Chad brings more than 28 years of leadership experience to his role as President & CEO of Ent Credit Union. Since he became CEO in October 2017, Ent has doubled in assets, members, employees, and locations. Ent continues to receive community, state, and national level recognition as a “best of” credit union and employer. Chad joined Ent in September 1999, as the Manager of eCommerce and was responsible for implementation of web-based online banking and progressed over the years to the Chief Information Officer role. During his tenure at Ent, he has held several leadership roles in Technology, Marketing, and Operations, prior to becoming President & CEO. Prior to Ent, Chad held technology positions at ADC Telecommunications and Nationwide Insurance. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Chad shares more about his professional journey, the challenges and opportunities present when incorporating new technology like online banking in the past and AI today, as well as what excites him going forward. He talks about Ent being active in the community, championing financial literacy, and what differentiates Ent from traditional banks and other credit unions. 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.

Mark Cornetta is Senior Vice President of Media for TEGNA and President & General Manager of KUSA/KTVD (9News) in Denver. This portfolio includes KUSA Channel 9 as well as KTVD Channel 20 9NEWS.com and others. Launched in the 1990s and now a vital news source for Coloradoans that updates news, weather and sports 24 hours a day. 9NEWS+, a free streaming app on Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, Android TV, and Apple TV, launched in 2022. From their "About Us" page on their website: "The story of 9NEWS is an evolution of people and technology. Film to videotape. Black and white to color. Analog to digital. But one thing that hasn't changed since 1952 is our commitment to bring Colorado the best programming possible." On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Mark shares his professional journey and how he ultimately ended up at 9News. He chronicles the evolution of the business from his unique viewpoint and discusses the current challenges and opportunities facing local news, how the industry proceeds from here, what he expects from the FCC, and much, much more. Mark has worked in this industry for more than 40 years, and his insights about the current state of affairs, as well as where things head from here are valuable and incisive. 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.

George Sparks has been the President/CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science since November 2004. He spent 24 years in the electronics measurement business at Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. His career included marketing, sales, and general management of global businesses in software, systems, and services. George's passion is public policy, particularly around science and education. He is a member of the Colorado Forum, Colorado Concern, and is on the Boards of Colorado Education Initiative, Colorado Business Roundtable, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Denver Council of Foreign Relations, and Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. George is also the founder of the Institute for Science & Policy, a program of the Museum., which strives to make science a second-nature consideration in public discourse. The Institute works across divides to help solve our most complex statewide, national, and global challenges. We are non-partisan, policy neutral, and serve as a convener and honest broker. With polarization rising, trust in institutions falling, the media seen as increasingly biased, and cultural divides creating challenges for our common humanity, the Institute is positioned to address the wicked collective action issues that define our modern world. If we are to make progress, we need a trusted space where people can learn, share, and work towards science-based solutions. 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.

Kyle Koontz is Chief Executive Officer of BPX Energy, headquartered in Denver. In September 2018, BPX Energy formally opened its 160,000-square-foot headquarters in Denver. From there, BPX manages world-class assets in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins in Texas, and Haynesville Basin in Texas and Louisiana. BPX supports more than 1,900 jobs throughout the state and has spent more than $1.5 million within local communities in support of education, the environment and Denver homeless shelters since 2019. At the helm of BPX Energy, Kyle's focus is on steering the company through a transformative era in the energy sector. He maintains a strategic approach to asset management, fostering a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and financial prudence. With almost two decades of experience in the industry, Kyle's expertise lies in manufacturing process improvement and new business development, ensuring BPX Energy thrives in a competitive market. 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.

Tim Taylor is Co-Founder and President of America Succeeds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to engaging business leaders in modernizing education systems to drive equity and opportunity.  America Succeeds was founded in 2014 with a vision of building public education systems to prepare every student to succeed in the competitive global economy and contribute to their local community. For us, that means ensuring business leaders are engaged as education champions. It is our belief that businesses have the obligation, opportunity, and capacity to foster greater student achievement, build an educated workforce pipeline, and protect our future economic vitality. Tim passionately leads with a belief in education’s power to transform life trajectories and drive economic mobility. He combines executive, nonprofit, and public policy experience in a way that’s as rare as it is effective. Before launching America Succeeds, he served as the founding president of Colorado Succeeds. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Tim shares the fascinating work America Succeeds does and discusses the organization's findings about what employers want from their workforce, the "durable skills" that are highest in demand, and where the future of work is likely to take us. His knowledge and passion shine brilliantly as he shares his many learnings with our audience.  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.

