The LoCo Experience

In this episode of the Local Experience Podcast, I sat down with Sjeanne Cawdry, the Director and Founder of The Center of Liberation. Sean shares her diverse background, from being born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, to moving to Fort Collins, Colorado. Her journey includes a rich history in corporate investment banking in innovative roles, along with personal experiences that led her to found her center aimed at supporting conscious business practices and leadership development.Sjeanne highlights how she transitioned from personal training gyms to a significant role in one of South Africa's leading corporate investment banks, and how she was involved in transformative projects, particularly in the realms of cryptocurrency and digital assets. Sjeanne also touches on her approach to understanding and leveraging future trends like AI and digital currencies.The conversation also includes Sjeanne's personal life experiences, including her two near-death experiences and how they helped shaped her perspective on life and work. She discusses her move to America, driven by an online romance during COVID, and her observations on the cultural differences between the two countries. Sjeanne concludes by offering advice for young people navigating their educational and career paths, emphasizing the importance of following one's passions and creating value in their work.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

In this episode of the LoCo Experience, I welcomed accomplished author, speaker, and teacher Gregg Vanourek into the studio.  We discuss his recent book 'Triple Crown Leadership,' which he co-wrote with his father. The book uses the metaphor of the Triple Crown in horse racing to describe the triple crown of leadership: excellence, ethics, and endurance.  We discussed the extensive research and interviews involved in developing their book and leadership model - which aims to help leaders achieve exceptional results with integrity and sustainability.Gregg shares insights into his diverse professional journey, including his experience with think tanks and founding a startup foundation focused on education reform, which ultimately led him to move their family to Sweden.  There, he taught entrepreneurship and leadership at the Royal Institute of Technology - Sweden's equivalent to MIT.   The conversation delves into the significance of understanding oneself and discovering one's passions and strengths, especially for young adults. Greg offers advice on trusting oneself, paying attention to one's interests, and taking action to experiment and learn. He underscores the value of being in community with others to gain insights and support in navigating life's transitions.  Gregg also reflects on his family life, including the challenges and rewards of moving from Sweden back to the U.S. with his wife and daughters. He highlights the importance of finding balance and joy in both professional and personal endeavors.The episode concludes with a light-hearted discussion about memorable life moments, such as Gregg's adventurous trip to the Netherlands without a passport, and the role of music in his life.   He'll be our keynote speaker and workshop leader at the LoCo member event this fall - Aim to Thrive - and I know you'll enjoy getting to know my new friend, Gregg Vanourek.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

In this episode of the LoCo Experience Podcast, I hosted Constantin Gurdgiev, Ph.D. and Associate Professor of Finance at the Monfort College of Business. Constantin outlines his work in the fields of economics, geopolitics, and finance, sharing insights from his research on geopolitical risks, tariff impacts, and financial market volatility. He also discusses his teaching and research positions in the United States and Ireland, emphasizing his efforts to integrate real-world applications into academia through internships and student engagement.  Constantin delves into the complexities of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, drawing on his expertise in Russian and Irish economics. He discusses the historical and geopolitical context that has contributed to the ongoing tension, and critiques the western approach to handling the situation. The conversation also touches on broader themes like the weaponization of economic systems, challenges to U.S. economic hegemony, and the multidimensional nature of modern global conflicts.Constantin also reflects on regional development issues specific to Northern Colorado, including regulatory burdens, the high cost of living, and the need for regional cooperation between cities to maintain competitive advantage. He suggests practical steps such as reducing state-level taxes and regulatory burdens to foster business growth. The episode concludes with personal reflections on his family and life experiences.  It's an intriguing journey, and I hope you'll join me in enjoying my conversation with Constantin Gurdgiev.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

In today's episode of The LoCo Experience, I was joined by Teres Lambert and David Haase - fellow members of the Breakfast Rotary Club in Fort Collins - which meets every Thursday morning at 7 am at Ginger & Baker!  They were here in part to talk about a pair of significant Rotary events upcoming this spring and summer - the Field of Honor  - May 23 - 26 - spearheaded by Teres, and talk with David about The Peach Festival - which will be held August 16th this year at Civic Center Park in Old Town Fort Collins - one of the few remaining downtown festivals!  The Field of Honor is a service to the community, to honor heroes of all stripes on Memorial Day Weekend.  With 500 flags flying adjacent to the Veterans Plaza and Travelling Memorial Wall, this project allows community members to honor a veteran, a first responder, a foster parent, a teacher - or any other hero of their lives with medallions attached to each flag.  The Peach Festival is all things peachy and community and Rotary - with peach beers, live music, peach pie eating contests - and much much more.  And - we get to learn about what makes a great Rotarian, and what inspires a career professional to take the plunge into community service.  Teres is a gifted writer, and a topical expert in anything beef or dairy! - and David is a veteran financial planner, who gives dozens of hours each year to the cause of building community.  This episode is all about service, career, and community, and I loved sharing a bit of the journey with Teres Lambert and David Haase.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

Wade Keith grew up in Alabama, and came to Colorado as a raft guide - but after he found love and wanted to start a family he decided to pursue a professional career.  This journey included stops at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Odell's Taproom, Otterbox, and now approaching 15 years “Working at the Carwash”.  But - not just any car wash - Breeze Thru Car Wash, the dominant membership car wash club in Northern Colorado.  Wade is now a partner in the business, and serves as Brand Manager and is also a community ambassador of sorts - and he's a very insightful guy.  This episode digs into the business of washing cars - the capital investment, the recycling of water, the continuous finding and development of entry level employees - and the heart of Wade's why in finding joy in this journey.  Wade's journey was heavily impacted by a health scare - early in his relationship with his wife - in which an infection nearly severed his spine - and left him still unable to do some of the things he loves.  But he finds joy in his work, and in his music, and in his family - and you'll hear about all of those things and more, so please join me in enjoying my conversation with Wade Keith.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work - if the Beer Tastes Great!  Josh & Angie Grenz, Owners of Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project in Loveland, and Verboten North Brewpub in Fort Collins.  I met Josh and Angie Grenz in the early months of their opening their first Verboten location in a quiet industrial park in Loveland, and Angie actually came to the very first organizational meeting for the first LoCo Think Tank chapter - before I had come up with the name!  She didn't join, and hasn't yet - but I remain hopeful.  We've stayed in touch over the years, and reconnected more properly last year when they opened their second location in what had been Black Bottle Brewery in Fort Collins - which closed the fall before.  Verboten means forbidden in German, and their selection of beers mostly has one thing in common - they use ingredients that would have been forbidden under historic German purity laws - which basically means you can have lager and you will love it!  Sours and Porters and Wine-Barrel aged Stouts and you name it - they've done it - and probably won a prestigious medal for it!  Josh and Angie eventually moved to a great downtown location in Loveland, and the Verboten North is at the corner of Prospect and College in Fort Collins.  This is a journey of starting small, focusing on the product and the people, and growing into a regional brand.  In an industry that has experienced decline in recent years, Verboten continues to grow - and it's due to hard work and smart decisions by Josh and Angie and their dedicated teams.  So please enjoy, as I did - my conversation with Josh and Angie Grenz.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

