We are ecstatic to bring Cassie Leyva on board as EPIC’s new Senior Director of Business Development and Communications! While you can read Cassie’s bio here, we also wanted to share a Q&A between Cassie and our President & CEO, Nicole Riehl. Enjoy! Nicole: Why are you excited to join EPIC? Cassie: Seeing the momentum that you, your team, and EPIC’s members have been able to create is nothing short of impressive and vital for the future of this nation. I have seen numerous efforts to address the childcare crisis and although important, none have made me feel as hopeful as harnessing the power of business leaders. Nicole: What is one thing you’ve done in your work that makes you hopeful for change? Cassie: My work nationally in building bridges across political lines to benefit our economy has shown me that working together to solve the childcare crisis could serve as a unifying issue for our nation when we need it most. Whether it’s in DC or here in Colorado, the drain this crisis is causing is increasingly evident and I want to continue to be a part of the solution. Nicole: Why do you think the business community should play a role in solving for the childcare crisis? Cassie: I have worked on this issue from multiple angles and I’m more convinced than ever that business leaders hold the power to be some of our greatest agents of change. The best part is, when it comes to childcare, what is good for American families is good for business. Prioritizing childcare not only demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, it leads to a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce while also benefiting the company’s bottom line and overall reputation. Additionally, the future of our society depends on us creating solutions now ensuring we have a skilled and engaged workforce in the future.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Cassie-Leyva_May-2021-scaled.jpg25601709Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2023-11-15 16:14:402025-06-12 14:30:01Meet EPIC’s New Senior Director of Business Development and Communications!
When it comes to working parents, flexibility is key. That’s why Delta Dental of Colorado is proud to support EPIC in its mission to provide solutions that meet parents’ needs for early childhood care and education. Our company has a history of helping our team members find the flexibility to support not just the workforce of today but the development of the workforce of tomorrow. From the first day they join Delta Dental of Colorado, employees know they have become part of an organization that values them as individuals and as team members. Child care can cost families up to 19% of their income or more, and that’s not a sustainable solution to keep parents in the career talent pool. What is sustainable are the solutions businesses are developing and implementing to support working parents. For working mothers, especially, these solutions are key to keeping them in the workforce. According to Time magazine, “About 78.2% of female college graduates aged 25 to 34 who had children participated in the labor force in the fall of 2021, compared to 77.2% in the fall of 2018.” They’re able to return to work because of flexible work schedules and their ability to find the kind of childcare that works for their families. Businesses today are creating solutions to keep not just mothers, but all working parents, growing in their careers. Through solutions like flexible work schedules, remote work, or even working with EPIC’s design lab to provide on-site childcare, businesses make real impact for working parents. In fact, The Wall Street Journal notes that, “Among women who dropped out of the workforce in the Covid-19 era, one-third said the lack or expense of childcare was a top reason, while 20% of men who left said so.” Flexibility isn’t just developing remote work positions. It’s also allowing parents to create schedules that fit their childcare needs. It’s the development of on- or near-site childcare programs and other creative family benefits that aim to offer access, flexibility, and affordability for their employees. It’s in building the infrastructure and advancing policies friendly to both business and working parents. Delta Dental of Colorado works with EPIC because its network of business leaders is committed to a future where childcare and workforce preparedness are not roadblocks to business success and economic growth. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We know that: An investment in early childcare and education can produce an $8.60 return for each $1 invested. Investments in early childcare and education have substantial impact on educational success, as well as health, poverty, workforce development, and the economy. Children participating in quality childcare and education are more likely to stay away from teen pregnancy, drugs, and criminal activity. Parents in the current workforce are more productive when they are not concerned about their children during the workday. Flexibility in the workforce leads to better outcomes because children are cared for and their learning is enriched. When employees’ children are cared for, our society thrives and companies can […]