Mel Stricklan is Executive Director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow, the premier initiative dedicated to closing the space industry’s growing STEM talent gap while driving the development of a highly skilled, and mission-ready workforce. Powered by leading industry, government, and academic partners, SWFT is structured to INSPIRE, PREPARE, and EMPLOY the next generation of space professionals. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Mel shares her professional journey that saw her fall in love with astronauts, space, and science from a very young age and then navigate her way through an impressive array of stops before landing at Space Workforce for Tomorrow. She shares the challenges currently facing the industry, discusses how she works to address them, and what the future of talent looks like in this exciting, dynamic and cutting edge field. 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.

Jason Janz co-founded CrossPurpose with Juan Pena in 2008, influenced greatly by spending his childhood and adolescence in poverty. With the goal of abolishing relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through career and community development, Jason’s passion for social entrepreneurship and serving the poor is satisfied through his role as CEO where he builds the team, sets the organizational culture, and raises funds. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Jason joins Debbie Brown and discusses how CrossPurpose differs from other similar organizations and focuses not only on the axiom of "teaching a man to fish" but by giving him the right fishing pole and understanding how best to utilize skills with the ultimate goal of building generational wealth. It's a fascinating chat with an organizational leader who is truly inspiring and approaches societal issues with creativity, humanity and dedication.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

In Colorado, and throughout the country and much of the world, frankly, the name "Coors" is instantly recognizable. Founded in 1873 in Golden, Colorado, Molson Coors has grown, evolved and endured for more than 150 years. The youngest of 6 children to former face of Coors Brewing and its Chairman for many years, Pete, David Coors is currently executive chair of Coors Spirits Co. and current Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.  David joins A Seat at the Table to give us insight into the history of Coors, his journey through it holding various management positions throughout his career, and a snapshot of some of the trends in the beer, spirits, and other beverage categories. He discusses the origin of Coors Spirits Co., tells an amusing story about the development of Blue Moon, and discusses at length the family and company's commitment to staying involved in the Colorado business, civic and nonprofit community.  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.

Mike Coffman grew up in Aurora, attended Aurora Public Schools, graduated from the University of Colorado, and completed the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is a combat veteran with service in both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps and was an Aurora small-business owner for 17 years.  Coffman served in the State House of Representatives, State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, in addition to being elected Colorado State Treasurer and Secretary of State. Coffman was first elected to serve as mayor of Aurora in November 2019 and re-elected in 2023. Mayor Coffman joins A Seat at the Table to discuss all things Aurora. Included in this episode are discussions about fixing the immigration system, President-elect Trump's pointed words about the city and about immigration generally, economic revitalization, why Aurora is a great place to do business, and much more. Mayor Coffman is a champion for his city, and makes the case for why businesses should look to Aurora's bright future as they consider expansion or relocation.  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.

The United States, Mexico and Canada have a unique relationship with each other in terms of trade, immigration, the economy, and a host of other issues. How will the relationships evolve with the looming change in leadership in both the U.S. and Mexico? What can we expect? What can we hope for? What would an ideal path forward look like? Addressing these questions with COBRT President Debbie Brown are Enrique Perret, Managing Director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation and Justin Yancy, President of the Texas Business Leadership Council. Enrique Perret is a prominent leader with a long history of commitment to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico. During his time in the Mexican government, Enrique was known for his focus on leading governmental commitments and business development strategies between the two countries. He currently serves as the Managing Director of the US-Mexico Foundation and is the President and Founder of the North Capital Forum, an initiative of the USMF that seeks to promote North America as an economic, social, and political powerhouse. Justin Yancy joined the Texas Business Leadership Council (TBLC) as its President in July 2001. Established in 1994, the TBLC is a statewide network of CEOs and senior business executives who advance a long-term vision of a prosperous Texas in a globally competitive business environment. Justin is responsible for all aspects of the TBLC’s mission and organization including managing membership involvement and overseeing policy work and general operations. 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.

