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
![Ep. 9: Brad Busse on the Origin and Future of EPIC](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/busse-brad-300x290_mdr2ki_300x300.png)
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.
![Ep. 8: Lisa Steven of Hope House on the Honor of Being an EPIC Partner of Promise](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/LisaSteven-FINAL_Web-16325-e1560312907603_s95ipz_300x300.jpg)
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Ep. 8: Lisa Steven of Hope House on the Honor of Being an EPIC Partner of Promise
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
Saturday Apr 29, 2023
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”](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/1662825004431_5irwzh_300x300.jpg)
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Ep. 7: Adeeb Khan Believes in the Impacts of Giving Kids “A Good Start”
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
Wednesday Mar 29, 2023
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/0259_dpbjwn_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/IMG_0258_gzrai6_300x300.jpg)
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
Sunday Jan 29, 2023
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/IMG_4102_4fp4i5_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Ep. 4: Steamboat Ski Resorts to the Rescue in the Routt County Childcare Desert
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
Thursday Dec 29, 2022
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/image0_vktv56_300x300.jpeg)
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
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](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/15133253/EPIC1500logo_xwgwpg_300x300.png)
Saturday Oct 29, 2022
Saturday Oct 29, 2022
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.
![Ep. 1: David Merage, Co-Founder of Chef America (Hot Pockets) and Consolidated Investment Group, on Business, Philanthropy, and Investing in Child Care](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog15133253/David_Headshot_aiunnu_300x300.jpg)
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
David Merage is the co-founder of Chef America, a national frozen food manufacturer known for inventing and marketing Hot Pockets©, Lean Pockets©, and Croissant Pockets©, and Consolidated Investment Group. He is also one of the founding members of Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC). On the debut episode of The Drop Off, he shares the many insights he's acquired as one of the country's most successful and influential entrepreneurs including the importance of surrounding oneself with incredible people, why he doesn't focus on the negative, and the upside of businesses investing in child care. He relates an epiphany he had while talking to one of his team members that led to his continued advocacy of ensuring every worker in America has access to high-quality, affordable child care.
This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere and the EPIC website. Please rate, review and subscribe.