Connect & Collaborate - Sex Trafficking Awareness

The most horrific crimes, involving women and children are being committed under a cover of normalcy and ignorance. Human trafficking and sex trafficking victims are exploited and abused here in Denver and very few of us will ever notice. It takes place within a dirty game of manipulation, where victims pose as the girlfriends of their abusers. An incredibly organized structure pits women against women. Many "someones" are making loads of filthy, tainted money from the abuse and tears of the innocent. Denver's position at the intersection of two major interstate highways makes it a major hub for sex trafficking. Victims are found and made within a day or two of a teenager running away from home, or the moment a parent coerces their own child to perform sex acts for money, just this one time. They're hidden in plain sight, where hotels, massage businesses, even restaurants and nail salons serve as fronts for sex trafficking rings.

This week, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey returns to Connect & Collaborate to discuss the troubling problem of sex trafficking, the challenges of prosecuting the criminals and assisting the victims. He introduces us to Becky Bullard, Project Director for the Denver Anti-Trafficking Alliance (DATA) who explains the complications of removing victims from their captors and exploiters.

It's an uncomfortable topic, for certain. We at ICOSA hope that by listening to this interview, our audience will be better able to identify these kinds of situations, and report suspicious circumstances to save a life or simply release a child from this horror. DATA does not suggest any citizen take these situations into their own hands, or confront the abusers. If you see something suspicious, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Training is available for businesses and organizations that may confront the effects of trafficking, such as school teachers, truck drivers, or anyone who works with children. To request training, go to www.DenverAlliance.org and click on Resources.

We thank you for taking this information seriously, and for your heart to make our community safer for everyone.

To learn more, listen Saturday at 1:00PM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Frank Strang

Revitalization and business development are not just American concerns. Of course not. While it may be difficult for some Americans to conjure up ideas of what that might look like overseas, examples are plentiful. Leave it to a world traveler like musician Jim Salestrom to stumble upon gems of redevelopment and revitalization like Saxa Vord. Yes, that picture up there - nestled in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, Saxa Vord resort makes use of an old military base.  The resort is owned and operated by Frank Strang, an investor and visionary. When the Royal Air Force moved out of Saxa Vord in 2005, Strang purchased the base intent on creating a stunning resort location from the base housing.

Without the RAF, Saxa Vord and neighboring, close-knit community of Unst lost much of it's workforce and a resulting decline in business. Now the resort plays host to vacationing locals and other adventurers, with hotel accommodations, a restaurant, and local Valhalla Brewery as well as a distillery, producing Saxa Vord's own Shetland's Reel gin.

In this week's show we talk, overseas with Frank Strang as well as Jim Salestrom about concepts of redevelopment here and abroad. Thanks to Salestrom's extensive travels and connections, we are honored with this insider's look at redevelopment success.

Listen Saturday at 1:00 PM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Paul Lundeen

A focus on education is paramount for the future of Colorado. Determining the issues of funding, charter schools and curriculum, also determines the success of our state for generations to come. We must do the best we can for students of today, for a better tomorrow. With a real focus on education, we talk with Paul Lundeen, Chairman of the Colorado State Board of Eduction, and unopposed candidate for the Colorado House of Representatives in District 19.

Lundeen brings varied experience, as a journalist, to small business owner and years in education to his role in politics. On Saturday's Connect & Collaborate program, we will discuss Lundeen's work to  advance the cause of charter schools, and choice in education. He is also an advocate of “Smaller Government, Freer People”, and encourages a free market approach over government bureaucracy.

We focus the majority of the show on education issues, so if you want to learn more about Colorado education concerns, tune in Saturday a 1:00PM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Focus on Manufacturing

Connection and collaboration isn't limited to introducing great leaders to great innovators. It includes connecting those who provide services or technology that improves our own business or personal missions. This week we take a closer look at companies that solve problems. One in terms of manufacturing solutions and the other in identifying energy efficient solutions for a newly realized, energy consuming enterprise.

