved Creation of the State's First Affordable Housing Fund: What's Next?" This issue is crucial for Coloradans, so be sure to tune in! Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Joe Garcia is the Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System. As CCCS Chancellor, Garcia leads the state’s largest system of higher education, which serves over 113,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 35+ locations across Colorado. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Lt. Governor of Colorado and as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. During his time as Lt. Governor, Garcia focused on increasing equity in outcomes for all students, particularly those from low income backgrounds and communities of color. For nearly a decade, Garcia served as President at both a four-year and two-year institution.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Joe shares insights about the changing nature of higher education due to declining populations, perpetually challenging funding environments, changes necessitated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and evolving needs of the business community. Joe has a passion for higher education, an unparalleled background, and exceptional leadership skills. The conversation contained in this episode promises a multitude of insights.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Brian Fitzpatrick joined Mortenson in 2007 and is a member of the Denver Leadership Team. As Vice President, General Manager, of Mortenson’s Denver office, Brian is responsible for overall strategy development and direction of all facets of the group, including relationship management, preconstruction, construction, business development and community outreach activities.
From Mortenson's website: "We are a top 20 builder and developer fully invested in our customers’ success and improving the communities in which we live and work. We’re a construction industry leader in markets like sports facilities, renewable energy, data centers and healthcare. At the end of the day, we want to be known for making sure the built environment has a lasting positive impact. Let’s build a better world."
Brian joins the show and discusses his career history, his favorite projects since joining Mortenson, how the pandemic provided both challenge and opportunity, and a lot more. He also discusses how companies can be proactive in solving their workforce challenges, and why community outreach is so important.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Janine Davidson, Ph.D., has served as president of Metropolitan State University of Denver since 2017. She is a national thought leader in higher education and on topics such as public service, U.S. foreign policy and national security.
As president of Colorado’s third-largest public university, Davidson is a fierce advocate for MSU Denver’s 17,000 students. From her first days on campus, she has championed the role public universities play in “holding the line on the American dream.” She has staunchly advocated for legal status for Dreamers and supported MSU Denver’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students, as well as its minoritized students and military and veteran students.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Janine shares how she works with businesses to ensure her students get real world experience and connections in a job market hungry for workers, the evolving role of higher education in American culture, why higher education is still great value (despite some commentary claiming it isn't), and her remarkable background as a pilot for the United States Air Force and a civilian working in the Pentagon. It's a fascinating episode with a truly remarkable leader.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Todd Saliman became the 24th president of the University of Colorado in July 2021 following his appointment by the Board of Regents. A lifelong Coloradan and proud CU alumnus, Saliman was born and raised in Littleton, and he graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in political science. With 30 years of experience in public policy and higher education in Colorado – including serving in the state legislature, working for two Colorado governors and overseeing CU’s budget operations for more than a decade – Saliman has devoted his career to advancing the state and CU. He believes deeply in the value of higher education and the power of a four-year degree to unlock opportunity.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Todd discusses the present and future of higher education in Colorado. He also discusses the need to grow Colorado's own talent, the evolution of meeting the needs of the business community, and why University of Colorado's partnership with Colorado Business Roundtable is so vital. University of Colorado employs 30,000 people, which makes it the third largest employer in the state. It's a stimulating conversation that covers a lot of ground on education, workforce development, and cultivating partnerships.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Inspired by the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian award of the United States – the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals honor Colorado leaders who inspire excellence and community service. On this edition of A Seat at the Table, Debbie Brown welcomes Bradford Walton of Ball Corporation and Jen Landers, Executive Director of CiviCO to discuss these incredible honors, including how Ball Corporation earned this year's Corporate Citizenship Medal.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Bradford Walton has worked with Ball Corporation for more than two years. At Ball he has the dual role overseeing Ball’s external communications, inclusive of community and corporate citizenship. Driving the Foundation team at Ball, he is focused on connecting to the communities where they live and operate across the globe. He previously served as global communications director for Intuit, where he developed global communication campaigns and customized plans for the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and India.
Jen Landers is the current executive director of CiviCO and prior to that she was the executive director of Colorado Young Leaders, a leadership program for Colorado high school students. Colorado Young Leaders has since folded into CiviCO’s powerful programming to further empower a new generation of leaders. Jen is driven to act and serve Colorado now by showing how businesses that focus on the community drive profits and so much more.
Pat Meyers is Chief Economic Recovery Officer and Executive Director for Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). OEDIT creates a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth.
In December 2017, Pat was appointed the Chief of Staff to Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper and served in the role until the Governor’s term ended in 2019. Pat is a senior advisor to now Senator Hickenlooper and was a board member of his Senate campaign. In March 2020 Pat was appointed the Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader for the State of Colorado’s Covid Innovation Response Team, where he led the team obtaining PPE and other medical supplies for the State. In 2021, Pat was awarded the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Award for his work on the Covid Response Team.
Pat’s practice has included securities and franchise compliance, finance transactions, tax, mergers and acquisitions, employment matters, litigation, license and distribution, and general corporate law. He has written numerous articles and has taught various continuing legal education courses.
Pat discusses all of this plus Colorado Forward, where you can learn more about the work of Governor Jared Polis and the General Assembly to save Coloradans money, support economic recovery and resilience, and build a Colorado for all, and Opportunity Now Colorado, an $85 million grant program catalyzing transformative change for Colorado’s workforce.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Colorado Succeeds was founded in 2006 by a group of CEOs who saw the need for a non-partisan business advocacy organization focused solely on education and workforce development. As end consumers of the education and talent development system, Colorado Succeeds members advocate for policies that improve outcomes for learners, and support innovative programs in and out of the classroom. They shape and advocate for public policy that removes barriers to innovation, incentives best practices, measures outcomes, and places the learner first. They supercharge policy implementation by providing technical assistance and support to education providers and employers. And they fund education and workforce development best practices to bring them to scale.
On this episode, Debbie is joined by Katie Zaback, Vice President of Government Affairs and Ben Gerig, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships to discuss how post-secondary education continues to evolve, where the business community can be involved, and what the future looks like for workforce development.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
The future of education is frequently at the forefront of our policy discussions, and it's not hard to understand why. Our children are our future leaders in business, government and every other sector of society, so it is imperative that the education they receive prepare them effectively for the future. Dr. Don Haddad has been a leader in this space for a long time, and he joins A Seat at the Table to discuss the innovations, partnerships, and evolutions he has been a part of over his impressive career.
Dr. Don Haddad is the Superintendent of the St. Vrain School District and has an impressive career spanning 37 years where he has benefited from a broad range of experiences in several school districts while working in various teaching, coaching and administrative positions at every level, PK-12. You can read more about St. Vrain School District here, and Dr. Haddad's bio here.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Josh Miller is Manager of Community Engagement-Colorado, Kansas and Kansas City, MO for Verizon. He is part of a team that designs, implements, and executes company programs pertaining to everything from diversity, equity and inclusion to addressing climate change to equitable digital inclusion for all. Verizon has a multitude of programs designed to ensure the highest satisfaction from its four identified stakeholder groups: customers, employees, shareholders, and society as a whole.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Josh shares his journey through the world of politics that ultimately led him to Verizon, discusses what it was like to have his first day coincide with Colorado's shutdown order related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, how virtual programs translate to the real world, and a lot more. It's a jam-packed episode that paints a detailed picture of Verizon's robust initiatives.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Jason Janz co-founded CrossPurpose with Juan Pena in 2008, influenced greatly by spending his childhood and adolescence in poverty. With the goal of abolishing relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through career and community development, Jason’s passion for social entrepreneurship and serving the poor is satisfied through his role as CEO where he builds the team, sets the organizational culture, and raises funds.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Jason joins Debbie Brown for an energizing chat about the innovative model of CrossPurpose, why there needs to be 10 more organizations like his, why poverty isn't just what you see on the streets and much more.
Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher.
For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.
Bryan Perry is the Owner of Peak Benefits, a company that builds premium benefits plans at budget prices. In Bryan's own words, "The healthcare industry employs armies of consultants whose entire job is to maximize their company’s revenue from your healthcare plan. Business leaders are frustrated because they don’t have more tools when they get their annual 6% increase. We think it is wrong that your rate increase is someone else’s profits."
On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Bryan discusses his journey in business and the founding of Peak Benefits. He talks at length about the opacity of healthcare pricing, why and how he's dedicated to creating "win-win-win" solutions for businesses, consumers and providers, and where the healthcare industry goes from here, plus a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was sworn in as the State’s 39th Attorney General on January 8, 2019. As the state’s chief legal officer, Attorney General Weiser is committed to protecting the people of Colorado and building an innovative and collaborative organization that will address a range of statewide challenges, from addressing the opioid epidemic to improving our criminal justice system to protecting consumers to protecting our land, air, and water.
Attorney General Weiser has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service. Before running for office, Weiser served as the Hatfield Professor of Law and Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, where he founded the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship and co-chaired the Colorado Innovation Council.
On this episode of A Seat at the Table, AG Weiser discusses his journey to becoming Colorado's Attorney General, shares his vision for the role his office plays, discusses recent initiatives on which his office has partnered with the business community (such as opioid addiction and support) and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
FloraJane DiRienzo is Executive Director of Biennial of the Americas, which creates connections, builds community and inspires change across the Americas. They envision Denver as a global city that fosters collaboration and partnership across borders and Colorado as a state that is deeply connected to the Americas.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, FloraJane explains the origins and goals of Biennial of the Americas, and discusses at length their recent trip to Mexico City. She and Debbie talk about what parts of the trip were most impactful, the insights they gained by visiting our neighbors to the south, and what goals they have taken away from the trip. It's a fascinating look at one of Denver's most unique organizations.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Stephanie Garnica is Director Global Business Development for Denver Economic Development and Opportunity whose mission is "leading an inclusive and innovative economy for all Denver residents and businesses by supporting local and global business development, workforce development programs, and stabilization efforts in diverse neighborhoods."
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Stephanie shares with us her career journey that led to her landing here, the recent renaming of her office, why Denver is such an attractive destination for businesses from all over the world, where Denver currently stands in attracting new companies to our city post-pandemic, and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Brock Herzberg is the Coordinator for the Colorado Business Coalition for Immigration Solutions (CBCIS) in their daily efforts to assist Colorado business to find workable solutions on immigration reform. He is also a Principal owner of Capitol Focus, LLC, a government affairs firm in Denver. A native from Akron, Colorado, Brock graduated from Colorado State University in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Political Science. Brock received his Masters degree in Communications from Colorado State University in 2002.
On this week's show Brock discusses how the workforce crisis of the last three years intersects with a perpetual discussion about immigration and the impacts on the business community. He shares the work of CBCIS and others in evolving the conversation and finding solutions that work for the largest amount of Coloradans.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Luella Chavez D'Angelo is the CEO of Colorado Inclusive Economy, a statewide movement of design, intent, and action led by CEOs and leaders. They support leaders through regular facilitation, an evolving resource toolkit, and peer support to help them build specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies that align with their overall organizational goals.
Members of Colorado Inclusive Economy have made a long-term commitment to the movement and will report regularly on shared metrics to ensure that we are making regular and sustained progress towards Colorado’s inclusive economy.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Luella shares her story of coming to lead Colorado Inclusive Economy, discusses the origin and evolution of the organization, and delves deep into the work they're doing specifically related to workforce.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report produced by the Colorado Workforce Development Council identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage.
Renise Walker serves as the Assistant Director of Systems Innovation for the CWDC Office. Serving as an active leader for the CWDC Office, Renise represents the CWDC Office at state and national conferences and continues to innovate and be a thought leader in the talent development landscape in Colorado and nationally. She is responsible for critical relationship development with external partners and provides management and alignment of CWDC's efforts to lead and support industry-led networks, develop and strengthen career pathway systems, and implement stimulus-funded initiatives in support of Colorado's economic recovery.
On this episode Renise discusses the recent Talent Pipeline Report, workforce development and retention, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and all things workforce development in Colorado.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Pamela Toney is President of Colorado State University Global, the first regionally accredited public online university. Colorado State University Global was designed for the modern learner, and for over 10 years they have served 40,000 students looking to advance their careers through education. CSU Global's top-ranked, career-relevant programs focus on outcomes after graduation, and are designed to help learners move forward today with the skills they need for tomorrow.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Pam discusses the interplay between workforce development and higher education, dives deep into ensuring CSU Global's classes and degrees match the needs of modern employers, and discusses the four pillars of CSU Global that keep it vital, growing, and responsive to the needs of its students and the community at large. She also discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uniqueness of the student body, and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Celia Dietrich started Dietrich Partners seven years ago to fill a void she saw in professional services: transparent, reliable, accountable partners who provide a return on investments and take care of their people.
Now an employer of 30+ people serving public, private equity and privately-held organizations ranging in size from middle market to Fortune 100 companies, Celia provides advisory services to help clients maximize the value of transactions, deliver key strategic programs, and optimize overall performance – whether that means standing up, scaling up or preparing a company for exit. Her expertise has guided clients in multiple industry sectors, including healthcare, financial services, utilities, manufacturing, hydroponics, and hospitality.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Celia discusses her personal journey to founding Dietrich Partners, the insights she's gained in working across industries, and shares findings from her firms reports. Celia also discusses the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, how businesses have evolved and adapted, and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Jennifer Landers is the Executive Director of CiviCO, an organization that brings together Colorado’s top leaders across all sectors and industries in a non-partisan environment, rich of empowerment. From their website:
"As the strength, vitality and potential of our state continues to grow, our mission continues to expand. We educate, inspire and connect the next generation of community leaders through our elite cross sector leadership programs, enriching experiences, executive coaching and mentorship. CiviCO provides executives with pathways to a life of significance and community impact - for the future of Colorado."
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Jennifer shares her professional journey that led her to CiviCO, discusses the Governor's Citizenship Medals, shares about the organization's COVID-19 Heroes, discusses the organization's mission and goals, and shares the ways in which they partner with organizations like Colorado Business Roundtable.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Polly Lawrence is a senior policy director in Dentons’ Public Policy group. A former member of the Colorado General Assembly, where she served as House Republican Whip and Assistant Minority Leader, Polly is an accomplished government relations professional, adept at monitoring lawmaking trends, assessing potential business impacts and recommending solutions that optimize client interests.
Danny Moore is President and Founder of DeNOVO Solutions, LLC. He has over 34 years of operational and business experience in Defense, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance arenas. Danny is a 24-year Navy Veteran who retired after completing his final tour as the Senior Enlisted Advisor at the Aerospace Data Facility, Aurora Colorado. After retirement, he continued to support the Intelligence community as a contractor performing Program Management, Business Development and System Engineering functions while employed with a large defense company.