I met Josh and Angie Grenz in the early months of their opening their first Verboten location in a quiet industrial park in Loveland, and Angie actually came to the very first organizational meeting for the first LoCo Think Tank chapter - before I had come up with the name!  She didn't join, and hasn't yet - but I remain hopeful.  We've stayed in touch over the years, and reconnected more properly last year when they opened their second location in what had been Black Bottle Brewery in Fort Collins - which closed the fall before.  Verboten means forbidden in German, and their selection of beers mostly has one thing in common - they use ingredients that would have been forbidden under historic German purity laws - which basically means you can have lager and you will love it!  Sours and Porters and Wine-Barrel aged Stouts and you name it - they've done it - and probably won a prestigious medal for it!  Josh and Angie eventually moved to a great downtown location in Loveland, and the Verboten North is at the corner of Prospect and College in Fort Collins.  This is a journey of starting small, focusing on the product and the people, and growing into a regional brand.  In an industry that has experienced decline in recent years, Verboten continues to grow - and it's due to hard work and smart decisions by Josh and Angie and their dedicated teams.  So please enjoy, as I did - my conversation with Josh and Angie Grenz. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

I met Edward Rinehart at my Rotary Club, where he was sharing his journey with DECA - Distributive Education Clubs of America - an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through educational programs and competitions.  Colorado had 9,000 participants in DECA programs in 2024, with the top competitors advancing through District Competitions to State and International.  Edward has been involved in DECA all four years of his high school journey, made it all the way to International his Freshman year, and has served on the Leadership Team ever since.  He won the State Competition in Entrepreneurship this February - and we're wishing him luck at Internationals in May!  This is a different journey than most of our LoCo Experience episodes - just getting started.  But I learned a lot, and enjoyed a wonderful conversation - and you will too!  So especially if you've got kiddos still in school, or grandkids going to high school soon - or if you might want to be a volunteer judge for the District or State competitions - I hope you'll tune in and enjoy my conversation with Edward Rinehart.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

This week, I was pleased to be joined by Jessica Dizmang, the Owner/Operator of the ONLY three franchised Ben & Jerry's locations in Colorado, with scoop shops located in Fort Collins, Denver, and Boulder.  Her father had a career in corporate franchising, with a stop at Ben & Jerry's, and made her aware of an opportunity in Boulder.  She was a fresh college graduate, and very not inclined to work at an ice cream shop - but a couple months later, in March of 2002, she became part-owner and operator of the Pearl Street Ben & Jerry's location.23 years later, Jessica has developed a three-piece set of thriving locations on the Colorado Front Range, each with an empowered team.  In 2024 she was named the Operator of the Year, and we explore her many lessons and learnings from along the journey.  And - she's a LoCo Think Tank member!  Don't miss Free Cone Day, April 8 at Ben & Jerry's locations around the nation, and please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Jessica Dizmang.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

My guest today was Zak George, Founder and Owner and Head Coach at Zak George Landscaping, LLC.  ZGL - as the trucks around town say on the side - is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!  Zak has a strong history of growth in the Residential and Commercial Construction and Commercial Maintenance segment, plus a substantial snow removal operation to keep some of the guys busy in the winter.  Zak has an interesting business model in that he relies heavily on long term HB2 Visa employees, who return seasonally - mostly from Mexico and Guatemala - and we discuss his concerns about labor force in 2025, and how ZGL was almost taken down by an HB2 shortage in 2017, amid over-reliance on seasonal workers.  Zak has a big beard and a big heart, is a fellow Rotarian, and is a joy to have a conversation with - so I hope you enjoy, as I did - my conversation with Zak George.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

Ginger Graham returns to The LoCo Experience studio, and this time brings her hunky husband, Jack!  Jack Graham came to Fort Collins to play quarterback for CSU, and was drafted into the NFL for the Miami Dolphins.  In his post-football career, Jack quickly became an innovative disrupter in the reinsurance industry, and he founded International Catastrophe Insurance Managers, distributing risks from natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes - and was recognized as the Earnst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003.  He returned to Fort Collins and led the charge to build a new football stadium, and went on to the role of Athletic Director at CSU.Ginger Graham is a country gal from Arkansas, who earned a Harvard MBA and went on to become CEO of several companies, including a Fortune 500 and a Nasdaq 100 firm - and she makes the best pies west of the Mississippi!  And she's on my short list of favorite people.  Since Ginger had shared previously (Episode 73), we focus in on Jack's journey in this one, including his journey in football and reinsurance - and the challenges around the stadium project and tour of duty with CSU Athletics.  The Grahams share the short story of their romance and their why in Ginger and Baker, and Ginger settles my fears about Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs - which I didn't recall she'd been involved in developing!  And - we talk about all the great things going on in Northern Colorado now - and the even better times ahead! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

I met Pete Gazlay late in my banking career, as one of my colleagues was pursuing a banking relationship with the owner of a young but rapidly growing janitorial company - Total Facility Care.  Pete founded the business in 2010, after departure from a fast-growing middle-market company in the same industry.  At the start, Pete was a one-man team, selling janitorial services during the day - and executing the cleanings at night!  They grew steadily throughout though, and sold in April of 2023 with a team size of around 150 and a significant market share in both the general janitorial space as well as specialized tech and medical clean room janitorial.  We spend a good amount of time talking about business principles in this episode - relationship selling, margins and bidding, account management, hiring entry-level workers during a labor shortage - and finding the right time and manner of exit.  And, we talked about life after exit - community engagements, a recent mission trip to Tanzania, and Pete's why in joining the team as a LoCo Facilitator.  We're so glad to have him on the team, and I know you'll enjoy - as I did - my conversation with Pete Gazlay.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

Alex Raymond is a 3x tech startup founder and entrepreneur who made the journey up from Boulder to The LoCo Experience studio to share his journey and some wisdom he's learned along the way.  He was an early client of TechStars, and has been a long-term mentor in the program.  And - he share how listeners can expand their business brains and mindfulness at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit - upcoming May 28 and 29 in Boulder.  Alex is also the Host of the Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast, which has hosted many dozens of conscious leaders on topics as diverse as building teams for scaling, developing a personal brand, or redefining happiness in your life.  He's also a generous guy, and gave our listeners the opportunity to save $100 off your Summit tickets by March 31 - use code LOCO - and one lucky listener will win 50% off tickets - but you'll have to listen to win!  As always, Alex and I enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation, dialing in on crucial business and life principals - and chasing lots of squirrels.  So please enjoy - as I did, my conversation with Alex Raymond.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Purpose Driven Wealth Thrivent: Learn more

