The Drop Off: EPIC Conversations About the Workforce of Today and the Talent of Tomorrow

Ep. 11: Stacie Packard on the Intertwining of Affordable Housing and Childcare

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. 

Ep. 10: Linda Weise, Champion of Arts, Inspires Kids

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. 

Ep. 9: Brad Busse on the Origin and Future of EPIC

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. 

Ep. 8: Lisa Steven of Hope House on the Honor of Being an EPIC Partner of Promise

This month we met with Lisa Steven, Founder and Executive Director of Hope House Colorado and EPIC Executive Member. Hope House serves over 250 teen moms teaching how to achieve personal and economic self-sufficiency. Lisa explains that, “we don’t know where we would be without EPIC” and the opportunity to be a Project of Promise has been critical to remove the barriers and challenges of child care.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

Ep. 7: Adeeb Khan Believes in the Impacts of Giving Kids “A Good Start”

From oral health to universal pre-school, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation's Adeeb Khan tells EPIC CEO and President, Nicole Riehl, how we all can have positive longterm outcomes by investing in children at an early age. Listen in as Adeeb explains how getting kids “set up on the right track” will help our workforce to be better off in the long run. 
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

Ep. 6: Outgoing Chair David Hammond Discusses Pandemic Silver Linings in the Future of Child Care

David Hammond served as EPIC’s Board Chair from 2019 to 2022 and has been critical to the organization’s growth and development since its inception in 2010. In this podcast, David tells Nicole about his interest in early childhood education and advocacy since he was a young father and the strategies that have been key to support the early childhood system in Colorado. 
David explains that emerging leaders now have powerful arguments around the need for high quality child care and how it was a “silver lining during the pandemic" to highlighting this critical need. EPIC is happy that David will remain on EPIC’s board and his emerging opportunities outside of the child care realm because building stronger, safer communities is crucial.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

Ep. 5: Susan Steele Reflects on Her Many Accomplishments at the Buell Foundation

Nicole interviewed early-childhood champion, Susan Steele, recently-retired President and CEO of the Buell Foundation and EPIC founding board member. Among other things, Susan shares her serendipitous entrance as a leading changemaker for children and families in Colorado and how she learned to meet the pressing needs of the times. Listen as she shares her life experiences, successes, and how "anyone can be an advocate from wherever they sit.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 
 

Ep. 4: Steamboat Ski Resorts to the Rescue in the Routt County Childcare Desert

Steamboat Ski Resort is passionate about their employees and the community in Routt County. In mid-December EPIC interviewed them on opening day of their new child care facility. Learn how Steamboat “got over their skis” to tackle the problem of a lack of child care along with collaboration from EPIC’s Design Lab and others who contributed to the solution.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

Ep. 3: Community Hospital Builds Its Own Childcare Facility in Grand Junction, Here’s How

In late November, EPIC hosted Chris Thomas, President and CEO of Community Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Tawny Espinosa, Community Hospital’s Vice President of Business Development.  
 
A lack of accessible and affordable childcare was identified as a community need in Mesa County, and to help address this issue, Community Hospital recently broke ground on “Adventure Academy,” a new, onsite early child care and early education facility. 
 
EPIC President and CEO, Nicole Riehl, has been fortunate to get to know Chris, Tawny, and their team through their participation in EPIC’s Employer Based Child Care Design Lab. Learn more about Community Hospital and “Adventure Academy” here.
 
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

Ep. 2: ”Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Success” Panel Discussion from the EPIC Annual Meeting

On September 29th EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders across industries to celebrate “Today’s Vision, Tomorrow’s Success” EPIC’s 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, we hosted a robust lineup for our panel portion of the evening and this month’s podcast features key insights and contributions from that conversation. Each of our panelists has a unique position addressing critical issues around early care and education and we deeply appreciate their participation.
Special thanks to all of EPIC’s supporters including Governor Jared Polis, Nicole Brady from 7News, Jon Haubert, Publisher of ColoradoBiz Magazine and our amazing sponsors.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.