Coventure Business Snapshot

Eaden Shantay tells the story of how True Nature Healing Arts evolved out of a desire to have a better life, understand his purpose and make a contribution to the whole while, at the same time, feel better about simply being alive!

 A Colorado mountain girl through and through, Amanda Wagner was born and raised in Glenwood Springs and graduated with degrees in Psychology and Communication from University Colorado. she learned quickly out of college that she can't do what she loves if she did not spend time consistently focusing on her personal health and wellness. So after 10 years in the hospitality industry, she quit her job, got her Personal Training and Health Coaching Certifications and helped start TAC with a commitment to inspire, cultivate and celebrate health and vitality throughout Colorado.  Amanda shares her story with host Mike Mercatoris and explains how she and her team at TAC Fitness have adapted throughout the pandemic to survive and thrive!

Steve Beckley first read about the Historic Fairy Caves in an old out-of-print book, Caves of Colorado, but it took 16 years to convince the former owner to sell him the property!  Beckley shares the story of how he and his wife developed the award-winning theme park which recently celebrated it's 20th anniversary in Glenwood Springs, Colorado Host Mike Mercatoris reflects on the community perspective, sharing how local businesses and town have experienced this growth and continue to adapt and thrive throughout these times.

Ski resorts are busier than ever these days and Sunlight Mountain Resort is no exception. Are we seeing a rebirth of the family & wallet friendly ski-area? Sunlight Mountain Resorts Troy Hawks talks about the current boom traffic as well as the twists and turns the family friendly ski-area has made to get through the pandemic.

Angie Anderson has been a fixture at the chamber for over a decade. Recently named the President & CEO, Anderson offers an inside perspective on the challenges of the past year and how the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association looks forward to continuing collaboration with community leaders on a vision to make this the “ideal mountain community.” 

Carolyn Tucker explains her work helping job-seekers build skills through workshops, resources and personal-assessment tools available through the Colorado Workforce Center.

Mike Mercatoris sits down with Mike Lowe to talk about the unprecedented challenges we've all faced over the past year. Lowe shares how Coventure has supported economic resiliency in helping to face individual challenges and the organizations continued efforts to support the local small business community.

1st Banks Dave Portman and Andrew Reed discuss the Paycheck Protection Program and how the banking industry has kept up with the twists and turns of the pandemic.

The Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center exists to help small businesses grow and prosper by providing free business-consulting, education services and low-cost training. Business consultants are all experts in their field and run the gamut of industries and experience. With more requests than ever before from people seeking assistance in starting or growing a business, Director Erin McCusky, speaks about the SBDC's pandemic response as a Federal, State and local organization in support of rural economic development at the community level in Northwestern Colorado.

Natalie Noakes, founder of Aspen Nannies experienced 4-years of double-digit growth servicing tourists and vacationers in the international resorts of Aspen, Steamboat and Breckenridge Colorado. Mike Mercatoris checks in to hear Natalies story and ask, Will todays uncertainties be met with increased demand and/or regulation? Are there necessary changes or pivots ahead? Listen as Noakes shares her insights on the childcare industry, COVID19, business with Aspen Nannies, and what lays ahead.

Krista Klees, Executive Vice President for Slifer Smith and Frampton Real Estate is one of the Roaring Fork Valley's foremost Real Estate experts. Klees shares her decades of experience helping people and families become a part of the Roaring Fork Valley Community. Mike Mercatoris asks how SSF and the local Real Estate market has adapted, pivoted and changed  in the era of COVID19.

Lifelong skier Peter Arlien moved to Aspen, Colorado shortly after graduating college, became a ski patroller and raft guide, met his wife, got married, had kids and never looked back. Now settled in nearby Carbondale, Peter speaks about the long-haul, his 4-year search for the perfect blend and his moments of inspiration that led to the genesis of Mountain-Flow Eco-Wax. In 2019 World Cup Skiing's governing body recognized the harmful effect of ski wax filtering into the environment by banning all fluorinated ski-waxes for the 2020/21 season. Mountain Flow Eco-Wax was launched the same year, experiencing 12x growth in its first year of operation.  Now in the COVID era, Peter shares Mountain Flows current efforts to reduce micro-pollution in the summertime bicycling world with 3 new plant based bike lubes for all types of riding conditions.

