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DENVER – 175 students and faculty from 11 universities and business leaders converged in Loveland, Colorado October 19-20 for the 2017 Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium Summit, hosted by the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado. The Ethics Summit is designed to stir interaction and conversation among participants, through a series of keynote presentations, panels, and small-group discussions focused on the theme of “Ethics — the ultimate business advantage”. Participants heard from business leaders and discussed the importance of ethics in business and the benefits companies experience when they practice business ethically.

Colorado Rockies Owner and CEO, Dick Monfort addresses participants at the Ethics Summit.

Participants included students and faculty members representing 10 business schools and one law school in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – all members of the Daniels Fund Ethics Consortium. Business leaders from each of the university's communities also participated, with the goal of extending the Summit's relevance and value beyond the campus and into the business world. Between sessions, students, faculty, and business leaders gathered together in small, integrated groups to share perspectives on the issues raised.

"Our founder, Bill Daniels, believed that his reputation for ethics and integrity was his most valuable business asset," says Linda Childears, president and CEO of Daniels Fund. "In Bill's spirit, the focus of the Ethics Summit is to reinforce that businesses operating with strong ethics do better and build more long-term value." The Summit was kicked off Thursday evening with a dinner, emceed by former 9NEWS anchor and business reporter and current President & CEO of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce, Gregg Moss, and a keynote address given by Rex Plaizier, President & CEO of WesTech Engineering, Inc.

Students, faculty, and business leaders discuss ethical issues.

Friday's schedule included keynote speakers Dick Monfort, Owner, Chairman & CEO of the Colorado Rockies; Erica Salmon Byrne, Executive Vice President of Governance and Compliance for the Ethisphere Institute; and Thomas J. Walter, Chief Culture Officer of Tasty Catering.

The program also included two business panels designed to bring their own unique perspective to the Ethics Summit. Business panel participants included Kari Gallegos-Doering, Marketing & PR Manager/Special Projects Coordinator for Gallegos Sanitation, Inc.; Larry Kendall, Founding Partner & Chairman Emeritus of The Group, Inc. Real Estate; Tony Landretti, CEO of Rice's Lucky Clover Honey; Lonnie Ochsner, Greeley Market President for Bank of Colorado; Wynne Odell, Co-Founder & CEO of Odell Brewing Co.; and Chalice Springfield, CEO & Managing Broker of Sears Real Estate.

About Daniels Fund and the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative
The Daniels Fund is a private charitable foundation dedicated to making life better for the people of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming through its grants program, scholarship program and ethics initiative. Daniels Fund continues the legacy of generosity established by its founder, Bill Daniels, a cable television pioneer known for his compassion for those in need and his unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity.

The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative strives to deliver principle-based ethics education and reinforce the value of ethical business and personal conduct. The Ethics Initiative encompasses four components — the Collegiate Program, the High School Program, the Law Enforcement Program, and the online Case Bank — each with a specific approach and target audience.

The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program was launched in 2010 with a $7.5 million grant and eight participating schools, and was renewed for another five years (2015-2019) with an $11.25 million grant and the addition of three more schools. The Collegiate Program involves 10 business schools and one law school that comprise the Ethics Consortium: Colorado Mesa University, Colorado State University, New Mexico State University, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Colorado Law School, University of Denver, University of New Mexico, University of Northern Colorado, University of Utah, and University of Wyoming. Learn more at DanielsFund.org.