The Drop Off: EPIC Conversations About the Workforce of Today and the Talent of Tomorrow
Executives Partnering to Invest in Childcare (EPIC) enables the business community to foster the talent of tomorrow while supporting the workforce of today. On our monthly podcast “The Drop Off” we feature candid, pointed conversations with influential business leaders who have brought positive change to our communities, the workforce and the economy through their innovative solutions to the largest child care and education crisis ever. Without game-changing ideas for the future of business and child care, our prosperity faces a frightening drop off. New episodes drop on the 29th of every month.
Episodes
Friday Mar 29, 2024
Friday Mar 29, 2024
With 40 years of executive leadership in medical device and health care services, David Perez serves as an independent board member of EPIC and advisor to several corporations and non-profit organizations. His expertise encompasses growing highly regulated global businesses organically through R&D and innovation and inorganically through M&A, leading within a variety of foreign, public and private equity ownership structures, strategic planning, culture and talent development, succession planning, enterprise risk management, operations, compliance, and corporate governance.
On this episode of The Drop-Off, David joins Nicole Riehl to discuss his incredible career, why and how he became a self-described "professional board member" and the importance of public policy. This episode touches on everything from healthcare to child care to the generational impact of crafting good public policy. David has remarkable command of a variety of subjects and this conversation flies by.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Sue Renner is the Vice President and Executive Director of The David & Laura Merage Foundation which creates opportunities for future generations through venture philanthropy by investing in initiatives, organizations, and ideas that move society toward a more equitable future for all. She recently announced her retirement as Executive Director.
On this episode of The Drop-Off, Sue joins Nicole Riehl to discuss her career, her breakthroughs in early childhood education, the early days of EPIC, Colorado's universal pre-school initiative and much more. Sue is a remarkable leader, a passionate advocate, and an integral cog in EPIC. It's our privilege to share her story in this format.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Ep. 16: Beth Melton and Nicole Riehl Lay Out 2024 Policy Priorities
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Friday Dec 29, 2023
Beth Melton is the founder and principal consultant at Melton Strategic Solutions. Most recently, she served as a full-time local elected official in Routt County, Colorado. Her run for office and her work in office were motivated by a desire to support working families with child care solutions.
She is a part of the EPIC team and she joins our Nicole Riehl on this episode of The Drop Off to discuss her career journey, what she learned in her time as an elected official, and the policy priorities to embolden the workforce of today, and develop the talent of tomorrow.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Ep. 15: Colin Stewart on the Realities of Owning a Childcare Facility
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Wednesday Nov 29, 2023
Colin Stewart is the Founder & CEO of STEM Child Care, a facility in Castle Rock, CO dedicated to providing an environment that is both safe and nurturing for children from six weeks to six years old, allowing your child to explore their passions and creativity while cultivating their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills.
On this episode of The Drop Off, Colin joins Nicole Riehl to discuss his unusual journey into creating and developing this facility, the interesting economic realities and challenges of child care facilities, recent policy changes and much more. Colin brings a dynamic perspective, an impressive background, and tremendous insight into everything he throws himself into, and this conversation with Nicole is no exception.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Ep. 14: A Live Fireside Chat featuring Natriece Bryant and Elliot Haspel
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
Sunday Oct 29, 2023
On October 4, EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders across industries to celebrate “Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Success” EPIC’s 14th Annual Business Leaders Dinner. The event was a tremendous success with over 220 area business leaders, EPIC members, and partners in attendance. In case you were not able to join, part of the evening featured a Fireside Chat with Natriece Bryant, Director of State Property for the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administraion and Elliot Haspel, Director, Climate and Young Children at Capita. They brought unique perspectives on early care and education solutions at the local, state and national level.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Ep. 13: Ryan Beiser on PNC Bank’s Commitment to Early Childhood
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Friday Sep 29, 2023
Ryan Beiser is Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking for PNC. PNC is constantly innovating to help their clients succeed and to have a big impact in Denver. They provide their customers with new ideas, offer valuable insight and create customized solutions that will help propel a business forward. Ryan is also Chairman of the Board for EPIC.
On this episode of The Drop Off, Ryan joins Nicole Riehl to discuss PNC's deep commitment to early childhood education and care, how their philanthropic giving contributes to solving larger systemic problems in society, and how they empower their employees to advocate for the causes they most believe in. He discusses his involvement with EPIC, with other civic organizations, and describes how EPIC is uniquely suited to continue to be at the forefront of many of the state's most important conversations.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Ep. 12: Christine Benero on Mile High United Way’s Game Changing Project
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Christine Benero is the President & CEO of Mile High United Way. On the About page of their website, they describe themselves thusly: "Working side-by-side with the community, Mile High United Way takes on critical human services issues facing our seven-county footprint including the Metro Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield communities. Through our community programs and initiatives, we focus on our three interconnected Community Priorities: giving all children a strong start, supporting education and academic success, and creating economic opportunity for all."
On this episode of The Drop-Off, Christine joins Nichole Riehl to discuss her personal and professional journey that led to her leading Mile High United Way, digs into the work of Mile High United Way, and spends the bulk of the episode talking about their game-changing new project of putting on-site childcare at their Denver office location. She shares insights about duplicative regulatory processes, uncovering gaps in the system, and divulges the deep need for childcare solutions across the region's business community.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Saturday Jul 29, 2023
Ep. 11: Stacie Packard on the Intertwining of Affordable Housing and Childcare
Saturday Jul 29, 2023
Saturday Jul 29, 2023
Stacie Packard is President of Delwest Management Corp, a Denver-based real estate development firm focused on creating value within local communities through a unique combination of leadership and partnership. With a portfolio including multi-family rental properties (both luxury and affordable), whole communities of single-family homes, and renovated historical homes and buildings, Delwest is considered by its urban, federal and financial partners to be among the top metro-area real estate development companies.
On this episode of The Drop-Off, Stacie shares her personal and professional journey that involves understanding affordable housing from a multitude of angles. She joins Nicole Riehl to discuss how childcare and affordable housing are interrelated, how her company is working on innovative solutions to these issues, and why the work of EPIC is so vital.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Ep. 10: Linda Weise, Champion of Arts, Inspires Kids
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Linda Weise is the President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Community Cultural Collective, a 501C3 dedicated solely to the preservation and revitalization of the historic Colorado Springs City Auditorium. She is also the Founding CEO of the Colorado Springs Conservatory (CSC). She established the Conservatory in 1994 to bring world-class performing arts education to the region.
On this episode of The Drop-Off, Linda shares her professional journey that took her from performing to business to making the entrepreneurial leap. She joins Nicole Riehl to discuss issues pertinent to the arts and to early childhood, shares how the challenges have changed in the last 30 years, and how she came to be inspired by EPIC to be more involved at the State Capitol.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Monday May 29, 2023
Ep. 9: Brad Busse on the Origin and Future of EPIC
Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
Brad Busse, President of Busse Ventures, was there for the founding of EPIC. In this episode of The Drop-Off, Brad gives everyone a behind-the-scenes look at the formation of EPIC and how a group of powerful, like-minded business leaders came together when they saw that child-care supply was a major challenge. In his estimation, it is imperative the business community support early childhood education not only for the benefit of all Colorado families, but to "home-grow as many well-balanced employees as possible.” In this conversation, Brad joins our Host, President and CEO of EPIC, Nicole Riehl to discuss the early days of EPIC, stresses the importance of early childhood education, celebrates the organization's many accomplishments, and looks to the future.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.