2015: A Year in Review video and document

We want to keep our messages short and sweet as 2015 wraps up. To reflect on our outstanding year, ICOSA Media produced a video and a one-page summary. We highlight policy advocacy, event collaborations, and network partnerships -- but those lists are by no means inclusive! We couldn't have made it here without you. Thank you for being a member of COBRT. 

Watch our two-minute COBRT Year in Review video at vimeo or just watch it here by clicking the screen below. 

 

And glance over the PDF summary here. It's printable or can be viewed online.



COBRT helps convene regional coal interests

On Friday, December 11, 2015, representatives from COBRT, CAP Logistics and ICOSA Media traveled to Wyoming for a series of meetings related to the coal industry. This “Coal-O-Quium” was sponsored by the Wyoming Business Alliance in conjunction with the Colorado Business Roundtable, the Wyoming Mining Association, Jordans Western Dining and CAP Logistics. The spotlight of the event was to create a breakthrough clean coal technology to reinvent the industry.

Attendees and presenters came from Colorado and Wyoming, naturally, but also from Texas and Washington, DC. Presentations and discussions about clean coal technology urgencies and academic initiatives; the EPA’s Clean Power Plan; permitting challenges; legislative concerns and comments; and next steps. Several key private companies were represented as well as the University of Wyoming, Wyoming Mining Association, Colorado Mining Association, Rocky Mountain Coal Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Although the event lasted all afternoon, we believe that the last fifteen minutes or so were the most valuable in that several voices had a chance to weigh in about the need for unity in exploring these issues with the future of the coal industry across state borders and potential party divides. Although we are the Colorado affiliate of the national Business Roundtable, it is a crucial aspect of our mission and vision to serve in a regional capacity so that businesses grow and thrive in Colorado, the region, across the nation and internationally.

Introduction to "Work in Progress"

Why are some people and some companies highly successful, while most are not? We think that it is due in some part by connections, collaboration, and communication.

How can companies perform so well that their industry counterparts are competitors in name only? Although they operate in the same industry, serve the same market, and even use the same suppliers, there are higher-performing rabbits, so to speak, who lead the race and, more importantly, continually widen their lead.

Who are the extraordinary people, what do they do, and why?

Who are the best organizations that get things done and achieve extraordinary results? What similar challenges do they face?  What are they doing wrong?

Why are some regions or countries better than others?

What could we do to improve the longevity of our planet?

What can we do for the membership of Colorado Business Roundtable to add value to the time, sponsorship and ideological support you offer? 

This newsletter is entitled, "Work in Progress" because we are asking for your help in gathering ideas and identifying interesting people and success stories. We believe that this will help us make this newsletter better over time and increase value to your networks. We not only have the ability to conduct database searches and a review of relevant literature, such as journal articles and position papers. We also have the ability to interview for our own media outlets, which include radio, magazine, and now, this weekly e-newsletter. 

Our goal is to create dynamic cooperation, partnerships and assistance among individuals, businesses, communities, governmental bodies and educational organizations to help foster growth and change.  We want to:

  • Connect cutting-edge and world-class organizations, both here and abroad, to help with long-term competitive efforts.
  • Make a genuine difference in the lives of colleagues, friends and customers.
  • Connect higher education institutions to promote mutual understanding and provide a forum for the intellectual exchange of ideas.
  • Create opportunities through programs, seminars, study visits and guest lectureships where our partners teach theory and practice. 
  • Pull people, information and resources together to create opportunities to raise our combined success.

In our opinion, this is your weekly newsletter -- everyone contributes and everyone benefits. Everyone has a stake in the collective success of this venture. Our culture thrives on shared knowledge, and we believe that the power of many minds with a shared vision and common commitment will result in positive change on all levels.

Thank you for your continued support as we take COBRT and our media to the next level.

Who are the brave leaders who will risk it all and never give up?

Making these kinds of inquiries on a regular basis, challenging accepted perceptions with brave questions and even braver answers, helps us all. 

 

 

 

Fix the Debt national tour stops in Denver

The biggest threat to America today may very well be the national debt. To say it’s a growing problem is beyond understatement. To address the issue, the Colorado Business Roundtable partnered with the Denver Business Journal, Colorado Concern, the Colorado Society of CPAs, and the Economic Club of Colorado to host an important discussion about fixing the debt.  

Former Senator Alan Simpson and Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, are leading the charge to inform citizens about real solutions. On stage Tuesday morning at Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science, moderator Neil Westergaard, Editor of the Denver Business Journal led the conversation in which a folksy yet determined Senator Simpson, and brilliant MacGuineas kept the crowd engaged. 

