THE ACADEMY STORY
In 2015, Comcast challenged the University of Denver to provide a transformative leadership experience for the Technology Solutions team. Todd Porch served as Vice President of Effectv at that time, and was keenly aware that investing in his leaders would not only improve the TPX division, but would strengthen the organization as a whole. Daniels Executive Education responded by co-creating a customized experience for Comcast leaders, the Denver Leadership Academy (DLA).
Today, this collaborative design extends beyond the initial Technology Product Experience (TPX) team as a holistic experience across Comcast divisions. It is sponsored by Trista Caldwell, Vice President of Strategy and Planning, TPX and DLA alumna, and is delivered by the program co-founders Todd Porch, President of Strategus and Adjunct Professor at DU’s Daniels College of Business, and Kerry Plemmons, Professor of the Practice at DU’s Daniels College of Business. DLA emphasizes practical applications of proven leadership frameworks. Grounded in the best practices of adult and executive learning, 165 leaders across seven cohorts have now participated.
Denver Leadership Academy includes thought-provoking case studies, experiential learning exercises, and an action learning project that spans the length of this eight-month, in-person program. The next cohort of the DLA program kicks off with a three-day retreat in the Colorado mountains in September. Monthly half-day meetings follow for the next seven months, culminating in a graduation in May.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Director Level and Above (REQUIRED)
Nominated or Endorsed by their Leadership Team (REQUIRED)
Office in Denver (OUT OF TOWN APPROVAL REQUIRED)
Ready to Fully Commit to an Intense Development Program (REQUIRED)
Trista Caldwell VP Strategy & Planning
OBJECTIVES & BENEFITS
f Accelerate readiness for high potential candidates
f Develop high-performing and scalable leaders
f Partner cutting-edge university research with Comcast business strategy to influence leader trajectory
f Build capacity for leaders to grow self awareness, confidence, and decision-making abilities
f Establish leadership culture and continuity to push corporate boundaries
f Analyze the successes, failures, and best practices of market leaders through case studies and speaker presentations
f Experience how an innovative, diverse culture improves business outcomes
f Connect Comcast executive speakers to future leaders
f Deliver meaningful impact on Comcast business outcomes through an Action Learning Project
f Build leadership community across Comcast companies
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Comcast Human Resources and managers across each organization will work alongside the Talent Management team to annually identify qualified participants and to make final nominations for the program. If you have interest in applying to the Denver Leadership Academy, please ask your leader for their endorsement. Approximate cost per participant (including offsite lodging): $5,500 billed directly to participant’s cost center.
DENVER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2024-2025 PROGRAM DATES & CONTENT*
SESSION 1 KICK-OFF RETREAT SESSION 2 INNOVATION SESSION 3 COACHING SESSION 4 CULTURE & ENGAGEMENT
*The topics above were offered last year and are subject to change. All sessions will occur in-person. 1
Topics: Self-Awareness, Reflection, Leadership, Team Dynamics, Locus of Control
SESSION 5 CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Topics: Connect Leadership to Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Design Thinking
11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Topics: Coaching and Feedback
SESSION 6 DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION SESSION 7 EXECUTION & IMPLEMENTATION SESSION 8 ACTION LEARNING PROJECT September 16-18, 2024
February 3, 2025 Monday 11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Topics: Zappos Case Study, Create a Culture of WOW!
6, 2025
11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Topics: Building a Culture and Creating Strong Teams
3,
Topics: Strategic Diversity and Collaboration, Leveraging Diversity for Innovation
11:00 am - 4:30 pm May 5, 2025
11:30 am - 5:00 pm
Topics: Implementation, Stick-with-it-ness, Execution
Topics: Action Learning Project Presentations, Final Individual Presentations
ACTION LEARNING PROJECTS (ALPs)
The Action Learning Projects (ALPs) are real-time, integrated team-focused assignments woven throughout the entire program. The Denver Leadership Academy group divides into project teams that focus on an actual Comcast opportunity or challenge. Projects have applications for immediate consideration, and the project teams work in full alignment with their matrixed business partners.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ALPs
“ I appreciate that so much of what I learned could be applied to my role in Comcast the very next day.”
- Emily Wingers, Senior Director of Ecommerce, Cohort 3
1. The Project should be MEANINGFUL to the Comcast business overall.
2. The Project should MOVE THE BUSINESS FORWARD in a specific area.
3. The project should ELEVATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING of our overall business, its processes and the impacts it could have on results, efficiencies or operations.
