Category: Podcasts

Geta Asfaw co-leads The Asfaw Family Foundation International (AFFI), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with his wife Janice. Since the early 1980’s, Geta and Janice have operated their family business in the Denver Metropolitan area as owner/operators of McDonald’s restaurants. Throughout the years they have supported a number of community groups and organizations. To date, the family has served thousands of individuals. Geta is also a founding member of EPIC. On this episode of The Drop-Off, Geta joins Nicole Riehl to share his remarkable story of emigrating from Ethiopia, what prevented him from returning to his home country for 26 years, how he started his own businesses, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Geta is a thoughtful, community-focused leader who has a stunning track record of success and giving back, and it’s our pleasure to feature him on The Drop-Off. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.  

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. Please rate, review and subscribe.

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. Please rate, review, and subscribe.      

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. Please rate, review and subscribe. 

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 child care 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. The episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review, and subscribe.