Limtronik provides contract manufacturing services and design engineering support for companies that need manufacturing. It's a way to outsource your manufacturing work, here in the United States. We talk with Scott Hitt, Director of Business Development and Joe Quintana, Production Manager for Limtronik, a company that started in 1970 in Limburg, Germany. Denver's Limtronik, USA is the company's only U.S. branch, just in time for what we think will be a manufacturing resurgence, as companies opt for local control and local outsourcing.

Next, we talk with Boulder Lamp Inc. (BLI) about their energy efficient CDL (ceramic discharge lamp) lighting which has the capacity to reduce power consumption in both retail spaces and large outdoor parking areas, to name a few by at least 50%. Our guests are Fazle Quazi, CEO of Boulder Lamp Inc. and Jake Elliott, Director of Sales, who share their knowledge of cost benefits of CDL lighting, which are currently demonstrated by the use of CDL grow lights in Colorado's expanding cannabis industry. Quazi explains his apprehension in providing resources for the marijuana industry, and his realization that his product can save an extraordinary amount of power usage from the energy grid in terms of lighting efficiency and reduction of cooling costs.

Listen Saturday at our new time... 1:00 PM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Bringing the World to Denver

Creating a culture of diversity starts by getting out of your comfort zone. To learn more about the world, we need to explore the world, or at minimum engage with people from other cultures. WorldDenver makes that mission easier than it sounds. As an international forum right here in Denver, the organization not only extends an invitation to foreign diplomats and visitors, but to everyone interested in our global society. As a member of WorldDenver, you are invited to engage in programming and events that bring the world to your door.

Our guests this week are Karen de Bartholomé, Executive Director of WorldDenver and Norma Mozeé, a WorldDenver Board Member. Together they share with us the experience of worldly players from the comfort of Denver.

WorldDenver is globally-focused, with programs that encourage their members to be curious and open-minded. Their membership is the core of the organization, which works to advance members in citizen diplomacy.

Learn more about WorldDenver and how to get involved by visiting their website and by listening to our full interview Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Getting to We

Often in business deals, the focus is on getting the most you can, for the least amount of sacrifice. Allegiances and goodwill are usually victims in that strategy, even when both parties work to meet in the middle. What is needed is a completely different view on negotiation to do better. Jeanette Nyden calls it a new negotiation paradigm. In her book, Getting to We - Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships, which she co-authored with Kate Vitasek and David Frydlinger, Nyden referrs to a five-step process to negotiation, all at the heart of WIIFWe (What's In It For We).

Rather than looking at each deal individually, as in "this time", Getting to We encourages building a relationship with those with whom you do business. No contract is a one time deal, you should be planning to work together, to facilitate the sort of agreements where there is not one clear winner, but both parties meeting on the same line, willingly.

Jeanette is a captivating speaker and an absolute delight to interview. We have a lot of fun on this week's program, so tune in to learn the new art of negotiation - and enter to win a copy of her book!

Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA is giving away twenty copies of Getting to We.  Just submit your name in our entry form below, LIKE our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/ICOSARadio, and share the contest with your friends. On Monday morning we'll draw twenty winners from the entries and let you know if you won. Listen to the podcast of this program by clicking below. You can play right here, or download our iPhone app at connectcollaborate.podbean.com/mobile/

The Music of Collaboration

Few things represent collaboration better than music. Whether it's an orchestra playing hundreds of instruments for one composition, or simply a singer and his guitar... music is about combining sounds to create more than is there physically. It's the same with Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA. Our focus is on collaboration with the intent of combining everyone's talents and strengths to accomplish more than we can do alone.

This week, our guests are Jim Salestrom, an internationally known, Emmy Award-winning musician who uses his gifts to bring people together, share talents and motivate everyone to be their best - and - Jeff Wasden, a Denver businessman and President of the Colorado Business Roundtable. Jeff has an incredible talent for gathering people together, identifying their strengths and encouraging everyone to work together. Each of them will be contributing editors here on ICOSAMedia.com. Jim Salestrom will contribute stories about music and entertainment and Jeff Wasden will share stories related to business and politics. Look for their stories here weekly.

Additionally, Jim and Jeff are working together to further the mission of the Colorado Business Roundtable, to bring business leaders together to accomplish more for the state of Colorado and for business enterprise.

