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2025 Lead with Impact Summit hosted by B:CIVIC

Presented by United Airlines

Join us for the largest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), leadership and environmental sustainability conference in the Rocky Mountain region gathering more than 450 leading professionals.
Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 @ 7:45 AM - 5:00 PM
Omni Interlocken Hotel
Lead With Impact Summit

About the Event

Enhance your skillsets and sharpen your strategy during this full-day conference and network with professionals and decision-makers from Colorado and beyond who are committed to modeling business for good. This Summit, designed as the premiere professional development opportunity for leaders, continues to empower attendees through:

  • National Keynotes & Sessions: Featuring two national keynote speakers and 18+ sessions, including all-new track, Lead with Impact.
  • Networking Opportunities: Build lasting connections with like-minded peers and businesses who model business for good with an additional half day dedicated to networking and content.
  • Professional Growth: Grow your skills by learning from experts on aligning core business functions with employee engagement, DEI, sustainability, leadership development, HR and CSR strategies.
  • Practical Insights: Return to work with a toolkit of ideas, resources and strategies to implement immediately.

Over lunch, we will honor three Colorado companies with our new Lead with Impact Awards that recognize those driving measurable change in our communities, and inspiring others to lead with purpose, values and action (lunch-only tickets also available).

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Event Details


Get actionable takeaways and learnings from innovative and inspiring speakers in our conference tracks:

Lead with Impact – Explore how civic engagement, inclusive leadership, and workplace influence come together to shape your unique path toward becoming a more impactful, culturally aware, and influential leader.

Communicating Your Purpose – Effective strategies for internal and external communications, impact reporting, and leveraging social channels, balancing your marketing message with your impact messaging.

Environmental Sustainability Insights – From reporting standards, supply chain, and sustainable infrastructure to the circular economy, it’s about making real progress on your sustainability goals.

Driving Impact – Leading strategies to help you grow your corporate social responsibility efforts, increase employee engagement, develop strong partnerships, while making the business case.

Making the Employee Experience – From ERGS to building champion programs, DEI integration to volunteerism and employee giving programs, this session will showcase the best and most innovative ideas to transform the employee experience.

The Lead with Impact Summit hosted by B:Civic welcomes leaders and changemakers from every sector who believe that business can be a force for good. Whether you’re a corporate social responsibility professional, nonprofit executive, entrepreneur, HR or marketing leader, or community partner, this summit is designed for anyone driving social impact, employee engagement, and purpose-driven growth.

KEYNOTE:
Dave Jennings, #1 Wall Street Journal Best-selling author of The Pit of Success: How Leaders Adapt, Succeed, and Repeat and President of Learnable Solutions.

SESSION SPEAKERS:

Actioning the Work of Impact; Lessons from the Outdoor Industry
Dan Walker, CEO, Collective Imagination Consulting

Why Strong Corporate Social Responsibility is a Competitive Advantage
Tiffany K. Payne, Vice President of External Affairs, Comcast West Division

Bridging Purpose and Practice: Strengthening CSR Through Nonprofit Collaboration
Lea Devereaux, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Mile High United Way
Jackie Devine, AVP, Community and Business Development, Alpine Bank
Hannah Brown, Manager Community Partnerships, UC Health
Emily Kotas, Senior Director Corporate Partnerships, Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation
Jessica Milnes, Director of Corporate and Community Engagement, Food Bank of the Rockies

Beyond Procurement: Activating Climate Solutions Through Supplier Engagement
Casey Stock, Director of Sustainability, Natera
Sean Mangus, Director of ESG and Global Compliance, Universal Electronics
Jeff Yorzky, Hello Fresh

Seven Ways Your Sustainability Work Adds Value
Rachel Mountin, Founder, RPM Sustainability Consulting LLC
Jeffrey Wilzbacher, Davita

When the Unexpected Happens: Building Your Issues Management Foundation
Jeremy Story, Partner, GFM | CenterTable
Jon Woods

Generative AI as a Communications Tool
Jonathan A. Liebert, CEO/Executive Director, Better Business Bureau, Executive Director National Institute for Social Impact

The Honest Edit: Crafting Content Without Losing What Matters
Justine Roberts, Director Global Sustainability, Gates
Caitlin Steele, Sr. Director Marketing

Strengthening Company Culture Through Unified Social Impact
Angie Ruddell, Social Impact Manager, Lockheed Martin
Rachel Leasure, Social Impact Representative Lockheed Martin

The Art (and Effort) of Leading Sustainable Change
Grace Wright, Director of Sustainability, Colorado State University - College of Business

The Link Between Successful Time Management and Leadership Models
Ashley Woodman BOA Technology

