Profits & Purpose: Telling the Story that Business Is Good

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 Traci 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, Traci 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.