A Seat at the Table with Debbie Brown

View from the Top: Leadership at Altitude 2026 Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM Denver Museum of Nature and Science Colorado's aviation and aerospace industries are one of our state's defining strengths, and COBRT's 2026 View from the Top explored the business strategies powering them forward. From the runway to orbit, top executives will share how they lead in fields defined by precision, ambition, and the drive to reach new heights. Hosted by the Colorado Business Roundtable, this annual event brings together business, academic, government, and community leaders for a high-level dialogue on leadership, strategy, and the future of industry. Featuring: Laura Hopkins, Vice President, Human Resources, Lockheed Martin Dan Jablonsky, Chief Executive Officer, Sierra Space Laura Jackson, Vice President of Air Service Development, Denver International Airport Janine Davidson, President, Metropolitan State University of Denver (moderator) Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

Jason Janz co-founded CrossPurpose with Juan Pena in 2008, influenced greatly by spending his childhood and adolescence in poverty. With the goal of abolishing relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through career and community development, Jason’s passion for social entrepreneurship and serving the poor is satisfied through his role as CEO where he builds the team, sets the organizational culture, and raises funds. He was a guest on A Seat at the Table in March 2025. You can find that episode here.  On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Debbie Brown welcomes Jason back to the show to discuss his new book Together We Climb and his continued passion for his work. Here's a bit about the book: "If America is the wealthiest country in the world, why are so many people living in poverty and missing out on the promise of the American Dream? Poverty is America's number-one social problem, and while we spend $1.75 trillion every year trying to solve it, much of that effort falls short. But it doesn't have to. Together We Climb challenges the way we understand poverty—not as a personal failure, but as a complex climb shaped by broken systems, disconnected supports, and unclear pathways. Dr. Steven C. Taylor and Jason Janz draw on decades of leadership in education, workforce development, and community transformation to reveal what's keeping people stuck and what actually works. At the heart of the book are two field-tested frameworks. The Mountain Model maps the climb from poverty to prosperity. The Navigation Approach provides the solution: a relational strategy built on proximity, possibility, and pathways toward true human flourishing. Together We Climb puts the map in your hands to reignite the American Dream—for everyone." You can find it here.  Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

Darius Wise is the President and CEO of Red Rocks Credit Union, leading the growth and expansion of this premier Colorado financial institution. Since joining in December 2019, he has held various executive roles, including Chief Impact Officer and President/COO, where he developed innovative strategies to improve operational profitability. Wise brings more than 20 years of experience in business transformation and organizational growth, successfully implementing strategic initiatives that enhance member services and drive brand advancement as an executive for non-profit and charitable organizations. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Darius discusses his unusual career journey that ultimately led him to be at the helm of a financial institution. He explains the difference between credit unions and traditional banks, talks about the need for regulations and the need to ensure those regulations are doing what they're intending to do. He also talks about returning Red Rocks Credit Union to profitability after some challenging years. Darius is a thoughtful, savvy leader with many insights and an indefatigable sense of optimism about his work and empowering the people who work with him. Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

James Benning is Chief Executive Officer of Catamount Constructors, a 100% employee-owned company with 29 years of experience providing construction management and general contracting services nationwide. Their services include general contracting, construction management, sustainable construction, design-build, cost estimating, conceptual budgeting, scheduling, and value engineering. With over 27 years in construction industry leadership, James has proven experience with developing processes, establishing systems, understanding performance drivers, and motivating teams to build cultural success. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, James shares his breadth of experience in the construction industry through several decades. He talks about how he ended up as CEO of a billion dollar company even though he never intended to, discusses one of Catamount's signature projects in Atlanta, and shares the good things about doing business in Colorado as well as some of the unique challenges. James is a conscientious leader with a wealth of knowledge and he's more than willing to share his insights from a remarkable career and a dynamic company.  Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.

Jennifer Gremmert is Chief Executive Officer of Energy Outreach Colorado, an organization that raises funds to support income-qualified Coloradans in affording their home’s energy needs. EOC assists with energy bills, furnace repairs, solar subscriptions, and energy-efficiency upgrades, working with homeowners, renters, nonprofit facilities, and multifamily properties. Since their founding in 1989, they have invested more than $410 million in our programs, helping Colorado communities save money by reducing their energy usage. On this episode of A Seat at the Table, Jennifer shares her insights from her many years at the helm of Energy Outreach Colorado, talks about the need for collaboration, how the energy landscape has changed, and her optimism for the future. Energy is, in many ways, the nexus of so much of politics and policy, and the decisions made in this realm affect us all. Jennifer's years of experience situated in a unique position provide her with remarkable insight that she is more than happy to share with our audience. Hosted by Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown.  Rate, review and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. For more of our events, podcasts, and news, please visit the Colorado Business Roundtable website.