Polly and Danny join Profits & Purpose to discuss the recent trip by a Colorado Business Roundtable delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the group participated in the Future Investment Initiative which is an annual investment forum in Riyadh to explore and discuss trends in the world economy and investment environment. They share their highlights, their surprises, and their excitement about the trip. The two provide an enthusiastic endorsement of their time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and see bright things ahead for the Kingdom.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Scott Yenzer is on the Board of Directors at Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources, Inc, which provides environmental, renewable fuels and industrial waste stream management services to oil producers and refiners, railcar operators, industrial and manufacturing companies, medical facilities, government agencies, universities and environmental consulting firms. Scott also does contract work for JMJ, best known for creating the Incident and Injury-Free™ (IIF™) safety practices used in the world’s most hazardous industries. He has a long history of working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Scott joins Profits & Purpose to discuss the recent trip by a Colorado Business Roundtable delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the group participated in the Future Investment Initiative which is an annual investment forum in Riyadh to explore and discuss trends in the world economy and investment environment. On this episode, Scott shares surprises and insights from the trip, dispels some myths about doing business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and discusses why Colorado companies should be interested in doing business there.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Jesse Mallory is the State Director for Americans for Prosperity-Colorado. According to their website, Americans for Prosperity "protect[s] the American Dream by fighting each day for lower taxes, less government regulation and economic prosperity for all." Prior to his current role, Mallory worked in the Colorado State Senate. He served as Chief of Staff to Senate President Bill Cadman and Senate President Kevin Grantham. He’s a graduate of Colorado State University with bachelor’s in political science.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Jesse shares his insights from 2021. Topics covered include the good and bad of the legislative session, learnings and innovations that arose because of the COVID-19 pandemic, unintended consequences of even well-intentioned legislation, and insights about the health care industry, oil and natural gas, TABOR, and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Attracting and growing good jobs is key to building a strong economy and creating opportunity for all Coloradans. Given the benefits of improving job quality for both employers and workers, the Colorado Job Quality Framework aims to help local stakeholders take action to improve job quality. By sharing and implementing the framework, Colorado stakeholders can increase the supply of good jobs in the state, resulting in greater satisfaction for workers and more competitive businesses.
Joining Profits & Purpose to discuss the Colorado Job Quality Framework are Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Dan Weinstein, Vice President of health and benefits and risk solutions practice for Aon in Denver, and Colleen Wohnoutka, Associate, Colorado Workforce Development Council. They discuss the elements that lead to high job quality, what tools are available to increase job quality, and the framework itself.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lee Wheeler-Berliner
As the director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office, Lee manages the execution of strategies to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development system in Colorado. By forging relationships with industry and public partners at the local and state level, Lee helps to ensure the alignment of talent development efforts statewide. Lee has been with the CWDC for four years and brings extensive project management and leadership experience to this role. He previously worked as an independent consultant for mission-driven for-profit and nonprofit entities, as well as holding senior leadership positions with Hunger Free Colorado and Colorado Court Appointed Special Advocates. Lee holds an MBA with a concentration in social entrepreneurship from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and is an active coffee drinker at his local Edgewater coffee shop.
Dan Weinstein (pictured)
In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Dan acts as the ongoing client manager for the companies he works with to ensure overall satisfaction. Through Dan’s 16 years working in the HR space his experience includes assessment of existing human resource strategy, related strategic planning and guidance; human resource and business related risk evaluation; and managing implementations of complex, integrated solutions. In the local Denver community Dan founded Colorado Leadership Cares, a non-profit focused broadly on Colorado Leaders looking to give back to the local community with their skills and investigate how to integrate their own corporate social responsibility programs more holistically with the communities they live and work in. In Dan’s “spare” time he enjoys playing with his 3 kids, cycling, gardening and more recently keeping his sourdough starter alive to bake another Day!
Colleen Wohnoutka
As an associate for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office, Colleen is focused on establishing and supporting retail sector partnerships. These partnerships build on Colorado’s foundation of industry-led collaboration to keep retail in the driver’s seat while leveraging community partners who can assist in areas such as skill-building to help attract, train, and promote talent in the field. Colleen has several years of prior experience with retail and sales, working with companies such as Walmart, Walgreens, and Schwan’s Home Food Service. She has an MBA with a concentration in project management. Colleen enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, learning new things, and raising bengal cats.
In advance of View from the Top 2021 on September 23 (click here to register) where Colorado's leading non-profit CEOs join us for an in-depth conversation on managing through crisis and the vital connection between business and non-profit communities., we feature some of our panelists on Profits & Purpose. This episode proudly features Janice Sinden.
Janice Sinden joined the Denver Center for the Performing Arts as President & CEO in 2016. This fourth-generation Coloradan has had her eye on the future of her state for decades and now leads the 300 artisans and administrators of one of the nation’s largest non-profit theatre organizations.
Janice’s diverse career has allowed her to support rich cultural experiences, access to education and community involvement. She previously served as Chief of Staff for Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock where she managed 60 appointees, 26 departments and the day-to-day complexities of running a major metropolitan city. She served as Executive Director of Colorado Concern, Manager of Community Relations / Corporate Communications for Sharp HealthCare in San Diego, and worked for U.S. Senator Wayne Allard in both Washington, D.C. and Colorado.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Janice shares her professional journey, discusses the unique challenges to live theatre and the arts presented by the global pandemic, how the Denver Center for Performing Arts is building back better, and what's on the horizon for the organization. It's a unique look into one of Denver's most iconic organizations.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
In advance of View from the Top 2021 on September 23 (click here to register) where Colorado's leading non-profit CEOs join us for an in-depth conversation on managing through crisis and the vital connection between business and non-profit communities., we feature some of our panelists on Profits & Purpose. Next up, Sue Glass.
Sue Glass’s is the President and CEO of YMCA of Metro Denver. She’s a visionary leader with over 26 years of experience in non-profit leadership, strategic planning, health and wellness program development. As the President and CEO of YMCA of Metro Denver, she’s shaping the strategic vision to drive organizational transformation of a $26 million organization whose mission is to is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
A lifelong health advocate, she’s passionate about improving the health of individuals and communities. Under her leadership, The YMCA of Metro Denver has undergone an extensive transformation including modernization of facilities, adoption of technology to improve customer experience and engagement, instituting wellness practice throughout the centers and advancing youth development strategies.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Sue shares her journey that brought her to YMCA of Metro Denver, dispels some common misconceptions about YMCA (its perception as just a swim & gym, for starters), discusses guiding the organization through a rebrand, and talks about the challenges and opportunities presented by a global pandemic.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
In advance of View from the Top 2021 on September 23 (click here to register) where Colorado's leading non-profit CEOs join us for an in-depth conversation on managing through crisis and the vital connection between business and non-profit communities., we feature some of our panelists on Profits & Purpose. First up, Dave Schunk.
Dave Schunk is President & CEO of Volunteers of America Colorado, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering America's most vulnerable groups, including the hungry, the frail elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, women in need, and veterans and their families.
Since late 2018, Mr. Schunk has served as President and CEO of Volunteers of America Colorado. Since 1896, Volunteers of America has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including the frail elderly, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, homeless individuals, veterans, and women and their children. From 2011 to 2018, Mr. Schunk served as CFO for the Denver Rescue Mission (“DRM”), a large regionally oriented, nonprofit, faith-based human services organization. Prior to DRM, and spanning over 30 years, he has served in a variety of C-level and senior management positions at large companies such as IHS Markit, Intelligent Electronics, Verio/NTT, GE Technology Services and StorageTek.
On this episode of Profits & Purpose, Dave shares his journey from the corporate sector to the nonprofit world, how his current work aligns with his life's purpose, shares stories that embolden his work, discusses the challenges and opportunities of the global pandemic and a lot more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
September is Workforce Development Month, and we're pleased to welcome members of the Colorado Workforce Development Council to the show to discuss the work CWDC does, what workforce centers do and what services they offer, and highlight the work they do in Jefferson and Larimer Counties, in particular.
Joining us are Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council, Kat Douglas, Director of the Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center, and Jacob Castillo, Director of Larimer County’s Economic & Workforce Development Department.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lee Wheeler-Berliner
As the director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office, Lee manages the execution of strategies to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development system in Colorado. By forging relationships with industry and public partners at the local and state level, Lee helps to ensure the alignment of talent development efforts statewide. Lee has been with the CWDC for four years and brings extensive project management and leadership experience to this role. He previously worked as an independent consultant for mission-driven for-profit and nonprofit entities, as well as holding senior leadership positions with Hunger Free Colorado and Colorado Court Appointed Special Advocates. Lee holds an MBA with a concentration in social entrepreneurship from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and is an active coffee drinker at his local Edgewater coffee shop.
