Bio

Tripp Baltz, as the Head of Research at Boomtown, uses his extensive experience as a writer, researcher and interviewer to generate the platform’s strategic content for thought leadership in corporate innovation. Baltz looks around corners to examine and deconstruct trends, identifies those which are the most impactful and relevant, and creates analysis to help clients discern what’s really going on.

Baltz has led a more than 35-year career as an award-winning journalist, writer and teacher. As a reporter for Bloomberg Industry Group, he initiated new coverage areas in legal and regulatory affairs, writing about policy developments affecting law firms, major corporations and small businesses, including startups. He also pioneered the company’s nationwide beat for state environmental policy and created a regular column about the vexing global problems associated with the taxation of remote sales and e-commerce.

Baltz teaches writing, media, politics and international affairs at the College of Professional Studies at the University of Denver, where he served as director of the Master of Liberal Studies program and the graduate certificate in Professional Writing. He revamped the college’s research and writing courseware and guidance, served as a master’s student capstone advisor, and represented the college on the Faculty Senate and admissions council. He designed courses in global affairs, writing, social media and human geography, and has served as a speaker and presenter at conferences on global affairs, liberal arts, and the humanities. He has authored thousands of articles covering topics in business, politics and regulatory affairs and has published two nonfiction books.

Education

Tripp has a Master of Liberal Studies with concentrations in Global Business and Culture, Spanish and Italian. He earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame with concentrations in American Studies and German. 

Bio

Dianne Blomberg is a writer and speaker living in Colorado. She is a multi-published short story and creative non-fiction author whose work can be found in HerStry, Feminine Collective, Across the Margin, Button Eye Review, Alpha Female Society, American Writer’s Review, in “best of” volumes and anthologies and several more. Currently, Dianne bundles her creativity, her understanding of human relationships, and her relentless drive toward story to work as a TV scriptwriter.

Education

Dianne holds a Ph.D. in Human Communication from the University of Denver, an M.A. in Organizational Communication from the University of Northern Colorado, and a B.A. in Speech Communication from Metropolitan State University.

Professional Experience

Dianne’s professional career started in marketing and public relations but the need to connect in a more meaningful way moved her to become a teacher. First, she was a high school teacher of writing and speech, then moved on to become a college professor. Always creating stories and scenes in her head, she is credited with two published children’s picture books. Dianne’s human-interest stories are featured in local newspapers and her relatable relationship research is cited in Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Family Life, Newsday-New York, The Denver Post and more. She is the 2023 President of the Denver Woman’s Press Club.

Teaching Philosophy

Dianne teaches to help students achieve their best work and achieve professional success. Her goal is to guide students to the edge of their understanding where new discoveries await them.

Bio

David Buyze is a university professor with over 20 years of experience in higher education. He has a deep understanding of historical and contemporary cultural and global challenges in cultivating innovative forms of awareness and civic engagement in coming up against personal, societal, political, and national inequities and forms of conflict.

His interdisciplinary intellectual and scholarly interests extend through the Americas to Europe, South Asia, Africa and the Middle East in focusing on issues of conflict, identity, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, globalization, nationalism and colonial/postcolonial paradigms. His thinking is deeply framed by critical theory, philosophy, literature and psychoanalysis as modes of inquiry, and he is particularly interested in cultural, social and political issues of marginalization and how existential, social, and national dimensions of liberation can occur within varied cultural forms of expression.

Education

David earned his BA in English and Religion from Syracuse University, his Master of Arts in Religion from Syracuse University, and his PhD in Religion from the University of Toronto. 

Bio

Marie N. Chavarria, M.S. in Human Resource Management, is an esteemed educator who has been imparting knowledge in the realms of human resources management, business management, and organizational behavior since 2010. With over 15 years of rich professional experience, Nicole skillfully blends practical application with academic theory, breathing life into classroom concepts.

Her teaching philosophy centers on creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment, where engaging directly with students is paramount. Nicole believes that learning thrives through active scholarly inquiry, encouraging her students to cultivate critical and creative thinking while contributing to the generation of new knowledge.

Beyond the classroom, Nicole is deeply committed to fostering sustainable partnerships with local and global communities, contributing to the common good through active collaboration. Her affiliation with the Society for Human Resources Management and the American Management Association underscores her dedication to staying at the forefront of her field. Nicole’s passion for teaching and her commitment to advancing academic integrity make her a valuable asset to the educational community.

Bio

Bernadine (Bernie) Fischer is a strategic marketing and communications leader with more than 25 years of corporate and academic experience across media, advertising tech, publishing, telecommunications, and higher education. She serves as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies and previously taught at the Daniels College of Business, Regis University, and Southern New Hampshire University. She teaches marketing, communications, content development, and business strategy, emphasizing applied learning and responsible AI integration.

