A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown

Chris Schmidt, Managing Partner of Deloitte Returns

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. 

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

English Learning as a Workforce Skill featuring EnGen's Katie Brown

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.

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade featuring Eve Lieberman

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.

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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. 

The Enabler-In-Chief, RevGen's Kirk Mielenz

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.

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

How To Support New Migrants featuring Diana Higuera

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.

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

An Update on the Colorado Oil and Natural Gas Industry featuring Lynn Granger

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.

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

The Complicated Issue of Immigration featuring Alexandre Padilla

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 2023 Talent Pipeline Report featuring Caitlin McKennie and Lee Wheeler-Berliner

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. 

Space Foundation featuring COO Shelli Brunswick

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.

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For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

Who is DORA? featuring Patty Salazar

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.