Virtual 2020 Chamber Connect: Economic Recovery: Why Connectivity is key to COVID resilience

Join us for an update on SmartCOS! The Colorado Springs Smart City Initiative, or SmartCOS, is a technologically-driven plan to address challenges like an increasing urban population, aging infrastructure, and strained public finances through the Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices, real-time analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Colorado Springs Utilities, Mayor Suthers, city council, and city admin members have determined priorities in connectivity, energy, and resiliency that will help them better serve citizens, customers, businesses, and visitors.
Our panelists will discuss which SmartCOS connectivity priorities are in place today, what they’re currently working on, what our future will look like as smart city, and why this initiative is a critical part of our pandemic recovery.
Can't make the live event? Register anyway and we will send you the recording.

Sarah Meuli (Verizon: Manager - State Government Affairs): Sarah leads Verizon’s municipal government affairs work throughout Colorado. She educates leaders and their constituents on the Verizon network, drives policy objectives, and establishes community partnerships with businesses and non-profits that align in the Verizon values of digital inclusion, sustainability, and human prosperity. Before this role at Verizon, Sarah practiced law in Omaha, Nebraska, negotiated utility license agreements and leases on behalf of Union Pacific Railroad, and negotiated agreements on Verizon’s Wireless Network team with cities throughout Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Scott Hite (Verizon: Manager - Business Development & Strategy Planning): Based in Colorado Springs at Verizon’s Garden Of The Gods office, Scott is responsible for a multi-state territory, developing partnerships with cities and utilities to effectively deploy fiber optic infrastructure, densify next generation wireless ecosystems and enable advanced Smart City/connected business solutions. He has been with Verizon for over 15 years, creating mobile solutions for business and government, and leading enterprise, cross-functional solutions teams responsible for IoT, advanced wireless communications, global IP, cloud, security, and professional services.

Ryan Trujillo (City of Colorado Springs: Director - Support Services): Ryan oversees the direction and management of the City’s Office of Innovation, Fleet Management Division, Facilities Management Division, and Office Services Division. In this capacity, he manages the city’s Smart Communities Program, Smart COS, and the Colorado Springs Sustainability Program. Ryan is also a Board member of the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance which helps governments navigate in the arena where tech, data, and innovation overlap through collective action.

Andrew Cole (Verizon: Manager - Real Estate & Regulatory): Andrew leads community and municipal engagement for Verizon in the Mountain West. He works to educate a variety of stakeholders – local officials, citizens, civic, and business organizations – about Verizon’s wireless technology and infrastructure investments. Andrew spent the first decade of his career in the public sector, working in staff positions in Congress and the Colorado Executive Branch.

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.