This week, I was pleased to spend time with Scott Kissel, Executive Director of Sky Corral Ranch - located near the top of the full-year drivable portion of Old Flowers Road in Bellvue, Colorado.  LoCo Think Tank has held its annual Next Level Summit at Sky Corral the past two years, and we're pleased to return this August for another amazing dose of mountain hospitality!  Scott has lived quite an interesting journey, growing up in a retail grocery family in South Fork, Colorado as a hard-working multi-sport athlete, finding faith and then drawing his family to it - and then attending Colorado Christian University in Denver.  After college he soon found himself as a leader in Sales and Operations at Gibb's Bagels and then Yancey's Food Service - and then finding his way back to ministry as a Senior Executive with Timberline Church.  Scott shares many amazing business and faith stories in this episode, and also gives us a behind the scenes on the renovation, operation, and future plans at Sky Corral Ranch - so tune in and enjoy my conversation with Scott Kissel.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Ann Baron is the Founder and CEO of Northern Colorado Community - an events and networking and business support organization with members across Northern Colorado - as the name would imply!  Ann has lived an extraordinary journey, in some ways starting when was adopted from a South Korean orphanage at 4 years old, and raised by a family in Oregon.  She became a teacher fresh out of college - didn't like it - and went into her father's industry of Insurance.  She moved to Colorado with State Farm and did everything from Claims to Sales Training, and later worked in Payroll, Business Development for the Loveland Chamber, and did freelance event planning and more before launching NOCO Community.  Ann is wise beyond her substantial years :o) - and shares abundantly from her practical toolkit on networking and sales.  Tune in and sharpen up your skills, and enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Ann Baron.Also - congrats to Ann for winning Best of NOCO for 2024 Networking Organization!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Phil Gottula was my first guest to bring in a charcuterie plate - and we shared a beautiful bottle of white wine he also brought in - and we talked about the business of event rentals.  Specifically, his business which is the leader in Northern Colorado event rentals - FLEXX Productions.  The event rental industry is an interesting critter.  Unlike a retail transaction where the customer pays and leaves with their stuff - event rental requires the business not only to deliver - (on time, every time, no matter what!) - but also the business must pick their equipment back up from the location, and clean and refresh for the next customer.  Phil is an expert in the industry, and shares abundantly from what he's learned.  And - he's a philosopher, an adventurer, a dog dad, and a wonderful conversationalist.  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Phil Gottula.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Harpist Meredith McCrindle was in Northern Colorado for a few weeks this winter, visiting her parents on an extended trip away from her transplanted home in Ayr, Scotland.  For a portion of the trip, her close friend Jai McDowall joined her - his first time in Colorado.  I met Meredith when she was at our Rotary Club one morning, promoting her upcoming concert with Jai in Fort Collins.  She agreed (and voluntold Jai) to come on the show, and it was a lot of fun!Meredith's album, When Walls Speak, is a study on Dumfries House - home to King Charles when he's in Scotland, and where she has been resident harpist for many years.  She's also resident harpist for Trump Turnberry, Glen App Castle, Culzean Castle and more - if you need an amazing harpist in Scotland, or around Europe and the world, you'd be wise to call on her.  She's also the founder of a festival called Tamfest, a serial entrepreneur, and a business consultant!  Jai McDowall grew up in music, and performed on stage with his father going back to his teenage years.  After he won Britain's Got Talent in 2011, his life changed forever - and he caught amazing traction during his first year.  When he went independent however, he had much to learn.  Equipped with Meredith's friendship and insights for business, he's crafted an extraordinary world-ranging career from those first opportunities, and he's a great case study on how talent alone - isn't enough!  Inspiring and entertaining as always, and this time with one of the world's most famous harpists, plus a friendly baritone with a fun Scottish accent.  Enjoy.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Dain Johnson was a high-level mechanical and industrial engineer for a decade, during which time he worked under some great managers - and some terrible ones!  He developed a keen interest in psychology, eventually leading him to further his education with a Masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from CSU, and to the founding of his business, Rev 0.Dain is a coach for engineers turned managers. These range from first-time managers, to rising stars potentially headed toward the CEO role - and even new CEO's.  This podcast zooms in on the principals of coaching others to better lead people, and apply to anyone. Dain is an awesome guy, and shares abundantly from his knowledge and craft.  He also built and sold a coffee company in Texas in a previous chapter, and is co-founder and partner in Isolation Coffee here in Fort Collins, offering premium coffee, delivered to your door!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Jane Brewer grew up in a diverse neighborhood in the heart of New York City, with a constant heart for people and service and adventure.  She signed up for AmeriCorps to work in support of Habitat for Humanity projects, and at 22 revealed that she didn't have a driver's license when asked to drive a truck and trailer to a project!  A few short years later she drove herself to Crested Butte, Colorado for a job on a ski hill, and worked a series of small jobs before landing in 911 dispatch.  Her journey turned after a beneficial season with a local chiropractor, and an encouraging word - and she landed in the Front Range of Colorado fresh out of chiropractic school in Atlanta.  This year, she's celebrating 10 years of growth, and the purchase of a new office location!  Jane has been a member of LoCo Think Tank for over 5 years, and hers is a story of steady growth, constant love for her clients and community, and building healthy lives on strong foundations.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I became acquainted with Cole Strehlow circa 2012, when my wife and I first began attending The Crossing Church in Fort Collins, where Cole still serves as Chief Musician.  He was a gifted writer with a Theology degree from a small university in Northern Wisconsin, and was trying to string an income together through church music, freelance writing, and crappy jobs.A few years later, he was the first employee of a startup called Wintermind Group (featured in Episode 24), which later merged to become Pop Acta with Cole as right-hand to the CEO.  At Pop Acta he headed a skunk-works project in 2022, which sprouted wings and took off as The Flyover - a wholly-owned subsidiary with Cole at the helm.  Condensed daily email news, minimal bias, and growing quickly into state-by-state versions.  Cole's is a journey of consistent growth in responsibility and impact, built on do the right thing.  Enjoy.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Rick Gardner is an EOS Implementer in our Northern Colorado region.  He grew up in Leadville, Colorado, and had his dreams of a long professional bull-riding career ended by injury.  He's gone on to a series of interesting professional and entrepreneurial ventures, and his previous chapter was founding and growing an Venture Accelerator and Investment Hub aligned with University of Buffalo in New York, which served over 150 companies and raised over $100M in capital.  Disclaimer - We forgot to talk about the professional walleye fisherman chapter!The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Rick Gardner - Bull Rider, Roofer, Rocket Scientist, Professional Walleye Fisherman, Serial Entrepreneur, Venture Hub Founder, and EOS ImplementerRick Gardner is an EOS Implementer in our Northern Colorado region.  He grew up in Leadville, Colorado, and had his dreams of a long professional bull-riding career ended by injury.  He's gone on to a series of interesting professional and entrepreneurial ventures, and his previous chapter was founding and growing an Venture Accelerator and Investment Hub aligned with University of Buffalo in New York, which served over 150 companies and raised over $100M in capital.  Disclaimer - We forgot to talk about the professional walleye fisherman chapter!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

In today's conversation, I'm joined by longtime Producer of The LoCo Experience, (and continuing as Operations Manager of many hats at LoCo Think Tank) Alma Arellano, along with our newest employee and incoming Producer of the podcast, Ava Munos!  We dig into Ava's background a bit - which revolved around competitive dance for years - and explore some of the changes coming for Season 5 of The LoCo Experience.Also, Alma breaks down our top 5 most-listened episodes of 2024 and we talk about some of the most inspiring - and the most LoCo - experiences shared during season 4. If you're a fan of the show, you won't want to miss this one!Disclaimer - We lost the first hour of our conversation due to a tech glitch, during which Ava shared deeply about the joys and the traumas of her dance career.  We tried to start over and re-create the conversation, but it was admittedly difficult to remember what we'd covered in the lost conversation, and what was still left to unfold in the fresh one.    The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Nate Hines is the President of Hines, Inc., a global leader in design solutions for irrigation water management.  He is a husband, father, armchair historian, philosopher, and business enthusiast.  He received his secondary education from Oxford University, with degrees in History and Ancient History. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Becky Lauridson is the Founder of IOME Self Care, a LoCo Think Tank member, a fan of Lens Neurofeedback, a wife, mother, and elk hunting guide on her family ranch near Craig, Colorado.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