Just as Jim's musical talent brings people together, and provides a shared experience, the Colorado Business Roundtable seeks to bring people together for a shared purpose and to enrich each person's, each business, each enterprises experience.

Tune in Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 - to learn more about the Colorado Business Roundtable.

Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

True Fatherhood

Our current culture in the United States has devalued men and the importance of fatherhood. Think of the movies and television shows that portray fathers as the buffoon, can't do anything right, and wildly out of touch with their children. It's a funny thing about media influence, if you tell someone something enough, they start to believe it. They'll meet your expectations, even if those expectations are low. As a result we now live in a society in which there are too many children whose fathers have abandoned them. If not completely out of their lives, they're no longer in their homes, after separation or divorce. This father-deprivation has an untold impact on children, who will never feel complete.

Father Faustinus Anyamele insists that children have the inalienable right to a healthy relationship with both parents. That even in situations of divorce, parents must work together to ensure that their children see their parents respect one another and work in the child's best interest.

As a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Denver, Faustinus works with children in his ministry, teaching in schools, and counseling families, Father Faustinus is on the front lines, feeling the impact of the broken family. In his book, The Father They Wish to Have; The Act of True Human Fatherhood and Its Consummation, Father Faustinus shares his insight and offers real strategies for men to maintain a strong paternal relationship with their children. Strategies that are applicable for divorced and separated fathers, as well as for dads doing their best to build a strong family unit in one home.

In our interview, Father Faustinus shares his thoughts on the father - child relationship.

"Every child deserves attention, and they know when attention is given to them." says Father Faustinus Anyamele, "And there is nothing that disappoints a child like feeling that his or her father doesn't give him or her attention. At least to hear his or her story, if it doesn't make sense, try to make sense of it."

Father Faustinus emphasizes the importance of fathers, and their true value to their children. This is a program you will want to hear, and we believe you and your children will be served by listening.

The book, The Father They Wish to Have is available in Denver area, Catholic book stores like Gerkens, at Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon.com

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Faustinus is the oldest of six children. His own father died when Faustinus was young, and his uncle, a Catholic priest, took responsibility for the children, and helped their mother. Young Faustinus persisted in his seminary education, and to this day has a very close relationship with his family.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Chad McWhinney

Denver's Union Station will reopen on July 12th, 100 years after the last major remodel in July 0f 1914. While the last renovation certainly saw vast improvements for the time, today's Union Station is poised for the future of multi-modal transportation, including light rail, bus systems and train lines. While the historic building was painstakingly preserved, the new Union Station will also boast the finest amenities, retail shops and restaurants in the great hall. The redevelopment is the result of efforts by the Union Station Alliance, which includes Larimer Associates, Sage Hospitality, Dana Crawford and McWhinney. They worked in conjunction to create an experience they refer to as the Living Room of Denver, where the best experiences of the mile high city converge all in one place, right where visitors step off the train.

In this week's show, we speak with Chad McWhinney, Co-Founder and CEO of McWhinney, the development company responsible for the twenty-eight thousand square feet of retail and dining space at Union Station. They were very selective in their choice of proprietors to fill the space.

"We went and literally handpicked everyone that is in the building. We specifically wanted to avoid the national chains and we wanted to create an incredible experience." McWhinney explains, "So the idea is, when you get off those trains and you walk into Union Station, we wanted it to be the best of Colorado."

When Union Station first opened in 1881, it became one of the liveliest spots in town. McWhinney is dedicated to bring that feeling back, with the revitalized Union Station and future development in the Z Block - between 18th and 19th streets, Wazee and Blake, where we can expect new office space and ground floor retail space mixed in with the historic buildings of the old Windsor Dairy Block.

Be sure to listen for more about the improvements at Union Station on Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710.  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - CU Impact on Economy

Connect & Collaborate takes an in-depth look at the impact the University of Colorado system has on the state economy and our future as a whole. We are fortunate to have CU not only for the education of our students, but because the school is a a leader in research, enterprise and innovation.  Those qualities combine to drive the state economy by creating new companies and jobs, while attracting industry leaders to the state. Together with our Co-host, John Brackney, we talk with Don Elliman, Chancellor of CU Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus, on the ability to commercialize CU research to build industry partnerships; Steve VanNurden, President and CEO of Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority on the impact of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus on healthcare and the economy; Diane Dimeff, the Executive Director of CU- Boulder's Espace Initiative on the role of aerospace, student recruitment and research, workforce development and industry partnerships.

