Through the work we do we are incredibly fortunate to find and learn about so many incredible local artists, creatives and entrepreneurs. Their stories, the lessons that they’ve learned and the legacies they are building inspire us beyond words. Below, we have highlighted a few of those amazing folks and we hope you’ll check out their stories and their responses to some of the fundamental questions the help form the foundation of our lives and careers.
Nico Galto
We both can agree on that the difference between fads and real foundational shifts comes down to longevity and practicality. In landscaping, it’s easy to get caught up in trends or the ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ mentality, where people want what’s popular at the moment. But trends tend to fade, and what looks good today might not feel right tomorrow. Read more>>
Schakara Arrazola-Tiscareno
One of the biggest lies the fashion industry tells itself is that beauty and value only exist in narrow standards—whether that’s size, gender, or high-end exclusivity. Another lie is that success has to come from being in a big city or following trends set by gatekeepers. Read more>>
Alicia Wolfe
I feel like I’m being called to follow my dreams with a courage I didn’t always have, to step toward the aspirations that once felt too big or too uncertain, even knowing that challenges will meet me along the way. Instead of letting fear dictate my choices, I’m learning to view the challenges as part of my journey, not as reasons to hold back. Read more>>
Alyssa Foster
I feel like I’m being called to step into boldness. For a long time I let fear hold me back, whether that was fear of not being ‘good enough’ as an artist or fear of sharing parts of myself outside of just my work. Read more>>
Forrest Moul
Oh, we’re jumping into the deep-end right off the bat! The truth is – I’m very proud of the relationships that I’ve built with my clients through the years. My ability to connect with a client and determine the scope / direction of a project is a huge part of my success. Read more>>
Gerald Rodriguez
To be humble! I’ve learned more from suffering in my life than being successful could ever teach me. I couldn’t be as successful without going through pain first. I had a pretty rough childhood and I have learned to make something out of nothing the majority of my life. Read more>>
Candace Oates
Obesity Awareness IN Action (OAA) is a non-profit dedicated to teaching health and wellness across the 8 dimensions of wellness. Because our name includes the word “Obesity,” it’s easy for people to assume we only work with those who are currently struggling with weight. In reality, our mission is preventive and proactive. Read more>>
Amber Mogg Cathey
I understand that the voice isn’t just about the voice — it doesn’t float around free in the world. When I’m working with someone, I’m working with a whole person. Every aspect of the body and the mind affects how the voice functions and how an artist connects and expresses. Singing is holistic and has to be approached that way. Read more>>
Connie Chau
Well, I grew up in an Asian culture where expressing too much could actually be a problem. Most of the time, I just kept things to myself, whether it was good or bad. I remember once in 5th grade, during a really tough exam week, I tried to tell my mom how stressed I was. She didn’t accept it, and she didn’t really listen either. Read more>>
Cody Boterman & Juliana Knopp
We like to say, ‘Pet dogs, Sell ‘scuits, Repeat.’ Read more>>
Aleena Axel
Honestly, modeling, acting, and dancing. I love all the prep work that goes into finding a concept, preparing all the necessary aesthetics and accessories to pull off the look. And once I finally get in that moment, in front of of the camera, the rest of my life just melts away. Read more>>
Rebecca Dollard
The part of me that served a purpose is perfectionism and high functioning, and while I wouldn’t say I need to release it. I have been continually learning to re-purpose it. To give it a new job and role. It can’t always lead as much as it’s the shiny productive part of me. Read more>>
Maria Cebrian
Losing my mom at a very young age and growing up with a father who struggled with alcoholism shaped me in ways I’m still uncovering. It forced me to be strong, to fight hard, and to build resilience just to move forward in life. Read more>>
Lance Cayko
In a recent episode of the Frank After 40 podcast back in May, I opened up about my early days and specifically mentioned Bruce—my dad’s best friend and the first real entrepreneur I ever crossed paths with—who became a pivotal mentor in shaping my worldview on work, business, and self-reliance. Read more>>
Tess Ankeny
Celebrating the little moments. Life is full of small moments that are easy to brush aside, but I’ve always made it a priority to find reasons to celebrate little milestones for all the people I love the most. (It helps that I love to throw a party!) Read more>>
Suzanne Frazier
I am committed to being a self employed woman artist. I spend most of my time in my studio teaching oil painting classes, oil pastel drawing classes and creating oil paintings. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I spend the rest of my time exhibiting my oil paintings, maintaining my website and participating in social media to promote my work. Read more>>
Morrigan B. Moynihan
I was raised in a very high-control religious environment. I never fully believed in all of its teachings and was often labeled as ‘different’ or ‘difficult,’ but I went along with it because I wanted to do right by my family, who were deeply devoted to it. Read more>>
Justin DeBon
When I go hiking in the mountains, I will stop to take a break and will listen to the wind in the trees, or the creek and the birds singing their songs. There are no distractions, no worries, no past, no future, just now in the moment. Read more>>
