Conversations with Amber Dunlap

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Dunlap.

Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I was 12 years old, my older brother was diagnosed with AML and ALL leukemia. We were living in Thailand and our entire world changed in a matter of hours. We moved back to Denver where we were born but hadn’t lived in almost 10 years. Brandon, my brother, was treated in the Bone Marrow Transplant department (medicine that was in its infancy itself) at Children’s Hospital Colorado. After rigorous treatment and years of complications, Brandon was cancer free and he had beat the odds.

Brandon and I started our college journey together 3 years apart in age, circumstances had led to us being on the same track. We are very close, we fought like crazy as kids but adulthood has made that bond unbreakable.

In 2009, Brandon a PA school grad, was hired at CHCO BMT department working with many physicians who had literally saved his life. In 2011 or so he started riding in the Courage Classic and every year since has collected at least one new rider. He caught me in 2013, buying me a bike and basically decreeing that I participate. It was the single most difficult physical, emotional and mental challenge I had ever endured. The only thing I think that got me to finish was thinking about how much harder cancer is.

In 2015, I took over the Wheels of Justice team as one of the captains and have been running the team ever since. We have about 200 riders annually and in 19 years we have raised $6.9M for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! Well physically, riding never came easy to me. Even 12 years in, first time riders will show up and seemingly sail past me. I don’t mind, 4mph is still forward. That coupled with natural changes in lives, the team of captains who ran the team with me grew out of their roles and retired. Today I captain the team nearly solo with one co-captain and it’s often a challenge to be pulled in many directions and try to make multiple team engagements personally. COVID also took the wind out of our sails and a lot of momentum gained and projects that were in motion in 2019 have never been rejuvenated.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a people manager. As the HR Director for Slatebridge Restaurant Group, I oversee about 450 employees spread throughout 4 states. I manage recruiting and talent management as well as day to day operations with my little toe in some finance and marketing. I would say I’m known for being an idea person, I like to bring things to the table. I think we have to stay fresh and evolving in a competitive industry and workforce and we have to be prepared to come up with ideas knowing only about 5% will be adopted. I also think I’m more willing than most to take the difficult conversations head on and love the relationship growth that can be achieved through courage and a touch of conflict.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I very rarely break under pressure. Stress is a part of all of our lives but different people cope differently. In both work and personal situations I have never been one to “lose it”. I think when you face your mortality at such a young age, your bar for what is a crisis is very different. I think consciously and subconsciously I look at problems and assess based on their likelihood of physical danger. Assuming that’s not at play, then we can make a very calm approach to solving the problem. I can’t say for certain, but I think it’s always been a characteristic that others were impressed by.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.wheelsofjustice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelsofjusticecycling
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/wheelsofjusticeteam
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wheelsofjustice/

Image Credits
Sundance Images Nichole Emerson