The University of Colorado has become an economic driver, with millions of dollars in research funding, impacting job growth which ultimately impacts the local economy.

"The CU system does almost $800 million in sponsored research, right now, today. Roughly fifty-percent of that is in Boulder. There is some in the Springs <sic>. There is some in downtown Denver. But Boulder and Anschutz are at about the same level the high $300 million each." ~ Don Elliman

The CU Anschutz Medical campus is a hub of world class research, employing 22,000 people in three different hospitals and research facilities, with a unique ability to combine education, research and commercial businesses all in one place.

"What I want to do, is be able to make that shorter connectivity between the research and the marketplace." ~ Steve VanNurden

CU leads the way for innovation in the aerospace field as well. At CU-Boulder, Diane Dimeff heads the Espace initiative including the Center for Space Entrepreneurship which is the hub for a number of workforce development, and business incubator aerospace-related programs. Among them, the CU-led MAVEN mission which studies the atmosphere and volatile evolution of Mars - and brought in $671 million in research dollars.

"Through this mission, the state of Colorado received $300 million in funding. With that, of course, an enormous number of new jobs that have been created and if you add those new jobs and the salaries they created, and then the sort of multiplier effect of them going ahead and buying products and services within the state of Colorado, the total economic impact of this MAVEN project alone, much less the University's is something like two billion dollars." ~ Diane Dimeff

When we look at the leading players in economic development, we can't overlook the CU system. CU contributes to the state's future in more ways than we see on the surface.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

John Brackney is the Director of Strategic Community and Governmental Engagement at Webolutions, The Strategic Marketing Agency.  He has a combined 26 years of Public Policy and Community Problem Solving experience as the former CEO of the South Metro Denver Chamber, as a former Arapahoe County Commissioner and as a former Army National Guard Officer.  John received his law degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law and a B.A. Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado. John and his wife are lifelong residents and natives of Colorado, are approaching their 25th wedding anniversary, and have two daughters.

Connect & Collaborate - Remember Veterans

We're observing Memorial Day by focusing on those veterans coming home from live war zones, as well as those who left the World War II Theater decades ago. First, we have advice and assistance for returning war vets to reenter the job market, followed by the memoirs of a WWII veteran from his experience as an American Jewish soldier. Our first guest is Lida Citroen of LIDA 360, who tells us about what inspired her to put her corporate branding skills to work in a way that would benefit soldiers transitioning into the civilian workforce. Her book, Your Next Mission: A Personal branding guide for the military-to-civilian transition, is packed with practical advice on how to recount military and war-time experience in a way employers will understand and find valuable. As well as how to determine what career culture is the right fit, which is determined by the individual, experience and comfort level.

Her book is available on her website, on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble. If you would like to help sponsor a supply of these books to a military installation, or veteran's service organization, contact Lida through her website.

Next, we bring you a conversation with father and son, Robert "Bud" Sabetay and David Sabetay. After the junior Sabetay published a book of guiding principles, his father mentioned an interest in writing his memories of his experience in World War II. With a publishing company already in place, it was only natural to publish another book.

That is how Memoirs of an American Jewish Soldier: From the Heartland of America to the Frontline of the Third Reich. Bud shares a unique perspective of his life as a Private, and the subtle and not-so-subtle prejudices he experienced as a Jewish Soldier in the war against the Nazi's.

Bud shares his stories with a razor sharp memory, humor, and the most charming sound effects! His book is available at Sabetay publishing.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Rose Andom Center

The terror and tragedy of domestic violence doesn't have to be an endless trap. The city and county of Denver is making great progress in providing assistance to such victims by coordinating court services, assistance programs and counseling services. Even better, they're putting all of those resources in the same place, at the Rose Andom Center.