My conversation today was with Ryan Reed-Baum, CEO and Owner of TruLog, a company founded by his father, Ted, but that Ryan basically re-launched years later.  To set the stage, we need to add some context.  In the mid-80's, Ted worked for Knudson Manufacturing, building and servicing gutter and steel siding manufacturing machines.  By the mid-90's, he'd started his own business (R & B Home Improvement) doing every kind of siding, additions and remodels, and also building log homes from scratch.  Logs look great - but they're a pain-in-the-butt to maintain, and very expensive to build with.  So - Ted invented and patented a technique to create roll-steel log-look siding, and installed the product on several local projects while Ryan was studying business and marketing at CSU.  By 2011 however, the product had not caught traction, and TruLog was effectively hibernating - it was too complicated for lumberyards and home improvement stores to carry with sufficient margin, and the home improvement business carried on.Enter Ryan in 2012, when he invested $16,000 of his own money for a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign on Facebook, and sold a project for delivery to New Mexico - and executed every step of the customer journey!  Custom fit, box-shipped with instructions, log-look siding, to cover up or replace your lap siding or finish your new construction project with a fire resistant and maintenance-free finish.  Growth was rapid from there, 10x for 2013 and well into 8 figure revenues today.  Still a family business, and still built on the values they had from the start:  High quality products, honesty, hard work, customer service, and family.   Quite a journey, and quite a guy, and I'm proud to introduce our listeners to Ryan Reed-Baum and TruLog, the best natural look metal siding on the market - built right here in Northern Colorado, brought out of hibernation and grown by innovative marketing and customer service.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I met Matthew Fugate circa summer 2017, when LoCo Think Tank was really starting to become a thing, and Matthew was a fresh-in-town Realtor.  I remembered him well for two reasons 1) He was enthusiastic about LoCo Think Tank but could never remember my business name or my name - he'd shout from across the street in Old Town - Hey LoCoNoCo Guy! and 2) He made a big splash with a bus bench purchase, featuring himself in a suit with a suggestive pose, and the message “For a Good Time, Call Matthew Houston Fugate” with the phone number below.  He's grown his business and his skills since, and in 2023, he started his own brokerage and property management firm.  Gabrielle Judge, I met more recently, in that when I suggested to Matthew that he should share his story on the show - he said “Dude, you gotta have my girlfriend on too - she's like blowing up on tik-tok and Instagram!  And indeed - this is so.  In less than 2 years, #antiworkgrilboss Gabrielle has over 220K followers on Tik-Tok, over 300K followers on Instagram, a growing Substack following - and a book coming out!  Hopefully, her followers will spur new listeners and followers of @thelocoexperiencepodcast! - follow and share today!  Despite the clicky-bait hashtag though, this girl is anything but opposed to work - if it's work of the right kind, and honoring to both employer and employee.  This conversation gets very real, very early, with Gabrielle and Matthew both sharing their upbringing with alcoholic, abusive, and mentally unstable home environments - and both moved early into their own struggles with substance.  In 5th grade, Matthew traded a Pokemon card for a stolen bag of weed, rolled it into joints at 5 bucks per, and began a series of substance abuse peaks and valleys that eventually left him on the streets - until it was time for a change.  Matthew came to his new life in Northern Colorado straight out of rehab - and he's been sober and growing his business ever since.  Gabrielle's journey is no less dramatic or inspiring - but you'll have to listen to get it - because she's the #antiworkgirlboss and she's here sharing with Matthew and me on The LoCo Experience! The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Since he was a little boy, Forrest Cramer has always been an artist.  He was drawing recognizable profiles and pencil-shading landscapes at an age when most of us were working on stick-figures, and in his late teens he had the opportunity to apprentice with a local violin-maker.  He wasn't ready yet to make it his lifetime craft, landed a role in antique furniture restoration - and later - as his skills improved - reproduction.   When Forrest started his business, he did a lot of different things.  Custom and semi-custom cabinetry, tables and art shelves, interior design elements - he could figure out how to do it.  And sometimes, he figured out how to make enough margin on it to be profitable.  But his exacting craftsmanship and urge for distinctive design made it tough to compete in the volume production market, and he's been shifting his business more and more toward the custom and heirloom quality furniture market, and in 2024 fully emerged as Forrest Cramer - Luxury Furniture Artist.And - he's a really interesting guy.  Many children, simple tastes, old-school values.  He's an interesting contrast to his typical client - who might be looking for a signature piece for their 3rd home 6,000 sq. ft. “cabin” in the foothills outside Aspen.  He's the best and only luxury furniture artist I know, I dig him a lot and you will too - so please enjoy my conversation with Forrest Cramer.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I've known Aaron McCambridge for perhaps 15 years, as he's been an occasional visitor to my Rotary Club, where his father is a longtime member.  I've known about Citadel Advisory Group for even longer, as they were a client of the bank I worked at the last stop in my career, going back to 2007.  When I left the bank in 2013, Aaron had only recently entered the industry in what was effectively an intern/analyst role, and now shares leadership with fellow Managing Partner, Matt Thomas.  Citadel works in what is effectively a seller-side representative role for lower middle market privately held companies, helping them find an exit or a growth capital partner, depending on circumstances and the owner's desires for the company.  These might include strategic acquisitions, minority capital injections, or 100% private equity or family office buyouts.  Citadel gets paid on the back end of each transaction - and only if it is completed.  For me, this conversation is a fun look behind the curtain of an industry I've only brushed against in my career, and listeners will learn a lot while I satisfy my curiosity about the kinds of deals that Aaron and his partners have seen in the marketplace.  Aaron's journey is an inspiring one, in that he marched through several years of challenge before starting from scratch in a new career.  He'd had a very successful career in mortgage, and then wholesale mortgage before the financial crisis evaporated those opportunities, and then founded and floundered in his own commercial capital venture before checking in with Citadel about an entry-level job.  At the core, Aaron is something of a hybrid between business analyst, life and business coach, and equity industry expert, and he does a great job of storytelling while keeping his clients anonymous.  I learned a lot, and you will too - so please tune in and enjoy my conversation with Aaron McCambridge, Managing Partner of Citadel Advisory Group. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Brian Kerlin had a successful sales career of over 2 decades when the first cornerstones of Optitude were laid, and he became enamored with the entrepreneurial lifestyle while dating his now-wife, who had a successful professional services company - but was struggling to build the systems for predictable growth.  Brian helped her discover and overcome those challenges to growth, and soon started sharing his insights with her entrepreneurial friends.  He continued in his corporate sales role for many seasons while also volunteering for Denver Startup Week and incubators in Boulder and Fort Collins, including Innosphere. Brian launched Optitude in 2018, and is focused on helping professional services companies grow from the place of the founder being the primary rainmaker - usually up to $1MM annual revenues - and grow toward middle market scale and systems and push through the revenue plateau that often hinders growth and hampers morale.  Brian chose the name Optitude as a hybrid of optimization and attitude, and if you can get those ingredients right, you'll be ready to grow.  He shares abundantly from his experience and principles during this conversation, and perhaps the best part is the unfolding realization that “Hey, I've got something here that I can turn into a business!” and then hitting the ground running to bring value to the market.  There are abundant insights in this conversation for anyone who cares about predictable revenue growth, and so I hope you join me and enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Brian Kerlin. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I met Ty Dannebring at church one Sunday, when he hunted me down and said “Can we have a conversation about possibly being on your podcast, with regard to our new book?”  Knowing nothing, I said, “of course” - and then after a coffee and conversation I was eager to spend time in the podcast studio with Ty and his co-author, Jeff Dillon.  Ty is a financial advisor with a big idea, and Jeff is a Pastor at Redemption Church in Loveland, and his skill and expertise in writing helped give shape to Ty's ideas with proper grammar and sentence structure!  From the Go-Fund-Me Page for Party In The Front! - There is an epidemic of loneliness in our culture today.The U.S. Surgeon General says lacking social connection is more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. More dangerous than obesity or air pollution.Yet most of us live separate lives - distant from the people who are literally right outside our front door.  We believe it's time to change that story. And it doesn't take a lot.All it takes is being yourself and bringing the good things of your life out into the open for others to see.Instead of a party in your backyard, why not bring it to the front yard, where people can see and be invited in?This is what it means to Party in the Front. To overcome loneliness and create community right where you are.My conversation today is with a pair of smart and thoughtful guys, who spent a bunch of time putting together ideas and structure around a big challenge - why are so many people lonely, when we're surrounded by people every day? - and how can we fix that? So please, join me to share in some ideas and visions for a more-connected future, and get to know the authors behind a new book sparking change in our cultural revitalization - Party In The Front!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Today's episode features regular guest Aaron Everitt, along with his 17 year old son, Emerson, discussing the election coverage and election season of 2024.  We started at 7:30ish PM MT, and called it a night by 9:30 PM MT as it became obvious Trump was going to be #47.  Aaron is a highly-acclaimed X.com creator of independent material, including a series of 100 essays on philosophical and economic topics, many of which supported the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  He and Emerson were able to spend an hour with the then-Presidential candidate in Denver, and we spent time talking about Aaron's journey going from frustration with the candidate Trump to optimism over the team of leaders who have joined his campaign.  For your Host, I was a first-time Trump voter this year, after voting Gary Johnson and Kanye West the past two elections.  I voted for a major party for President for the first time with this vote, and did so both to acknowledge the coalition of leaders, and also to punish Democrats for obvious lawfare, suppression of free speech, and a very non-democratic primary selection process, including the black-balling of Kennedy, and the installation of Harris.  Enjoy the perspectives, and thanks for listening!The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

