Leadership in Action: Panel and Networking

Leadership in Action: Panel and Networking
Dec. 16, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Panel (Hybrid option), 5:30-7:30 p.m. Networking (In-person only)  | B:CIVIC Members and Leadership Foundation Alumni

In-person: Denver Metro Chamber, 1445 Market St.

Virtual: Zoom

Colorado is the leader in social responsibility. Organizations are advancing the way they support employees, engaging with the community and advocating for the biggest social and justice issues of our time. Leaders are stepping up to take action to make meaningful change and deliver value through purpose driven organizations.

Navigating complex social issues, finding a meaningful role, working effectively with partners and mobilizing stakeholders is a journey that takes commitment and skills to make effective social change. It takes true leadership to make it happen.

At the Leadership Foundation and B:CIVIC, community leadership values – what we call Colorado’s Civic DNA: leadership, responsibility, inclusivity, collaboration and shared vision – is the cornerstone of our work.

Join Denver leaders from Comcast, Denver Parks and Recreation and Food Bank of the Rockies for an honest conversation on leadership, effective social change, action and how organizations can use their brand for good.

Register here.

Allegra “Happy” Haynes, Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation 

Allegra “Happy” Haynes has served since 2015 as the Executive Director of Denver Parks and Recreation and was also appointed in 2017 and 2019 to serve as the Deputy Mayor.  Happy was twice elected and served from 2011 – 2019 as an at-large member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education following six years as the District’s Chief Community Engagement Officer.  Happy is a Denver native, attended Denver East High School and received a BA in Political Science from Barnard College at Columbia University and an MPA from the University of Colorado at Denver.

During a 40-year career in state and local government, Happy served thirteen years on the Denver City Council from 1990 – 2003 and was president from 1998 – 2000.  She serves on several non-profit boards including the Colorado Trust for Public Land, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Botanic Gardens and is a member of the Denver Chapter of Links INC. She was a founding board member of Mile High Youth Corps, Colorado Black Women for Political Action and the Foundation for Education Excellence. Happy is single, an avid jazz fan and loves gardening, sports and outdoor activities.

Jon Lehmann, Senior Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Comcast

Jon was born and raised in Southeast Denver and attended Denver Public Schools.  He graduated from the University of Colorado in May 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Biochemistry.  He then lived and worked in New Zealand and in Washington, D.C., and returned to the University of Colorado to attend law school.  Jon graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in May 2004 with a Juris Doctorate and a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Policy.  After law school, Jon moved to New York City and then returned to northwest Denver in April 2006. He now lives with his wife and two dogs in Golden.

Jon has been with Comcast for just over 10 years and focuses on analyzing the Cable Act, directing Franchise Agreement negotiations and telling the story of the company’s innovation, investment and inclusion throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Jon’s responsibilities include directly managing the other Directors of Government Affairs in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona; building relationships with the communities within Comcast’s footprint in Colorado; negotiating Comcast’s Franchise Agreements with each community and working with the Comcast Foundation on community impact projects and programs.

Prior to Comcast, Jon practiced environmental law with Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP. His legal practice focused on environmental and commercial litigation and regulation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Before joining Lindquist & Vennum, Jon gained more than three years of experience at law firms in Colorado and New York, as well as at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center.

Public service is a core value of Jon, and his family, and one that he has practiced throughout his life.  Jon has been active in politics since moving back to Denver in 2006 and ran for Denver City Council District One in a special election held on May 2010.  Jon is the current Past Chair of the Public Education and Business Coalition, a Board Member of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, a Board Member of the Colorado Cable & Telecommunications Association, a Board Member of the Silicon Flatirons, a Board Member of the City of Golden’s Chamber of Commerce and was the Chair of his Ten Year Law School Reunion Planning Committee.  Jon is an active Director of Aurora Economic Development Council, a Board Member of the Longmont Cable Trust, a Member of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, a Member of the Longmont Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Committee, a Board Member of his HOA and alumni of Leadership Denver 2010-2011, Colorado Experience 2012 and 2015, and LEX 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  Finally, Jon is a founding Member and the Chair of a scholarship committee created in honor of a law school classmate, which has raised more than $85,000 thus far.

Erin Pulling, CEO, Food Banks of the Rockies

Erin joined Food Bank of the Rockies’ team in January 2019. She previously spent nearly 24 years at Project Angel Heart – the last 14 as CEO – a partner organization of Food Bank of the Rockies that prepares and delivers medically-tailored meals to people with critical illnesses. After working in the field of nutrition, food, and hunger, for many years, Erin is enjoying working more broadly on the issue of food insecurity through direct service and community partnerships and expanding the potential of Food Bank of the Rockies through robust marketing and fundraising.

Erin is the Board Chair of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. She currently also serves on Denver Health’s Community Engagement Committee and HealthONE’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council. Past board involvements include the Food is Medicine Coalition, Dining Out for Life International Association, and Community Shares of Colorado. Awards include ‘Most Admired CEO’ and ‘Forty Under 40’ by the Denver Business Journal, ‘Outstanding Professional’ by the Colorado Restaurant Association, and a Livingston Fellowship from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. She was in the 2012 class of Leadership Denver.

Erin holds a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Regis University and a BS in Psychology from Santa Clara University. She and her husband have three children, all adopted domestically.