Kat Douglas (pictured)
Kat Douglas is the Director of the Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center. In this role she leads the workforce development solutions for a three-county region. By fostering partnerships with industry leaders, community organizations, education providers, economic development offices, and chambers of commerce, Kat ensures workforce efforts are aligned and best poised to meet the diverse industry and talent needs. Kat has been with Jefferson County for 17 years supporting the Human Services Department and leading the Community Development programs prior to joining the Business and Workforce Center in 2012. Kat holds an MPA from University of Colorado at Denver, and a BSBA with an emphasis in International Business from Denver University.
Jacob Castillo
Jacob Castillo serves as the Director of Larimer County’s Economic & Workforce Development Department. He has nearly two decades of diverse experience in regional economic and workforce development. Mr. Castillo has led the County’s effort to align local workforce initiatives and economic development activities to support upward mobility, wealth generation and economic inclusion. Castillo has co-founded two ventures with a strong social and environmental commitment. He was a contributing author to a text book on sustainable venturing and has served as an instructor at Colorado State University (CSU). He holds three undergraduate degrees in Agricultural Business, Foreign Language and Literature, and Economics from CSU and pursued a double masters in Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise and Agricultural & Resource Economics at CSU.
Colorado Business Roundtable is thrilled to bring this episode of Profits and Purpose to you discussing the development of the Sikorsky FIREHAWK Helicopter and its imminent arrival in Colorado. From the website, here is a little bit about it:
"Born a BLACK HAWK® helicopter, the Sikorsky FIREHAWK® aircraft relies on its proven military design to endure the unrelenting physical stresses demanded of the aerial firefighting and utility missions. Now, a new generation S-70i™ FIREHAWK® helicopter brings enhanced capability and flight safety to its high-payload role: extra power margin when dropping water or inserting firefighters at the fire line; 4 g maneuverability when fully loaded; a stronger airframe; and greater water drop control. A true multi-mission aircraft, the FIREHAWK helicopter can be quickly reconfigured in flight for search and rescue, hoist rescues and medical transport, even with its 1,000-gallon (3,785 L) external water tank still attached."
Joining us are Jeanette Eaton, Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for Commercial Systems and Services market segments around the world, and Joe Rice, Director of Government Relations for Lockheed Space. They provide insight into the development of the Sikorsky FIREHAWK, how Colorado came to procure one, and more. Here is a video of aerial firefighting in action.
Jeanette has a diverse portfolio of experiences over 32 years, including 22 years with Sikorsky, spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Customer Support, Marketing and Sales in support of Commercial and Military rotorcraft and has guided Sikorsky into the firefighting market. As an engineer and program manager, she was involved in the original FIREHAWK design concept and production in the late 1990s with Los Angeles County.
Joe is responsible for the management of legislative and regulatory matters at the state and local level for Space, which employs more than 21,000 people and generated more than $10 billion in sales for the Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2019. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in August 2011, Mr. Rice served two terms in the Colorado state legislature as State Representative for the 38th House District of Colorado from 2007-2010. While in the legislature, he focused on economic development and transportation, passing legislation that resulted in significant jobs creation across the state. He also previously served as the mayor of Glendale, Colorado, from 1996-2003.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Scott MacKenzie is the Host and Founder of The Industrial Talk Podcast. He's also a husband, father, and passionate industry educator. He began humbly as a lathing contractor and certified journeyman/lineman, and worked to earn his Undergraduate and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Scott has led a team onto the NASDAQ Stock Exchange while serving as President of a multi-national terminaling corporation. His driving purpose is people. In his words, "Accomplishments are rungs of a ladder, tasks undertaken to prove one’s abilities. Changing lives and building futures are the destination, the reason we climb."
He joins Profits and Purpose to discuss his journey, share insights learned along the way, delve into the impacts of the global pandemic, and announce his ultimate vision for what an "industrial neighborhood" would look like. What is that? Tune in to find out!
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Kylee McVaney is the CEO of Nextworld, a company that delivers modern ERP architecture that helps organizations better align with today's business realities. This innovative and adaptable technical foundation is key to addressing unexpected change. Architecting for the modern business world means re-thinking how applications are developed. This revolutionary architecture insulates your business by separating the technology from the applications. Thus, enabling you to stop investing large amounts of money, staff, and time to simply maintain the status quo. Instead, you’ll be increasing your ROI and lowering the TCO.
Kylee was essentially raised on software, landing her first job in the technology industry in 1977 when her father, Ed McVaney, founded J.D. Edwards. Kylee was exposed to all aspects of the ERP product and, by the time she graduated high school, Kylee was considered a subject matter expert in both payables and fixed assets.
Kylee went on to earn a BS in Accounting from the University of Southern California, became a CPA, enjoyed a brief stint in public accounting, and then returned to J.D. Edwards where she held various technical and management positions. In addition to her love of technology and software, Kylee is passionate about providing opportunities for the next generation to excel and make a positive impact in the world. In 2005, Kylee helped found Valor Christian High School and served as chairman of the board until 2017. Under her guidance, Valor has achieved national recognition, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 120 students to a current size of about 1,200.
She joins the show to discuss Nextworld, the impacts of the global pandemic, her own journey, and the good business can and does do for society.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Jennifer House is Vice President and Geographic Operations Manager leading the operations and growth of the Southwest Geography (SWG) for Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Based in Jacobs' Englewood, Colorado office, Jennifer leads a team of over 640 staff for buildings and infrastructure market across eight southwest states. Jennifer has a demonstrated history of working in the civil engineering industry, specializing in operational leadership, strategic growth and sales, community outreach, and project management.
On this week's show, Jennifer shares her professional journey, discusses the vital work Jacobs Engineering does for American infrastructure, dives into the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19, and goes in depth about the importance of women pursuing careers in STEM fields.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
In short, P-TECH 9-14 School Model is a pioneering education reform initiative created by IBM, to prepare young people with the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st Century Jobs and ongoing education. P-TECH is a public education reform model focused on college attainment and career readiness. P-TECH schools span grades 9-14 and enable students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year postsecondary degree in a STEM field. Students participate in a range of workplace experiences, including mentorship, worksite visits and paid internships. Upon graduation, students have the academic and professional skills required to either continue their education in a four-year postsecondary institution or enter into entry-level careers in IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and other competitive fields.
Dr. Don Haddad is the Superintendent of the St. Vrain School District, which has successfully incorporated P-TECH into its district for a number of years. Dr. Haddad has an impressive career spanning 36 years where he has benefited from a broad range of experiences in several school districts while working in various teaching, coaching and administrative positions at every level, PK-12. You can read more about St. Vrain School District here, and Dr. Haddad's bio here.
Ray Johnson is Corporate Citizenship Manager for IBM, and a Colorado Business Roundtable Board Member. Ray oversees the company’s community and government relations programs, along with workforce development and K-12 education reform, for a 11-state region. A leading advocate of K-12 business and education partnerships, Ray has been involved with numerous initiatives in his territory, including the push for standards and assessments in the mid-1990’s. Most recently, Ray worked with the Governor, state legislature and the Colorado departments of Education and Higher Education to bring P-TECH schools to the state. You can read his full bio here.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Christian Reece is the Executive Director of Club 20, a coalition of individuals, businesses, tribes and local governments in Colorado's 22 western counties. The group is organized for the purpose of speaking with a single unified voice on issues of mutual concern. Its activities include marketing and advertising, public education, promotion, meetings and events and political action.
As a leader on the Western Slope, Christian has had a passion and commitment to Western Colorado for many years. When the opportunity to lead the non-partisan coalition of Club 20 came up five years ago, Christian jumped at the chance to advocate on behalf of Western Colorado. Through her tenure with Club 20, she has worked to make the state constitution more difficult to amend, advocated for common sense regulations that protect the nature of Colorado while ensuring a business friendly environment, and has influenced the outcome of countless bills and regulations coming out from under the golden dome.