In my early years of LoCo Think Tank, when I was just getting out of the mobile food catering game, everyone was talking about the wonderful new caterers in town, Juli & Juan!  Soon after, we had the chance to get acquainted, and they catered one of our most successful events during LoCo's strongest expansion year of 2019 - Tips, Tacos, & Tequila - featuring business tips, a tequila talk and tasting, and tacos from Juli Y Juan's Kitchen!  The colors and flavors that Juli creates, and the sheer beauty of their catering displays, is truly next level, and over time they've shifted their business to premium events such as weddings, rehearsal dinners, and private chef engagements.  Juli polished her craft as Executive Chef at a resort in Playa del Carmen, where Juan was a leader in creating amazing guest experiences - the owners of which were from Colorado.  After a 10-year career, Juli made the decision to leave her job and go on a 3-month solo trek to her native Columbia - through Guatemala, Central America, and the Dorian Gap.  At the same time, Juan was involved in a shamanic study program, and through his meditations and reflections he discovered that though he might not yet know the question, Juli was the answer!Their love and Juli Y Juan's Kitchen sprouted soon after, and the couple made their way to Fort Collins to launch this new chapter of life.  We talked about food, love, and community, plus Colombian and Mexican culture, business lessons learned, working at a resort, shamanism, immigration, race relations - you name it, we touched on it - and we went over 3 hours!  Almost everyone who knows Juli and Juan loves them, and I know our listeners will enjoy - as I did - my conversation with Juli Trujillo and Juan Rodriguez, experience creators at and co-founders of Juli Y Juan's Kitchen.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

The business journey we're featuring in today's episode started when Garrett fell in love with Andrew's sister (and later married), and took a great leap forward during the Covid pandemic when Garrett became the owner-operator of a standalone Anthony's Pizza & Pasta location in the Central Park area of Denver.  He was working a full-time job in the automotive industry, raising young children, and worked nights and weekends to quickly prove to be the most innovative, profitable and forward-thinking operator in the network.  Though Anthony's had been established 40 years ago, the brand had grown stagnant at 18 locations, and had inefficiencies in its supply chain and marketing functions.  Garrett proposed an acquisition of the franchise to Andrew and his partners at FR Companies, they eventually settled on terms with the franchise owner, and effective in February 2024, EPIQ Ventures, LLC was formed to make the acquisition.  Much has happened since, including a new partnership to serve Anthony's Pizza at Red Rocks shows, revenue growth and increasing happiness of franchisees, and a new location on Harmony Road in Fort Collins that was open for only a few days when we had this conversation. Today's conversation reveals wisdom through story on business acquisition and finance, and the cultivation of relationships that tie it all together.  Northern Colorado has already seen a lot from FR Companies, but the best is likely yet to come, and Anthony's Pizza & Pasta is a cornerstone venture for what lies ahead.  So please enjoy - and learn from - my conversation with Andrew Rauch and Garrett Brizendine.The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I met Christine Forster at a big fun business event of some sort (we both can't remember!) - circa 2022 - and we had a short but lovely conversation, and she was super interested in what LoCo Think Tank was all about, and gave me her card with encouragement to connect.  And then - her card got lost in the shuffle and we didn't connect proper until this podcast conversation!  As much as I love sharing a conversation with someone I've known for years, it's quite special to me when I get to know someone in the podcast studio.  Christine started her business in 2006 as My Big Day company, and their first events were imagined and created as a service to the community - not for clients!  Their very first event - The Adult Prom - was for adults of any age who missed out on prom in their high school years - or just wanted a redo - and where participants dressed in the fashion of their high school days.  The NOCO Easter Keg Hunt is an annual scavenger hunt that takes place in downtown Fort Collins and Loveland - and will continue in 2025 in its 17th year!  These early events were all about community - and grown ups acting how they feel inside!  Christine was full-time employed in marketing and advertising for over a decade while she grew her business, and they did a lot of wedding planning and event execution in the early years.  My Big Day has grown steadily and transitioned to become Big Deal Company in recent years, and Christine has built a team of marketers and event planners that now put on over 100 events annually - and do full-service marketing for their events clients - and only do weddings on a very selective basis.  Christine left the security of her day job in 2022 for the joy of being a full-time entrepreneur, and hasn't looked back.  And - all these business facts don't tell the tale of the person.  Christine and I went over 2 and a half hours in this podcast conversation, and we probably could have gone a couple more.  We talked business and ideas and chased squirrels and shared laughs and we drank 2 bottles of white wine.  I left the conversation more convinced than ever that she is indeed - and considers all of her clients - a big deal - and so I hope you join in and enjoy my conversation with Christine Forster!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

