On September 9, 2025, EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders to celebrate our 16th Annual Business Leaders Dinner at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, CO. Part of our dinner program includes an educational discussion among Colorado leaders and partners as they share their own perspectives and work related to childcare and early education. This year we welcomed the ever-amazing Barbara Grogan, whom we honored with the 2025 EPIC Award, and Steve ErkenBrack, president and CEO of Buell Foundation. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Untitled-design-2025-09-29T113216.446.png10801080Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2025-09-24 10:40:122025-09-29 10:32:51Ep. 26: A Live Fireside Chat with Barbara Grogan and Steve ErkenBrack
EPIC President & CEO Nicole Riehl was recently a guest on the Wooden Teeth Show, where she joined host Jake Williams to discuss the business challenges of childcare and how they impact price and availability for families. We’re grateful for the opportunity to appear on Wooden Teeth, and to share the episode here on our platform. You can find Wooden Teeth at their website. This episode is also available to watch on their YouTube channel here.
In December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels, and networking — designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. In this episode of The Drop Off podcast, we’re proud to share the panel “How to Support Providers in Community-Wide or Non-Traditional Solutions.” Hosted by Michelle Kang, CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and featuring Erica Phillips of the National Association for Family Childcare, Dr. Calvin Moore, Jr. of Council for Professional Recognition, Lucy Recio of Third Bloom Consulting, and Ellicia Lanier of Urban Sprouts. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2.10.25-8.png8001200Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2025-05-28 10:02:332025-06-27 12:02:47Ep. 24: How to Support Providers in Community-Wide or Non-Traditional Solutions
In December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels and networking — designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. On this episode of The Drop Off, we’re proud to share “Paying Dividends: Employer Investments & Community Impacts.” Hosted by Aaron Merchen of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and featuring Kathy Szenda Wilson and Maria Ortiz Borden of Pulse, Ananda Sweet of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber and David Duro of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, this conversation highlights how investments in childcare benefit both the business community, and the community at-large. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2.10.25-7.png8001200Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2025-03-25 11:16:092025-06-12 14:35:24Ep. 23: From the National Childcare Innovation Summit: Paying Dividends: Employer Investments & Community Impacts
In December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels, and networking—designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. On this episode of The Drop Off, we’re proud to share “How Providers & Employers Can Build Successful Relationships.” Hosted by Adam Alson of Appleseed Childhood Education, and featuring Ella Zander of Yellow Hen Childcare and Jennifer Knott of Access Early Education Foundation, the conversation sheds light on how to foster dialogue and partnership in each unique business environment. Anecdotes, insights, and useful information abound in this dynamic conversation among three leaders in the field. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ep-22-Podcast-EPIC.png505505Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2025-01-22 14:47:412025-06-12 14:35:03Ep. 22: From the National Childcare Innovation Summit: How Providers & Employers Can Build Successful Relationships
Ep. 26: A Live Fireside Chat with Barbara Grogan and Steve ErkenBrack
/in PodcastsOn September 9, 2025, EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders to celebrate our 16th Annual Business Leaders Dinner at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, CO. Part of our dinner program includes an educational discussion among Colorado leaders and partners as they share their own perspectives and work related to childcare and early education. This year we welcomed the ever-amazing Barbara Grogan, whom we honored with the 2025 EPIC Award, and Steve ErkenBrack, president and CEO of Buell Foundation. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere.
Ep. 25: Why Is Childcare So Expensive? (Wooden Teeth Crossover Episode Event!)
/in Blog, PodcastsEPIC President & CEO Nicole Riehl was recently a guest on the Wooden Teeth Show, where she joined host Jake Williams to discuss the business challenges of childcare and how they impact price and availability for families. We’re grateful for the opportunity to appear on Wooden Teeth, and to share the episode here on our platform. You can find Wooden Teeth at their website. This episode is also available to watch on their YouTube channel here.
Ep. 24: How to Support Providers in Community-Wide or Non-Traditional Solutions
/in PodcastsIn December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels, and networking — designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. In this episode of The Drop Off podcast, we’re proud to share the panel “How to Support Providers in Community-Wide or Non-Traditional Solutions.” Hosted by Michelle Kang, CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and featuring Erica Phillips of the National Association for Family Childcare, Dr. Calvin Moore, Jr. of Council for Professional Recognition, Lucy Recio of Third Bloom Consulting, and Ellicia Lanier of Urban Sprouts. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere.
Ep. 23: From the National Childcare Innovation Summit: Paying Dividends: Employer Investments & Community Impacts
/in PodcastsIn December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels and networking — designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. On this episode of The Drop Off, we’re proud to share “Paying Dividends: Employer Investments & Community Impacts.” Hosted by Aaron Merchen of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and featuring Kathy Szenda Wilson and Maria Ortiz Borden of Pulse, Ananda Sweet of the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber and David Duro of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, this conversation highlights how investments in childcare benefit both the business community, and the community at-large. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Ep. 22: From the National Childcare Innovation Summit: How Providers & Employers Can Build Successful Relationships
/in News, PodcastsIn December 2024, EPIC partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the National Childcare Innovation Summit. This invite-only event, presented by the David and Laura Merage Foundation, brought together business leaders in Washington, D.C. for an intimate, engaging environment of workshops, panels, and networking—designed to turn inspiration into action in their own communities. On this episode of The Drop Off, we’re proud to share “How Providers & Employers Can Build Successful Relationships.” Hosted by Adam Alson of Appleseed Childhood Education, and featuring Ella Zander of Yellow Hen Childcare and Jennifer Knott of Access Early Education Foundation, the conversation sheds light on how to foster dialogue and partnership in each unique business environment. Anecdotes, insights, and useful information abound in this dynamic conversation among three leaders in the field. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.