4. The project should RAISE YOUR VISIBILITY in the overall Comcast leadership ecosystem.
5. Using these directionally, your projects should align with these priorities laid out from Neil Smit:
• The Customer Experience Should Be Our Best Product
• Provide More Reliable Systems & Tools
• Improvement of our Net Promoter Scores
• Doing Things Right the First Time
ACTION LEARNING PROJECTS:
HOW MIGHT WE- STATEMENTS ACTION LEARNING PROJECTS (CONTINUED)
ALP teams use How Might We Statements to formulate their project ideas and content. They begin their work in September and work throughout the program to deliver their final presentations at the May session. Examples of projects tackled by previous DLA cohorts include:
• How might we deliver an exceptional and seamless experience when a customer moves?
• How might we deliver the perfect customer SIK experience?
• How might we innovate vs. replicate?
• How might we improve the leadership pipeline by preparing Senior Executive leaders from within the organization?
• How might we make experts out of every frontline employee?
• How might we track and resolve Comcast escalations in a way that will increase efficiency, and reduce duplication of effort?
ALP PROCESS
Project Presentation, Selection, & Team Creation
SESSION 5
“Through the Action Learning Project and the analysis, the
investigation,
the
interviews,
I actually turned it into a job and a promotion. So, DLA has really impacted my career growth.”
Create Initial draft of the “How Might- We Statement” to conduct Empathy Interviews, Present First Draft of ALP Team’s “How Might-We Statement’”
Present Complete Data Analysis’ Summary & ‘How Might-We Statement” Present Proposed
Start Empathy Interviews, Present Revised “How Might-We Statement.” Find a Sponsor Present Interview Updates & Schedule
and Planning, TPX
-Trista Caldwell, VP Strategy
Present Progress on 4/1, Submit Approved Project Deck on 04/30
Complete Empathy Interviews
Present Final draft of ‘How Might-We Statement”
Final Presentation at Graduation
IN THEIR WORDS:
SENIOR EXECUTIVE GUEST SPEAKERS
An essential aspect of the Denver Leadership Academy is the presence of a Comcast Senior Executive at each session. In addition to sharing their background and experience as related to the session topic, guest speakers allow participants to see “behind the scenes” of what leadership looks like at Comcast. DLA participants have the opportunity to interact and ask questions of each guest speaker, further reinforcing the value of the program and commitment DLA participants have made. Here’s a snapshot of what DLA speakers have had to say in years past!
“I know for a fact, having looked at the roster for this class and knowing what I know about some of the folks that are here, everybody is in the top of their professional peer group.”
Marcien Jenckes President, Comcast Advertising
“Great leaders are great learners. They ACTIVELY seek out ways to grow their understanding and expand their perspectives so they can present their best to the world. The Denver Leadership Academy is a significant contributor to that journey and I am pleased and proud to be part of it, and to engage its members!”
Rich Jennings President – Comcast West Division
“The DLA is a one-of-a-kind development opportunity offering practical, realworld leadership experience. I am grateful to be involved in the program and to network with each year’s high caliber cohort.
Barbara Hedges Vice President, Commercial Marketing at Comcast Business
“Love this amazing leadership program – one that is uniquely designed to give every participant a broad, strategic perspective and exposure to a breadth of important business and leadership curriculum. Impressive to partner with such great leaders that are committed to investing in themselves, and their teammates through programs of continuing learning like this one.”
Tom Karinshak
President,
Customer Experience Strategy and Operations
“I love that you’re in this cohort, really getting a broad view. I think it will mean a lot to your career.”
