Where do you live?

Granby

How long have you lived in Grand County?

14 years

Where did you grow up / live before Grand County?

Born and Raised in Denver, lived in Lakewood, Colorado prior to moving to Grand County

Tell Us About Yourself and Your Business or line of work!

My husband and I own property in Grand County where I have been able to open retail stores that specialize in locally made, small maker, artisan goods, art and a great collection of vintage / antique and thoughtfully curated new treasures that you just don't find in most places - especially all together under one roof!

I enjoyed a long career as a realtor for 23 years which was my first foray into the world of self-employment / entrepreneurship and it really got in my blood. Prior to that, I was a loan originator and processor for a mortgage company. Starting on the loan side really assisted my ability to help my real estate clients. I eventually opened a home staging business and made marketing flyers for realtors as creative off shoots of my real estate work.

When my husband Mark and I decided to move to Grand County, I took on the care of his mother, paused my work as a realtor, and liquidated a portion of my home staging inventory to be able to focus more on home schooling my sons and raising them. For 5 years I drove to Denver and back, twice a week, to accommodate my boys’ weekly stays at their father's and our full-day weekly home school co-op day.

Once my mother-in-law moved back down to the front range to live with one of her daughters I shifted into helping my husband with his work as administrative support. I put my realtor hat back on when we became sold on Grand County real estate being a solid prospect for the long term and picked up some commercial-mixed use property. Once my kids got older, I was able to jump into the retail business and become a shop-keeper / owner which lead to my running estate sales. Turned out estate sale operation was a niche need in the county that I was well suited to. Since then, we've done a faithful, often financially painful, and otherwise drawn out and difficult process-wise, restoration of one of the oldest existing buildings in Granby where The Bowerbird's Den and now Hatch Creative Space are located. Wow, has Grand County brought SO much to us in terms of adventures, learning / growth, and amazing opportunities personally, professionally, artistically and in my business career!

What do you love most about where you live?

The people, the community and the nature of small town living where you just know so many people and everyone cares for one another and we all feel a part of something that we all share. The natural beauty and living on land in a rural setting, with all of the recreational opportunities right outside your door, is a very close second.

What are the best and worst parts of running a business or working in Grand County?

Best things are the incredible people, the artists, our team and our customers from locals to all of the visitors we get.

Worst would be dealing with small town political culture, non-sensical obstacles placed in front of small time operators, and the very high costs of central water in Granby.

What do you hope to accomplish serving on the NW Grand Chamber Board of Directors?

As the founder and current President of this organization, it is critically important to me that it is built and grown with care and deliberation based on first principals, best practices and in the most transparent and ethical way humanly possible. In addition, I am committed to having an organization that works easily with as many individuals, governmental entities, non-profits and other community groups that we can to combine forces to advance all of our common interests.

I formed this Chamber because I believed the business community deserved a strong advocate and support system to influence policy. Despite frustrations with other efforts and an already full plate, I felt compelled to take action.

As a person pouring my whole self into my businesses and our community, and knowing so many others that do the exact same, it felt like the most natural next thing and an inseparable part of making sure we have the very best opportunity to support all of our businesses, and by extension the greater community, ensuring a vibrant, dynamic and resilient small business community as far into the future as possible.