How To Build Successful Teams
Jenn Denfield, Marketing Director, Emergenetics

The Summit includes 5 tracks for those wanting to specialize their learning but also encourages professionals to mix and match.
Conference tracks:
• Lead with Impact – Explore how civic engagement, inclusive leadership, and workplace influence come together to shape your unique path toward becoming a more impactful, culturally aware, and influential leader.
• Communicating Your Purpose – Effective strategies for internal and external communications, impact reporting, and leveraging social channels – balancing your marketing message with your impact messaging.
• Environmental Sustainability Insights – From reporting standards, supply chain, and sustainable infrastructure to the circular economy, it’s about making real progress on your sustainability goals.
• Driving Impact – Leading strategies to help you grow your corporate social responsibility efforts, increase employee engagement, develop strong partnerships, while making the business case.
• Making the Employee Experience – From ERGS to building champion programs, DEI integration to volunteerism and employee giving programs, this session will showcase the best and most innovative ideas to transform the employee experience.

Celebrate the inaugural Lead with Impact Awards, Colorado’s newest recognition program honoring companies that lead in corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and community impact. The new award program honors companies driving measurable change in our communities and inspiring others to lead with purpose, values and action.

This year's nominations are now closed.

Shelley Banker

Featured Speaker

Shelley Banker

Shelley Banker is a visionary leader passionate about challenging inequities, disrupting social injustice, and empowering communities. As the Director of the Office of Economic Security, Shelley leads a team of 180 dedicated public servants working to improve policies and statewide support systems and eradicate poverty through child support, food and energy, and cash programs providing more than $1 billion in resources to Coloradans annually. Shelley’s experience spans nonprofit, private, and public sectors promoting educational equity and access in Colorado’s postsecondary systems, including through the implementation and expansion of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), and the establishment of the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Educational Equity Office and Equity Champions Coalition. Shelley received her MSW from the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. Shelley serves on the Denver CASA Board of Directors, is a second-generation Coloradan, and enjoys introducing her daughter to everything nature offers.

Hannah Brown

Featured Speaker

Hannah Brown

In her current role as Manager of Community Partnerships for UCHealth, Hannah fosters meaningful collaborations that aim to improve community well-being. With a background in nonprofit fundraising and development, her career is rooted in building relationships that drive positive social impact.  

She lives in Evergreen, enjoying the outdoors with her husband, daughters, and dog.

D.J. Close

Featured Speaker

D.J. Close

D.J. Close is a purpose-driven executive leader with deep expertise in social impact strategy, cross-sector collaboration, and corporate social responsibility. As Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation (DDCOF) and Director of Community Impact, he leads the organization’s strategic direction, overseeing philanthropic investments, impact measurement, policy advocacy, corporate giving and operational excellence to advance oral health equity across Colorado. 

With a career spanning philanthropy, government, nonprofit, and Fortune 500® healthcare, D.J. brings a systems-level approach to solving complex social challenges. Prior to joining DDCOF in 2023, he served as Director of Giving and Executive Director of the DaVita Giving Foundation, where he built and scaled CSR initiatives aligned with ESG priorities and community health outcomes. His earlier roles include leadership at Mile High United Way, where he founded the Colorado Reading Corps, and public service in the Office of Colorado Lt. Governor Joseph Garcia. 

D.J. is a graduate of the University of Denver and the El Pomar Foundation Fellowship, and is recognized for his ability to convene stakeholders across sectors to drive sustainable, community-centered change. He is passionate about civic engagement and believes transformational impact occurs when business, government, philanthropy, and nonprofits work in concert toward shared goals. 

Born and raised in Durango, Colorado, D.J. now lives in Denver with his husband Sinjin, their son Clayton, and their dog Herschel.

Lea Devereaux

Featured Speaker

Lea Devereaux

Lea Devereaux began her career in marketing and advertising working for publications and media agencies in both Colorado and New York. She is now the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Mile High United Way and has been with the organization for five years and leads the organization’s grants strategy, corporate partnerships and new business development efforts.

Lea’s corporate and nonprofit sector experience, coupled with her communications and PR expertise, has resulted in new and innovative corporate partnership opportunities to strengthen community programming.

Jackie Devine

Featured Speaker

Jackie Devine

A proud Colorado native from the Western Slope, Jackie has dedicated nearly a decade to Alpine Bank, where she has played a pivotal role in shaping the bank's community engagement strategies. As the Community & Business Development Officer she developed and implemented the corporate social responsibility plan for Alpine Bank along the Front Range and has successfully orchestrated the grand openings of five new bank locations over the past five years. Her expertise spans relationship building, corporate partnerships, and business development, all aimed at fostering sustainable community growth. 

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jackie is deeply committed to community service. She has held numerous leadership positions on various nonprofit boards across the Front Range, including: 

  • The Children’s Hospital Corporate Leadership Council 
  • Special Olympics Colorado 
  • Girls Inc. of Metro Denver 
  • Scouting Colorado 
  • B:CIVIC 

Her involvement with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver is particularly personal; as a mother of two young girls, Jackie is passionate about empowering the next generation of women to be strong, smart, and bold. She actively supports initiatives that break down societal barriers and create pathways for girls in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. 

