On September 10th, EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders to celebrate our 15th Annual Business Leaders Dinner in Glendale, CO. This year’s event was a terrific success as we welcomed more than 275 business leaders, members and partners. On this episode of The Drop-Off, we welcome you to listen in on Nicole Riehl’s Fireside Chat with Aparna Mathur, Senior Manager in Economics at Amazon and former Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School where we discussed. While much of our dinner presentations focused on how to support the workforce of today and tomorrow locally, Nicole’s conversation with Aparna dove deep into the national and federal conversation around how to support strong families and children, including tax credits. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-EPIC-Annual-Dinner_10-2-scaled.jpg17072560Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-09-25 13:45:132026-02-09 13:53:55Ep. 20: A Live Fireside Chat with Aparna Mathur
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.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Geta.jpg505333Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-05-24 15:54:272025-06-12 14:31:13Ep. 19: Geta Asfaw Shares Insights Into Business, Policy and Giving Back
With 40 years of executive leadership in medical device and health care services, David Perez serves as an independent board member of EPIC and advisor to several corporations and non-profit organizations. His expertise encompasses growing highly regulated global businesses organically through R&D and innovation and inorganically through M&A, leading within a variety of foreign, public, and private equity ownership structures, strategic planning, culture and talent development, succession planning, enterprise risk management, operations, compliance, and corporate governance. On this episode of The Drop-Off, David joins Nicole Riehl to discuss his incredible career, why and how he became a self-described “professional board member” and the importance of public policy. This episode touches on everything from healthcare to childcare to the generational impact of crafting good public policy. David has a remarkable command of a variety of subjects and this conversation flies by. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review, and subscribe.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/David_Perez-Picture-scaled.jpg25602217Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-03-27 09:23:542025-06-12 14:30:22Ep. 18: Driving Change: Conversations on Business and Advocacy with David Perez
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.
https://www.epicimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Sue-Renner-Headshot-1.10.24.jpg16491518Colorado EPIC/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/epic-logo-sm.pngColorado EPIC2024-01-29 09:01:572025-06-12 14:30:07Ep. 17: The Incredible Legacy of Sue Renner of the David and Laura Merage Foundation
On this episode of The Drop Off, Beth Melton joins Nicole Riehl to discuss her career journey, what she learned in her time as an elected official, and the policy priorities to embolden the workforce of today, and develop the talent of tomorrow. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Ep. 20: A Live Fireside Chat with Aparna Mathur
/in PodcastsOn September 10th, EPIC brought together Colorado business leaders to celebrate our 15th Annual Business Leaders Dinner in Glendale, CO. This year’s event was a terrific success as we welcomed more than 275 business leaders, members and partners. On this episode of The Drop-Off, we welcome you to listen in on Nicole Riehl’s Fireside Chat with Aparna Mathur, Senior Manager in Economics at Amazon and former Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School where we discussed. While much of our dinner presentations focused on how to support the workforce of today and tomorrow locally, Nicole’s conversation with Aparna dove deep into the national and federal conversation around how to support strong families and children, including tax credits. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.
Ep. 19: Geta Asfaw Shares Insights Into Business, Policy and Giving Back
/in PodcastsGeta 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.
Ep. 18: Driving Change: Conversations on Business and Advocacy with David Perez
/in PodcastsWith 40 years of executive leadership in medical device and health care services, David Perez serves as an independent board member of EPIC and advisor to several corporations and non-profit organizations. His expertise encompasses growing highly regulated global businesses organically through R&D and innovation and inorganically through M&A, leading within a variety of foreign, public, and private equity ownership structures, strategic planning, culture and talent development, succession planning, enterprise risk management, operations, compliance, and corporate governance. On this episode of The Drop-Off, David joins Nicole Riehl to discuss his incredible career, why and how he became a self-described “professional board member” and the importance of public policy. This episode touches on everything from healthcare to childcare to the generational impact of crafting good public policy. David has a remarkable command of a variety of subjects and this conversation flies by. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review, and subscribe.
Ep. 17: The Incredible Legacy of Sue Renner of the David and Laura Merage Foundation
/in PodcastsSue 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.
Ep. 16: Beth Melton and Nicole Riehl Lay Out 2024 Policy Priorities
/in PodcastsOn this episode of The Drop Off, Beth Melton joins Nicole Riehl to discuss her career journey, what she learned in her time as an elected official, and the policy priorities to embolden the workforce of today, and develop the talent of tomorrow. This episode is available on podcatchers everywhere. Please rate, review and subscribe.