Charlie Herrin President, Technology Product Experience, Comcast Cable
DLA ALUMNI
COHORT 1 - 2015/2016
Carlos Belloso, Comcast Technology Solutions
Laura Durkheimer, Comcast Technology Solutions
Gregory Forget, Comcast Technology Solutions
David Mays, Comcast Technology Solutions
Patrick O’Connor, Comcast Technology Solutions
Allison Olien, Comcast Technology Solutions
Leonard Pompey, Comcast Technology Solutions
Brian Smith, Comcast Technology Solutions
Kathy Stapleton, Comcast Technology Solutions
Jeff Swanson, Comcast Technology Solutions
COHORT 2 - 2016/2017
Lain Adams, Comcast Technology Solutions
Susan Bean, EPS Network Engineering
Tad Bowman, Comcast Technology Solutions
Lauren Burgess, Comcast Technology Solutions
Alice Dills-Hardenburgh, West Division
Jennifer Ferguson, T+P
Mike Gala, Comcast Technology Solutions
Brian Hanson, TPX
Jeremy Harrison, Sr. Mgr of Content Operations
Dan Hembree, CNOC
Renee Ingenito, Comcast Technology Solutions
John Knowles, Comcast Business
Jennifer Lee, West Division
Joe Mancini, Comcast Technology Solutions
John Mick, VIPER
Donna Oliver, Process Management
Leslie Oliver, External Communications & Media
Igor Oreper, Comcast Technology Solutions
Eric Prosser, West Division
Jenny Rosemann, Comcast Wholesale
Justin Sessions, Comcast Business
Harold Willison, TPX
Coby Young, T+P, VIPER
* Members of the Denver Leadership Academy Alumni Committee
DLA ALUMNI
COHORT 3 - 2017/2018
Sean Bowman, TPX
Lynn Connell, Comcast Business
Ewan de Freitas, TPX
Brett Hatch, West Division
Justin Hazen, TPX
Colleen Higgins, TPX
Melanie Johnson, West Division
Michelle Johnson, West Division
Kirk Joss, Comcast Business
Jesse Kohler, West Division
Matt Kuhn, TPX
Matt Norgard, West Division
Ian Linthicam, West Division
Ron Machakos, West Division
Todd Smoots, West Division
COHORT 4 - 2018/2019
David Arbuckle, TPX
Jeff Bailey, TPX
Matthew Bailey, TPX
Alexandra Ballas, West Division
Trista Caldwell, Xfinity Mobile*
Justin Ellis, TPX
Tracey Flanders, TPX
Robert Ford, TPX
Robby Gill, TPX
Ty Griffith, TPX
Virgil Grim, West Division
Bruce Guthrie, West Division
Steve Hansen, West Division
Cory Harriger, Xfinity Mobile
Cory Heslip, TPX
Derrick Madrid, TPX
Christopher Marsh, TPX
Brian Stephens, TPX
Anna Maria Steverson, West Division
Mary Spillane, West Division
Denise Tait, West Division
David Trujillo, West Division
Jack Twite, West Division
Emily Wingers, West Division*
Matthew Narrell, TPX
Pak Siripunkaw, TPX
Gina Standlee, Comcast Business
Katie Staples, West Division
Dustin Tollefsrud, West Division
Mark Toruemke, TPX
Kerry Wilkinson, Xfinity Mobile
DLA ALUMNI (CONTINUED)
COHORT 5 - 2019/2020
Molly Anderson, Spotlight
Brett Angell, Freewheel
Katherine Boller, TPX/Viper
Jonathan Branson, Spotlight
Jonathan Colwell, TPX/Viper
Bradley Crady, TPX/Viper
Sean Crotty, TPX/CTS
Carli Dahl, TPX/CTS
Mike Deasy, West Division
Lynn Green, TPX/CTS
Joe Greiner, Spotlight
Jim Grey, Comcast Business / West Division
Emily Harrison, West Division
David Maliath, Spotlight
Andrew Mauger, TPX/Viper
Kukis Moran, West Division
Dan Overbaugh, Freewheel
Jennifer Peyton, West Division
Joey Picket, Xfinity Mobile
COHORT 6 - 2020/2021
Anthony Arbucias, Effectv
Brent Biebert, CTS*
Joe Campagna, Effectv/Tech Ops/ATO
Dan Chamberlain, West Division
Tina Cline, Effectv
Sarah Cohen, Effectv
Alysen Cowan, West Division
Unni Damodaran, CXT*
Vijay Gopalabhatia, Comcast Technology Solutions
Dan Chamberlain, West Division
Melissa Halvorson, West Division
Todd Hanstedt, West Division
Ben Janos, Comcast Business*
Nicholas Jimenez, Mountain West Region*
Perry Johnson, Effectv
Kate Krumm, Internal Communications*
* Members of the Denver Leadership Academy Alumni Committee
Gena Rayner, Xfinity Mobile
Kassy Schimkaitis, West Division*
Tim Schumacher, West Division
Sara Schwankl, TPX/Viper*
Ryan Seim, TPX/Viper*
Jason Williamson, Spotlight
Sage Yates, Finance
Jing Xu, TPX/Viper
“DLA is a transformative journey towards professional development. Engage in immersive experiences, personalized coaching, and dynamic sessions designed to sharpen your abilities and expand your horizons while forming lasting connections and igniting passion for leadership.”
