board of directors

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 move 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 goods that you just don't find in most places - especially all together under one roof.

I enjoyed a long career as a realtor, 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 my ex-husband's 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 businesses 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?

I formed this Chamber because I hadn't given up on my idea that the business community deserved to have a strong and organized support system, advocate of their interests, and be influential in shaping policy, even after having pursued and been frustrated with progress via other avenues. It was adding another very large piece to my already full plate, but I just couldn't not do it. 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.

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.

Where do you live?

Granby

How long have you lived in Grand County?

2 Years

Where did you grow up / live before Grand County?

Pontiac, Illinois

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

We have been in business since May 2023. My Husband Matthew and I own the company, MCR Plumbing, together. Matthew is a Master Licensed Plumber and runs that portion of the business while I handle all the office and financial portions. We are very passionate about helping Grand County locals with their needs, normally when people need plumbing it’s an emergency so we try to be as quickly as possible getting to you. Our main goal is help the community and help grow it, by also supporting causes and non profits that are important to the community and for the children.

What do you love most about where you live?

The friendliness of everyone and how everyone is willing to help one another.

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

Getting to know so many people and befriending so many locals and other business owners has been the best. We have not found a bad part yet.

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

My hope is that we continue to grow. Be a place for business owners to confide and grow in. As well as help the community in every way possible. I want business owners of any type to feel welcomed and that we want them all to succeed. There is room for everyone.

Where do you live?

Grand Lake

How long have you lived in Grand County?

Whole life, 32 Years

Where did you grow up / live before Grand County?

Grew up in Granby.

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

I have worked for Grand Mountain Trading Company (main street in Granby) since I was 15 years old. I have been an associate all thorough high school and college. I moved back here after college and became the manager. Then I got married and moved away for a few years and came back to work here as the GM, I hope to be part owner soon! I have dedicated a large portion of my life to this store and have worked very hard to make it a favorite stop for anyone passing by. I have the best staff who enjoy where they work and it shows through their dedication to our customers. Our goal is to be the best we can be at serving and providing the best quality to the people who walk through our front door. We want it to be a place people want to come. My store had been a part of the town since 1947. It had only had 2 sets of owners and has consistently taken care of the county.

What do you love most about where you live?

I love Grand County for its kindness, and beauty. Not only the natural beauty but the people who live here as well. We live, in my opinion, in the most amazing place in the world. But we also have the best people that care for and support one another. This is a place where you feel home no matter where you are.

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

The best is the people you get to interact with every day, its never the same. Every day is something new. We get people from all over the world that come through my doors, its amazing!

The worst would be the staffing issues, you get a lot of turnover due to housing. I am lucky however to have the best Gems in the county working with me right now!

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

I hope to initiate change, make a difference, and help our community. We are beyond blessed to live here, I hope to help that continue to be true. I want our community to be one where everyone is extending a helping hand wanting to make a positive change. There is so much we can do and accomplish as a county if we are untied and supportive of one another. I grew up here, this is my home. I intend on making to the best it can be, so my girls can have that sense of community and home while they grow up.

Where do you live?

Granby

How long have you lived in Grand County?

Almost 2 yrs

Where did you grow up / live before Grand County?

I grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado in a small farming town called Flagler 500 people. I’ve live many places throughout my life , from Wy to Utah to western NY for 17 yrs and all over CO. I love to travel.

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

I found my passion in massage Therapy 5 yrs ago when my already poor vision started to get worse and I needed to make a career change that would sustain me into the future and inevitably complete blindness. Prior to this decision I had been a stay at home mom, home health aide for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and a paraprofessional in the public school system working with two autistic kids. I served on many committees with our local school while my daughter attended as well as president and member of several other groups and organizations within my religious community and our town. Throughout all of these years of experience with adults and children, I’ve learned we ALL just want to feel heard and validated. I from a young age and by the examples of my grandparents and other amazing people knew that no matter what I did in life I wanted to serve others and to take the burdens of everyday life off their minds and shoulders, if even for a little while. I love what I do, Getting to know my clients and working through what their needs are, is what drives and challenges me. My clients become more than just clients to me. I live for helping others find their way to a more complete balance of body, mind, & spirit through massage and energy work.

What do you love most about where you live?

THE MOUNTAINS! Plain and simple, their beauty is breathtaking. I love our small town and when we come together.

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

The best part of having a business is the overwhelming support from our fellow business owner friends. From referrals to using our services themselves. It means the world. Our community members that support us by shopping local as often as possible. The hardest part is high rents for commercial space, good location for marketing and advertising.

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

I want to help my fellow business owner friends increase business exposure, income, and to help them continue to stay in business. I have a desire to help those who have ever thought about opening a business but not known where to start or how. I want them to feel comfortable to come to the chamber for guidance and help with the many processes involved with opening a business. I want to encourage our existing businesses as well as new businesses to stay in the county and know they have a strong support system. We LOVE to network!

Where do you live?

Granby

How long have you lived in Grand County?

Born in Kremmling in '79, raised in Granby

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

After graduating (miraculously) from Middle Park High School in '97, I enlisted active duty in the US Air Force. I started my career in Security Forces (Military Police) and laterally trained into Combat Arms Training & Maintenance in '02. As a CATM instructor I taught small-arms and crew-served weapons handling, inspection and repair.

I deployed to Kuwait in '99 in support of Operation Southern Watch and Iraq in '03-'04 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. My active duty bases included FE Warren in Cheyenne, WY; Clear Air Station outside of Anderson, AK; Hill in Ogden, UT and I retired out of Hanscom, Concord, MA.

After retiring, I returned home to Colorado, attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins, graduating in 2012 with degrees in Journalism (Computer Mediated Communication) and Sociology (Criminal Justice Administration). The December after graduating I was hired to work in a small gun store in Windsor, CO, Bear Arms. After managing the store for 2 years, I moved over to auto sales with Ford in Greeley.

2016 was the beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur and I started teaching concealed carry classes, running my father's FFL High Mountain Firearms & Supply as an e-commerce local gun store and taking on the occasional private security contract as an Independent Contractor.

Grand Lake Constitution Week brought me in as a guest speaker September of '21, and I realized while I was in town, I wanted to stay and make a run as a brick & mortar business. After a couple of major setbacks, I signed a lease in July 2022, and started working towards the business operation I run today and you will find me at High Mountain Firearms & Troublesome Tomahawks a couple doors down from Java Lava on main street in Granby.

What do you love most about where you live?

The views and the people

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

Marketing and an abject absence of understanding from local government of the challenges small businesses face make operations a challenge of frustration and annoyance.

The best part is providing exceptional customer service and saving my clients a trip to the Front Range by carrying and ordering modern equipment and accessories at an urban center price.

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

Make life easier for the small business owners by communicating with local government, help my peers understand the local market and improve services and products.