Meet Trailblazer Keely VonBank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keely VonBank.

Keely, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
About seven years ago, I realized I needed a change in my everyday environment. I grew up in the Minneapolis area and thought a shift to the CO lifestyle would better suit my personal goals. In MN, I spent most of my early career in the health & wellness industry and later on stumbled into a management position for a new bakery, Cocoa & Fig. While in pursuit to make a living in CO, I worked in the design & remodel scene. After about a year working for a company I absolutely loved, I met Andy Clark who was soon to open up his very own bakery in Louisville, CO. As Andy opened the doors to Moxie Bread Co., I quickly came into the position of helping him out with the bakery’s demands. Not long after, I joined Moxie full-time as a manager. Outside of the daily customer service, what captivated my interest entirely was Moxie’s commitment to using ancient Heirloom grains. These unaltered wheat varieties are extremely nutrient dense and when planted in farm fields across the country, help to rebuild the constitution of the soil. Undeniably it became clear that being a part of a larger mission to heal our country’s overall health, rebuild our agriculture system, and share it with our surrounding communities, is something I’ve always longed for. Now after four years of managing the day-to-day Moxie world, I’ve seen the transformation of all these elements harmoniously working together and positively changing the world around us. I’m profoundly & emotionally connected to seeing all of our employees, community members & farmer’s working together to improve the quality of our country’s future generations.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road seems more challenging in life than does a rocky one. The unexpected path is the only way to learn how to navigate life, find beauty in what you see & appreciate what you’ve learned. Through my own ‘challenges’ I’ve learned to see them as opportunities to grow, knowing that I’ll be able to add more to my ‘life tool kit’ and create a sense of life wisdom due to that… which in turn, I can share with others. To answer the question more straight forward, yes of course, it’s hard work and there are challenges every day. As we continue to grow within staffing and increased customer flow, I’m committed to help all these people work together smoothly. Allowing individuals to be themselves while teaching them the ability to respectfully work through personality differences, is a persistent challenge but also the most rewarding orchestration to persevere through.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Moxie Bread Co. – what should we know?
Moxie Bread Co. is committed to using heirloom grains within all our baked goods. Yes, we serve delicious food & coffee but it’s more about our commitment to improving the quality of the communities around us that may set us apart from other cafés. Our goal with each of our employees, is to make sure that they’re growing both professionally & personally during their employment with Moxie. We lead with patience & respect, knowing individuals learn at varying paces. To date, we couldn’t be more proud of all our employees, whom we’ve seen tremendous amounts of growth in! For the community, we’re open 7 days a week serving our customers at the bakery, we’re apart of the farmer’s market & CSA scene throughout Boulder County, we host a pizza & bluegrass night on Fridays throughout the summer months, create additional pop-up events for the Louisville community and dream of doing so much more! Allowing our creative artistry to lead the education forefront of improving our grain system, is at the heart of what we do and believe in.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
If you don’t already know your true self, start there. Then, be aware of who your true self is, listen and adapt to changes while keeping your core beliefs at the foundation. Find your gut-instinct/intuition, trust it and believe in it. Never fear potential outcomes, so if you have nothing to lose in a situation, set the bar high and go for it! Being bold & fearless in business is surprisingly beautiful and there’s so much to learn from taking chances. Be grateful and appreciate all you do and whom you share it with. Become a leader/mentor to everyone that you feel needs a helping hand. Give appreciation to those who have helped you along your journey. The best thing I’ve learned in life is to be curious and ask why/how things are or executed. Make sure to follow those curious questions to an answer or a measureable end. Lastly, never deny anyone who may want to help you. I’ve learned to allow help along my journey, as I previously was too proud to do EVERYTHING myself. I’m still learning this ‘life tool’ and am excited to expand upon it. This means finding time to step away and enjoy the beauty in rest, fun & play, regardless of what’s on the work plate. At the end of the day, make sure you remain true to yourself!

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