She joins Profits and Purpose to discuss her own personal journey, share the challenges and opportunities facing Club 20 and the Western Slope, and discusses how to bridge the urban/rural divide.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Chris Schmidt is the managing partner for the Denver Deloitte office. As managing partner, Schmidt is responsible for driving client and business growth, facilitating cross-functional teaming, and further enhancing strategic positioning in the Denver market. Over his 20-year career with Deloitte, he has seen the Colorado practice grow from 200 professionals to more than 1,500 across four offices in Colorado. With more than 300,000 professionals worldwide, Deloitte provides audit and assurance, tax, consulting, and risk and financial advisory services to a broad cross-section of the largest corporations and governmental agencies.
Chris is also Vice Chair of the Colorado Business Roundtable. On this week's episode, Chris shares his professional journey, provides insights into the work of Deloitte, how the company has adapted to COVID-19, and provides an outlook for the coming year. Chris also discusses his work collaborating on Colorado's Road to Recovery Initiative.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Cathy Shull is the Executive Director for Pro 15, an organization that speaks with a single, unified voice for Northeastern Colorado to influence public policy and enhance our economic viability and quality of life. Additionally, Pro 15 through its membership takes positions and stands on various issues which affect Northeast Colorado. Pro 15 also takes positions on various state and federal amendments up for vote. Pro 15 is a non partisan organization and all are welcome at the table that support the mission of the organization.
On this week's episode, Cathy shares her career journey, discusses the importance of advocating on behalf of rural Colorado, the opportunities and challenges presented by COVID-19, and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage. The report offers a collection of strategies, investments, and policy recommendations in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to build back stronger from the pandemic, Colorado must focus on its talent pipeline in order to facilitate an equitable economic recovery that creates more opportunity for prosperity throughout the state.
Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, and Jean Dougherty, Talent Development Research Analyst from the CWDC discuss the report, its findings and discuss how Colorado moves forward while still in the midst of a pandemic and beyond.
The vision of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. Their mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The vision of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. Their mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow.
Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, and Renise Walker, Senior Consultant, join Profits & Purpose to discuss the work of the CWDC. Renise leads the execution of industry-led collaboration and strategy for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office. In her role, she enjoys working with a committed team of consultants to engage and support forward-thinking businesses to innovate best practices that meet business objectives while contributing to the well being of their communities. Renise serves as the staff point of contact for the Sectors Steering Committee, Industry Intermediaries Consortium, and the BEL Commission.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Kathie Barstnar is Executive Director for NAIOP Colorado. NAIOP represents the commercial real estate industry. It provides strong advocacy, education and business opportunities, and connects its members through a powerful North American network. Founded in 1977, the Colorado Chapter of NAIOP, has become the premier real estate organization serving Denver Metro and the larger Colorado region. NAIOP Colorado boasts a diverse network of over 600 developers, owners, investors and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate.
On this week's episode, Kathie shares her journey into her current role, discusses the mission and purpose of NAIOP, and articulates the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19. She also shares her insights about how well-intentioned regulations can have unintended consequences and stand in contradiction to other regulations within the same jurisdiction. Her wealth of experience translates to tremendous insight on all things commercial real estate.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Loren Furman is Senior Vice President State and Federal Relations for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. The mission of The Colorado Chamber is to champion a healthy business climate. The four key objectives of that mission include:
- Maintaining and improving the cost of doing business;
- Advocating for a pro-business state government;
- Increasing the quantity of educated, skilled workers; and
- Strengthening Colorado’s critical infrastructure (roads, water, telecommunications and energy).
The Colorado Chamber is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What The Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. The Colorado Chamber was created in 1965 based on the merger of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association. As a private, non-profit organization, The Colorado Chamber’s work is funded solely by its members.
Loren joined the Colorado Chamber in January 2008 and serves as the chief lobbyist at the State Capitol. This role involves managing Colorado Chamber’s engagement on State and Federal policy issues including: energy and environment, tax, health care, labor and employment, tort/civil justice and manufacturing. Loren oversees the staffing and operations of the Colorado Chamber lobbying team and manages three issue councils: Governmental Affairs, Tax and Labor & Employment. Loren also serves as a spokesperson on press/media inquiries.
On this week's episode, Loren provides insight and history about the work of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. She discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the year and discusses the issues she is keeping an eye on for 2021.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Dave Eddy has been with the Boeing Company for 30 years and is the Boeing Site Director for the Aurora and Colorado Springs locations. He is the Boeing Program Manager on the GPS OCX Program and also serves as the President of the Boeing Leadership Network Association for the Colorado Chapter. Prior to moving to Denver eight years ago from Southern California David was a Senior Manager on the National Systems Program and other Proprietary Programs. His responsibilities have included Element Systems Engineering, Mission Manager for Space Vehicle Launch & Initialization, Mission Operations Lead and Technical Subcontract Manager. He has a BSEE from Brigham Young University and MBA from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management. He is an avid golfer and has coached a variety of sports at the High School and Club level.
On this week's episode Dave shares his journey in the aerospace industry, discusses how he got involved in the Colorado Business Roundtable, his philosophy on the three phases of a career and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Dan Haley is the President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA). Founded in 1984, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s mission is to be the unified political and regulatory voice for the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado, and to support our members through advocacy, partnerships, education and stakeholder engagement.
As President, Dan is responsible for leading the industry in Colorado legislative, regulatory, and public relations matters. Previously, he was Vice President of Communications, Development and Strategy at EIS Solutions, a public affairs firm where he served as a consultant for numerous corporate and political clients, including oil and gas interests. Prior to that, Mr. Haley spent more than 20 years in the communications field, including 13 years at The Denver Post, where he was the Editorial Page Editor. He also was Director of Corporate Communications for CoBank, a $100 billion bank headquartered in Denver.
On this episode, Dan discusses the many challenges facing the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado including depressed demand due to COVID-19, activists and out-of-state interests attempting to dictate public policy, and more. He articulates the importance of a robust industry in this state and talks about the oil and gas industry as both high tech and stewards of the environment.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
A global pandemic and corresponding economic crisis have brought about a time of severe disruption. Business and our way of life have been transformed. While we are faced with unprecedented challenges, we have also been presented with unique opportunities to shape our future with purpose.
The Colorado Business Roundtable and Common Sense Institute have provided a forum called the Road to Recovery Initiative to formulate and influence public policy through collaboration and research in response to the pandemic’s economic realities.
Thought leaders from diverse industry backgrounds across Colorado convened in the summer and fall of 2020 to identify three pillars for a sustainable, growing, and global economy that will position Colorado for long-term economic success.
Kristin Strohm is President & CEO of Common Sense Institute. CSI’s mission is to examine the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws so that Coloradans are educated and informed on issues impacting their lives. Common Sense Institute was founded in 2010 originally as Common Sense Policy Roundtable. CSI’s founders were a concerned group of business and community leaders who observed that divisive partisanship was overwhelming policymaking and believed that sound economic analysis could help Coloradans make fact-based and common sense decisions. She joins the show to discuss the Road to Recovery Initiative.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Scott Harry is the Government Affairs Manager at Crown Castle, the nation's largest provider of shared communications infrastructure - cell towers, small cells, fiber - which connects businesses to the data, technology, and wireless services we all rely on every day. The company's comprehensive infrastructure portfolio consists of more than 40,000 cell towers, approximately 70,000 on-air or under-contract small cell nodes, and approximately 80,000 route miles of fiber.
