Weekly News from COBRT - September 11, 2018
LEADERSHIP. REACH. RESULTS.
September 11, 2018
Join Colorado Business Roundtable At The NAFTA Burger BBQ Event
On Friday, September 21st from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the State Capitol on the east lawn, please join Colorado Business Roundtable, Canadian Consulate, Mexican Consulate, World Trade Center Denver, and Colorado Farm Bureau as we show how integrated our economies are. We will be grilling burgers to demonstrate where our food comes from and how trade deals benefit businesses and consumers. Stop by the Capitol and enjoy lunch as we highlight the importance of our largest Colorado trading partners. This is a free event.

In a publicly traded restaurant sector where the introduction of a cup of melted cheese to your menu passes for something earth-shaking, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers CEO Denny Marie Post did something in November that truly caused Wall Street to pause. Post, who had taken over as head of the Greenwood Village-based chain just 15 months earlier, announced Red Robin would stop opening new units at the end of 2018, at least temporarily, as it re-engineered its operations to meet consumers where they now are eating - at home, or at least not while sitting down in a traditional restaurant. That meant that the catering, pick-up and third-party delivery efforts that had been mere afterthoughts at some stores would have to become a primary focus, and the way the restaurants operated would have to change drastically. 

Please join Congresswoman DeGette and a panel of business leaders on September 19th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Geotech for a town hall discussion about the effects of climate change and environmental factors on businesses in the Denver area. This event will discuss topics of climate change that focus on the business ramifications rather than the political or scientific aspects of the issue. The panel of business leaders will include representatives from the brewery, outdoor recreation, coffee and construction industry. A reception with appetizers and beverages will follow the panel discussion. Opportunities to tour the Geotech facilities will also be available.

When trying to analyze what got VF Corporation to announce that it would move its headquarters from North Carolina to the Denver area next year, some people have said it was Colorado's ability to attract the Outdoor Retailer Show, while others have noted the important role played by the $27 million in job-growth incentive tax credits. Gov. John Hickenlooper, however, believes the relocation is the culmination of a series of efforts begun eight years ago by his office, including some that flew under the radar or even received some public scorn. 

Jeff Wasden, President of Colorado Business Roundtable was honored to attend the inaugural celebration of Dr. Janine Davidson at MSU-Denver this past week. We appreciate all of MSU-Denver's support and partnership. 
The Colorado Business Roundtable believes in the power of being a champion. We are going to recognize Colorado's champions in collaboration, partnerships, the business community and who go the extra mile to help make the business ecosystem of Colorado stronger. We welcome your nominations in the following categories:
  • Aerospace
  • Education and Workforce
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Farming and Agriculture
  • Financial Services
  • Government
  • Health and Wellness
  • Hospitality and Lodging
  • Manufacturing
  • Nonprofit
  • Technology
  • Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
 
Nomination forms will be reviewed by a selection committee consisting of leaders in Colorado. The committee will identify three finalists in each industry. The final winner in each industry will be announced at the Awards Luncheon.

A representative from each finalist company will need to be available at the luncheon which is scheduled for December 10th at the Cable Center.

Finalists and winners in each industry will have the opportunity to host a segment of Connect and Collaborate - the Voice of Colorado Business Roundtable.
 
The deadline for nomination forms is October 12, 2018.

Its top research and development leadership was already working here, the talent pool is strong and a view of the mountains isn't too bad either. Carbon Black, the multinational cybersecurity firm that went public in May, has moved into a new office - the fifth building in its U.S. portfolio - in Boulder and has big plans to grow its sales and R&D teams. Today, there are 85 people working out the company's new Pearl Street Mall office in downtown Boulder, with plans to grow to 150 by the end of the 2019, said Amy Robinson, the company's chief people officer. 

Join Colorado State University-Global Campus and the Colorado Business Roundtable for "Cybersecurity Threats in the Future: What every organizational leader needs to know." The event will be Tuesday, October 30 from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at History Colorado Center.

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving. Hear from top companies about the cybersecurity challenges they have faced, solutions their companies took to overcome cyber threats, and how they believe businesses can prepare their workforce to effectively address the current and future cyber challenges ahead.

The keynote speaker is Criss Bradbury, senior manager in the cyber risk services department at Deloitte. Panelists are from Microsoft, IBM, AT&T and more.

Colorado Business Roundtable was excited to attend the Club 20 Conference in Grand Junction where we heard from the candidates that will be on the ballot this coming November. 
Hikmet Ersek, CEO of Western Union sat down with Monica Vendituoli of Denver Business Journal to discuss Western Union and why they decided to stay in Denver for their business. 

Business Roundtable has joined an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review First Solar, Inc. v. Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, involving the appropriate standard for demonstrating loss causation in federal securities fraud litigation. Several circuits require that the loss be connected to a revelation (known to the market) of fraud, while others have placed less emphasis on a revelation of fraud and focused on a connection between the allegedly misrepresented facts and a loss. In First Solar, the Ninth Circuit confirmed its support for an extreme construction of the more lenient standard, concluding that "plaintiffs need only show a 'causal connection' between the fraud and the loss . . . by tracing the loss back to 'the very facts about which the defendant lied.'" 

This lenient standard could expand liability and affect a large majority of U.S. companies, their officers and their directors. The Business Roundtable amicus brief asserts that both the relevant statutory language and the Supreme Court precedent weigh in favor of requiring a connection between revelation and the loss. Other filers are the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the National Association of Manufacturers. (See First Solar's petition for certiorari.)
Tuesday, September 18 | 7:30 am - 7:00 pm | McNichols Civic Center Building
 
Join a diverse group of stakeholders to exchange ideas, network and learn and visit the Tech Showcase featuring the latest tech innovations in smart city development and beyond.
 
Whether you are a tech professional, are working on city infrastructure, are an academic leader, or are a resident of a city, the Colorado Smart Cities Symposium will provide you with valuable information on the future of smart city technology. Our all-star speaker line-up with feature keynote presentations from:
 
  • Matthew Bailey, Smart Cities Global Practice Leader, Arrow Electronics and Co-Founder, Colorado Smart Cities Alliance
  • Sean Harrington, VP City Solutions, Verizon Wireless
  • Aiden Mitchell, VP of IoT Global Solutions, Arrow Electronics
  • John Tolva, Founder, CityFi and Co-Founder, Colorado Smart Cities Alliance
 
Learn more about the event, the speakers and why you should attend the Colorado Smart Cities Symposium.
Listen at KDMT 1690 AM Denver's Money Talk from 
4-5 p.m. Monday through Friday or  live stream online. Podcasts are available at  http://www.cobrt.com/radio-podcast and on your favorite podcast app the day after live airing.

Stream or Download These Recent Episodes

See all at our events page and use this contact form to add yours!
09/18/18
The Succeeds Prize - mindSpark Learning, Colorado Succeeds, and 9News

09/18/18
Colorado Smart Cities Symposium - Colorado Technology Association

09/19/18

09/19/18

09/21/18
NAFTA Burger BBQ

09/24/18

10/30/18

10/29/18 - 10/30/18
Future of Mining Americas - Mining Magazine and Mining Journal

11/08/18
Spreading Wings Gala - Wings Over the Rockies
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