Professional Experience

Bernadine brings expertise in marketing strategy, branding, data-driven decision-making, instructional design, and organizational communication. A technically astute marketer and educator, she integrates traditional and digital marketing, AI implementation, competitive analysis, public relations, UX design, and content strategy to drive measurable outcomes.

Her executive leadership roles include Corporate Director of Sales and Business Development at Time Warner Cable, Director of Marketing at Comcast Spotlight, Director of Affiliate Marketing at Turner Broadcasting, Vice President of Marketing and Communication at MediaNews Group, Director of Sales Support at Gannett, and Director of Digital Marketing at Outdoor Channel / World Fishing Network. She has led strategic implementation of information management systems, learning management platforms, and adaptive learning technologies to support forward focused decision-making.

Education

Bernadine holds an Associate of Arts in Business from the University of Findlay, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Regis University, and a Master of Professional Studies from the University of Denver.

Teaching Philosophy

Bernadine views teaching as a privilege grounded in respect, rigor, and relevance. She provides in-depth feedback, connects theory to real-world applications, and promotes lifelong learning to help students achieve academic and professional goals.

Bio

Jason Hansen is a communications and marketing leader specializing in data-driven storytelling, strategic messaging, and purpose-driven engagement. With over 15 years of industry experience, Jason believes that at the heart of every product or service is an empathetic story that inspires, educates, and connects.

Education

Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies summa cum laude from Colorado Christian University and a Master of Arts in Communication Management with a concentration in User Experience Strategy from the University of Denver.

Professional Background

In his career, Jason has led global teams across various facets of communications. Most recently, as Director of Communications at Cisco Systems, he managed CMO executive communications and internal messaging for a worldwide marketing group. He has also served as Chief of Staff to an SVP of Engineering, leading executive communications, including keynote presentations, blogs, and public relations strategies that amplify leadership voices.

Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, Jason emphasizes hands-on learning and real-world application, empowering students to develop their unique voice and professional presence. He views the classroom as both a testing ground for fresh ideas and a collaborative space for growth, where students learn to bridge storytelling with strategy. His teaching philosophy centers on equipping students with the insights and skills to become transformative communicators who create meaningful connections across audiences and platforms. Jason supports student success through personalized feedback and accessible office hours.

Bio

Katie Kamachi is a distinguished professional known for her multifaceted proficiency spanning education, research, strategy and relationship management. With a stellar background in academia, her expertise extends to leveraging educational principles to drive strategic initiatives, fortify relationships and fuel innovative research endeavors within the corporate landscape. Her career hallmark includes pioneering cutting-edge training initiatives within the industry, leveraging advanced academic concepts to inspire and empower corporate teams towards exceptional achievements while strategically managing relationships for optimal organizational growth.

Education

Katie earned a Ph.D. in Global Leadership & Change from Pepperdine University, an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Concordia University and a BS in Biology-Zoology from Southern Utah University.

Bio

Amanda Kite is a world-class organizational development expert, career coach and DEI advocate. With more than 23 years of corporate experience, she can provide key insights from real-world scenarios in sales, business operations and human resources. She will be able to drive deeper conversations around change & project management, strategic thinking and organizational development by having led significant change initiatives in small, large, and complex, global businesses. This includes examples surrounding people development, talent processes, organizational effectiveness, performance management, mergers & acquisitions and DEI initiatives.

Education

Amanda earned a B.A. in Business from Sam Houston State University, and an M.S. in Human Resources Development from the University of Houston.

Bio

Bobbie Kite (Ph.D., Public Health, University of Texas at Houston; MHS, Health Sciences in Emergency and Disaster Management, Touro University) is a professor with a focus in the Artificial Intelligence in the Healthcare Management and Health Informatics Programs at the College of Professional Studies, University of Denver. Before working at DU, she was jointly appointed to the Department of Biomedical Informatics and the Ohio State University Health Plan at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Bobbie’s research brings knowledge in population health informatics and competency-based education within the field of health data analytics and informatics.

Bio

Michelle Kruse-Crocker is Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Denver’s College of Professional Studies. Her expertise is in online education, faculty development, adult learning theory, curriculum development, and higher education administration. She uses her experience from exercise science and health behavior change coaching in the classroom to bring out the best in her students’ work. Michelle has over 20 years of teaching experience and understands that every student is unique and can be successful with the right support, feedback, and motivation.

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Michelle holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in adult learning from the University of Denver, an M.S. in Exercise Science, and a B.S. in Health Promotion.