On this week's episode, Scott shares his journey to Crown Castle, the impressive footprint of the company, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted its operations. Scott posits that many of the changes we've experienced as a result of the pandemic are here to stay and shares insight into why.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Karen Gerwitz is the President & CEO of World Trade Center Denver. a business network and services organization dedicated exclusively to the international business success of companies based in Colorado and the surrounding Rocky Mountain region. From their website:
"Our mission to build a strong future for the remarkable industries of the Rocky Mountain Region by helping our members collaborate locally, connect strategically and thrive on the global stage. We seek to inspire Colorado businesses and entrepreneurs to think bigger. To see what global trade can do, not just for our bottom lines, but for the places we call home. It isn’t just about imports and exports. It’s about bringing prosperity to our state and neighborhoods by forging ties with other neighborhoods around the world. It’s about a better future for all of us."
Karen Gerwitz brings 30 years’ experience in international business to the organization in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Her enthusiastic vision for how Denver can become a more globally-conscious city is what is driving the organization to its new development in the RiNo neighborhood near downtown. With business development, strategic growth and marketing as her main functional expertise, Karen has served overseas in Ghana and Austria, and in Colorado in multiple sectors including: IT, Aerospace, Lumber, Science, Mining, and Government. Her protocol and international cultural expertise prepared her well to host the official visits of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the G8 Summit, the Western Hemisphere Ministerial Summit, and hundreds of other delegations. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Carol Carter is the Founder of GlobalMindED, a 501(c)(3) closing the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline with programs, content and courses for students from the least resourced backgrounds through connections to role models, mentors, internships, experiences and jobs that make them employment worthy, promotion ready and financially fit to navigate a hierarchical world.
Carol’s business experience and her international work help shape her unique perspective on how institutions of learning, youth development, and businesses can prepare students from all backgrounds and levels of learning to thrive in an increasingly complex world. In 2014 she founded GlobalMindED to bring together leaders in education, government, business, and social enterprise committed to improving access and equity to education, employment and health. Now in its sixth year, the annual conference attracts more than 1000 attendees, including 100 first-generation college students who learn academic and professional skills while networking with companies who seek a diverse talent pipeline.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Proposition 113 would enter Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an interstate compact to award member states' presidential electors to the candidate that receives the most votes nationwide. The NPVIC will go into effect if states representing at least 270 Electoral College votes—the number required to win the presidency—adopt the legislation.
Rose Pugliese is a County Commissioner representing District 3 of Mesa County, and is opposed to Proposition 113. On this week's episode, she shares the reasons for her opposition which include the belief that submitting to a compact of this type is tantamount to vote theft, a diminishing of Colorado's voice in national issues, and more. You can see more at ProtectColoradosVote.org.
Rose graduated with honors from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in Japanese. She attended St. John's University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in Colorado, New York, and Florida. She is a dedicated member of the community, is a member of Rotary and participates in many community service projects.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Proposition 118 is a ballot measure currently before Colorado voters that would allow for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave funded through a payroll tax paid by employers and employees in a 50/50 split.
Kristi Pollard is a Principal at Catalyst Public Affairs and is opposed to Proposition 118. In this week's episode, she shares the impact the measure would have on businesses and families, the unintended consequences of the measure if it were to pass, who is funding the support side, and much more. While Proposition 118 might appear like an easy proposition to support, the devil is in the details. Tune in to our latest episode to hear more and then visit VoteNoOnProposition118.com for a full rundown.
Prior to her time with Catalyst, Kristi served as the President and CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit consortium of business, community and governmental leaders striving to create greater economic vitality in Jefferson County, Colorado. Kristi has diverse experience working in the public, private and non-profit sectors having been the Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, the principal owner of P², LLC, a government relations consulting firm, the CEO of the Colorado Mesa University Foundation, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for Chevron and an Area Director for the United States Senate.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Brock Herzberg is the Coordinator for the Colorado Business Coalition for Immigration Solutions in their daily efforts to assist Colorado business to find workable solutions on immigration reform. After having worked on this issue for well over a decade, Brock is ready to engage in a way that keeps this very important issue top of mind as our state, country, and the globe deal with the impacts and aftermath of COVID-19, as well as the upcoming election.
He is also a Principal owner of Capitol Focus, LLC, a government affairs firm in Denver. A native from Akron, Colorado, Brock graduated from Colorado State University in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Political Science. Brock received his Masters degree in Communications from Colorado State University in 2002.
On this week's show Brock talks about his journey into political work, which started in elementary school as he attended county commission meetings, worked on campaigns, and developed a love for civic engagement. He also discusses immigration reform, why the issue doesn't have to be so deeply partisan, and the work done by CBCIS.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado (ACEC Colorado) is the business association of more than 250 member firms employing approximately 11,000 employees in the independent private practice of consulting engineering. ACEC Colorado is a primary resource for accessing engineering information, expertise and business ethics practices.
Karlene Thomas is the President of ACEC Colorado. She is also Principal - Quality Assurance / Quality Control at Pinyon Environmental, Inc. She is an environmental professional and licensed Professional Engineer -- both of which make her perfect for leading Pinyon’s Quality Assurance / Quality Control program.
On this week's episode, she discusses the value ACEC Colorado brings to its members, discusses the work of engineers in general, and shares both her own personal journey into engineering as well as her favorite part about the work ACEC Colorado does.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Juliet Abdel is President/CEO of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce whose goal is to continuously improve the business climate and build opportunities for growth in Westminster and surrounding areas.
Juliet has a background in Chamber and private sector management, is a former small business owner and worked in public policy. She has served as Regent on the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization’s National Board of Trustees, Advisory Council for Front Range Community College and was awarded the 40 under 40 recognition by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Currently she is a member of the Advisory Council for Colorado Women’s Alliance, the Leadership Program of The Rockies, a participant in the cohort for Leadership Diversity & Inclusion through ACCE and in the Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey through OEDIT. Juliet is also Miss Colorado for America, an honor she was awarded in July 2020.
On this week's episode, Juliet shares her professional journey, discusses what differentiates the Westminster Chamber from other chambers, how COVID-19 has impacted her day-to-day business dealings, and why she ultimately pursued the Miss Colorado for America crown. It's a friendly, informative conversation with a savvy and driven professional.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Nicole Riehl is the President and CEO of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), which serves as the business community's nonpartisan voice for early childhood and leads efforts to build infrastructure and advance policies that support the workforce of today while developing the workforce of tomorrow. Powered by the business community's leadership and commitment to early care education, EPIC strives to ensure all children entering kindergarten have the skills they need to reach their full education and career potential. Nicole joined EPIC as President & CEO in September of 2019. Her experience spans across the private and non-profit sectors, with her career beginning as an early childhood teacher at an on-site corporate child care program. After working in the financial sector on behalf of a large national homebuilder for several years, Nicole returned to early childhood and supported the quality ratings and onboarding of over 200 child care programs participating in the Denver Preschool Program after it was authorized by Denver voters in 2006. Her work grew to include the management of quality improvement initiatives and grant contracts at Qualistar Colorado, which sparked her passion for non-profit leadership and management.
She joins Profits & Purpose to discuss her journey, the important work of EPIC, the challenges of childcare during a global pandemic, and how companies are innovating to meet those challenges thanks in large part to organizations like EPIC.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lauren Larson is the Director of the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting for Colorado. The office provides the Governor with timely and complete information and recommendations necessary to make sound public policy and budget decisions. Their mission is to foster the responsible use of state resources through effective and efficient planning, budgeting, and evaluation of state programs in a manner that is performance and outcome-focused.
On this week's episode Lauren shares her journey that led her to Washington, D.C. working under three different presidential administrations, why she came to Colorado, and what her role as the Director of OSPB entails. She also provides insight into the budgeting process under COVID-19, why she's an optimist at heart, and how Colorado has worked to prepare for the next phase.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
September is Workforce Development Month, and we're pleased to welcome members of the Colorado Workforce Development Council to the show to discuss the work CWDC does, their Talent Equity Agenda, and highlight some of the work in Boulder and Mesa Counties, in particular.