John Arnolfo operated the Silver Grill Cafe for 42 years, and found his exit plan through my guest on Episode 143, Alan Jantzen.  John and partner Mike Gress purchased Silver Grill on Valentines Day of 1979 as an unheated one-room diner.  The business had been established by Leonidas “Flossie” Widger in 1933, and mostly served the blue collar workforce of early downtown Fort Collins.  Though the partners grew the business quickly, it remained too small an enterprise to support a pair of households, and Mike departed for other opportunities after only a few seasons.  In the years to follow, John slowly grew the footprint of the restaurant - leasing and eventually acquiring vacant buildings to the west of the original location - and grew Silver Grill the 5-adjacent-units high-volume enterprise (& Fort Collins Icon) it is today.  John shares the story of how cinnamon rolls changed his business and client mix, and how the stars lined up for Alan and Jackie Jantzen to become the new operators in 2021.  As also shared by Alan, an introduction from their mutual banker turned into a conversation and then a transaction and now an enduring friendship.  John needs no introduction in the world of Fort Collins restaurants, and I'm proud to share both the business journey and the sparkling personality behind the brand. We talk about the evolution of the restaurant industry, challenges and opportunities during covid, saltwater fly fishing, the gradual disappearance of the raisin cinnamon roll, and much more - so I hope you'll tune in and enjoy my conversation with John Arnolfo.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Ben Aste is a conservationist, first and foremost, also an Eagle Scout and the son of a Swiss immigrant.  Ben started Uncle Benny's Building Supplies from a small rented shed, because he couldn't stand to see the waste in the lumber supply industry in which he'd been working for some years.  Uncle Benny's grew quickly, and is growing still, despite an interruption in retail operations you'll hear about in the business journey segment.  And - Uncle Benny's will soon reopen bigger and better than ever, and fully under 2nd generation management, with Ben's son Ben taking the reins.  Because…Ben the senior expects to be busy.  My guest today is CEO of Uncle Benny's, but also running for Larimer County Commissioner for District 3, a seat he ran for and narrowly lost (to the current occupant) last time around.  With many of the same philosophies as his building supply company, Ben is running on a platform of Reasonable, Affordable, and Sustainable, and you can learn more on his campaign page at Vote4Aste.com.  I like Ben a lot, enough that I put a “Uncle Benny for Larimer County” sign up in my yard, and I even gave him a little chip-in on his campaign.  He's a win-win-win-win kind of guy, and his combination of business sensibilities and conservationist principles should be (and is) appealing to voters of all stripes and flavors.  And - when I learned in this conversation how much Larimer County Commissioners make I wondered aloud - maybe I should be a Larimer County Commissioner!  Stay tuned on that topic! - and please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Ben Aste.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Noah and Alli Hutchison met during their college years at Baylor, and grew a friendship through their shared involvement in a church community - Antioch Waco.  Alli started doing interior design work for friends and their friends soon after college, and eventually they worked in church ministry, with Noah as the Childrens & Family Director.  They moved to Fort Collins in 2015 where Noah was the Executive Director for Antioch Fort Collins - basically leading the administrative function to allow the Pastors to focus on service and teaching.  I first heard about Noah when he ran for city council in Fort Collins in 2019 as a relative newcomer to town - and fell just short.  Their season in ministry with Antioch ended about the same time, and Noah and Alli both went to work in construction, with Noah first as CFO and later President of Mighty Hand Construction, and Alli as Lead Designer - and only for a few seasons.  Hutch Design Build was launched in April of 2022, and has already grown to a team of 7!  Hutch Design Build offers design-first custom solutions for major remodels and additions, accessory dwelling units, and full-custom family homes - and as of a few days before this conversation Noah and Alli have secured the longtime coffee house location The Bean Cycle in Old Town Fort Collins - and have some amazing plans for the space.  You'll have to tune in to hear about those plans, and also to get to know an amazing couple, using their shared strengths to make client's home and family dreams come true!  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Noah and Alli Hutchison.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Julie Ulstrup began her career in admissions counseling, soon transitioned to school counseling, and was a School Counselor for Poudre School District for 13 years.  Like many of the purpose-driven, she began to experience burnout after about 10 years - and made a leap in 2016 - transforming her hobby business of photography into a vibrant full-time enterprise.  In just a few years, she had more than doubled her income, and saw transformative change in dozens of clients.  Her mix of photography talent and experience as a counselor helped her help clients not only look great - but feel great about the way they look - which makes the photos even better!  And, she even turned her learnings on the topic into a Ted Talk!While she has continued to be in high demand for her photography, in the last few years Julie started coaching business owners and executives to excel in their current role - and to consider their next chapter.  Newly in 2024 her focus has narrowed even further - helping people like her - teachers, counselors, nurses, social workers, and more - that have found career success but are experiencing burnout - plan and execute their next chapter, usually as entrepreneurs!Julie is a great conversationalist, a lifetime learner, and an adventurer.  Though acquainted for years, this is the first time we've really sat down together for an extended period - and I left the conversation with both my fondness and my respect increased.  So please join me - and learn lots of great stuff - about and from Julie Ulstrup, America's Encore Career Strategist!  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Tom Trimmer, Jr. spent his growing up years in the Northern Suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, and was disappointed when his father got rid of the family powerboat (about the time he was old enough to start skiing…) and bought a sailboat instead.  The sailboat sparked a love of sailing however, that carries through to today, and spurred Tom's first significant entrepreneurial venture - Bachelorette Party Boat Tours departing the Chicago Yacht Club.  And - love of sailing led into his current business, Custom Marine Products - when he built a website to offer his father's solar panel on a pole invention to the market - allowing live-on boaters to maximize their solar collection by adjusting the angle of the panel to be always-perpendicular to the sun.  Custom Marine Products has been growing at a 40%+ growth rate for most of its 10-year history, and is beginning to broaden their product offerings beyond highish-end marine solar systems, controllers, and lithium battery systems. They are increasingly developing their camper-van market offerings, and introducing refrigeration systems and more in the seasons to come.  It's an interesting business, with 3 - 6 month lead times for most of their products, and slow inventory turns.  In Tom's previous chapters, and still today to a lesser extent, Tom has been a finance entrepreneur - sourcing capital for day traders, identifying arbitrage opportunities in foreign exchange markets, and other brainy stuff - and he is also active as an angel investor.  Tom's a brilliant guy, a world explorer, and a very entertaining guest - so please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Tom Trimmer.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Trish Bowen-Bannister started her career in education, grew quickly in the field, and spent many years as the Director of Education for Weston Distance Learning in Fort Collins - a role very similar to the role my wife currently fills for the same organization!  She later became Campus President of another local education organization, but was keen to leave after a new CEO created a less-than-enjoyable work environment.  Despite having no previous interest in running or owning a business, she found herself looking at the local Snelling Staffing franchise for sale, and with encouragement from her then-boyfriend (now husband) she took the leap and became the owner and President of Snelling Staffing of Northern Colorado in April of 2015.  Trish's previous work developing training and education plans helped to build a culture of service and learning in the organization, and many of her earliest employees are still there today.  Isaac Bowen (her son) started soon after the acquisition on a very part-time basis in a Recruiting Assistant role, but was mostly focused on his restaurant career.  However, when the Covid crisis hit the industry, and customer traffic (and personal income) fell off - he was eager to find a new challenge.  He quickly became one of the best recruiters and business developers to ever join the team (a role they had struggled with) and they've grown in size and scope since his full-time arrival.  Isaac has also been building an adjacent search business for specialty trades - Benchmark Search Group.  Lots of good stuff in this one - team dynamics, cultural awareness, hiring trends, industry ethics, and generational opportunities and transition.  This mother and son have a great dynamic, each allowing and encouraging the other to do well what they do best, for the furtherance of their business, and the service of client needs.  It's a peak behind the curtain of an often-misunderstood industry, so join if you will, and enjoy my conversation with Trish Bowen-Bannister and Isaac Bowen.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I was joined by my longtime friend Jennifer Watson in studio this week, while she was in Colorado for the first stop of her Chemistry of Resilience Fall Tour.  It'd been a few years since we'd seen one another, as Jennifer moved to Greenville, South Carolina to be closer to her twin sister and growing family a couple years back.  Jennifer's journey is inspiring in both achievements and authenticity.  An All-American athlete during her college years, she also battled depression and anxiety for years, and through a journey of exploration she began to tie together physical wellness and athletic performance to mental and emotional health.  She built a physical therapy business early in her career, and grew her coaching business on this foundation of physical well-being.  Jennifer is an accomplished speaker from the stage, and at times I think she forgot it was just the two of us in the studio.  She used the words “you guys” enough times I couldn't help but call her out - and if you close your eyes and listen, you can imagine her on a TedX stage.  And - Jennifer shares abundantly from her journey and learning, and there are a good many nuggets in this one.  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Jennifer Watson.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Amber Quann joined me in the studio this week to share her business journey, which started at the age of 13 after she'd built notoriety since she was 10 by winning many local and regional competitions in the 4 H community for her dog training skills!  Several neighbors and family friends got puppies around the same time, and so Amber started group training lessons in her front yard!  She's been training dogs ever since, eventually founding Summit Dog Training 9 years ago - and in the last few years she's scaled the business, built a training team with specialization, and recently moved to a larger location with property!  We talk a lot about Tucker in this one - my 11-year-old Schnocker - and Amber shares abundantly with me and our listeners about how dogs (and people) think and learn, and especially about how to create better behavior for your dog - even as a self-implementor.  Don't teach your dog not to bark when there's a knock on the door, for example - that's really hard.  Instead, teach them to go sit on their sleeping pad and be ready for an introduction. Give them something to do - not something not to do.  A propellant to Summit's recent growth has been her “Drink with Your Dog” training program, which brought Amber to national attention - DWYD is a program centered around creating dog-friendly breweries, and brewery friendly dogs.  The growth of the business has required Amber to spend less time training dogs, and more time working on the business and becoming a capable CEO.  We talk a lot about that journey, her hopes and plans for the future, and about those who've been a part of her journey so far.  She's perhaps the most smarty-pants about dogs person I've ever met, you'll learn a lot and love her personality, so please enjoy my conversation with Amber Quann.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Don't judge her for it, but Kelly Evans is and will forever be a Jayhawk.  Born and raised in and around Lawrence, Kansas, Kelly got her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kansas and soon after began a front-line role with a local non-profit.  Two-and-a-half years in, the board made the decision to depart the Executive Director, and asked Kelly if she would take the job!  Kelly is a natural leader, and a lover of nature, and her dreams of moving their family near their favorite vacation spot in Colorado (Poudre Canyon) came true when she and her family moved to Fort Collins in 2012.Kelly came to town for a big job - to turn around longtime housing focused non-profit organization Neighbor to Neighbor, which had grown out of a grassroots movement in the 1970's but had suffered through the real estate doldrums of the Great Recession.  She did just that, growing to a sustainable revenue model and a staff of nearly 20 before the Covid pandemic response flooded the organization with resources - with expiration dates! - and they grew to over 60 employees by 2022 - and then had to shrink back down to a stable(ish) staff of 30.  How does a compassionate leader downsize with prudence and justice and empathy? - just ask Kelly - as I did.  N2N is in a great place and still offers a dozen programs ranging from home buyer preparedness training to rent assistance to homeshare programs and much more.  Kelly is cheerful and open and kind, and one of the most empathetic and intelligent people I've ever met.  And - she's a freethinker and a person I can cheerfully disagree with and challenge without risking a friendship!  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Kelly Evans.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

