A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown

Nextworld CEO featuring CEO Kylee McVaney

Kylee McVaney is the CEO of Nextworld, a company that delivers modern ERP architecture that helps organizations better align with today's business realities. This innovative and adaptable technical foundation is key to addressing unexpected change. Architecting for the modern business world means re-thinking how applications are developed. This revolutionary architecture insulates your business by separating the technology from the applications. Thus, enabling you to stop investing large amounts of money, staff, and time to simply maintain the status quo. Instead, you’ll be increasing your ROI and lowering the TCO.

Kylee was essentially raised on software, landing her first job in the technology industry in 1977 when her father, Ed McVaney, founded J.D. Edwards. Kylee was exposed to all aspects of the ERP product and, by the time she graduated high school, Kylee was considered a subject matter expert in both payables and fixed assets.

Kylee went on to earn a BS in Accounting from the University of Southern California, became a CPA, enjoyed a brief stint in public accounting, and then returned to J.D. Edwards where she held various technical and management positions. In addition to her love of technology and software, Kylee is passionate about providing opportunities for the next generation to excel and make a positive impact in the world. In 2005, Kylee helped found Valor Christian High School and served as chairman of the board until 2017. Under her guidance, Valor has achieved national recognition, and has grown from an initial enrollment of 120 students to a current size of about 1,200.

She joins the show to discuss Nextworld, the impacts of the global pandemic, her own journey, and the good business can and does do for society. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

 

Jacobs Engineering featuring COBRT Board Member Jennifer House

Jennifer House is Vice President and Geographic Operations Manager leading the operations and growth of the Southwest Geography (SWG) for Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Based in Jacobs' Englewood, Colorado office, Jennifer leads a team of over 640 staff for buildings and infrastructure market across eight southwest states. Jennifer has a demonstrated history of working in the civil engineering industry, specializing in operational leadership, strategic growth and sales, community outreach, and project management.

On this week's show, Jennifer shares her professional journey, discusses the vital work Jacobs Engineering does for American infrastructure, dives into the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19, and goes in depth about the importance of women pursuing careers in STEM fields. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.

What Is "P-TECH" featuring Don Haddad and Ray Johnson

In short, P-TECH 9-14 School Model is a pioneering education reform initiative created by IBM, to prepare young people with the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st Century Jobs and ongoing education. P-TECH is a public education reform model focused on college attainment and career readiness. P-TECH schools span grades 9-14 and enable students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year postsecondary degree in a STEM field. Students participate in a range of workplace experiences, including mentorship, worksite visits and paid internships. Upon graduation, students have the academic and professional skills required to either continue their education in a four-year postsecondary institution or enter into entry-level careers in IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and other competitive fields.

Dr. Don Haddad is the Superintendent of the St. Vrain School District, which has successfully incorporated P-TECH into its district for a number of years. Dr. Haddad has an impressive career spanning 36 years where he has benefited from a broad range of experiences in several school districts while working in various teaching, coaching and administrative positions at every level, PK-12. You can read more about St. Vrain School District here, and Dr. Haddad's bio here. 

Ray Johnson is Corporate Citizenship Manager for IBM, and a Colorado Business Roundtable Board Member. Ray oversees the company’s community and government relations programs, along with workforce development and K-12 education reform, for a 11-state region. A leading advocate of K-12 business and education partnerships, Ray has been involved with numerous initiatives in his territory, including the push for standards and assessments in the mid-1990’s. Most recently, Ray worked with the Governor, state legislature and the Colorado departments of Education and Higher Education to bring P-TECH schools to the state. You can read his full bio here. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Club 20: The Voice of the Western Slope featuring Executive Director Christian Reece

Christian Reece is the Executive Director of Club 20, a coalition of individuals, businesses, tribes and local governments in Colorado's 22 western counties. The group is organized for the purpose of speaking with a single unified voice on issues of mutual concern. Its activities include marketing and advertising, public education, promotion, meetings and events and political action.

As a leader on the Western Slope, Christian has had a passion and commitment to Western Colorado for many years. When the opportunity to lead the non-partisan coalition of Club 20 came up five years ago, Christian jumped at the chance to advocate on behalf of Western Colorado. Through her tenure with Club 20, she has worked to make the state constitution more difficult to amend, advocated for common sense regulations that protect the nature of Colorado while ensuring a business friendly environment, and has influenced the outcome of countless bills and regulations coming out from under the golden dome.

