A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown

The Evolution of Wireless Infrastructure featuring Crown Castle

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. 

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

The Future of Business and Higher Education featuring Dr. Mordecai Brownlee

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.

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

CAP Logistics and ESG featuring Richard Goering

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.

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

 

Straight Talk About ESG featuring Carrie Johnson and Jason Downs

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.

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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.

The Affordable Housing Challenge featuring Evelyn Lim and Peter LiFari

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.

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

Colorado Community College System featuring Chancellor Joe Garcia

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.

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

Building Great Things with Mortenson Construction Vice President Brian Fitzpatrick

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.

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

Educational Leadership and Inspiration featuring MSU Denver President Janine Davidson

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.

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

A Chat with University of Colorado President Todd Saliman

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.

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

Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals featuring Bradford Walton and Jen Landers

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.

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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.