Jackie resides in Parker with her husband, Michael, and their two daughters, Collins and Caylor. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, watching sports, and cherishing moments with her family.

Alondra Flores

Featured Speaker

Alondra Flores

Adeeb Khan

Featured Speaker

Adeeb Khan

Adeeb Khan is a recognized social impact leader dedicated to advancing equity, economic opportunity, and civic engagement. Throughout his career, he has held leadership roles across the business, nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors—including serving as Chief Brand & Impact Officer at Delta Dental of Colorado and Executive Director of the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation. 

A first-generation college graduate raised in rural Wyoming, Adeeb has also led corporate responsibility efforts at TIAA and expanded community programs at Mile High United Way and the American Red Cross. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, where he continues his commitment to creating lasting, inclusive change. 

Emily Kotas

Featured Speaker

Emily Kotas

Emily Kotas grew up in Denver, Colorado and was raised with philanthropy as a core value – even donating gingerbread houses to the children at Children’s Hospital Colorado in the 90s! Little did she know, her future husband was an in-patient being treated for Ewing’s Sarcoma at Children’s Colorado during the same era. 

She received her B.S., Business Administration, Marketing degree from University of Northern Colorado’s nationally accredited Montfort College of Business and went into radio sales and advertising upon graduating in 2007. 

When selling radio, Emily recognized her passion for philanthropy again - selling sponsorships for Alice’s Cares for Kids Radiothon that benefits Children’s Colorado. In 2008, she started her career at Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation on the then Corporate Giving team. She is now serving the Foundation as Director, Corporate Partnerships. 

Emily spends her free time with her husband, Jason and their two children Sam and Teeny – and is always prospecting for the perfect corporate partner.

Rachel Leasure

Featured Speaker

Rachel Leasure

Jessica Milnes

Featured Speaker

Jessica Milnes

Jessica Milnes is the Director of Corporate and Community Engagement at Food Bank of the Rockies, where she leads the teams responsible for corporate partnerships, events and promotions, and volunteer relations. With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit and higher ed development, Jessica brings a strategic and relationship-driven approach to building meaningful partnerships that advance mission and impact. 

Prior to joining Food Bank of the Rockies, she served as Director of Corporate Relations at the Denver Scholarship Foundation, where she led efforts to deepen corporate engagement and grow philanthropic support for students pursuing postsecondary education. Her broader career spans fundraising, community engagement, events, and volunteer relations across a range of mission-focused institutions. 

Jessica previously served several years on the B:CIVIC Programs Committee and is excited to be part of this year’s B:CIVIC Summit Committee. She has been passionate about volunteering since high school, beginning as a junior volunteer at Swedish Hospital, and continues to support various causes whenever possible. 

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Colorado State University and a professional certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business.  

A Colorado-born leader, she is passionate about civic engagement and helping people and organizations connect to purpose. 

In her free time, Jessica is a foodie, enjoys cycling and yoga, and values time with friends and family.

Rachel Mountin

Featured Speaker

Rachel Mountin

Rachel Mountin is the founder of RPM Sustainability Consulting LLC, where she supports organizations with sustainability strategy, reporting, and social impact. 

Most recently, Rachel served as the ESG Director for DaVita, a health care provider focused on transforming care delivery globally. During her 14 years at DaVita, she was instrumental in developing and executing the company's ESG strategy and reporting, holding leadership roles across the environmental sustainability and social responsibility teams. 

Rachel is passionate about leveraging business to make a positive impact on the world. Prior to her corporate work, she worked in the nonprofit sector, served as an Americorps volunteer for a social enterprise, and was a supply chain consultant. 

She holds a B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA with a focus on Sustainability from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally brought to Denver by her Americorps service, she now enjoys the beautiful Colorado mountains with her husband and two children.

Leslie Oliver

Featured Speaker

Leslie Oliver

Leslie Oliver serves as Vice President of External Affairs at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, where she leads strategic advocacy and policy initiatives to advance Colorado’s business climate. At the Chamber, she oversees external engagement, represents member interests, and drives collaboration with policymakers and civic leaders. Her career spans influential roles in corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors, including external affairs leadership at Comcast and as policy and communications director for U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter. 

Tiffany Payne

Featured Speaker

Tiffany Payne

Tiffany K. Payne is a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility, strategic partnerships, and purpose-driven business transformation. As Vice President of External Affairs for Comcast’s West Division, she has led initiatives that advance digital opportunity, strengthen community partnerships, and engage tens of thousands of employees in meaningful impact. 

