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Meet Kristian DePue of The Passport Program

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristian DePue.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kristian. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in rural Indiana – initially in the town of Winamac, which has a population of around 2,500. I later lived in Winona Lake, just outside of Warsaw IN. Warsaw is known as “Lake City” and “The Orthopedic Capital of the World.” There are several small lakes in and near Warsaw – summertime is a blast – and it’s also home to several orthopedic manufacturing companies: Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes, OrthoPediatrics, and several more.

I left Indiana in July 2016 for California. I stopped in Colorado Springs on my way. In CA, I crashed on a couch in Santa Clarita, just north of Los Angeles. To keep it short, it didn’t work out in CA. I found myself back in Indiana, unemployed. Eventually, a job opened in Colorado Springs, and yada yada yada, now I’m here. At first, I was unhappy, because being in the Springs was not part of my plan, but it has turned out to be a great move.

I began working as a recruiter for Big Brothers Big Sisters – it’s a nonprofit, mentoring organization. It’s nation-wide, but there is a small local office in downtown Colorado Springs. Soon after starting, though, I wanted to exercise one of my creative talents: writing.

Through being introduced to the Colorado Springs Rising Professionals – a civic engagement group – I was introduced to a writing mentor, Becca Tonn. At the time, she worked for a marketing agency called Blakely + Company – but she has since taken the role of Communications Manager for the Pikes Peak Workforce Center. If you’re unfamiliar, Pikes Peak is a 14,000 ft. summit in the Front Range, near Colorado Springs.

Becca Tonn only mentored me for a few months, but it changed my life. Having her as my cheerleader opened so many doors for me, starting with writing for Bryan Grossman at the Colorado Springs Business Journal. Since then, I have written for Rocky Mountain Food Report, Edible, Eater, Front Range Foodies, Thirst Colorado, and Springs Magazine.

If you can’t tell from the publication names, most of my writing opportunities have been with respect to the food & beverage industry. With two years of that under my belt, I was offered the role of Colorado Springs’ City Manager for The Passport Program.

The Passport Program is all over Colorado, along with a few cities in other states – with hopes to grow. Essentially, a customer purchases a Passport, which looks like a passport, but contains various venues to purchase booze or coffee. If a venue is in the Passport, you get the opportunity to get stamped for a two-for-one deal. It’s a great deal on both ends: for the patron and the venue. A $600+ value for only $25, while the venues get great “butts in the seats” marketing.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road – not at all. However, a lot of the bumps were my own fault in many ways.

One of the biggest mountains to climb was my own mind – I struggled with great anxiety and depression for several years, since I was 17 or so. Finally, after I was living in Colorado Springs, I got myself in better order. I’m currently taking a couple medications, and they have changed my life dramatically,

I had a hiccup recently, but I’m nearly certain it had to do with my own inconsistency in taking my medications – I’m orderly in my work, and a little sloppy in my self-care. However, that hiccup was a “wake up call” to be more diligent.

With respect to my time in Colorado, I would say mentoring and medicine were the two biggest factors in my life taking a dramatic rise. I say “dramatic rise” only in comparison to my previous years – not arrogantly. I still think I’m behind my peers.

We’d love to hear more about your business.

Well, I currently work in three different capacities: I work as the Recruitment & Enrollment Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado – Pikes Peak. I also work as a contributing writer for various publications, and I’m the Colorado Springs’ City Manager for The Passport Program.

I think each job utilizes various skills of mine: networking, writing, and entertaining.

It seems I’m most known for writing for the time-being – probably because a lot of my work ends up online, which is easy to share through social media. However, I have been countlessly complimented for my ability to network.

As far as entertaining, that’s the area I haven’t practiced or “fleshed out” as much as I’d like. I’ve done some acting, I have coordinated events and parties, but they have been few-and-far-between. But I love films, and I greatly appreciate the process of creating a character. And I’m a much better party-host than I am a party-guest.

Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
What am I most proud of … currently? Well, I do believe in mentoring. Mentoring has changed my life. Also, writing tells stories – important stories – and permeates various mediums.

What sets me apart from others? I’ve been told multiple times over that I’m “refreshing.” It’s my favorite compliment, and one of the most common. If I can break through the mundane, and bring some authenticity, it means something to me.

Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours?
I’m writing this for your Denver outreach, but I live in Colorado Springs (an hour south) and do most of my work from there.

That said, I would recommend anyone who wants a fresh start to come to CO Springs – it’s a great place to begin a journey: it’s large but with a small-town feel.

Colorado is a young state too, as far as demographics. There are so many youthful people with new, creative ideas – coming from all over the U.S.

Contact Info:

 

Portrait photographs by Brianne Keefer @bbrillynn , Rachel Blake @_rachelblake_ , Karen Robards @karen.v.photography . Kaitlyn Huff @huffphotography
The one of me in a field if by Kaitlyn Huff of Huff Photography in Indianapolis IN
The one of me in the chair is by Lauren McKenzie of REN Creativ, taken inside Cork & Cask, downtown Colorado Springs
The photo of me in a homemade (mom-made) Darkwing Duck costume is a Polaroid instant photograph taken on Halloween 1993 in Winamac IN (my hometown).

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

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