A Seat at the Table with 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. 

Aerospace in Colorado with Boeing Site Director Dave Eddy

Dave Eddy has been with the Boeing Company for 30 years and is the Boeing Site Director for the Aurora and Colorado Springs locations. He is the Boeing Program Manager on the GPS OCX Program and also serves as the President of the Boeing Leadership Network Association for the Colorado Chapter. Prior to moving to Denver eight years ago from Southern California David was a Senior Manager on the National Systems Program and other Proprietary Programs. His responsibilities have included Element Systems Engineering, Mission Manager for Space Vehicle Launch & Initialization, Mission Operations Lead and Technical Subcontract Manager. He has a BSEE from Brigham Young University and MBA from Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management. He is an avid golfer and has coached a variety of sports at the High School and Club level.

On this week's episode Dave shares his journey in the aerospace industry, discusses how he got involved in the Colorado Business Roundtable, his philosophy on the three phases of a career and much more.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Colorado Oil & Gas Association featuring President & CEO Dan Haley

Dan Haley is the President and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA). Founded in 1984, the Colorado Oil & Gas Association’s mission is to be the unified political and regulatory voice for the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado, and to support our members through advocacy, partnerships, education and stakeholder engagement.

As President, Dan is responsible for leading the industry in Colorado legislative, regulatory, and public relations matters. Previously, he was Vice President of Communications, Development and Strategy at EIS Solutions, a public affairs firm where he served as a consultant for numerous corporate and political clients, including oil and gas interests. Prior to that, Mr. Haley spent more than 20 years in the communications field, including 13 years at The Denver Post, where he was the Editorial Page Editor. He also was Director of Corporate Communications for CoBank, a $100 billion bank headquartered in Denver.

On this episode, Dan discusses the many challenges facing the oil and natural gas industry in Colorado including depressed demand due to COVID-19, activists and out-of-state interests attempting to dictate public policy, and more. He articulates the importance of a robust industry in this state and talks about the oil and gas industry as both high tech and stewards of the environment.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Road to Recovery Initiative featuring CSI President & CEO Kristin Strohm

A global pandemic and corresponding economic crisis have brought about a time of severe disruption. Business and our way of life have been transformed. While we are faced with unprecedented challenges, we have also been presented with unique opportunities to shape our future with purpose.

The Colorado Business Roundtable and Common Sense Institute have provided a forum called the Road to Recovery Initiative to formulate and influence public policy through collaboration and research in response to the pandemic’s economic realities.

Thought leaders from diverse industry backgrounds across Colorado convened in the summer and fall of 2020 to identify three pillars for a sustainable, growing, and global economy that will position Colorado for long-term economic success.

Kristin Strohm is President & CEO of Common Sense Institute. CSI’s mission is to examine the fiscal impacts of policies, initiatives, and proposed laws so that Coloradans are educated and informed on issues impacting their lives. Common Sense Institute was founded in 2010 originally as Common Sense Policy Roundtable. CSI’s founders were a concerned group of business and community leaders who observed that divisive partisanship was overwhelming policymaking and believed that sound economic analysis could help Coloradans make fact-based and common sense decisions. She joins the show to discuss the Road to Recovery Initiative.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

The Present and Future of Wireless Infrastructure featuring Scott Harry of Crown Castle

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. 

On this week's episode, Scott shares his journey to Crown Castle, the impressive footprint of the company, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted its operations. Scott posits that many of the changes we've experienced as a result of the pandemic are here to stay and shares insight into why. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

World Trade Center Denver featuring President & CEO Karen Gerwitz

Karen Gerwitz is the President & CEO of World Trade Center Denver. a business network and services organization dedicated exclusively to the international business success of companies based in Colorado and the surrounding Rocky Mountain region. From their website:

"Our mission to build a strong future for the remarkable industries of the Rocky Mountain Region by helping our members collaborate locally, connect strategically and thrive on the global stage. We seek to inspire Colorado businesses and entrepreneurs to think bigger. To see what global trade can do, not just for our bottom lines, but for the places we call home. It isn’t just about imports and exports. It’s about bringing prosperity to our state and neighborhoods by forging ties with other neighborhoods around the world. It’s about a better future for all of us."

Karen Gerwitz brings 30 years’ experience in international business to the organization in the private, public and non-profit sectors.  Her enthusiastic vision for how Denver can become a more globally-conscious city is what is driving the organization to its new development in the RiNo neighborhood near downtown.  With business development, strategic growth and marketing as her main functional expertise, Karen has served overseas in Ghana and Austria, and in Colorado in multiple sectors including:  IT, Aerospace, Lumber, Science, Mining, and Government.  Her protocol and international cultural expertise prepared her well to host the official visits of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, the G8 Summit, the Western Hemisphere Ministerial Summit, and hundreds of other delegations. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business and her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Colorado.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.