Aaron Badolato moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado to enjoy family life and settle down from his former life of cold-calls and hustle in the the world of risk management and financial planning. Aaron now balances family-run business “Sweet Coloradough” while maintaining a mid-cap growth mindset as an active investor, sharing rules for how to use house-money with defined risk-management strategies.

Senior Loan Officer for the Colorado Lending Source, Nicole Christianson has quarterbacked loan programs from many different business sectors throughout the  Western Slope. A Membership- based organization made up of lenders, small businesses, community organizations and government groups, Colorado Lending Source was founded 30-years ago as a private 501c6 nonprofit to foster the economic growth of diverse small businesses within our communities and provide access to funds for business owners to buy real estate and build net worth. With tips on how to apply and an inspiring success story of how one Rifle woman created over two-dozen local jobs serving 70+ families using Colorado Mainstreet and Community Advantage Loans, Nicole describes Colorado Lending Source continues to evolve in meeting the needs of local communities on the Western Slope, particularly in light of COVID-19.

Strange Imports has been in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley over 25 years providing curated Asian accessories and decor for inspired home sanctuaries and serene work spaces. With online headquarters run from the brick and mortar location on Main Street in Carbondale, Colorado, Strange Imports offers a wide range of hand selected inventory from workshops and collectors throughout Thailand, China, Nepal and more. From shipping boxes of trinkets, to importing 17th Century Imperial Ceramics, owner Dave Dixon talks about his travels and how the outdoors and quality of life have been an important part of his families choice to run a business in the Roaring Fork Valley. Dave reflects on his travels, the transition to online sales and how Strange Imports maintains a Main Street presence in the COVID era.

Mike Mercatoris and Mike Lowe discuss tourism in the COVID Era.  Will "Mupfers" still come up for the weekend? How will event cancellations effect our local economy? Mike & Mike share insights from community collaborations over the past few months,  digging into survival strategies and creative ways re-envision tourism in the Roaring Fork Valley.

In this episode of Coventure Business Snapshot, Lisa Raleigh shares her knowledge on the unique challenges facing nonprofits here in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley and how she balances the art and science of fundraising through understanding people and their work. Focusing on fundraising, networking, and next steps, Raleigh works with many Nonprofits in the Roaring Fork Valley, including Coventure, Pathfinders, Bridging Bionics and Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Listen now as Lisa shares her experience in the COVID 19 nonprofit world.

Kris Mattera, Executive Director for the Basalt, Colorado Chamber of Commerce discusses the Chambers “3-C's” and efforts to support small business in the Roaring Fork Valley through the challenges of COVID19. From addressing the pain-points of local business, to finding ways to bring State and Federal resources to the Local level, Kris talks about her experience in crisis communication, the importance of personal relationships and knowing who to speak with in a crisis situation.  Mattera shares insights on the efforts of Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield County to support the health and well-being of our communities while helping local businesses pivot from this current situation into the “Blue Oceans” of market opportunities that lay ahead.

Commercial Realtor and entrepreneur Mike Mercatoris survived the 2008 credit crisis and knows how challenging the Restaurant business is even under normal circumstances. So what's the difference now? Mercatoris shares tricks of the trade and offers sage advice for restauranteurs to thrive in the era of COVID-19 From capacity limitations, takeout capability, outdoor dining and health concerns, Mike offers pearls of wisdom and actionable things restaurants can and should do to safely guide and pivot their business models . Listen now as Mercatoris talks about the need to have open and honest conversations with landlords, embracing technology, self-care, patience and the importance of tipping big!

Welcome to Coventure Business Snapshot. In this first episode, Mike Lowe, Co-founder of Coventure in Carbondale, talks about conscious capitalism and economic resiliency, reflecting on the challenges of running a business in the Roaring Fork Valley in the COVID-19 era and how Coventure is evolving to meet the needs of the local business community in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley. A local business owner and partner in the Glenwood Adventure Company, Lowe's efforts  through Coventure to develop the local entrepreneurial ecosystem have resulted in over $15-million raised for 14 local businesses and successfully created over 52 jobs in the first year of operation.  Listen now as Mike explains the “Triple-Bottom Line” strategy, focusing on products, employees and customers, and how this strategy can help your company provide customer service that filters into every level of your organization.