Colorado has long prided itself on pragmatic and practical
politics. But some believe that the political climate is increasingly contentious resulting in distrust and dysfunction; that problem solving and finding bi-partisan solutions has taken a back seat to partisanship. One solution that has emerged in a growing number of states across the country is electoral reform.
When
Kent Thiry is not occupied by his day job as CEO of DaVita (a top employer in the Denver area), Kent advocates for electoral reform. He was previously engaged in electoral reform in California and currently is involved with a wide-ranging group exploring the idea here in Colorado to replace purely partisan primaries with open elections. The theory: more moderates in politics and a more functioning system. Others have advocated changing how districts are drawn to mitigate gerrymandering.
As recently reported by
The Denver Post, Kent and others are proposing electoral reform for Colorado. The City Club is proud to have Kent discuss his ideas and unveil his proposals for what could change the face of Colorado politics.
ABOUT KENT THIRY
Kent Thiry has been CEO of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. since 1999. Upon his arrival, the company embarked on an ambitious restructuring plan to save it from the brink of bankruptcy. Thirteen years later, DaVita was transformed into a FORTUNE 500® company with nearly $12 billion in annual revenues, 50,000 employees caring for 166,000 patients in 2,000+ facilities around the world.
DaVita’s leadership philosophy is the subject of study and discussion in various forums, including Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg and Wharton business schools, as well as major media outlets such as
The Wall Street Journal and
Modern Healthcare. Thiry is frequently requested by leading corporations and organizations to speak about DaVita’s pioneering model of employee empowerment and creation of a sense of community in the workplace.
Thiry earned his B.A. in Political Science, with distinction and Phi Beta Kappa, from Stanford University in 1978. He earned his M.B.A., with honors, from Harvard Business School in 1983, where he was also elected to the Century Club. He also serves on the board of directors for the Trust for Public Land.
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