Kristina Scala is Founder and President of Aspen Academy and a litany of other organizations. Aspen Academy is involved with and supports 25+ local, state, national and international organizations through a robust and integrated service learning program, fostering servant leadership fundamentals. Scala’s vocal and continual commitment to service within the Aspen Community is that service is a requisite norm in a life committed to doing good: when we commit to doing good we grow, and our community grows. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Kristina shares her unique entrepreneurial journey, discusses her fierce advocacy for evolving our education system, and talks at length about her guiding principles as both a business owner and a change agent. She and Debbie talk about workforce needs both present and future, and they delve into how Aspen Academy is equipping the learners of today with the skills they need to be the leaders of tomorrow.  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.

David Scott is the Construction Industry Advocate at Encore Electric, where he helps the company continue to grow within the Rocky Mountain West. During his years at Encore Electric, Scott has helped to reshape the Human Resources Department to fit the company’s expanding needs. His emphasis on a culture that focuses on teamwork, collaboration and ethics, and that rewards success, has placed Encore Electric among the top electrical contracting firms in Colorado. His extensive leadership and apprenticeship training programs support the company’s long-term growth goals and incorporate knowledge gained over his 23 years in a wide variety of industries and disciplines within Human Resources. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, David discusses his fierce advocacy for the skilled trades, talks at length about Encore's unique apprenticeship program, and he and Debbie go in depth about the future of both education and labor.  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.

Kim McHugh is a second-generation driller who grew up in the industry, oversees Chevron’s exploration and production activities in the Colorado DJ Basin and on the Western Slope as the Vice President, Rockies Business Unit. Chevron has 327,000 net acres (1,323 sq km) in Colorado’s DJ Basin In 2020, net daily oil-equivalent production was 148,000 barrels, composed of 98,000 barrels of liquids and 301 million cubic feet of natural gas (a combined 36,000 barrels of oil-equivalent attributable to Chevron in 2020). On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Kim shares her remarkable journey through the energy industry that led her ultimately to Colorado. She and Debbie discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing business in Colorado, working as a woman in a male-dominated industry, the present and future of energy, and much more. Kim is a thoughtful, effective leader whose insights on a wide variety of topics are incisive, vital, and nuanced.  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.

John Marshall is the 11th president of Colorado Mesa University (CMU), a mid-sized comprehensive public university in Grand Junction, Colorado. He also serves as an instructor in CMU’s early start programs and as a lecturer of political science. Prior to his current role, Mr. Marshall served as the vice president for student services where he was responsible for enrollment management and student affairs, which included leading the Admissions Office, University Center, Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Life, International Student Programs, student health clinic services, student mental health services, diversity and advocacy, and campus safety/police. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, John talks about his unique career journey that saw him as an undergraduate student at Colorado Mesa University, and now sees him leading the institution. He talks about the critiques of higher education, where he sets Colorado Mesa apart, the future of higher ed, and how to engage with the workforce needs of today and tomorrow.  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.

Edgar Papke is a business & leadership psychologist, a best-selling author, an award-winning speaker, a teacher, coach, and consultant. He is globally recognized for his pioneering work in the science and art of alignment. His  purpose is helping people align and live better lives. He works worldwide with organizations,  governments, teams, and leaders to achieve greater levels of innovation, success, and  fulfillment. He is the bestselling author of the books True Alignment and The Elephant in The Boardroom, and coauthor of the Amazon bestseller Innovation by Design, a Soundview Business Book of the Year.  On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Edgar shares his professional journey, the insights he's gained along the way, and discusses at length the importance of personal, professional, and organizational alignment. His insights are unique and should prove useful to businesses and leaders of all stripes as they navigate their professional lives.  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.

Kenneth Monfort is a fifth-generation Colorado business owner committed to enriching the lives of all Coloradans. As owner and EVP of Monfort Companies, Kenneth invests in ventures and develops commercial properties that serve as economic drivers and growth engines for both rural and urban communities. Born in Greeley, Kenneth has deep roots in Colorado and is committed to building a next-generation company that honors his family’s legacy in agriculture, real estate and energy. On this episode of A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown, Kenneth shares his personal journey and discusses his roots in Northern Colorado in the cattle business. He also discusses his work in real estate and investing and why he's optimistic about the future of Denver. Kenneth is a thoughtful, insightful leader whose Colorado roots run deep, which he has channeled into a multitude of successful business ventures.  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.

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.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

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. Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

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. Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. 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. 

Kirk Mielenz is co-founder and the CEO of RevGen Partners, a Colorado-headquartered business and technologyconsulting 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. Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.