A Seat at the Table with 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.