This year, PNC Bank is presenting sponsor at EPIC’s Annual Business Leaders Dinner and will share its commitment to investing in early childhood education with other business leaders at the event. A champion of quality early childhood education, PNC Bank has a long history of supporting young children and their families. At this time in Colorado and across the U.S., it’s needed more than ever. According to research from the Common Sense Institute, Colorado’s labor force is the tightest on record. In the state there are 2.7 jobs for every unemployed person, and the labor shortage will cost $46 billion in additional state Gross Domestic Product in 2023. The labor shortage is directly tied to childcare in the state as parents and their careers are sidelined by a lack of access to quality, affordable early childhood care and education. The childcare industry is poised to see more challenges with the expiration of additional federal stimulus support in September. That’s what makes the advocacy of businesses like PNC all the more important. Launched in 2004, PNC Grow Up Great is a $500 million, bilingual initiative designed to help prepare children, particularly underserved children, for success in school and life. Built on the understanding that education is a powerful means for economic and social mobility, PNC Grow Up Great helps young children across the country develop a lifelong passion for learning. Since arriving in Denver in 2018, PNC Bank and the PNC Foundation have already invested more than $1 million to strengthen high-quality early childhood education and provide critical resources across Colorado. This legacy of investing in high-quality early childhood education is why PNC Bank is thrilled to be a community partner of EPIC, as they work together to create a strong Colorado workforce and community. As presenting sponsor for EPIC’s Annual Business Leaders Dinner, PNC demonstrates its commitment to high-quality early childhood education and dedication to impact the current and future workforces here in Colorado. PNC Grow Up Great benefits children and families in the communities where we live and work. The program has distributed more than $225 million in grants to nonprofits to advance high-quality early childhood education and has supported more than 8 million young children in the U.S. to date through grants and educational programs. These dollars have provided teachers and caregivers with resources to inspire a lifetime love of learning, promoted school readiness, and filled classrooms with school supplies across the country. PNC is a passionate champion of early childhood education and believes that investing in our children is key to shaping a brighter future for our society. With its generous contributions, PNC Bank has empowered communities nationwide by providing a wealth of tools and resources dedicated to nurturing young minds.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PNCBankEPICAnnualDinner2.png605721Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2023-10-03 12:53:282025-06-12 14:29:12PNC Champions Early Childhood and Leads the Way as Presenting Sponsor of EPIC’s Annual Business Dinner
During the week of July 17, Moms First hosted the National Business Coalition for Childcare Corporate Champions event with US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, in Washington DC. EPIC’s President & CEO, Nicole Riehl, was invited to participate as an innovator and expert in how businesses can support childcare efforts. Nicole joined business leaders from a range of industries to discuss and celebrate efforts to expand childcare solutions for American workers. Child care is an economic issue. It’s clear that lack of access to quality, affordable childcare is keeping people out of the talent pipeline and eroding America’s ability to compete in the global economy. Millions of jobs are open because we are missing so many women and workers from the workforce. Leaders at this special event demonstrated and discussed how businesses are taking steps alongside philanthropy and government to improve access to quality, affordable childcare and paid leave for working families. Nicole came back impressed with the innovation, partnership, and change that is coming, and proud to share the wins we’re accomplishing in Colorado. Moms First highlighted recent data showing that there are more women on payrolls than ever before. They’re able to return to work because of flexible work schedules, and the right kind of childcare for their families. But many women don’t have all the support they need for their families — and their careers — to truly thrive. Child care can cost families up to 19% of their income, and that’s not a sustainable solution to keep these parents in the talent pool. What is sustainable are the solutions businesses are developing and implementing that support working parents. EPIC friend and partner, Steamboat Resort, was at the event, sharing their