Don Cooper was referred to me by a mutual friend, Carolyn Strauss, in my search for a chapter speaker who would bring an innovative approach to sales training.  He brought his most popular workshop, The Myth of Price, and got great reviews from every attendee.  And - thankfully for our listeners, he made time to come by The LoCo Experience studios and share some of his principles for creative thinking about sales, and ultimately to break some of the psychological barriers for sales professionals - and clients - to get to win-win-win and YES!  Don's sales career began in middle school, when he started buying candy in bulk and selling to kids - and sometimes teachers or admin staff - but not competing with the brands the band or cheer squad were selling for fundraisers.  He was a socially awkward kid, and endured an abusive and isolating relationship with his mother for much of his childhood.  Eventually finding success and social skills through speech and debate, at one point Don imagined a life in conservative politics.  After growing disenchanted with politics, however, Don built his sales skills and programs, and came to Colorado as part of the Gorilla Group in the early 2000's.  When he was laid off during the post 9/11 dip, Don launched his independent sales training business in 2001 and hasn't looked back.  Don is the Sales Heretic - and a heretic in general he would say.  He's an eccentric genius - my favorite kind - and he shares very abundantly from his sales and training toolkit in this conversation.  So please enjoy getting to know and learn from the Sales Heretic, Don Cooper.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I met Matt Heath at our LoCo Social at Cheba Hut in April, where he had just finished up meeting with Marc Torres, Cheba's  CEO and my guest on Experience #139.  We had an awesome and interesting conversation, which led to a zoom and then booking this podcast, and I look forward to the day when LoCo Think Tank can hire his creative team to create a clever campaign - as their stuff is just so fun! Matt founded Party Land in the Los Angeles area in 2018, and moved the HQ office to Fort Collins for a change of scenery not long into the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and beyond.  He has had an incredible career journey, working with some of the fastest growing and most innovative marketing agencies in the industry, and leading campaigns for Arby's (We Got the Meats), Buffalo Wild Wings, and Netflix - among others.  His first big client after launching Party Land was Liquid Death, and if you've noticed that Men's Warehouse is moving back into cultural relevance - that has Matt's fingerprints on it too.  And - Matt's earlier chapters of life were no less incredible.  His grandfather and family were effectively marijuana kingpins of Eastern Oregon, with multiple grow ops, sophisticated processing, and a significant dealer network.  Going to grade school with grown-up secrets was emotionally challenging, and Matt struggled for years before finding a creative outlet in music - initially jazz, and then punk.  He tried to sign up for the Air Force when he was 17 to escape his town and home life, but his parents wouldn't sign the paperwork - and that launched him on a 10 year professional music journey!  A music festival allowed the band a window into the next level of success - and they didn't want it!  And the advertising career began.Warning:  This Episode is a world-class ADHD squirrel chase with a pair of goofs, and you can basically hear us becoming friends during this conversation.  So please join me in getting to know the Founder and Chief Creative at Party Land, Matt Heath, on The LoCo Experience. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