Construction on the Rose Andom Center should start in early summer at 1330 Fox Street, and it's opening is anticipated late in the fall. This week, we talk with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey about plans for the center and the great need for victim's assistance.

Previously, a domestic violence victim would have to fill out a minimum of twenty-six intake forms to get the help she needs, and navigate between numerous offices, non-profits and the courts. Now, she and her children can come to one place and get all they help they need with as little hassle as possible.

We also have the pleasure of talking with Rose Andom, the center's namesake, who provided the lead donation of one million dollars to start off the campaign for the center. Today, the center is just a million dollars short of the needed goal of $13.5 million.

Please listen in and learn about the great work going on to pull all these services together. Then, if you would like to donate, go to www.RoseAndomCenter.org to make a contribution.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Open Door Ministries

True leadership is selfless. It's serving others even when there is nothing in it for you. We take a look at the type of leadership which puts others first, and leads by example. David Warren, the Executive Director of Open Door Ministries in Denver focuses his work, and his life, on helping the homeless and about-to-be homeless. Working with Open Door Ministries since 1996, he has learned about the challenges and obstacles which impact those living on the margins.

On this week's Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA, we discuss who makes up the homeless population, including families and single mothers. We also take a look at ways to help the homeless, from job training, and addiction recovery to after school programs, child care services and housing.

Open Door Ministries operates on a $1.5 million annual budget, serving 572 people in 2013, through Youth Ministries, Housing Ministries, Employment Ministries and Outreach. Your donations are needed to help them continue their mission.

Make plans to help out Memorial Day weekend you can do your part to help by joining in the Run For the Door 5K run at Cheeseman Park on May 24th. Registration information can be found at www.RunForTheDoor.org, the entire event is family friendly with food and games after the race.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Steve Sorensen

To improve an aspect of your business, you must look at the entire organization. That's part of Steve Sorensen's approach, as Founder and Chief Performance Officer of Enlighten 360°, a consulting group that helps businesses to build customer relationships, increase profitability and improve performance.

Steve explains the need to examine the organization, from a 360° view, to create a culture of collaboration, and innovation and the culture of the customer. "If we can take this holistic 360 degree view of our organization and understand if we do this properly, and point our organization directly at what we are trying to improve, customer relations, customer retention, better employee morale, better leadership, a cohesive, collaborative environment we have to start with this cultural piece."

We talk with Steve about creating a culture within the workplace that helps people to flourish and create ownership in their endeavors.

Steve has launched multi-million dollar national marketing campaigns with Fortune 500 customers, and has created a course for students at the University of Denver. He has also contributed articles in ICOSA Magazine, including Looking to the Future and White Light Leadership.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Karl Dakin

By all accounts, Colorado is an ideal environment for start ups and entrepreneurial endeavors. Could it be the spirit of risk-taking and adventure in the hearts of those who dwell on the front range? Or is there simply more support in our state for entrepreneurs? The key, beyond having a marketable idea, is acquiring the capital it takes to get an idea off the ground. Karl Dakin, Innovation Manager and founder of Dakin Capital Investments is an expert on early stage capital and a professional entrepreneur who has helped guide high-tech start ups for 35 years.

It can be a challenge to explain your vision to investors. If your product or concept, is still an idea it's difficult for investors to share your vision.  Dakin facilitates the connection between potential investors and start ups, helping them identify common goals and get things moving.

Look into Karl's other organizations to help guide entrepreneurs, including The Resource Group and Seed Capital 2.0 Project.

Tune in for great tips on financing a start up, Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Chuck Blakeman

We work to live. Not live to work. It doesn't always feel that way, with the pressure to build a business or get a promotion and "succeed". Chuck Blakeman has another way of looking at it - Freedom. Building a business should allow you to earn money, and have time to do the things you want to do.

"Freedom requires time and money. Until you have both, you don't have freedom." ~ Chuck Blakeman

Blakeman is the founder of Crankset Group, which helps business owners to be more productive, grow faster and reclaim the passion that inspired them from the beginning. Chuck has thirty years experience growing seven of his own businesses, and uses that background to advise other businesses.

