Colorado Experience: Boulder 2018 Recap

Presented by

WE GET MORE DONE TOGETHER Collaboration – it’s a part of Colorado’s Civic DNA™ and it’s how we get more done together. It was the focus of our recent Colorado Experience trip to Boulder. And, it wasn’t just collaboration, it was BOLD collaboration.

You think bold, and you don’t necessarily think collaboration. But as leaders we need to. We need to collaborate differently than those before us, we need to challenge the role of leaders and we need to collaborate to find partnerships to make our community stronger.

That’s the value of Colorado Experience – finding those partnerships within our state that make our community stronger.

Delegates saw how unique partnerships between universities and industries, education and business leaders, within the startup community and even government and community, can all work together to solve critical issues. It challenged them to think about how they can collaborate differently as a business community and as leaders.

My hope is that you’ll see how Boulder’s unique style of collaboration inspired the delegates and myself to think differently, and I hope that you can do the same in your civic leadership.

Thank you to those who joined us on the delegation this year, our sponsors and to all of our civic leaders who are continuing to embed Colorado’s Civic DNA in our leadership journeys.

Best, Dan Lewis

Executive Director Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation

2 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

23 SPEAKERS 84 DELEGATES 6 EXCURSIONS 23 INDUSTRY SECTORS 2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

BOLD COLLABORATION

“Colorado Experience exemplifies the importance of a strong partnership between business leaders and the public sector to make change and to evolve communities for the benefit of its residents.�

Kristina Reilly, Senior Director of Business Operations for GroundFloor Media | CenterTable

EXCURSION Locally-Grown: Google Campus. From a few hundred workers to a new campus for 800, Google has vastly expanded in Boulder. The new $130 million Google campus is comprised of two buildings with nearly 200,000 square feet. About a quarter of the added positions were filled by internal transfers from around the country; the rest were new hires.

As demonstrated by decades of growth-management policy, Boulderites care deeply about their town and, not surprisingly, the expansion has been met with some resistance from locals. To mitigate community concerns, over the next 12 months, Google will begin tracking how many employees take advantage of existing incentives for alternative transportation, something it has never done before. Workers will continue to receive B-Cycle membership and RTD passes, along with financial incentives for not driving to/from work. Thirteen van pools are already in place, carting workers from as far away as Fort Collins.

4 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

“[My favorite part of Colorado Experience] were the perspectives provided by Philip Fernbach and Rick Griffith. ‘Who do I speak for’ and ‘We hold strong beliefs on things we don’t understand.’

These are thought-provoking constructs to ponder long after Colorado Experience.”

Joe “Hark” Herold, Principal for Design Thinking Denver Join Herold’s discussion on The Network about his favorite part of Colorado Experience.

EXCURSION CU BioFrontiers Institute: Innovation Without Boundaries. At the University of Colorado BioFrontiers Institute, researchers from the life sciences, physical sciences, computer science and engineering are working together to uncover new knowledge at the frontiers of science and partnering with industry to transform their discoveries into new tools.

The BioFrontiers Institute is uniquely defined both by its excellent faculty, research and leadership and by the scientific and geographical ecosystem that empowers its work.

BioFrontiers has a unique “frontier” culture that allows researchers to explore new areas of bioscience by leveraging the resources and talents across the Institute and the university system.

The Institute integrates faculty members from 10 academic departments, allowing them to work across disciplines. Since 2003, more than 400 patents and 65 inventions have come out of the research and work conducted by these investigators, along with affiliated CU faculty.

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

Speakers Kelly Brough, President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Tom Cech, Nobel Prize Winner and Director for the CU BioFrontiers Institute Rob Katz, President and CEO of Vail Resorts Brian Lewandowski, Business Research Division Director for the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado – Boulder

“The combination of thought leaders from varying sectors choosing to come together to discuss the pressing issues of Boulder and Denver today... seems like an incredible way to pursue genuine innovation and it is not often something we are able to do to the fullest extent.”

Bailey Gent, Regis Student and El Pomar Scholar

6 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

EXCURSION Colorado Chautauqua: A Living History. Key to community, Boulder’s Chautauqua is one of the few remaining Chautauqua sites in the nation and the only continuously operating Chautauqua west of the Mississippi. Emerging from a cultural movement of the late 19th century, Chautauqua represents Boulder’s original land purchase on behalf of community — in 1898. Originally a tent city on the hill with a performance space and dining hall, the small seasonal community eventually included simple cottages. Today, it continues, through a wide variety of cultural offerings, to exemplify its original ideals: lifelong learning, love of nature, music and the arts.