A few weeks ago, longtime friend and local musician Max Mackey joined me in studio for a wonderfully authentic conversation (Episode 174), and afterward he mentioned that I really should have his girlfriend on my show because she's so smart and experienced and I would just love her - and she was coming to visit in a couple weeks!  And so I did - and I'm smarter for it, and glad to add another friend.  The entrepreneurial journey for Chantill Lopez seems to have started with a move to Hawaii, when she and her partner went there to be part of the crew on a start-up mushroom farm.  With the farm caught up in red tape for over a year, Chantill worked odd jobs including a snack shack before re-finding her love for Pilates from high school, and soon after becoming a Pilates teacher.  A fateful statement from a friend that “you'll never make any money teaching Pilates” preceded her own business launch, and she went on to prove them wrong, and with a partner built a highly successful group of studios in the Napa Valley region.  She continued from there to build a teacher training business, and further studied both business practice and neuroscience - on top of her body-focused foundation - and with a Co-founder built The Embodied Business Institute to provide business training, coaching, and education focused on health businesses - yoga studios, physical therapists, gyms, pilates studios and more don't need to be in it for the passion - they can also make money - and here's how!  I learned so much in this conversation, and we laughed a lot and I asked a few dumb questions - but I came away very much understanding why my friend Max loves this woman - and you will too. So, please join me in getting to know a new friend, Chantill Lopez.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I popped into William Oliver's Publick House a few weeks ago at the end of the day, to grab a quick beer and a snack - and ran into the owner whom I remembered from their early days - Ryan Wallace.  William Oliver's had been a regular lunch-spot for me when I worked at Capital West Bank - a top choice because the staff was always great and they served locally sourced fare in a non-pretentious fashion.  After leaving the bank and becoming Old Town centric in my consumer behaviors though, William Oliver's fell from my rotation for many a season.  But now - it's back on! - even if I have to go out of my way.  When I asked Ryan about being on the podcast, he said “only if we can drink too much bourbon” - and I knew we were going to have a fun time.  What I didn't know is that William Oliver's now has additional locations in Windsor and Lafayette, and that Ryan is not only an incredible spirits expert and armchair historian - he's also a very-business-savvy CEO!  Ryan's journey into founding William Oliver's is all about “why wait?”.  He'd been working in various contracting and consulting roles, fell in love with Publick Houses during a stretch in the UK, and had a dream of “someday” opening a pub in Fort Collins.  His wife Tiffany asked the question “why wait”, and a year later they took over a tiny space that had been vacant for years, in the King Soopers center off Drake and Timberline.  They worked evenings and weekends building out and then staffing the kitchen and the bar (and raising a family) for many a season before they could depart their day jobs. But the concept caught strong from the start, and the location was soon expanded, and later, more locations added!  William Oliver's is a story of passion, smart business, employee engagement, and why wait - and Northern Colorado is richer in deed and in spirit for it.  So, please join me in enjoying my conversation with Ryan Wallace.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

In today's episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I had the pleasure of getting to know Kevin Fiske and Brittany McCahan from Fiske Electric.  Fiske is an electrical design and contracting business with a homebase just outside Loveland, and clients all across Northern Colorado, the Western US, and occasionally, internationally.  They have a highly diversified service offering, ranging from adding a new outlet in the garage for a homeowner, to residential subdivisions to commercial and tech installations, and also have a large presence in the agricultural sector, having recently completed work on the largest robotic dairy operation in the US!  Kevin is the third leader of Fiske Electric, which was founded by his uncle Virgil in 1977.  Kevin moved to Colorado from Alaska in 1984 to join the team - and soon after became a partner, and the business was subsequently managed by Virgil's son Clifford beginning in 1996.  Kevin ascended to leadership and majority ownership in 2016, and Brittany joined the company in 2019.  In 5 short years, she has been key to modernizing Fiske's image online, renovating their HR functions, and maintaining a culture of excellence and integrity while growing their team in a challenging labor market.Today's conversation explores what it takes for a business to ascend to middle market scale - over time - and what it means to be a part of a multi-generational family enterprise.  Brittany's status as heir-apparent was earned not granted, a fact that became increasingly obvious as we continued the conversation, and pride in both father and daughter in being a part of this legacy family enterprise is pronounced throughout the conversation.  And so, please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Kevin Fiske and Brittany McCahan. The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

By scanning Jill Simonds' LinkedIn profile, one can see that she is achievement-oriented.  Coordinator to Manager at her first career stop, and then Manager to Director at the next, and then Director of Marketing & Operations to Chief Operating Officer & Integrator.  That last stop is where Jill earned her EOS stripes and Integrator Certification, and in 2023 she started her own firm, Savvy Strategic Partners.  Savvy helps EOS-implementing(ed) firms build their leadership team, by serving in the role of fractional Integrator, and sourcing and managing fractional C-Suite roles in Finance, Marketing, and Sales.  For those small businesses trying to make the journey from small to middle-market, Savvy can often be a medium or longer term part of the team.  Jill grew up in Colorado Springs, with parents she described as very Irish, very Catholic, and very high-functioning alcoholics.  She's been strong and largely self-sufficient all her life, met her now-husband early in their stay at UNC, and brings a lot of power in a small package!  In addition to all the above, Jill has built and sold an e-commerce business, operated a part-time photography business, earned a Masters in Organizational Leadership from CSU Global - and is a proud wife and mother!  She's smart and savvy, has a wonderful smile and an inspiring journey featuring hard work, constant learning, perseverance, and strong relationships.  I know that listeners will enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Jill Simonds.  The LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/

I met Max Mackey soon after he opened Moto Haus Coffee in South Fort Collins off College Avenue.  I'd recently become the proud owner of a 1976 BMW R75/6, and the former owner told me of a group of old (and some younger mostly BMW guys that met regularly for evening coffee and riding.  It was the coolest spot in town for the riding community for several years, but was ultimately killed by the Great Recession.  I kept the R75 for over 10 years, and she served me truly, upstaged in most parking lots only by Max's earlier-model` R75/5 with a chrome toaster tank!  The closure of Max's coffee shop led to a long-term chapter with Coda Coffee in Denver, and lots of music, especially as guitar and vocals with the band Thunk - for 16 years!  In 2018, after his girls were out of the nest, Max took the leap into full-time music - playing everywhere he could make at least $100 plus tips.  His growing popularity led to an album effort based in California, but Covid delays interrupted the album, and then a tragic motorcycle accident flipped the script and shattered his knee and sent him into a tailspin.  Many months and much pain and physical regression later, Max went into a surgery not knowing if he'd lose his leg below the knee or not.Max came out of that surgery with a new mechanical knee, and a new lease on life.  His music career caught fresh fire, and turned into a trio, and then into a band, and now he's a “what size do you need?” original music plus great jam covers offering to the Colorado community.  This was an intensely personal conversation re-getting to know a friend from long ago, and I'm certain you'll enjoy my conversation with Max Mackey.  Look for Max's new album coming soon - Eyes on the Road - and check out Max's upcoming dates and more hereJuly 3rd - Penrose Taproom | Fort Collins CO. 6:00-9:00 pmJuly 6th - Panhandler's Pizza | Fort Collins CO. 7:00-9:00 pmJuly 7th - St Julien Hotel | Boulder CO. 12:00-3:00 pmThe LoCo Experience Podcast is sponsored by: Logistics Co-op | https://logisticscoop.com/