Daily Inspiration: Meet Cole Emerson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Emerson.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Northern Colorado United for Youth (NoCo Unify) is a philanthropic organization that was founded to help young male professionals between the ages of 20 to 40 years old get involved in philanthropic work, raise funds for disadvantaged youth, and build strong future leaders. The reason for this is statistically, there is a low % of men that get involved in volunteer work and our organization accomplishes this.

As an individual, I have always been passionate about supporting my community due to my humble beginnings, having grown up in a low-income family. I was fortunate to have received support and encouragement that helped me achieve a college degree, becoming the first person in my entire family history to do so. Thus, when Woodward, my employer, asked me to represent them, I saw it as an opportunity to give back to the community that had supported me. Initially, I was working as an engineer and was somewhat isolated from the community.

However, after joining Northern Colorado United for Youth, I quickly realized the extent of the need in our community and the number of organizations and people involved in building it up. Volunteering with NoCo Unify has been a rewarding experience for me, and I have been a part of the organization for nine years now. I am honored to serve as the president for the year 2024, as the presidency rotates every year to give many members leadership experience.

Since joining Northern Colorado United for Youth, I have gained a lot of leadership experience and have recently been appointed as a program management director at Woodward. NoCo Unify has had several amazing leaders who each year have taken our charity to the next level, and I believe that going into 2024, we are in for our most successful year yet (both in leadership development and raising money for our youth). We have three events this year that will account for most of the funds we raise, which include a Derby Party, a Golf event, and the Suitcase party, which is known to be one of the most entertaining parties in Colorado.

During the Suitcase party, we deck out a hanger in a theme, and the highlight of the night is the raffle of a ticket to a three-day all-expense-paid getaway on a private plane. Everyone in attendance gets to watch the winner take off right then and there. Our goal is to raise $400k and give directly back to our NoCo Youth Community, which includes Larimer and Weld Counties. We are made up of 40 young men that are 100% volunteers and when you see what we can accomplish and the impact we have on the community it is quite impressive.

Through our events and fundraising, we aim to support disadvantaged youth and build strong leaders for our future. I am excited to be a part of such a noble cause and look forward to seeing the positive impact that we will continue to make in our community.

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?
Life is a balancing act, filled with struggles and rewards. For many of us, the biggest challenge we face is finding the time to balance our work, family, and volunteer commitments. As a married father of four, I am fortunate to have a beautiful family, but the daily stresses of life often make it difficult to prioritize volunteering and raising funds for our youth community. It can be tough to make the call to sacrifice family time or fit volunteering into a busy work schedule. However, I believe that the rewards of building relationships with fellow volunteers and providing significant support to organizations in need make it all worth it.

Balancing life’s competing demands is always going to be a challenge, but the reward of serving our community is immeasurable. The camaraderie among the volunteers is infectious, and the satisfaction of handing out substantial checks to organizations that help disadvantaged youth is indescribable. Ultimately, it is the combination of giving back to the community and building meaningful relationships with other volunteers that make the sacrifice of our time and energy so worthwhile.

We had the unfortunate event of losing one of our members to a car accident this year, AJ Goldsmith. He was an energetic young man who was passionate about making a difference in our community. He will be deeply missed! It was great to be a part of an organization that rallied behind his wife and gave as much support as possible to his family during this difficult time. To have a community that cares is quite an amazing thing.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Woodward, I am privileged to lead teams that develop new energy control products. Although a broad topic, the work that we do at Woodward is crucial in ensuring that Colorado can provide reliable power and equipment, which is vital in making our economy thrive. It is also great to be on the leading front in developing green energy that will help our planet in the long run. I am proud to be a part of a team that makes a significant contribution to our community by providing reliable clean energy solutions.

As a member of Northern Colorado United for Youth, I take great pride in the relationships that I have formed and the positive impact that I have made in our community. While I am only a small part of the organization, the 40 men who make up our group deserve much of the credit. Nonetheless, it is gratifying to know that I am participating in meaningful work that has a positive impact on the community. Through our philanthropic work, we are building a foundation of support for the next generation of leaders, and I am honored to be a part of this effort.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
There is a good quote by a Roman philosopher Seneca “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” My life has been one of incredible fortune, and I attribute much of that luck to the opportunities that have presented themselves to me. Thankfully, I have been prepared to take advantage of those opportunities and make the most of them.

As a child, I never would have imagined that I would be living the life that I am today, and for that, I feel immensely blessed. However, with that good fortune comes a strong sense of responsibility to give back to those who have not been as fortunate as I have.

I recognize that I have been given far more than I could ever deserve, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities that I have been given. I am eager to continue giving back and using my good fortune to help others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nocounify.org/