The State of UCCS: 2020 Chamber Connect

UCCS pivoted thousands of students to virtual classes and continues to communicate COVID-19 updates to students, their parents, faculty, and staff in a timely manner. These speakers will discuss that pandemic pivot, student life, mental health, and the school's involvement in the community.

Registration is required! The in-person event is capped at 60 people. There will be a check-in table before you may enter the event. Please note that masks are required unless seated at a table. You may also register for the virtual event, which starts at 12 pm. That link will be sent the week of the event.

Speakers:
Jenifer Furda, Director of Partnerships & Government Affairs, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Jenifer is the Director of Partnerships and Governmental Affairs for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.  She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado.  Jenifer has held previous leadership positions at the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs Business Journal, National Cybersecurity Center and Kaiser Permanete Colorado.  She currently serves on the Pikes Peak United Way and Downtown Partnership Board of Directors.  Jenifer has been in the Colorado Springs community since 1988, her husband Jon and two teenage children Rhyan and Wyatt enjoy everything that Colorado has to offer.   

Brad Bayer, Senior Executive Director - Student Life and Assessment, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Brad Bayer is in his thirteenth year serving as the senior executive director of student life and assessment at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). He provides executive leadership for student activities and community service, clubs and organizations, the student government association, the student newspaper, the radio station, sorority and fraternity life, the Chancellor's Leadership Class, the UCCSlead leadership certificate program, and LIVE Leadership. Disability and testing services, the office of veteran and military student affairs, and the Family Development Center are also part of his portfolio. Additionally, he co-leads divisional program assessment efforts for over thirty different department areas, authorizes contracts, and is involved with fundraising, grants, as well as several community outreach initiatives. Bayer has presented nationally, regionally, and at the state and local levels on a variety of topics to include assessment, strategic planning, student engagement, leadership, and student-veteran support. He currently leads a dynamic team of fifty professional staff members and 150 student employees, while overseeing a 4.3-million-dollar budget.  In 2010, Bayer received the Outstanding Staff Diversity Award, sponsored by the Diversity Alliance Committee, the Faculty Minority Affairs Committee, and the MOSAIC Office, for exemplifying the highest regard for diversity and multiculturalism through the direct support of students. He is currently undertaking a three-year term as the Secretary for the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders (SAAL) Board of Directors.

Dr. Karen Markel, Dean of the College of Business, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Karen Markel is dean of the College of Business at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and works with faculty, staff and the business community to build meaningful connections between the College and the business community. Before joining UCCS, she served as dean of the College of Business and Public Policy at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she led all college academic programs and the Institute of Social and Economics Research. Markel has been widely published in leading management journals and has made significant contributions to human resource management and business practices. She is an accomplished educator, scholar, certified human resource professional, and leader in business.

Event sponsored by BBSI.
BBSI is a local, high touch, Professional Employer Organization advocating on behalf of business owners. Our Colorado Springs team of subject matter experts provide consulting services to help navigate and propel small to medium-sized businesses through challenges in the areas of Workers' Compensation, Risk Management, Human Resources, Payroll, Talent Acquisition and Business Consulting, to ensure compliance, and mitigate risk, and help company scale for growth. Reach out to Kevin Davis at BBSI (kevin.davis@mybbsi.com) for a zero-pressure discussion on how we can assist with your company needs.