Joining us are Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director of the CWDC; Kelly Mitchell, a consultant for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office with a focus on education and serves as the statewide postsecondary and workforce readiness coordinator for Colorado. She serves in a shared position between the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the Colorado Department of Education; Erin Jones, Executive Director for Workforce Boulder County; and Curtis Englehart, Director of the Mesa County Workforce Center.
Please visit Connecting Colorado and Colorado Workforce Development Council's websites for more information about the important and exciting work this terrific organization is doing.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
The Colorado Association of REALTORS® is the state’s largest professional, voluntary, non-profit, real estate trade association that is dedicated to serving more than 25,000 REALTOR® members across the state. These agents are also members of 33 local associations statewide and the National Association of REALTORS®.
Liz Peetz is the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Colorado Association of REALTORS®. Ms. Peetz directs the public policy efforts of the Colorado Association of Realtors and manages many functions of the government affairs division, but she specializes in policy development, advocacy, and legislative affairs. She also oversees CAR’s Legislative Policy Committee and candidate endorsement process through the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee. Ms. Peetz is a licensed attorney in CO, NE, and Washington D.C.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Peetz has more than 15 years of experience in government affairs and legal analysis in Washington D.C. and Colorado with previous roles as a US. Congressional staffer, and work in various business and non-profit organizations focusing on healthcare related issues, counterterrorism legal operations, litigation, and democracy promotion and civil society training.
On this week's show, Liz discusses what CAR does, the policy issues pertinent to the real estate industry in Colorado, how COVID has impacted the industry, and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Helen Young Hayes is Founder and CEO of Activate Workforce Solutions, a people-centered placement agency and professional coaching firm. Activate lives in the space between recruiting and retention, helping businesses find and keep the talent they’re looking for by identifying, matching, and coaching people who want to be unleashed.
She is also one of the founders and leaders of Inclusive Economy, which is a collection of CEOs, EDs, and other business leaders who have the vision and grit to rebuild Colorado’s economy in a way that works for all.
Helen is a 20-year veteran of the financial industry. As the portfolio manager of the Janus Worldwide and Overseas funds, she built and invested a $50 billion franchise in global and international equities. While at Janus, she was the Chief Investment Officer, heading up the 100-person asset management team. Helen founded Activate Workforce Solutions to alleviate poverty through creating pathways to employment. She brings the same passion and dedication of investing in and discovering the potential of companies to investing in and discovering the potential of underserved men and women. Helen was the 2018 winner of the Denver Business Journal’s Outstanding Woman in Business Mile High Leader Award.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Ale Spray is Business Development Manager - Community Engagement for Mortenson Construction. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and resident of Colorado since 1999, Ale Spray has over 20 years of construction experience. Throughout her career, Ale has held roles such as Project Engineer, Marketing and most recently in Business Development. Ale has been dedicated to developing and implementing strategies to obtain projects, promoting diversity and inclusivity, community connections and continued support for minority companies and small businesses throughout Colorado.
On this week's show, Ale discusses what drew her to engineering, the importance of encouraging young girls to pursue their interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the challenges and opportunities for construction dating back to 2008 and taking us through the current pandemic. Construction in many ways is the backbone of our economy, and Ale's varied and important duties in the industry means she has incredible insight.
Also appearing: Immigration Policy Director for Colorado Business Roundtable Megan Peiffer.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Frannie Matthews is the President & CEO of Colorado Technology Association, which seeks to advance Colorado’s tech ecosystem through talent, advocacy, economic development and community. Colorado Technology Association has been at the heart of the Colorado tech movement since 1994, providing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs the resources they need to thrive.
On this week's episode Frannie shares her journey of how she became engaged in the tech industry, how she came to lead the Colorado Technology Association, what challenges exist for the tech industry in both a non-COVID, and COVID-affected world, and what lies ahead for the tech industry. Tech touches so many aspects of the business world, the insights you'll learn from Frannie are staggering.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lloyd Lewis is the President and CEO of Arc Thrift, where he has served in that capacity for more than 15 years. In this time, he has grown the organization from 500 employees in 2005 to more than 1,000 today, including over 300 employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Additionally, Arc has funded over $100 million dollars to 15 Arc chapters across Colorado, who help individuals and their families with I/DD find jobs, housing, medical services, and services in schools. He is the proud father of a 16 year-old son, Kennedy, who has Down syndrome.
On this week's episode, Lloyd shares how he grew Arc Thrift and turned the company around. He discusses treating a nonprofit like business, how the organization is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, what it did to give back, and more about its enterprise mission of supporting and emboldening those with intellectual disabilities.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Megan Peiffer is Immigration Policy Director for Colorado Business Roundtable. Megan brings 14 years of public policy experience comprising of 8 years in government affairs in the State of Iowa developing and executing legislative strategy on behalf of various member associations, and 7 years of public affairs and strategic communications experience in a variety of states, including Colorado. A political enthusiast from an early age, Megan began her career during high school working for congressional races, a presidential campaign in college, then as intern in Washington, D.C. for the Office of Federal Government Relations for Iowa State University, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science.
On this week's episode, Megan discusses the grant that brought her to work for COBRT on issues pertaining to immigration and workforce development. She shares what the goals of the grant are, and what she's learned so far about things like job availability and how immigrants fill them (in industries like computer science, for instance), the amount of taxes paid by immigrants and much more. Her insights are compelling, and with several months left on the grant, are likely to continue and deepen.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lynn Granger is the Executive Director of Colorado for the American Petroleum Institute, whose mission is to promote safety across the industry globally and to influence public policy in support of a strong, viable U.S. oil and natural gas industry. API has more than 600 members that produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry supports 10.9 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In its first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.
On this week's show, Lynn shares her personal journey starting in the United States Army, continuing as she worked for the Colorado Department of Revenue and Colorado Concern, and finally saw her land at API. She discusses her exact role at API, the extraordinarily strange legislative session of 2020, and partnerships she has fostered such as with One Colorado on a "Pride in Energy" event.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
J.M. Ascienzo is the Central Outreach Director of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. The US GLC works in our nation’s capital and across the country to strengthen America’s civilian-led tools — development and diplomacy — alongside defense. By advocating for a strong International Affairs Budget, the USGLC is working to make America’s international affairs programs a keystone of U.S. foreign policy.
J.M. joins the USGLC after serving as Government Relations Officer at National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), where J.M. strengthened the organization’s Capitol Hill, grasstops and grassroots advocacy efforts, and led the #ProtectPeaceCorps campaign. Prior to joining NPCA, J.M. was a Peace Corps Volunteer for three years in northern and southern Thailand. He also taught ESL in South Korea and Vietnam, and was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Seattle. J.M. grew up all over Montgomery County, MD, and graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in history.
On this week's show, J.M. discusses the work of the USGLC, how Colorado is a microcosm of United States diplomacy and trade, the importance of the U.S. maintaining its strong leadership role in current affairs, including the global effort to defeat COVID-19, and more. He makes a powerful case for strong international policy in achieving the United States' economic, diplomatic, and humanitarian goals.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Matthew Adrian of G5 Financial Group specializes in establishing and monitoring retirement plans for his clients. Plan types include 401(k) and 403(b), profit sharing and non-qualified deferred compensation. He also works with small businesses on their strategic planning and assists individuals with their individual investment management.
On this week's episode, Matthew shares his journey into finance, shares some overarching philosophy that people should consider when thinking about their financial goals, discusses his philosophy on giving back to the community, and shares a great story about legendary University of Alabama Football Coach Bear Bryant.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Securities and Advisory Services offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC
Sally Dyer is Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for the AveXis Longmont Manufacturing Center. Avexis is dedicated to developing and commercializing gene therapies for patients and families devastated by rare and life-threatening neurological genetic diseases.