With over 25 years of experience spanning the corporate, nonprofit, and civic sectors, Tiffany helps organizations bridge purpose and performance by embedding CSR into the DNA of their business strategy. A sought-after speaker and advisor, she is passionate about helping companies turn responsibility into a true competitive advantage. Tiffany is now expanding her work through speaking and consulting, guiding leaders and organizations to activate CSR as a catalyst for innovation, engagement, and growth.

Justin Petrochko

Featured Speaker

Justin Petrochko

Justin Petrochko serves as the Senior Manager of Community & Market Impact at United Airlines, where he leads the airline’s philanthropic strategy, volunteer engagement, and strategic community partnerships in Colorado and Hawaii. In this role, he drives initiatives that strengthen local communities and align with United’s broader social impact goals. 

Prior to joining United, Justin spent 13 years in the nonprofit sector, where he led high-performing, mission-driven teams and built cross-sector partnerships that delivered measurable, lasting impact. His work spanned key issue areas including food security, affordable housing, adaptive sports, and international development—with some of his most meaningful experiences rooted in projects based in Ethiopia. A passionate advocate for collaboration and community empowerment, Justin is known for using storytelling as a powerful tool to inspire action, elevate marginalized voices, and foster deeper engagement among stakeholders. 

Making the transition from the nonprofit world to the corporate sector has given Justin a well-rounded perspective on how businesses and communities can create shared value. He is especially committed to identifying mutually beneficial opportunities that align business goals with community needs—demonstrating that social impact and strategic growth are not mutually exclusive. 

Justin is deeply passionate about leadership, both in developing his own capacity and in investing intentionally in the growth of those around him. He believes in the power of strong, values-driven teams and works to cultivate environments where people are empowered, engaged, and equipped to lead with purpose. 

He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, which has equipped him with the strategic insight and leadership acumen to drive change at both the grassroots and institutional levels. 

A proud Coloradan of 17 years, Justin is deeply committed to helping communities across the state thrive. Outside of work, he most enjoys spending time with his wife, Marissa, and their three daughters—making the most of Colorado’s natural beauty and vibrant culture.

Justine Roberts

Featured Speaker

Justine Roberts

Justine Roberts is on a mission to make sustainability not just a buzzword, but a business superpower. As Director of Sustainability at Gates Corporation, she’s helping steer a global company toward a greener, more responsible future—without losing sight of innovation or impact. Before that, she led ESG strategy at Appvion and helped shape the next generation of ethical business leaders at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

With roots in nonprofit leadership and a knack for turning big ideas into real-world programs, Justine brings energy, empathy, and a whole lot of strategy to the sustainability space. Whether she’s building stakeholder engagement plans or decoding ESG trends, she’s all about making sustainability smart, actionable, and maybe even a little fun.

Angie Ruddell

Featured Speaker

Angie Ruddell

Casey Stock

Featured Speaker

Casey Stock

Casey Stock is a sustainability, ESG, and corporate responsibility leader transforming impact in the healthcare sector. As Head of Sustainability, ESG, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Natera, she drives the company’s ESG strategy, including its 2025 goals to position Natera as a biotech sustainability leader. Previously, Casey led corporate sustainability at DaVita, where she built the company’s first sustainability program. With a background spanning the U.S. Department of Energy, environmental policy research, and service as Chair of Denver’s Mayoral Advisory Council for Sustainability, she now serves on the University of Colorado’s Sustainable Business Advisory Council and is active in-patient advocacy, climate policy, and mentoring women in STEM. 

Jeremy Story

Featured Speaker

Jeremy Story

Stephen Stoute

Featured Speaker

Stephen Stoute

Marie Unger

Featured Speaker

Marie Unger

Marie Unger serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Emergenetics® International, an organizational development company dedicated to realizing the potential of people within businesses, educational environments and the community.

As CEO, Marie guides the company’s operations by providing strategic direction to drive its growth. Most recently, Marie served as President of Emergenetics International. She brings more than 15 years of strategic management experience and more than 20 years of experience in education.  

Since joining the Emergenetics team in 2013, she has become a Master Associate and has consulted with thousands of business leaders, employees and educators around the world, where she helps them apply Emergenetics theories and cognitive diversity to create positive, productive workplace cultures. An expert in the way people prefer to think and behave, Marie empowers organizations to optimize communication, increase cohesion, improve team performance and amplify employee engagement.  

Prior to joining Emergenetics, Marie was a teacher, school principal, Human Resource Director and Director of Elementary Education for the third largest school district in the state of Colorado. As school principal, Marie’s schools received numerous honors and distinction from the State of Colorado for Outstanding Achievement and Academic Growth as well as being named as a Top Elementary school in the state of Colorado by 5280 Magazine. 

Marie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Communications and an emphasis in Elementary Education. She obtained her master’s degree from the University of Phoenix in Education Administration. 

In her spare time, Marie enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children, granddaughter and grand dogs. She is an avid sports fan, plays tennis and loves to get out into the great Colorado outdoors.