In this week's interview, we discuss his philosophies along with his book, Making Money is Killing Your Business. Blakeman purports that there are few organizations out there that truly care about small businesses, even though they say that they do. He points out that much of what is taught about how to grow a businesses is wrong because it's been written by people who built giant businesses. That's not helpful when the majority of businesses that succeed in the world are smaller businesses, most of them with fewer than five hundred employees.

We must, Chuck Blakeman says, shake the concept that a small business is just a big business that hasn't grown up yet. Rather, "A big business is a T-rex and a small business is a gazelle and it's never going to be bigger. We address that 98% of small businesses that will never have more than 20 employees."

Reading about how someone built Starbucks or Google won't benefit the average small business owner. Small businesses need different rules. Want to know what they are? Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - First Bank

When we hear the familiar jingle, "The Colorado Bank for you." First Bank immediately comes to mind. It's more than a catchy commercial. First Bank started in Colorado fifty years ago, and continues to help grow businesses, small and large, lending to families and individuals, and contributing to the community. The culture at First Bank is so unique, that it could not be replicated today.

Our guests this week are Bob Deuschle, President of First Bank, North Market and Tanner Tweten, Senior Vice President, North Market. Together we discuss the unique culture this local bank has created to operate a community bank, large enough to expand into new markets while maintaining that hometown appeal.

First Bank began at a small location in Lakewood, Colorado in 1963. Efforts to expand were always made in communities where there was opportunity for growth, and to develop their business model.

What makes First Bank particularly unique is how they train and advance their employees. Unlike many other institutions, First Bank hires their employees directly out of college and trains them in the First Bank culture. They work through a rigorous, 50-60 hour a week training program with mentors who guide them along. This way, recruits either move up in the company, or they're out, preventing anyone from remaining stagnant in a dead-end position. Likewise, any accounts an employee brings in, is theirs, regardless if the customer grows into a multimillion dollar account.

First Bank has a strong focus on community involvement, which led to the collaboration with Community First Foundation to create Colorado Gives Day, a 24-hour charitable giving event. Non-profits throughout Colorado connect through Community First Foundation, to be eligible for donations through the day-long-giving event. First Bank covers the cost of credit card transaction fees, so that every dollar donated goes to the non-profits and charities. When Colorado Gives Day launched in 2010 they hoped to raise one million dollars. By the end of the day, the goal was surpassed - with a total of $8.7 million. After that, they decided not to set goals, yet year after year, the totals are exceeded by millions of dollars.  In 2013 Colorado Gives Day raised $20 million.

This charitable structure is so successful that First Bank is now sharing the model with other states. It's all a part of their strategy to build stronger communities.

Listen in this Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 to learn more about the strength of this community bank.

Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Real World Education

One major complaint about higher education is that it rarely prepares students for the workforce. Certainly, education is valuable, there's no denying that. But knowing stuff doesn't always translate to knowing how to do stuff. It certainly doesn't guarantee that someone can do stuff in a work environment with other people, some of whom have expectations. That is why it's inspiring to know that UC Denver's School of Business and the Institute for International Business has developed a program that really puts students to work. Led by Dr. Manuel Serapio, faculty director of Institute for International Business which is intended to serve as the center for the advanced study, teaching and research of international business.

In 1993 the Institute for International business received designation from the United States Department of Education as a Center for International Business Education and Research. The University of Colorado Denver has the only CIBER  in Colorado, which is among only thirty-three such programs in the United States.

"We live in a global economy, and we feel that it is very important to prepare our students to work and compete in the global marketplace. We like to think that we enable this through the various programs and initiatives that we offer." ~Dr. Manuel Serapio

Dr. Serapio collaborated with Roy Becker, of Roy Becker Seminars, who is an expert on Incoterms, an integral part of dealing with international business. Together, they designed an Action Learning course that coordinates with some Denver businesses to provide real-world education by working with small and midsized firms in Denver. Through these programs, the students are given a real-life import or export-related project for the business, from which they gain practical experience.

You will want to listen to hear from the students about what they are learning through the program, to tie their education, theory and practice to real skills in international business.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Ben Bradlee Jr.