Senator Simpson emphasized the continued demand for government services provided by tax dollars, explaining just how demanding those expectations are. “For every guy that says what about that 47% of those jerks that don’t pay taxes. I’m tired of that. Well, that’s right. But only 20% of the American people use 80% of the stuff in the tax code, and it costs 1 trillion – 100 billion a year, to service those 180 tax expenditures.”

Maya MacGuineas mentioned a Wall Street Journal article that suggested we are closer to the next recession than we are to the last recession, and explains what it will take to prevent that. “The model of Success here is, look at medium and long term debt, and figure out a way to bring down those debt levels. You don’t, when the economy is weak, go through changes. For the past four years it shouldn’t have been about reducing the deficit. We shouldn’t have made spending cuts or tax increases, that was the wrong time.”  

Senator Simpson urges all citizens to look deeper into the financial crisis than what is presented on the news.

MacGuineas suggested three specific steps we all can take to help fix the debt. First, sign up for information and updates from Fix The Debt and Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Next, attend your Town Hall meetings and debates! Contact moderators ahead of time to let them know that you want to hear what candidates think about the national debt. Lastly, when your congressional representation and other elected officials speak towards solutions, thank them! We all appreciate hearing gratitude for a job well-done.

Fix the Debt is a biparitisan committee for a responsible federal budget. Go to FixtheDebt.org to learn about more resources and become an educated voter. 

 

Colorado Cleantech Industries Association Announces the 2015 Finalists Honoring Leadership in Advancing Colorado's Cleantech Economy

11 Colorado companies and individuals selected for their efforts to expand Colorado's cleantech ecosystem, increase jobs and drive innovation in the cleantech sector
 


GOLDEN, CO, Oct. 20, 2015 - The Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA) today named 11 finalists for its sixth annual "Colorado Cleantech Awards Celebration," honoring leadership in advancing cleantech job creation, corporate growth, individual effort and innovation. Winners will be announced on November 2 at the Colorado Cleantech Awards Celebration. 
 
Company finalists were selected based on their ability to impact the marketplace with innovative clean technologies, and recognizes a company's successful fundraising efforts, their ability to scale technology, and their statewide job creation impact. Individuals were selected for their commitment to expanding Colorado's cleantech ecosystem and their devotion to the growth of their respective organizations. 
 
"The 2015 finalists highlight another outstanding group of Colorado's cleantech leaders. The drive and dedication these finalists have in building the state's cleantech footprint is remarkable," said Christine Shapard, executive director of CCIA. "Colorado is a national leader because of the effort and creativity these companies and individuals put forth and I look forward to announcing the winners on November 2."
 
The 2015 Colorado Cleantech Leadership Awards Finalists are:  
 
HIGH IMPACT CLEANTECH COMPANY
Ascent Solar
Lightning Hybrids
Terralux
 
BREAKOUT CLEANTECH COMPANY
Ampt
Waste to Energy Partners
 
EMERGING CLEANTECH COMPANY
BASiC 3C
PIARCS
Wunder Capital
 
CLEANTECH ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Coors, Steelhead Composites
Bart Van Zeghbroeck, BASiC 3C
Brandon Williams, Iron Edison  
 
The finalists were selected by a group of industry peers consisting of entrepreneurial leaders, cleantech CEOs and former award recipients. The Colorado Cleantech Awards Celebration will be held November 2, 2015 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the History Colorado Center in Denver. Nancy Pfund, Managing Partner, at DBL Partners, is the keynote speaker for the event. For more information, visit: http://coloradocleantech.com/cleantech-awards/  
 
About Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA)
 
Founded in 2008, Colorado Cleantech Industries Association (CCIA) is a statewide organization dedicated to promoting Colorado's cleantech industries. CCIA impacts Colorado's policies, people, products and programs that drive expansion of a cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and secure energy economy. Through advocacy, public policy leadership, development and education, CCIA works to ensure that Colorado is a global cleantech leader. For more information about CCIA, visit www.coloradocleantech.com.

Gov. John Engler speaks to Colorado on workforce development and education reform

Thank you for welcoming John Engler, former governor of Michigan and current CEO of Business Roundtable, to Colorado for a series of events on October 20 and 21, 2015. Your support, both physically and ideologically, is part of why Colorado Business Roundtable is quickly becoming known as a leading business organization in the metro area, the state and nationally.

Hosting Gov. Engler is significant for our members, our mission and our national presence. First and foremost, workforce development is a critical issue. We will continue to partner on this initiative with those such as Stephanie Veck, Director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council; chambers of commerce; and academic institutions. Having an appropriately educated and trained workforce of Colorado students is vital to the success of our businesses and for the economic prosperity of our state's future.