Jeffrey Wilzbacher

Featured Speaker

Jeffrey Wilzbacher

Jeff Wilzbacher serves as DaVita’s Senior Director leading Energy, Sustainability, and ESG strategies for DaVita. DaVita is a leading provider of kidney care services committed to improving the quality of life for patients around the globe. He is responsible for architecting DaVita's long-term sustainability vision and spearheading the corporate initiatives that bring that vision to life.

With a focus on finding opportunities that benefit communities, the environment and the business, Jeff seeks to align DaVita’s sustainability performance with its mission to be a community-first, patient-centric organization. His work involves implementing programs that create positive impact while also delivering operational efficiency and financial value.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Environmental Management & Sustainability from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Outside of work, Jeff is most comfortable with a backpack on and has completed the trek from Mexico to Canada twice.

Ashley Woodman

Featured Speaker

Ashley Woodman

Ashley is the Director of Organizational Development within the Global People & Culture team at BOA, and has been with the organization since early 2019. In her role as OD Director, Ashley leads BOA’s Talent Acquisition and Learning and Development frameworks (including leadership development and succession planning), and supports the development and evolution of BOA’s Inclusion plans. Ashley has experience across several industries including retail, hospitality, non-profit, government and the outdoor industry. She started her career in People & Culture in 2009 after gaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Human Resources Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has since also been awarded a Master’s Degree in Higher Education/Inclusive Excellence from the University of Denver and is an Organizational Development Certified Professional (ODCP). 

Gaye Woods

Featured Speaker

Gaye Woods

Gaye Woods is the System Vice President for Equity & Inclusion at CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit network serving communities across 24 states. In this role, she leads enterprise-wide strategies to advance health equity, reduce disparities, and improve population health outcomes.

Drawing on a diverse career spanning academia, management consulting, advertising, and the nonprofit sector, Ms. Woods brings a multi-industry lens to complex challenges in health and community impact. She earned her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and is deeply engaged in community service.

She serves on the boards of the Colorado Gives Foundation, Catholic Health Association National Advocacy & Public Policy Committee, and the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation, while also volunteering in support of youth development, education, and older adult rights. Her leadership has been recognized by the Clinton Foundation, American Public Health Association, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In 2025, she was honored by the Denver Business Journal as an Outstanding Woman in Business. Ms. Woods has also been a dedicated member of the Denver Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for over a decade, where she has served as Facet and Program Chair.

Jon Woods

Featured Speaker

Jon Woods

Jon is a seasoned marketing strategist with a diverse digital background, driving innovative solutions that help clients achieve complex marketing and communications goals. As the leader of the agency’s marketing practice and a partner in the firm, Jon oversees a broad spectrum of services, including content and social media, advertising and search marketing. With a bachelor’s degree in marketing and advertising from the University of Oklahoma, he’s also a proud recipient of the John Parr Leadership Award from the Downtown Denver Partnership and a 2020 Leadership Denver graduate. 

Throughout his career, Jon has spearheaded integrated campaigns across industries such as banking, education, energy, food & beverage, government, healthcare and nonprofit. His professional journey includes leading a marketing team at Staples, where he relaunched a commercial interiors brand, and founding the award-winning Ralphie Report, the largest independent University of Colorado Buffaloes community. 

A committed community leader, Jon has served on the board of the Colorado Outward Bound School since 2016 and volunteers with Food for Thought and The Wright. When he’s not strategizing for clients or giving back to the community, you’ll find him coaching his sons’ soccer or football teams and exploring Colorado’s great outdoors on a bike or skis.

Grace Wright

Featured Speaker

Grace Wright

Grace Wright is the Director of Sustainability, Colorado State University College of Business and the Co-Chair, CSU President’s Sustainability Commission 

Grace Wright leads sustainability strategy and implementation at the CSU College of Business, driving initiatives across research, teaching, and community engagement. As a member of the Dean’s Office, she advances the College’s Business for a Better World vision and oversees academic programs in sustainable business at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Grace also co-leads the Corporate Sustainability Fellowship Program, which has placed more than 175 Impact MBA students in sustainability roles across the country. She manages Pollution Prevention Fellowships with the U.S. EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and teaches Corporate Social and Sustainable Responsibility (BUS 639) in the Online MBA program. 

As Co-Chair of CSU’s President’s Sustainability Commission, Grace co-leads more than 40 campus representatives in shaping the university’s sustainability strategy, including the path toward 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2040. The Commission advises on major initiatives such as the District Energy Conversion project, climate action planning, and campus resource management. Grace also chairs the Commission’s Academic & Research Subcommittee, serves on the CSU Climate Initiative advisory board, and contributes to the School of Global Environmental Sustainability’s Curriculum Committee.