To tell the story of someone's life is quite an undertaking. When that someone is baseball legend Ted Williams, it's a combination of duty and honor. A duty to be true to both the hero and the reality , and an honor to write a draft of history. Author Ben Bradlee Jr. started working on the autobiography "The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams" in 2002, taking a leave of absence from his position as Deputy Managing Editor of the Boston Globe as he began research. Once the enormity of the project was evident, Bradlee resigned the position to work on the book exclusively.

Having conducted more than 600 interviews, and researched thousands of newspaper articles covering Williams' career, it's no surprise it took Bradlee ten years to complete the book. Just sorting through the astounding baseball stats of "the greatest hitter who ever lived", understanding Williams' volatile anger and it's impact on his relationships, as well as his wartime service in both World War II and the Korean War which interrupted his baseball career, was certainly a full-time job.

In our interview with Ben Bradlee Jr., we discuss the details he uncovered about Williams, such as his Mexican heritage which he chose to conceal in order to maintain a professional baseball career , his time as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, his pride and profanity, his focus on helping sick children raising millions of dollars for the Jimmy Fund, for cancer care and research, all the way through to his death, at which point his children made the controversial decision to have his remain cryonically frozen and preserved.

If you remember the glory days of baseball or marvel over the phenomenal ability of baseball's greatest hitter - don't miss this interview as well as a chance to win a copy of the book! Along with this week's show, ICOSA is giving away fifty copies of "The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams".  To enter the giveaway, just email us at Contact@ICOSAMedia.com and tell us about your love for baseball or memories of Ted Williams career. We will pick our favorite entries and share them on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IcosaRadio. Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.

Connect & Collaborate - Catholic Charities

Those who accomplish the most in life are often those who have been fearless enough to try new things, to allow themselves to be lead where they are needed. Our guest this week, is Larry Smith, CEO and President of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver. His career spans working with the start-up team that launched CNBC in New York City. He then came to Denver in 1993 as TCI expanded in Colorado. After that, Smith worked on entrepreneurial endeavors launching Dish Network and a couple of internet services.

Every position we hold in life, leads us where we need to go. Larry Smith is a great example of this. He says;

"The thing about being an entrepreneur is tenacity. It's vision, tenacity, it's the ability to maintain your drive, your focus, in the face of what may appear to be sometimes, overwhelming odds." he adds, "That' s the inspiration I got from all the guys I've worked with. All the men and women who have lead the organizations I've been fortunate enough and blessed enough to be a part of.  I would say that's the overriding qualities they have that makes them successful. You know, they've got a vision, they believe in themselves, they're tenacious they don't give up, they stay focused. And that is some of the traits that hopefully we're starting to work with at Catholic Charities."

Now, leading Catholic Charities, the same drive and awareness that built his career, is put to work helping others. Catholic Charities is the charitable arm of the Archdiocese of Denver. They recognize that we are called to serve the poor and needy with dignity and with love and mercy. The organization serves more than fifty thousand people each year, the work organized into thirty two different ministries. Just look at the drop-down box under the Services tab on their website.

Those 32 ministries encompass Family and Child Care Services, such as adoption, foster care, victim assistance, and senior services to name a few.

Women's Services, including Lighthouse Women's Center which provides free medical care and crisis pregnancy services, Gabriel House, which offers emotional and spiritual support, education and training, as well as free baby clothes, supplies, food and diapers for pregnant women in distress. Project Rachel, which provides emotional post-abortive counseling for women, men and families. and Respect Life Resources which champions Church teaching regarding the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.

Also, Housing and Shelter Services which include homeless shelters in Denver, Weld and Larimer counties and the Western Slope, housing 180,00o bed nights each year and twenty-nine apartment buildings which provide low income, government-assisted housing.

These three areas of focus are viewed as interlocking circles of services, as one need typically leads to another, and by serving all areas Catholic Charities can hope to truly help those in need by serving the whole person with dignity.

From our ICOSA perspective, that is what Connection and Collaboration is all about. A perfect example, if we may say so.

Catholic Charities also contributes aid for disaster relief, including the devastating floods and wildfires last year and other disasters in the region.

Learn more about Catholic Charities by visiting their website at www.CCDenver.org.

Listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 –  Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.