A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown

GlobalMindED featuring Founder Carol Carter

Carol Carter is the Founder of GlobalMindED, a 501(c)(3) closing the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline with programs, content and courses for students from the least resourced backgrounds through connections to role models, mentors, internships, experiences and jobs that make them employment worthy, promotion ready and financially fit to navigate a hierarchical world.

Carol’s business experience and her international work help shape her unique perspective on how institutions of learning, youth development, and businesses can prepare students from all backgrounds and levels of learning to thrive in an increasingly complex world. In 2014 she founded GlobalMindED to bring together leaders in education, government, business, and social enterprise committed to improving access and equity to education, employment and health. Now in its sixth year, the annual conference attracts more than 1000 attendees, including 100 first-generation college students who learn academic and professional skills while networking with companies who seek a diverse talent pipeline.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Vote No on Proposition 113 featuring Rose Pugliese

Proposition 113 would enter Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC). The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC) is an interstate compact to award member states' presidential electors to the candidate that receives the most votes nationwide. The NPVIC will go into effect if states representing at least 270 Electoral College votes—the number required to win the presidency—adopt the legislation.

Rose Pugliese is a County Commissioner representing District 3 of Mesa County, and is opposed to Proposition 113. On this week's episode, she shares the reasons for her opposition which include the belief that submitting to a compact of this type is tantamount to vote theft, a diminishing of Colorado's voice in national issues, and more. You can see more at ProtectColoradosVote.org. 

Rose graduated with honors from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in Japanese. She attended St. John's University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in Colorado, New York, and Florida. She is a dedicated member of the community, is a member of Rotary and participates in many community service projects.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Vote No on Proposition 118 featuring Kristi Pollard

Proposition 118 is a ballot measure currently before Colorado voters that would allow for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave funded through a payroll tax paid by employers and employees in a 50/50 split.

Kristi Pollard is a Principal at Catalyst Public Affairs and is opposed to Proposition 118. In this week's episode, she shares the impact the measure would have on businesses and families, the unintended consequences of the measure if it were to pass, who is funding the support side, and much more. While Proposition 118 might appear like an easy proposition to support, the devil is in the details. Tune in to our latest episode to hear more and then visit VoteNoOnProposition118.com for a full rundown. 

Prior to her time with Catalyst, Kristi served as the President and CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit consortium of business, community and governmental leaders striving to create greater economic vitality in Jefferson County, Colorado. Kristi has diverse experience working in the public, private and non-profit sectors having been the Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, the principal owner of P², LLC, a government relations consulting firm, the CEO of the Colorado Mesa University Foundation, Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for Chevron and an Area Director for the United States Senate.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Colorado Business Coalition for Immigration Solutions featuring Brock Herzberg

Brock Herzberg is the Coordinator for the Colorado Business Coalition for Immigration Solutions in their daily efforts to assist Colorado business to find workable solutions on immigration reform. After having worked on this issue for well over a decade, Brock is ready to engage in a way that keeps this very important issue top of mind as our state, country, and the globe deal with the impacts and aftermath of COVID-19, as well as the upcoming election.

He is also a Principal owner of Capitol Focus, LLC, a government affairs firm in Denver. A native from Akron, Colorado, Brock graduated from Colorado State University in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Political Science.  Brock received his Masters degree in Communications from Colorado State University in 2002.

On this week's show Brock talks about his journey into political work, which started in elementary school as he attended county commission meetings, worked on campaigns, and developed a love for civic engagement. He also discusses immigration reform, why the issue doesn't have to be so deeply partisan, and the work done by CBCIS.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

ACEC Colorado featuring President Karlene Thomas

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado (ACEC Colorado) is the business association of more than 250 member firms employing approximately 11,000 employees in the independent private practice of consulting engineering. ACEC Colorado is a primary resource for accessing engineering information, expertise and business ethics practices.

Karlene Thomas is the President of ACEC Colorado. She is also Principal - Quality Assurance / Quality Control at Pinyon Environmental, Inc. She is an environmental professional and licensed Professional Engineer -- both of which make her perfect for leading Pinyon’s Quality Assurance / Quality Control program. 

On this week's episode, she discusses the value ACEC Colorado brings to its members, discusses the work of engineers in general, and shares both her own personal journey into engineering as well as her favorite part about the work ACEC Colorado does. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Westminster Chamber of Commerce featuring President & CEO Juliet Abdel

Juliet Abdel is President/CEO of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce whose goal is to continuously improve the business climate and build opportunities for growth in Westminster and surrounding areas.