Jeff Yorzyk

Featured Speaker

Jeff Yorzyk

Jeff Yorzyk has over 20 years of experience in sustainability spanning strategy, ESG reporting, and product life cycle assessment. Over the last nine years with Green Chef and HelloFresh, Jeff applied a career in sustainability consulting to build a program for the global leader in the meal kit category. Based in Berlin, Germany, HelloFresh SE is the largest meal kit provider in the world, and the largest meal kit provider in each of the 17 markets they operate in. The HelloFresh NA sustainability program includes waste minimization, social impact, climate & energy, packaging lifecycle management, responsible sourcing, and environmental compliance. Jeff is also a past President of the ISSP Board, where he led the development of the first professional credential for sustainability practitioners and strategic partnering with GBCI for its delivery and maintenance. 

All Sessions

10:15 AM
11:00 AM

Actioning the Work of Impact: Lessons from the Outdoor Industry

In this session, we’ll unpack the business case for continued action on the work of impact, before diving in to the path forward – one of Purposeful Growth, in which a highly engaged teams of employees drive sustainable businesses by advancing positive societal and/or environmental impact. Throughout the session, Dan will dissect real life examples and learnings from his time leading Social Impact at the outdoor brand, Arc’teryx.


Speaker: Dan Walker, Founder & CEO, Collective Imagination Consulting Inc.

10:15 AM
11:00 AM

The Art (and Effort) of Leading Sustainable Change

Sustainability work is change work. Yet too often, professionals are equipped with technical know-how but lack the tools to shift mindsets, influence culture, or guide behavior change. This session draws on years of insight from alumni and corporate partners in sustainability roles who identify change management—the practical discipline of leading people through transformation—as the most critical driver of success. 


In this session, we’ll explore how change management skills—stakeholder engagement, navigating resistance, building momentum—can be the difference between well-intended ideas and lasting impact.


Speakers: Grace Wright, Director of Sustainability, Colorado State University - College of Business

Dr. Travis Maynard, Senior Associate Dean, Academic Programs, Colorado State University - College of Business

11:15 AM
12:15 PM

Beyond Procurement: Activating Climate Solutions Through Supplier Engagement

As climate targets tighten and Scope 3 emissions face greater scrutiny, companies are reimagining supplier relationships as engines of sustainability—not just sources of risk. This session brings together ESG and supply chain leaders to explore how they’re teaching, guiding, and partnering with suppliers to co-create climate solutions. 


Speakers: Casey Stock, Director of Sustainability, Natera

Sean Mangus, Director, ESG and Global Compliance, Universal Electronics

Jeff Yorzyk, Senior Director, Sustainability, HelloFresh

11:15 AM
12:15 PM

The Honest Edit: Crafting Content Without Losing What Matters

In today’s ESG landscape, we navigate a complex web of expectations. Stakeholders—from investors to customers, regulators to employees—bring diverse priorities and judge our actions through different lenses. This session explores how we communicate authentically across these audiences without compromising our values or obscuring what truly matters. 


Speakers: Justine Roberts, Director, Sustainability, Gates Corporation

Caitlin Steele, Senior Director, Global Marketing, Gates Corporation

11:15 AM
12:15 PM

Strengthening Company Culture Through Unified Social Impact

Through intentional cross-team collaboration, the Lockheed Martin Social Impact team created a consistent experience for employees across all sites and roles — opening up more volunteer opportunities, increasing participation and strengthening alignment with the company’s mission. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at Lockheed Martin’s new Month of Service campaign that took place in April 2025, which brought together employees from across the enterprise through virtual webinars, thoughtful storytelling and volunteering opportunities across the United States. 


Speakers: Angie Ruddell, Social Impact Manager, Lockheed Martin

Rachel Leasure, Social Impact Representative, Lockheed Martin

2:00 PM
2:30 PM

Why Strong Corporate Social Responsibility is a Competitive Advantage 

In today’s economy, purpose isn’t just good ethics - it’s smart business. Join Tiffany K. Payne, Vice President of External Affairs for Comcast’s West Division, for an inspiring look at how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drives innovation, talent engagement, and trust across stakeholders. Discover how Comcast has turned CSR into a competitive advantage through its digital opportunity initiatives, employee engagement programs, and community partnerships. Walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your company’s impact, communicate value to business leaders, and lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving world.


Speaker: Tiffany K. Payne, Vice President, External Affairs, West Division, Comcast

2:45 PM
3:30 PM

Authentic Partnerships for Impact: Strengthening CSR Through Purposeful Collaboration

This session will explore how nonprofits and corporate social responsibility (CSR) professionals can build strong, authentic partnerships that drive meaningful community impact and enhance employee engagement. Through a dynamic panel discussion, we’ll dive into the mutual benefits of collaboration by examining shared goals, community needs, and corporate priorities. 