leadership and experience implementing the Steamboat Childcare Center with the help of the EPIC Employer-Based Childcare Design Lab. At the event, Boston Consulting Group shared their report, Solving the $290 Billion Care Crisis. This report forecasts that the United States is going to lose $290 billion per year in GDP in 2030 onwards if we fail to find solutions in two areas: The lack of available workers to fill care roles. The departure of productive employees to take on unpaid caregiving duties. BCG notes that this loss is equivalent to losing half the annual GDP growth we’ve experienced over the last year. Other industries compete for these care workers, like hospitality and retail. And they’re winning. As of July 2022, pandemic-related job losses in childcare persisted, short 8% of pre-pandemic levels, even where other sectors had largely recovered. In addition, about one third of US childcare centers closed or reduced capacity because of a lack of staff. On top of the already-dire situation is the coming childcare cliff: On September 30, federal stabilization funds will expire. According to the Century Foundation, this means that approximately 3.2 million children could lose their spots in childcare as about 70,000 childcare programs close. With those closures, millions of parents will likely either leave the […]
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/7-19-23_Mons-First-Joint-Luncheon-with-Department-of-Commerce-BCG-DC-Office-Eventphotojournalism-___0143-1-scaled.jpg25601707Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2023-08-09 13:41:382025-06-12 14:29:03DC Event Brings Business Leaders Working for Childcare Solutions Together
Since 2022, EPIC and key partners have pursued actionable solutions in finance, real estate, policy, and regulations to start and sustain high-quality early care and education supply across Colorado. Join us on Thursday, September 7, 2023 as we convene stakeholders, partners, and advisors to present the findings of EPIC’s research and work with dynamic childcare projects over the past year, and the upcoming recommendations, potential partnerships, and programs that can provide critical supports to increase access, affordability, and feasibility of childcare infrastructure in our state. 8:30-9:15 Arrive, Serve Brunch, Networking 9:30-9:40 Opening Statements and Building Up Video 9:40-9:50 Real Estate Solutions: Childcare Marketplace platform and real estate opportunities for childcare 9:50-10:05 Childcare Zoning & Regulatory Opportunities in Colorado 10:05-10:20 Capital and Funding Solutions: Models to Inform a Childcare Impact Fund 10:20-10:30 Break 10:30-10:45 Public Private Partnership: Creative Planning for Community Development 10:45-11:00 Question and Answer with speakers and closing statements 11:00-11:30 Mimosa Bar & Networking RSVP for this exclusive event below and become part of the solution to the childcare crisis.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BU-no-subtitle.png208360Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2023-07-28 16:59:022025-06-12 14:29:08EPIC’s Building Up Brunch: Progress and Solutions in Childcare Financing, Real Estate, and Policy
Meet EPIC’s New Senior Director of Business Development and Communications!
/in BlogWe are ecstatic to bring Cassie Leyva on board as EPIC’s new Senior Director of Business Development and Communications! While you can read Cassie’s bio here, we also wanted to share a Q&A between Cassie and our President & CEO, Nicole Riehl. Enjoy! Nicole: Why are you excited to join EPIC? Cassie: Seeing the momentum that you, your team, and EPIC’s members have been able to create is nothing short of impressive and vital for the future of this nation. I have seen numerous efforts to address the childcare crisis and although important, none have made me feel as hopeful as harnessing the power of business leaders. Nicole: What is one thing you’ve done in your work that makes you hopeful for change? Cassie: My work nationally in building bridges across political lines to benefit our economy has shown me that working together to solve the childcare crisis could serve as a unifying issue for our nation when we need it most. Whether it’s in DC or here in Colorado, the drain this crisis is causing is increasingly evident and I want to continue to be a part of the solution. Nicole: Why do you think the business community should play a role in solving for the childcare crisis? Cassie: I have worked on this issue from multiple angles and I’m more convinced than ever that business leaders hold the power to be some of our greatest agents of change. The best part is, when it comes to childcare, what is good for American families is good for business. Prioritizing childcare not only demonstrates a commitment to employee well-being, it leads to a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce while also benefiting the company’s bottom line and overall reputation. Additionally, the future of our society depends on us creating solutions now ensuring we have a skilled and engaged workforce in the future.