Colorado is a great place to do business! From our rise on the global economic stage to our exceptional quality of life, businesses want to be here and stay here. COBRT will continue to advocate for proactive, positive business policies that enhance business development, strengthen the economy and allow businesses to grow and thrive in Colorado, the region, across the nation and internationally.

Pairing our interests with the national Business Roundtable furthers our ability to connect and collaborate. Business Roundtable's CEO members lead U.S. companies with $7.4 trillion in annual revenues and over 16 million employees. We welcomed Governor Engler to experience the best of what COBRT and our membership is doing -- and that includes you and your organization.

We hope that you enjoyed the series of events as much as we did, with the evening at the Colorado Governor's Residence, the tour at Lockheed Martin Space Systems and the luncheon event with Gov. Hickenlooper, "Business, Education Reform and America's Workplace" as much as we did. Please see photos here. We encourage you to share them with your network of connections and ask that you give credit to COBRT and ICOSA Media Services.

Listen for a special edition of our Connect & Collaborate radio show on the October 24, 2015 podcast available here at COBRT Radio. We have an interview with Governor Engler as well as interviews with several guests who joined us on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the Governor's Mansion.

Please visit our Events page for several upcoming COBRT and partner activities.

Thank you again for your participation with Colorado Business Roundtable. 

Sincerely,
Jeff Wasden, President
Gayle Dendinger, Founder

Reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank

by Sen. Michael Bennett via The Denver Post

As globalization transforms our economy, many Colorado businesses, most of them small, are finding success by exporting their Made-in-America products abroad. One resource playing a key role in helping these companies ship American goods across the world is the Export-Import Bank. Since 2007, more than 100 businesses in our state, the majority of which are small or minority owned, have used the Ex-Im Bank to facilitate the export of $815 million in goods to global markets. Nationwide, the Ex-Im Bank supported $27.4 billion in U.S exports and supported 164,000 jobs. Additionally, 90 percent of its financing went to small businesses. Read More

Colorado officials toast Taiwan economic office's move from Kansas City to Denver

by Valerie Richardson

Nothing says “welcome to Colorado” like Denver Broncos swag, as far as state Rep. Kathleen Conti is concerned.

She presented a Peyton Manning NFL jersey to Jack J.C. Yang, director general of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office, at Friday’s reception at the Brown Palace to celebrate TECO’s relocation from Kansas City to Denver.

Such Broncos wear is necessary “in order for you truly to understand what it is to be a Coloradan and a Denver citizen,” quipped the Republican Conti.

The mood was festive, the applause was generous and the jokes at Kansas City’s expense flowed freely, but the ceremony also served to underscore Denver’s growing influence as a national and international business and cultural hub.

“It is an honor for Taiwan to set up the new TECO in Denver, Colorado,” said Yang in his remarks to the packed crowd of several hundred. “We very much look forward to enhancing the bilateral partnership with Colorado.”

Jeff Wasden, president of the Colorado Business Roundtable, said the "buzz" surrounding Denver's reputation as a global business center played a role in Taiwan's decision to relocate the office from Kansas City. Read More

Business Roundtable backs Trade Promotion Authority

Written by Peter Jones - Staff Writter, The Villager Newspaper

The Colorado Business Roundtable is urging congressional support for the controversial Trade Promotion Authority that would grant President Obama to seek fast-track congressional approval of multilateral trade deals with straight up or down votes. The pact has been called the biggest free-trade agreement ever, potentially touching 40 percent of the world’s economy. Read More

 

Business, agriculture groups call for immigration solutions from GOP

By Ernest Luning in the Colorado Statesman

Last year, Front Range grocery store customers ate plenty of sweet corn grown at Sakata Farms. But the Brighton producer’s other major summer vegetable, cabbage, didn’t make it to kitchen tables, left unharvested in the field. And forget about broccoli, another labor-intensive crop. The farm has supplied most of the metro-area’s locally grown broccoli in recent years, but its owners didn’t bother planting last spring, because they couldn’t count on having enough workers to get it to market. Read More

Q&A: Denver metro execs discuss immigration issues

Sam Klomhaus via the Denver Business Journal

Jeff Wasden, president, Colorado Business Roundtable: There is bipartisan support for several of the tenants of immigration reform. Consensus and agreement exists around knowing who is moving and operating within our nation's borders while ensuring the safety and protection of our citizens. There has also been a broad conversation about a simple, user friendly, uniformly enforced employee verification system that ensures a level playing field as well as status of workers within the state.

Finally, industry realizes that our visa, guest worker system is inadequate to fill the needs of emerging, innovative companies looking for highly skilled workers that are vital to our global competitiveness. We need to start with areas of agreement and get legislation passed now.

Read More