Speakers: Lea Devereaux, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Mile High United Way

Jackie Devine, AVP, Community and Business Development, Alpine Bank

Hannah Brown, Manager, Community Partnerships, UCHealth

Emily Kotas, Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships, Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation

Jessica Milnes, Director of Corporate and Community Engagement, Food Bank of the Rockies

2:45 PM
3:30 PM

Six Ways Your Sustainability Work Adds Value

Learn the top ways that sustainability initiatives add value - beyond the traditional employee engagement or external recognition. You will learn how to tie initiatives and messaging back to your business’ core strategy, how to leverage quantitative goals to further your impact and finally, the importance of identifying your audience to cater your message.


Speakers: Rachel Mountain, Founder, RPM Sustainability Consulting LLC

Jeffrey Wilzbacher, Senior Director, Energy & Sustainability, DaVita

2:00 PM
2:30 PM

What If We Told You Your Company’s Most Powerful Climate Lever Has Been Hiding In Plain Sight?

Topo Finance’s groundbreaking research reveals that for many companies, the emissions generated by their cash and investments may be one of, if not their largest, sources of emissions. But here's the good news: the same strategies your company uses to decarbonize all its supply chains can be applied to your """financial supply chain.""" And by doing so, you can dramatically reduce these emissions and drive massive investment into climate solutions.


Drawing on Topo's research and consulting work with global companies managing over $1 trillion in assets, this session will offer a practical roadmap for transforming your finances from one of your biggest climate drivers into one of your greatest climate powers.


Speaker: Paul Moinester, Founder and Executive Director, Topo Finance

2:00 PM
2:30 PM

AI Unscripted: How to Tell Your Story in the Age of AI

Join Jonathan Liebert, CEO of BBB, social entrepreneur, and national leader in ethical business innovation, for an eye-opening session on how Generative AI is transforming communications. From crafting authentic stories that connect with audiences to automating content creation without losing your brand’s human voice, this session will show you how to use AI as your creative co-pilot.


Speaker: Jonathan A. Liebert, CEO/Executive Director, Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado

2:00 PM
2:30 PM

Time as a Leadership Tool: Aligning Priorities Across Life, Role, & Organization

This session will be an overview of how BOA aligned leadership development to their Values and Leadership Model – starting with the deployment of tools and frameworks to support employees with effective time management and prioritization across their life so they feel empowered to focus on the right things for themselves, their role, and the organization. You will learn how to integrate time management into leadership development, align leadership development to your organization’s values, and roll out shared language and tools across your organization.


Speaker: Ashley Woodman, Director, Organizational Development, BOA Technology

2:45 PM
3:30 PM

When the Unexpected Happens: Building Your Issues Management Foundation

Speakers: Jeremy Story, Partner, GFM|CenterTable

Jon Woods, Founding Partner, GFM|CenterTable

2:45 PM
3:30 PM

Stand Up & Connect: How Storytelling Like A Comedian Creates Standout Leaders

Leaders across industries are struggling to engage teams, communicate across silos, and drive productivity in a fast-moving, uncertain marketplace demanding innovation. While many organizations turn toward the shiniest tools and trends in an attempt to stand out, these practices often stifle employee creativity, leading to increased stress, stronger silos, and preventable turnover. 


In today’s uncertain market, storytelling is a necessary tool to be a standout leader, no matter your job title, and it turns out, great stand-up comedians know storytelling hacks that even the most serious of leaders can utilize to build trust, strengthen resilience, and create an innovative, collaborative workplace culture that stands out to potential clients, customers, and employees.


How does a great comedian create instant trust with their audience and how can you utilize these skills to build a more long-term, trusting relationship with YOUR audience (your teams, leaders, and clients/customers) in a rapidly changing market?


Turns out, no two-drink minimum is required to create a culture where people WANT to work.


In this high-energy, hands-on session, participants will learn to:

1. Communicate confidence through embracing vulnerability and uncertainty as tools.

2. Embrace mistakes as material and the driving force behind your messaging as an innovative leader.

3. Create a psychologically safe and collaborative work experience through curiosity and improvisation skills.


Speaker: David Horning, Chief Experience Officer, Water Cooler Comedy

2:45 PM
3:30 PM

7 Secrets to Motivating Your Team

To lead with impact, you need to personalize your approach to motivate your staff to embrace change and engage them at work. That can be a challenge when at least 85% of the world thinks and behaves differently from you! How can you adjust your leadership style to inspire your people?

Marie Unger, CEO of Emergenetics International, will reveal a framework that explores the burning questions that drive individuals. In the session, you’ll gain an understanding of your innate tendencies, open your eyes to potential blind spots and discover seven strategies that you can apply to engage your staff by speaking to the ways they prefer to approach their work and world.