Juliet has a background in Chamber and private sector management, is a former small business owner and worked in public policy. She has served as Regent on the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organization’s National Board of Trustees, Advisory Council for Front Range Community College and was awarded the 40 under 40 recognition by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Currently she is a member of the Advisory Council for Colorado Women’s Alliance, the Leadership Program of The Rockies, a participant in the cohort for Leadership Diversity & Inclusion through ACCE and in the Colorado Tourism Leadership Journey through OEDIT. Juliet is also Miss Colorado for America, an honor she was awarded in July 2020. 

On this week's episode, Juliet shares her professional journey, discusses what differentiates the Westminster Chamber from other chambers, how COVID-19 has impacted her day-to-day business dealings, and why she ultimately pursued the Miss Colorado for America crown. It's a friendly, informative conversation with a savvy and driven professional.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Executives Partnering to Invest in Children featuring President and CEO Nicole Riehl

Nicole Riehl is the President and CEO of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), which serves as the business community's nonpartisan voice for early childhood and leads efforts to build infrastructure and advance policies that support the workforce of today while developing the workforce of tomorrow.  Powered by the business community's leadership and commitment to early care education, EPIC strives to ensure all children entering kindergarten have the skills they need to reach their full education and career potential.  

 

Nicole joined EPIC as President & CEO in September of 2019. Her experience spans across the private and non-profit sectors, with her career beginning as an early childhood teacher at an on-site corporate child care program. After working in the financial sector on behalf of a large national homebuilder for several years, Nicole returned to early childhood and supported the quality ratings and onboarding of over 200 child care programs participating in the Denver Preschool Program after it was authorized by Denver voters in 2006.  Her work grew to include the management of quality improvement initiatives and grant contracts at Qualistar Colorado, which sparked her passion for non-profit leadership and management.

She joins Profits & Purpose to discuss her journey, the important work of EPIC, the challenges of childcare during a global pandemic, and how companies are innovating to meet those challenges thanks in large part to organizations like EPIC. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting featuring Director Lauren Larson

Lauren Larson is the Director of the Governor's Office of State Planning and Budgeting for Colorado. The office provides the Governor with timely and complete information and recommendations necessary to make sound public policy and budget decisions. Their mission is to foster the responsible use of state resources through effective and efficient planning, budgeting, and evaluation of state programs in a manner that is performance and outcome-focused.

On this week's episode Lauren shares her journey that led her to Washington, D.C. working under three different presidential administrations, why she came to Colorado, and what her role as the Director of OSPB entails. She also provides insight into the budgeting process under COVID-19, why she's an optimist at heart, and how Colorado has worked to prepare for the next phase.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Workforce Development Month featuring Colorado Workforce Development Council

September is Workforce Development Month, and we're pleased to welcome members of the Colorado Workforce Development Council to the show to discuss the work CWDC does, their Talent Equity Agenda, and highlight some of the work in Boulder and Mesa Counties, in particular.

Joining us are Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director of the CWDC; Kelly Mitchell, a consultant for the Colorado Workforce Development Council Office with a focus on education and serves as the statewide postsecondary and workforce readiness coordinator for Colorado. She serves in a shared position between the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the Colorado Department of Education; Erin Jones, Executive Director for Workforce Boulder County; and Curtis Englehart, Director of the Mesa County Workforce Center.

Please visit Connecting Colorado and Colorado Workforce Development Council's websites for more information about the important and exciting work this terrific organization is doing. 

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown. 

Colorado Association of REALTORS featuring Vice President of Government Affairs Elizabeth Peetz

The Colorado Association of REALTORS® is the state’s largest professional, voluntary, non-profit, real estate trade association that is dedicated to serving more than 25,000 REALTOR® members across the state. These agents are also members of 33 local associations statewide and the National Association of REALTORS®.

Liz Peetz is the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Colorado Association of REALTORS®. Ms. Peetz directs the public policy efforts of the Colorado Association of Realtors and manages many functions of the government affairs division, but she specializes in policy development, advocacy, and legislative affairs. She also oversees CAR’s Legislative Policy Committee and candidate endorsement process through the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee. Ms. Peetz is a licensed attorney in CO, NE, and Washington D.C.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Peetz has more than 15 years of experience in government affairs and legal analysis in Washington D.C. and Colorado with previous roles as a US. Congressional staffer, and work in various business and non-profit organizations focusing on healthcare related issues, counterterrorism legal operations, litigation, and democracy promotion and civil society training.  

On this week's show, Liz discusses what CAR does, the policy issues pertinent to the real estate industry in Colorado, how COVID has impacted the industry, and much more.

Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.