Delta Dental of Colorado Supports Flexibility for Better Outcomes
/in BlogWhen it comes to working parents, flexibility is key. That’s why Delta Dental of Colorado is proud to support EPIC in its mission to provide solutions that meet parents’ needs for early childhood care and education. Our company has a history of helping our team members find the flexibility to support not just the workforce of today but the development of the workforce of tomorrow. From the first day they join Delta Dental of Colorado, employees know they have become part of an organization that values them as individuals and as team members. Child care can cost families up to 19% of their income or more, and that’s not a sustainable solution to keep parents in the career talent pool. What is sustainable are the solutions businesses are developing and implementing to support working parents. For working mothers, especially, these solutions are key to keeping them in the workforce. According to Time magazine, “About 78.2% of female college graduates aged 25 to 34 who had children participated in the labor force in the fall of 2021, compared to 77.2% in the fall of 2018.” They’re able to return to work because of flexible work schedules and their ability to find the kind of childcare that works for their families. Businesses today are creating solutions to keep not just mothers, but all working parents, growing in their careers. Through solutions like flexible work schedules, remote work, or even working with EPIC’s design lab to provide on-site childcare, businesses make real impact for working parents. In fact, The Wall Street Journal notes that, “Among women who dropped out of the workforce in the Covid-19 era, one-third said the lack or expense of childcare was a top reason, while 20% of men who left said so.” Flexibility isn’t just developing remote work positions. It’s also allowing parents to create schedules that fit their childcare needs. It’s the development of on- or near-site childcare programs and other creative family benefits that aim to offer access, flexibility, and affordability for their employees. It’s in building the infrastructure and advancing policies friendly to both business and working parents. Delta Dental of Colorado works with EPIC because its network of business leaders is committed to a future where childcare and workforce preparedness are not roadblocks to business success and economic growth. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We know that: An investment in early childcare and education can produce an $8.60 return for each $1 invested. Investments in early childcare and education have substantial impact on educational success, as well as health, poverty, workforce development, and the economy. Children participating in quality childcare and education are more likely to stay away from teen pregnancy, drugs, and criminal activity. Parents in the current workforce are more productive when they are not concerned about their children during the workday. Flexibility in the workforce leads to better outcomes because children are cared for and their learning is enriched. When employees’ children are cared for, our society thrives and companies can […]
PNC Champions Early Childhood and Leads the Way as Presenting Sponsor of EPIC’s Annual Business Dinner
/in BlogThis year, PNC Bank is presenting sponsor at EPIC’s Annual Business Leaders Dinner and will share its commitment to investing in early childhood education with other business leaders at the event. A champion of quality early childhood education, PNC Bank has a long history of supporting young children and their families. At this time in Colorado and across the U.S., it’s needed more than ever. According to research from the Common Sense Institute, Colorado’s labor force is the tightest on record. In the state there are 2.7 jobs for every unemployed person, and the labor shortage will cost $46 billion in additional state Gross Domestic Product in 2023. The labor shortage is directly tied to childcare in the state as parents and their careers are sidelined by a lack of access to quality, affordable early childhood care and education. The childcare industry is poised to see more challenges with the expiration of additional federal stimulus support in September. That’s what makes the advocacy of businesses like PNC all the more important. Launched in 2004, PNC Grow Up Great is a $500 million, bilingual initiative designed to help prepare children, particularly underserved children, for success in school and life. Built on the understanding that education is a powerful means for economic and social mobility, PNC Grow Up Great helps young children across the country develop a lifelong passion for learning. Since arriving in Denver in 2018, PNC Bank and the PNC Foundation have already invested more than $1 million to strengthen high-quality early childhood education and provide critical resources across Colorado. This legacy of investing in high-quality early childhood education is why PNC Bank is thrilled to be a community partner of EPIC, as they work together to create a strong Colorado workforce and community. As presenting sponsor for EPIC’s Annual Business Leaders Dinner, PNC demonstrates its commitment to high-quality early childhood education and dedication to impact the current and future workforces here in Colorado. PNC Grow Up Great benefits children and families in the communities where we live and work. The program has distributed more than $225 million in grants to nonprofits to advance high-quality early childhood education and has supported more than 8 million young children in the U.S. to date through grants and educational programs. These dollars have provided teachers and caregivers with resources to inspire a lifetime love of learning, promoted school readiness, and filled classrooms with school supplies across the country. PNC is a passionate champion of early childhood education and believes that investing in our children is key to shaping a brighter future for our society. With its generous contributions, PNC Bank has empowered communities nationwide by providing a wealth of tools and resources dedicated to nurturing young minds.