Session Outcomes:

• Assess how thinking and behavioral styles impact motivation and engagement

• Infer potential areas of personal strengths and blind spots

• Identify strategies to communicate with and motivate your people effectively


Speaker: Marie Unger, CEO, Emergenetics International

12:15 PM
1:45 PM

Lunch and Awards Program

11:15 AM
12:15 PM

Navigating Strategic Impact: Corporate and Public Sector Leadership in a Changing Landscape

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) becomes more strategic, organizations are adapting to increased scrutiny, evolving public expectations, and uncertainty around federal support for social safety nets. This panel features D.J. Close (Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation) and Gaye Woods (CommonSpirit Health), who will share how their organizations are responding with clarity, accountability, and community-centered approaches. Adeeb Khan (Denver Economic Development & Opportunity) will offer a broader perspective on how cross-sector collaboration is driving inclusive economic development. Moderated by Shelley Banker (Colorado Department of Health & Human Services), the conversation will explore how CSR leaders and public sector partners are aligning values with action, building trust, and integrating strategies such as transparency, impact measurement, and equity. Attendees will receive a takeaway brief with actionable insights and further reading to support their work in this evolving landscape.


Speakers: Shelley Banker, Director, Office of Economic Security, Colorado Department of Human Services

D.J. Close, Executive Director, Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation

Adeeb Khan, Executive Director, Denver Economic Development and Opportunity

Gaye Woods, System Vice President, Equity and Inclusion, CommonSpirit Health

10:15 AM
11:00 AM

Rewinding Volunteerism: How We Actually Got There

"It’s easy to hit play on a sizzle reel and see the highlight moments — the smiling volunteers, the impact stories, the matching t-shirts. But what does it really take to get there? In this session, Justin Petrochko, United Airlines Sr. Manager of Community & Market Impact, rewinds the tape to share the behind-the-scenes journey of building and sustaining a strong volunteer program. Expect honest lessons, a few laughs, and practical insights on engaging employees, earning leadership buy-in, and turning community partnerships into business value.


After the presentation, Justin will be joined by United leaders Stephen Stoute, Managing Director of Airport Operations Customer Service and Alondra Flores, Flight Simulator Maintenance Buyer for a candid conversation on the value of volunteer engagement through their lens — exploring how service connects to leadership, culture, and what it really means when “Good Leads the Way.”


Speakers: Justin Petrochko, Senior Manager, Community & Market Impact - DEN, United Airlines

Stephen Stoute, Managing Director of Airport Operations Customer Service, United Airlines

Alondra Flores, Flight Simulator Maintenance Buyer, United Airlines"

7:45 AM
9:00 AM

Breakfast and Networking

9:00 AM
10:00 AM

Opening Session and Keynote

FAQ’s

Event Information

BREAKFAST BUFFET
Orange, ruby grapefruit and pineapple kale-juice
Oatmeal bar | warm steel-cut oatmeal (df, gf)
Brown sugar, honey, berries, dried fruits and toasted almonds (df, gf)
Skim and whole milk
Bran & lemon poppy see muffins, house banana bread
Individual Greek yogurt (gf), house honey, house granola, strawberries (gf)
Farm-fresh fruit and berries (gf, df)
Served with Stance regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee and Numi
hot tea

PLATED LUNCH MENU
Rolls and Butter
Rocket Salad | Arugula, frisée, bibb, golden beets, candied pecans, goat cheese , white balsamic (GF), (V)
Chicken Saltimbocca | Prosciutto & sage | Pearl onion marsala (GF), (DF)
Charred broccolini - df, gf
Whipped buttermilk potatoes
Vegetarian option: Butternut squash ravioli | Sage brown butter |Wilted spinach (V)
Flourless Chocolate Dome - gf

HAPPY HOUR
Mediterranean Antipasto Display:
Vegetables | grilled asparagus, tri color cauliflower, eggplant, fire roasted red peppers, olives, marinated artichokes df, gf
Meats & Cheeses | fresh mozzarella, provolone cheese, prosciutto ham, soppressata, salami, capicola gf
Bread | charred sourdough, bread sticks
Accompaniments | hummus, arugula, red pepper pesto dips n, df, gf
Focaccia Pizza Display:
MARGHERITA |Tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil
BBQ PORK | Cheddar, grilled pineapple, red onion
FUNGHI | Forrest mushrooms, arugula pesto and lemon zest - v

Business casual

Reach out to the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation team.  info@denverleadership.org

Contact us for sponsorship details and available levels. info@denverleadership.org

Book with our group rate at The Omni by November 1, 2025. https://bookings.omnihotels.com/event/denver-interlocken/b-civic-summit-courtesy-room-block

We do not offer scholarships at this time. However, limited volunteer opportunities with a free conference pass are still available! Contact us for more information at info@denverleadership.org.

Yes, via email and the mobile app. If applicable, you’ll also receive a link to download your headshot within one week.

Our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor
Visionary Sponsors
Champion Sponsor
Lead with Impact Award Sponsor
Sustainability & Experience Sponsor
Community Dinner Sponsor
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