2017 Inclusiveness@Work Awards

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER:

BARB BROHL

The Center for Legal Inclusiveness was pleased to announce the 2017 Inclusiveness@Work Lifetime Achievement award winner, Barbara Brohl. Barbara leads varied functions of the Colorado Department of Revenue and is responsible for Colorado’s Tax Division, the Division of Motor Vehicles, Lottery, and Enforcement for the Auto, Gaming, Liquor and Tobacco, Racing, and Marijuana. The department has more than 1,500 employees and annually brings in more than $11 billion in fees and taxes for the state.

Beyond her exceptionalism in her career, Barbara constantly and consistently gives back to this community. It is because of her efforts in creating inclusive workplaces and encouraging diversity wherever she can that she is honored with this award. For every organization and person Barbara meets, she does not just become a member of organization or an acquaintance, she assumes leadership roles and serves as a sponsor for that person. Barbara does not just say she supports women, youth, and those who are under-represented – she takes action to show that support.

In addition to mentoring numerous young people in her positions with the Department of Revenue and at Qwest for many years, Barbara oversaw the Pledge to Diversity Legal Intern program, where she ensured that first year diverse law students from CU and DU were given opportunities to learn at a large in-house law department. Her mentoring efforts have been far-reaching and consistent throughout her career. She actively participates in events for high school, college, and law school students which focus on recruitment, pipeline and business development initiatives. She has freely given of her weekends and evenings to participate in mock interviews with many prospective judges. Some of those who benefitted from Barbara’s incisive questioning are now on the bench (including one of the undersigned nominators)! The value of her contributions is simply immeasurable.

Although accomplished in her own right, what sets Barbara apart is that she actively looks for ways to ensure that everyone has an equal access to opportunities. While Barbara served on RTD’s Board, she maintained a watchful eye over RTD’s contracting practices to ensure that minority and women-owned businesses had the opportunity to compete for lucrative contracts. Quietly, but effectively, she encouraged women owned businesses – including providers of legal services – to avail themselves of the different RTD opportunities (and elsewhere within Colorado). Barbara also spearheaded RTD’s development of socially responsible contracting policies. RTD contractors are now required to provide health insurance and prevailing wages to their employees. Barbara kept a watchful eye over RTD’s requirements and goals for disadvantaged business enterprises.

Barbara has continued the practice in her current position and requires that contracts with her Department contain provisions that certify minority, women, and emerging small businesses are provided an equal opportunity to compete for and participate in subcontracts resulting from major procurements. Diversity has been a cornerstone of Barbara’s hiring and mentoring at the Department. Indeed, of the seven most recent hires at the leadership level, Barbara has expanded her team with four women, two of whom are Latinas and an African-American male.

Watch Her Video Here.

2017 Inclusiveness@Work Award Winners 

Individual Winner:
Jennifer Jaskolka, Assistant General Counsel at Xcel Energy

Non-profit/Government Agency Winner:
Colorado Children’s Hospital

Firm/Legal Department Winner:
Holland and Hart LLP

Corporate Winner:
Kaiser Permanente

 2016 Inclusiveness@Work Awards

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER:

HONORABLE WILEY Y. DANIELS

Senior Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

“The importance of education and hard work were instilled in Judge Daniel very early by his parents, who were both educators. His father was a school principal and his mother taught elementary school. Raised in the segregated South, Judge Daniel was very well aware of the vital role that lawyers played in the desegregation movement. This understanding, his belief that lawyers strive to create a system of laws that promote fairness and equality for all, and his overriding desire to help others, motivated him to pursue a career in law.“ - Just the Beginning Foundation

Judge Daniels was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Colorado by President Clinton in 1995, becoming the first African American to serve on the Court. Became Chief Judge of the Court in 2008 and assumed Senior Judge status in 2013. He was appointed as a special mediator for the City of Detroit’s bankruptcy proceeding from 2013 to 2015. Additional he sat by designation with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Until his death he served as an adjunct professor and student mentor at the University of Colorado School of Law and University of Denver Sturm College of Law. 

The Honorable Wiley Y. Daniel passed away on May 10, 2019.  The Inclusiveness@Work Lifetime Achievement Award was renamed the Judge Wiley Daniel Inclusiveness@Work Lifetime Achievement Award to honor his legacy and dedication to diversity and inclusion.  Watch His Video Here.  

2016 Inclusiveness@Work
Award Winners

Individual Winner:
Deborah Ward-White, Executive Director of the Colorado Multi-Ethnic Cultural Consortium

Non-profit/Government Agency Winner:
Aurora Mental Health Center

Firm/Legal Department Winner:
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

Corporate Winner:
Newmont Mining Corporation

 2015 Inclusiveness@Work Awards