She joins Profits and Purpose to discuss her own personal journey, share the challenges and opportunities facing Club 20 and the Western Slope, and discusses how to bridge the urban/rural divide. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

COBRT Vice Chair and Deloitte Denver Managing Partner Chris Schmidt

Chris Schmidt is the managing partner for the Denver Deloitte office. As managing partner, Schmidt is responsible for driving client and business growth, facilitating cross-functional teaming, and further enhancing strategic positioning in the Denver market. Over his 20-year career with Deloitte, he has seen the Colorado practice grow from 200 professionals to more than 1,500 across four offices in Colorado. With more than 300,000 professionals worldwide, Deloitte provides audit and assurance, tax, consulting, and risk and financial advisory services to a broad cross-section of the largest corporations and governmental agencies.

Chris is also Vice Chair of the Colorado Business Roundtable. On this week's episode, Chris shares his professional journey, provides insights into the work of Deloitte, how the company has adapted to COVID-19, and provides an outlook for the coming year. Chris also discusses his work collaborating on Colorado's Road to Recovery Initiative. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Pro15 featuring Executive Director Cathy Shull

Cathy Shull is the Executive Director for Pro 15, an organization that speaks with a single, unified voice for Northeastern Colorado to influence public policy and enhance our economic viability and quality of life. Additionally, Pro 15 through its membership takes positions and stands on various issues which affect Northeast Colorado. Pro 15 also takes positions on various state and federal amendments up for vote. Pro 15 is a non partisan organization and all are welcome at the table that support the mission of the organization.

On this week's episode, Cathy shares her career journey, discusses the importance of advocating on behalf of rural Colorado, the opportunities and challenges presented by COVID-19, and much more. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

The CWDC Talent Pipeline Report featuring Lee Wheeler-Berliner and Jean Dougherty

The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage. The report offers a collection of strategies, investments, and policy recommendations in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to build back stronger from the pandemic, Colorado must focus on its talent pipeline in order to facilitate an equitable economic recovery that creates more opportunity for prosperity throughout the state.

Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, and Jean Dougherty, Talent Development Research Analyst from the CWDC discuss the report, its findings and discuss how Colorado moves forward while still in the midst of a pandemic and beyond. 

The vision of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. Their mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

The Work of the Colorado Workforce Development Council featuring Lee Wheeler-Berliner and Renise Walker

The vision of the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. Their mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow.

Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, and Renise Walker, Senior Consultant, join Profits & Purpose to discuss the work of the CWDC. Renise leads the execution of industry-led collaboration and strategy for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office. In her role, she enjoys working with a committed team of consultants to engage and support forward-thinking businesses to innovate best practices that meet business objectives while contributing to the well being of their communities. Renise serves as the staff point of contact for the Sectors Steering Committee, Industry Intermediaries Consortium, and the BEL Commission.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.

NAIOP Colorado featuring Executive Director Kathie Barstnar

Kathie Barstnar is Executive Director for NAIOP Colorado. NAIOP represents the commercial real estate industry. It provides strong advocacy, education and business opportunities, and connects its members through a powerful North American network. Founded in 1977, the Colorado Chapter of NAIOP, has become the premier real estate organization serving Denver Metro and the larger Colorado region. NAIOP Colorado boasts a diverse network of over 600 developers, owners, investors and related professionals in office, industrial, retail and mixed-use real estate.

On this week's episode, Kathie shares her journey into her current role, discusses the mission and purpose of NAIOP, and articulates the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19. She also shares her insights about how well-intentioned regulations can have unintended consequences and stand in contradiction to other regulations within the same jurisdiction. Her wealth of experience translates to tremendous insight on all things commercial real estate. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.

Looking Ahead to 2021 with Loren Furman of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce

Loren Furman is Senior Vice President State and Federal Relations for the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. The mission of  The Colorado Chamber is to champion a healthy business climate. The four key objectives of that mission include:

1. Maintaining and improving the cost of doing business;
2. Advocating for a pro-business state government;
3. Increasing the quantity of educated, skilled workers; and
4. Strengthening Colorado’s critical infrastructure (roads, water, telecommunications and energy).

The Colorado Chamber is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What The Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. The Colorado Chamber was created in 1965 based on the merger of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association. As a private, non-profit organization, The Colorado Chamber’s work is funded solely by its members.

Loren joined the Colorado Chamber in January 2008 and serves as the chief lobbyist at the State Capitol.  This role involves managing Colorado Chamber’s engagement on State and Federal policy issues including:  energy and environment, tax, health care, labor and employment, tort/civil justice and manufacturing.  Loren oversees the staffing and operations of the Colorado Chamber lobbying team and manages three issue councils:  Governmental Affairs, Tax and Labor & Employment.  Loren also serves as a spokesperson on press/media inquiries.

On this week's episode, Loren provides insight and history about the work of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce. She discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the year and discusses the issues she is keeping an eye on for 2021.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.