Sally was appointed to this role in April of 2019. She is accountable for the overall business and performance of the site. She works with a highly skilled team of leaders who use the company values of Integrity, Tenacity and Teamwork to delivery high quality products to our patients.
On this week's show Sally shares her own road into her current role, the important work AveXis is doing, the current moment of uncertainty and how her company and industry plays its role, and much more.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Recorded May 26, 2020.
Todd Davis is starting Inside Linebacker for the Denver Broncos, a member of the Super Bowl 50 Championship roster, and a 7-year pro. He's also the founder of A+ P.L.U.S. Living, a 501c3 Not for Profit Organization, which is focused on empowering tomorrow’s leaders. A+ Living provides fortification to get kids A.A.M.P’d (Academics, Athletics, Motivation and social Participation) responsibly by providing programs and events that encourage leadership in today’s youth.
On this week's show, Todd discusses his road to the NFL, his belief in old fashioned hard work in being the difference to getting ahead, and his foundation. Todd has a compelling story, a warm disposition, and the result is an entertaining and informative conversation.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Heidi Williams is the Director of Opioid Response for the Colorado Attorney General and is the former Mayor of Thornton. She also serves as board President for Ralston House Child Advocacy Center, is on the Board of Directors for Front Range Community College Foundation, and to support her children, she is vice-chair of the Valley District executive committee for Boy Scouts of America. Heidi graduated Summe cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2017 and earned her master’s degree in public administration from CU Denver in 2018.
On this week's show, Heidi discusses what led to her pursuit of and service in public office, disliking the "politics of politics," and how to work together to find solutions with people who have different values than herself. She also discusses her new role in addressing the opioid crisis as part of the Colorado Attorney General's office, how settlement money from opioid manufacturers and distributors is being used, and how the business community can contribute positively to ending this problem.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Jesse Mallory is the State Director for Americans for Prosperity-Colorado. According to their website, Americans for Prosperity "protect[s] the American Dream by fighting each day for lower taxes, less government regulation and economic prosperity for all." Prior to his current role, Mallory worked in the Colorado State Senate. He served as Chief of Staff to Senate President Bill Cadman and Senate President Kevin Grantham. He’s a graduate of Colorado State University with bachelor’s in political science.
On this week's episode, Jesse discusses the work of Americans for Prosperity-Colorado, their role not only in campaigns but in educating Coloradans about issues of importance, how COVID-19 has changed not their strategy, but their tactics, and the tough choices facing the Colorado Legislature this year.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Christa Zaharias is the Co-Founder and CEO of Corrosion Integrity Solutions (CIS), which specializes in corrosion assessment and mitigation for upstream and midstream oil and gas clients. In addition to CIS, Christa worked as a project manager with a start-up midstream company, Cureton Midstream from 2017 to 2019. With Cureton, Christa oversaw the engineering and construction of a 10 mmscfd Temporary Gas Processing facility and a 60 mmscfd Cryogenic gas processing facility. She also currently contracts as a part-time Project Manager for Summit Engineering in Colorado.
Throughout her career, Christa has spent considerable time in the field, both domestically and internationally, including Trinidad, Canada and Turkey, supporting projects through various phases. Christa is a member of NACE, GPA, DPC and sits on the board of the Women in Oil and Gas Association.
On this week's show, Christa shares her journey in oil and gas leading her to run her own company, discusses the outlook for oil and gas in Colorado and how long the road to recovery will be, and covers the important work of the Women in Oil and Gas Association.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Gwenivere Snyder has a cumulative total over $150 million in real estate transactions. Her professionalism, integrity and confidentiality exceeds the demands of affluent buyers and sellers. She has been recognized by Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate and ranked by REAL Trends for my 2018 sales volume. In 2019, she accepted an invitation to join the new Denver brokerage of Christie's International Real Estate office. You can find her website here.
She is President of the Executive Board of the Women’s Guild for A Precious Child which strives to bring effective and meaningful change for disadvantaged and displaced Colorado children. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Colorado Uplight. These activities offer powerful networking opportunities, yet her greatest reward is knowing that she am making a difference for those in need.
On this week's show, Gwenivere shares her history in real estate, the particular challenges and joys of working in luxury real estate, and her work in giving back to the community through A Precious Child and other organizations.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Kristen Blessman serves as the President and CEO of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC). As CEO of the CWCC, Blessman is responsible for executing the organization’s mission of advancing women in business. Blessman was hired in 2017 to bring value to membership through innovation, brand awareness and long-term vision. Through the creation of a new leadership program, mentoring program and unique peer group programming, Blessman has overhauled programming and curriculum at the CWCC and brought a new value proposition to CWCC members and the community. Additionally, Blessman is recreating the CWCC brand through new educational and inspiring events, enhanced digital and traditional media as well as extensive community outreach programs to create awareness and advocacy for women in the workplace.
On this week's show Kristen discusses how she came to lead the CWCC, the mission of advancing women in business, the multitude of events put on by the organization, and the mentorship she has both received and provides in her business journey.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Tom Bugnitz is the CEO of Manufacturer’s Edge, which encourages the strength and competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers through coaching, training, and consulting, collaboration-focused industry programs, and by leveraging government, university, and economic development partnerships. Jessica Cowden is their Director of Marketing and Communications.
Through onsite support and technical assistance, Manufacturer’s Edge works to boost the competitiveness of Colorado manufacturers. The experienced engineers and business professionals at Manufacturer’s Edge have skills in manufacturing, management, process improvements, and technology acceleration and work closely with manufacturers to provide company assessments and customized solutions including hands-on facilitation and implementation.
On this week's episode, Tom and Jessica discuss how COVID-19 is affecting the manufacturing industry and how Manufacturer's Edge is helping during the crisis. Tom strikes a hopeful and optimistic note regarding collaboration, innovation, and rapid response he's seen in his work at Manufacturer's Edge.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
On the April episode of Redefining Rural sponsored by CSU-Global, listen to how the Bayfield, Elizabeth, and Greeley-Evans school districts are tackling the challenge of continuous learning. Superintendents Aten, Bissonnette, and Pilch talk through the tremendous work of their staffs, broadband access challenges for families, and the grit among the education community that so rapidly pulled together a whole new system of learning for students, staffs, and families through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Don’t forget to like and follow Redefining Rural on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!
Mike Sommers is the 15th chief executive of the American Petroleum Institute since its founding almost a century ago. API is the largest national trade association representing all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry. Before being named APl's president and CEO, Sommers led the American Investment Council, a trade association representing many of the nation's leading private equity and growth capital firms and other business partners.
Sommers spent two decades in critical staff leadership roles in the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House, including chief of staff for Speaker of the House John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Special Assistant to President George W. Bush at the National Economic Council.
On this week's show, Mike discusses the positive contributions oil and natural gas have made to Colorado, the headwinds facing the industry in 2020 (even before COVID-19), the dangers of a national ban on hydraulic fracturing, and the importance of STEM education.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
Lee Wheeler-Berliner (pictured), is Managing Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) where he manages the execution of strategies to develop and sustain an industry-led talent development network in Colorado.
Glenn Plagens is Director of Business Support & Rural Prosperity for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and is responsible for strategic planning, direction, management, implementation and evaluation of four major programs within OEDIT: Employee Ownership, Minority Business Office, Rural Economic Development, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Together, they discuss in more detail what their respective offices do, the fallout from COVID-19, and what resources are available for those affected.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.
On the re-launch of the Colorado Business Roundtable Podcast, we welcome Dan Nordberg, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Region VIII Administrator based in Denver. In this role he oversees delivery of the agency's small business programs and services in South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Montana.
A Colorado native, Dan shares with us his journey which includes a stint in the Colorado State House of Representatives and sees him currently working with the federal government to support small businesses during this unprecedented time of a global pandemic. Dan discusses the tools and products available to small businesses to assist in weathering the economic turmoil of the Coronavirus.
Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.