- Jason Currey, Director - CTS, Cohort 9
Phillip McMahon, VIPER
Kimberly Messimer, Cloud DVR
Shelly Palmer, West Division
Josh Price, Effectv
Rosa Reiben, West Division
Marcus Roberson, Comcast Technology Solutions
Rose Roth, Strategic & GovEd Operations
Roger Seielstad, CTS
Idris Spellman, TPX
Corinne Walker, West Division
DLA ALUMNI (CONTINUED)
COHORT
7 - 2021/2022
Lara Anna, TPX CPT VNCRE
Christy Bain, Effectv
Shelly Casner, Effectv
Melvin Dsouza, CXT
Patrick Duffy, TPX
Yulia Duryea, SD-WAN
Abhilash Gopalakrishnan Nair, Xfinity
Anthony Hanuman, Xfinity
David Krook, West Division
Scott Laubach, TPX-VIPER
Jamaine Mungo, Effectv
Anna Skiadas, VIPER
Paul Strickland, Video Infrastructure
Randall Sylvan, HQ Finance
JoLynn White, Cable Corporate
Sarah New, West Division
Stacy Shepard, TPX
Michelle White, West Division
Missy Wood, Reliability Engineering
Justin Woodruff, Effectv
Thomas Wright, Effectv
COHORT 8 - 2022/2023
Jeen Abeson, DX
Kevin Clafer, West Division
Natalie Claytor-Minoli, NBCUniversal/Peacock
Rachel Collingwood, West Division
Jonathan Eid, Comcast Technology Solutions
Mike Fagan, CTX
Erik Gaulrapp, West Division
Sagar Gunta, West Division
Annette Hill, TPX
Carlos Johnson, Comcast Business
Maksim Kim, West Division
Tom Leffler, Effectv
Jason Leleck, Comcast Business
Pam Rose, West Division
* Members of the Denver Leadership Academy Alumni Committee
Steve Smith, Comcast Technology Solutions
Bryan Taft, TPX
Kurt Tatinski, Effectv
Emmanuel Walker, West Division
DLA ALUMNI (CONTINUED)
COHORT 9 - 2023/2024
Allie DIsken, Human Resouces
Bruce Smith, Comcast Business
Chad Menton, Sales & Marketing
Chris Gaffney, Comcast Technology Solutions
Chris Lombardi, CONNECT
Debi Habkirk, CXSO Repair
Elise Milsnes Chester, Human Resources
Jason Currey, TPX, CTS, SB&A
Jenica Sipos, Technology, Product & Experience
Jessica Caras, Comcast Business Marketing
Jill May, Comcast Technology Solutions
Josh Breazile, Technical Operations
Justin Carandell, HQ Comcast Business Sales Ops
Lawrence Stephens, Technical Operations
Leslie Newton, West Division Sales & Marketing
Megan Reeder-Holman, Residential Sales
Melissa Mahan, SB&A-Professional Services
Michelle Muniz, Sales & Marketing
Peter Teitelbaum, Peacock
Rachel Kim, Comcast Technology Solutions
Raymond Harrison, Data Experience
Sam Garland, Sales & Marketing Indirect
Sandra Blair, XGIE
Sarah Watts, Finance
Thomas Shrownek, GTO
DLA HISTORY & IMPACT
9Cohorts
100% Approval Rating of Daniels Facilitators Cohorts
7Case studies per year
“ The
DLA is an experience ALL people leaders should go through.”
Ty M. Griffith, Engineering Sr. Manager
13 Comcast Co-Facilitators
39 Action Learning Projects completed
“ The Denver leadership Academy (DLA) has been impactful in helping me grow and develop my leadership skillsI would highly recommend DLA to anyone wanting to further develop their leadership skills.”
— Sandra Blair, Sr. Manager - XGIE, Cohort 9
“ This program has given me the framework that I need to continue to be a better leader throughout the rest of my entire career. I sincerely appreciate the investment Comcast made in myself.”
— Bruce Guthrie, Sr. Director, Business Partner Operations, Cohort 9
52 Hours of learning
206 DLA Graduates
27 Different topics covered