DC Event Brings Business Leaders Working for Childcare Solutions Together
/in BlogDuring the week of July 17, Moms First hosted the National Business Coalition for Childcare Corporate Champions event with US Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, in Washington DC. EPIC’s President & CEO, Nicole Riehl, was invited to participate as an innovator and expert in how businesses can support childcare efforts. Nicole joined business leaders from a range of industries to discuss and celebrate efforts to expand childcare solutions for American workers. Child care is an economic issue. It’s clear that lack of access to quality, affordable childcare is keeping people out of the talent pipeline and eroding America’s ability to compete in the global economy. Millions of jobs are open because we are missing so many women and workers from the workforce. Leaders at this special event demonstrated and discussed how businesses are taking steps alongside philanthropy and government to improve access to quality, affordable childcare and paid leave for working families. Nicole came back impressed with the innovation, partnership, and change that is coming, and proud to share the wins we’re accomplishing in Colorado. Moms First highlighted recent data showing that there are more women on payrolls than ever before. They’re able to return to work because of flexible work schedules, and the right kind of childcare for their families. But many women don’t have all the support they need for their families — and their careers — to truly thrive. Child care can cost families up to 19% of their income, and that’s not a sustainable solution to keep these parents in the talent pool. What is sustainable are the solutions businesses are developing and implementing that support working parents. EPIC friend and partner, Steamboat Resort, was at the event, sharing their leadership and experience implementing the Steamboat Childcare Center with the help of the EPIC Employer-Based Childcare Design Lab. At the event, Boston Consulting Group shared their report, Solving the $290 Billion Care Crisis. This report forecasts that the United States is going to lose $290 billion per year in GDP in 2030 onwards if we fail to find solutions in two areas: The lack of available workers to fill care roles. The departure of productive employees to take on unpaid caregiving duties. BCG notes that this loss is equivalent to losing half the annual GDP growth we’ve experienced over the last year. Other industries compete for these care workers, like hospitality and retail. And they’re winning. As of July 2022, pandemic-related job losses in childcare persisted, short 8% of pre-pandemic levels, even where other sectors had largely recovered. In addition, about one third of US childcare centers closed or reduced capacity because of a lack of staff. On top of the already-dire situation is the coming childcare cliff: On September 30, federal stabilization funds will expire. According to the Century Foundation, this means that approximately 3.2 million children could lose their spots in childcare as about 70,000 childcare programs close. With those closures, millions of parents will likely either leave the […]
EPIC’s Building Up Brunch: Progress and Solutions in Childcare Financing, Real Estate, and Policy
/in BlogSince 2022, EPIC and key partners have pursued actionable solutions in finance, real estate, policy, and regulations to start and sustain high-quality early care and education supply across Colorado. Join us on Thursday, September 7, 2023 as we convene stakeholders, partners, and advisors to present the findings of EPIC’s research and work with dynamic childcare projects over the past year, and the upcoming recommendations, potential partnerships, and programs that can provide critical supports to increase access, affordability, and feasibility of childcare infrastructure in our state. 8:30-9:15 Arrive, Serve Brunch, Networking 9:30-9:40 Opening Statements and Building Up Video 9:40-9:50 Real Estate Solutions: Childcare Marketplace platform and real estate opportunities for childcare 9:50-10:05 Childcare Zoning & Regulatory Opportunities in Colorado 10:05-10:20 Capital and Funding Solutions: Models to Inform a Childcare Impact Fund 10:20-10:30 Break 10:30-10:45 Public Private Partnership: Creative Planning for Community Development 10:45-11:00 Question and Answer with speakers and closing statements 11:00-11:30 Mimosa Bar & Networking RSVP for this exclusive event below and become part of the solution to the childcare crisis.