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

EXCURSION Naturally Boulder: A Natural Foods Mecca. Boulder is seeding a natural and organic foods industry for the state and the nation. Boulder and Colorado’s Front Range communities have the ingredients needed for natural products’ success: savvy, demanding, health-conscious consumers; forward-thinking retailers; smart capital; a thriving start-up scene; a talent pool of passionate natural products experts and service companies; experienced, connected co-packers, brokers and distributors; and the resources and support of world-class universities. If there’s a secret ingredient to the industry’s continuing growth, it’s a spirit of camaraderie among the entrepreneurs who share a passion for natural foods and the market they’re collectively nurturing.

Since its inception in 2007, Keen One Quinoa has expanded nationally, selling both online and in stores around the country. Staying true to its roots as a bright-eyed CU Boulder student’s convenience food brainchild, the brand continues to promote culinary creativity, use sustainable ingredients and source fair trade organic quinoa to benefit cooperatives in the Highlands of the Andes Mountains.

“Rick Griffith talked about how conflict has been instrumental for social good. He suggests that to be truly inclusive and diverse in our ideas and approaches to problem-solving, in some cases in our discourse, we must disagree, and we must also be ok not knowing [things] … I liked his framework because it sets up the type of trust we must have with each other to truly learn from diverse perspectives.”

Tara Dunn, 2017-18 Leadership Foundation Board of Directors Chair and President of High Mark Law LLC Read more from our board chair on inclusivity and collaboration on The Network.

8 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

“My personal highlight [on Colorado Experience] was the tour of The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools. My passion is education, and seeing their work firsthand was absolutely amazing.�

Tom Brinegar,Vice President of PEAK Resources, Inc.

EXCURSION St. Vrain Valley Innovation Center: Preparing Employees of the Future. A nationally recognized model, the Innovation Center prepares students for successful STEM careers by partnering with industry to provide real world work experiences. By providing paid positions leading to work experience and intellectual property, they are driving a culture of creativity, risk-taking, collaboration and innovation.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) is a new type of school that brings together the best elements of high school, college and the professional world. P-TECH is a model that Skyline offers, allowing students to earn a high school diploma as well an associate of applied science degree in computer information systems (CIS) at no cost from Front Range Community College in four to six years. This program includes significant internship and mentorship opportunities with IBM.

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

Speakers Jane Brautigam, City Manager for the City of Boulder Philip Fernbach, Professor for the University of Colorado – Boulder Rick Griffith, Owner and Designer for Matter Studio Jeff Klem, Vice President of Talent Management for Vail Resorts John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce

“[Colorado Experience] is an opportunity to learn much more in-depth about a specific community and can reverse some preconceived perceptions; you get to see a lot and learn about a lot of places and issues, but also there is a leadership education component that provides practical, applicable learnings.”

Chris Woolsey, Senior Vice President Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for SCL Health

10 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

“Our Colorado Experience delegation met with Philip Fernbach. His cognitive research has proven the communal nature of intelligence and knowledge. The Knowledge Illusion explains why we often assume we know more than we really do and why political opinions and false beliefs are so hard to change.

In short, because we think we know more than we do about this complex world and the issues we face as a community.”

Kirsten Vermulen, Program Director for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Check out Vermulen’s reflection on practicing intellectual humility. You can even view Fernbach’s presentation.

EXCURSION NCAR: For the Betterment of Life on Earth. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) is a consortium of universities and colleges offering degrees in the atmospheric sciences and operates the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The offices of the UCAR Center for Science Education are headquartered in Boulder. NCAR is a federally funded research and development center devoted to service, research and education in the atmospheric and related sciences. NCAR’s mission is to understand the behavior of the atmosphere and related Earth and geospace systems; to support, enhance and extend the capabilities of the university community and the broader scientific community, nationally and internationally; and to foster the transfer of knowledge and technology for the betterment of life on Earth. The National Science Foundation is NCAR’s sponsor, with significant additional support provided by other U.S. government agencies, other national governments and the private sector.

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

RECEPTION AND DINNER SPONSOR

LUNCH SPONSORS

12 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS GALVANIZING SPONSOR

MOBILE APP SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

14 l DENVER METRO CHAMBER LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

VIEW ALL OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2018 TRIP TO BOULDER

2018 COLORADO EXPERIENCE: BOULDER

NEXT STOP: VAIL 2019 MAY 30-31

HIT THE ROAD ON COLORADO EXPERIENCE When: May 30-31, 2019 Accomodations: The Lodge at Vail Program Tuition: $1,000 for nonmembers; $900 for Chamber members Start your journey today at denverleadership.org/coloradoexperience

SAVE YOUR SEAT