Walter Seegrist
Honestly, it was God first. Even when I couldn’t see the vision for myself, I felt like He had set me on this mission. Along the way, I’ve had a few people who believed in me when I was still finding my footing—my wife, my kids, and a handful of mentors who saw the skill and drive in me before I fully owned it myself. Read more>>
R.D. Kratz
Absolutely—I feel that spark of excitement every time a music video shoot day finally arrives. There’s so much energy built into those projects because of the immense amount of preparation that happens beforehand: casting, location scouting, scheduling, writing concepts. Read more>>
Aaron Groziak
It was my parents who taught me the most about what it means to work hard, not just in the physical sense, but with integrity, discipline, and commitment to doing a job well, no matter the task. Growing up in a rural Midwestern community shaped my understanding of work from an early age. Read more>>
Sarah Hanssen
I would say my dad has taught me the most about work. He’s very much a “live to work” person, and his dedication has been inspiring to me. He’s been with the same company for 25 years, showing an incredible level of loyalty and perseverance. Beyond his work ethic, what stands out most is how he leads. Read more>>
Sara Turbyfill
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just a girl obsessed with manatees. At an early age, I developed a love for manatees and wanted to do everything I could to save them from extinction. I spent the majority of my childhood reading books and watching documentaries to learn as much as I could about these gentle creatures. Read more>>
Drew Wayne Roberts
Honestly, the proudest moment lately was packing the house for the Hermit premiere. Seeing a full audience react to something that started as a tiny, scrappy idea in my head, and even getting some film festival recognition for it, hit hard. It proved to me that even without a huge budget or backing, you can make something real that connects with people. Read more>>
Jen Kruse
I would build everything artsy that I could. I would design a fabulous house, I would design and create all the stones and jewelry I wanted to wear, I would design and sew all of my clothes, I would learn to sew leather to make myself purses, and I would learn to make shoes so I could fill my closet with whatever I pleased. Read more>>
Jakye Nunley
If I had 10 years left, I’d stop playing it safe. I wouldn’t waste time trying to fit in or doing things just because they’re expected. Having crossed into Alpha Phi Alpha this past Spring, and starting that legacy for my family, I feel the weight of that, and I want to make it count. Read more>>
Jonny Demon
This is actually how I have always lived, as I have always kinda believed I have less than 10 years left, never know what will happen. I encourage to do the scary thing, send the risky text, and to choose life experiences over materialism. At the end of life I want to look back and say wow, what a crazy ride that was! Read more>>
Haley Jacobs of Aurora
With a limited window of time, I’d choose to step away from the ‘conventional path’ altogether. Instead of traditional jobs or routines, I would lean into the freedom of working ‘odd jobs’ across the world—immersing myself in new communities, learning their rhythms, and drawing inspiration from their cultures. Read more>>
Chandra Martinez
Yes. Unfortunately sometimes. I’m a ‘take me as I am’ kinda girl. I’m real. I can be snarky, I accidentally have RBF all the time, you do get the real me on social media and in public. One thing that doesn’t come through is that I’m actually kind of shy. It takes a minute for me to warm up, especially in a larger crowd. Read more>>
Sara Rosinsky
I’ve been thinking about this a *lot* lately. Because, as you’ve probably noticed, our country has become extremely divided. Without oversimplifying complex problems, I’ll say that I think miscommunication and misunderstanding are at the heart of most conflict. Read more>>
Jordan Lucky
Suffering has always made me grow as a person, so much more than praise. Feeling lost or down makes you really reflect on the things that make you happy, it reminds you of other times when you thought you were happier. Read more>>
Christopher Rice
The hospitality business is about that-hospitality. You can have the best drinks/food or anything else, but if you aren’t trying to put your guests at the top of your business model, it will be built to fail. Read more>>
Bethany Evans-Brown
I think one of the most misunderstood parts of my business is simply just the amount of physical labor that goes into it. Since knitting/crocheting is such a relaxing hobby and many use it as therapy or as a way to decompress after a long work day – I think the hand-dyed nature of yarn can also seem just as relaxing and therapeutic. Read more>>
Azuraye
The whole thing! But that’s just because it is complex! When people ask ‘how are you juggling so many different businesses?’ yet to me it’s all just one ecosystem – all parts of the whole. And sometimes that whole is hard to see in its totality from the outside. Read more>>
Shelen Boyes
I think one of the biggest misunderstandings about my business is that fly fishing is only for experts or a very small, elite group. In reality, it’s an incredibly accessible and rewarding sport, and my goal as a guide is to make it approachable for anyone who’s fly curious—even beginners. Read more>>
Jesseca Tighe
For many, the answer is stress and burnout. These challenges are often kept quiet because they’re seen as personal flaws—a sign of weakness or poor coping skills. In reality, stress and burnout are not individual failings but symptoms of a culture that glorifies overwork, blurs boundaries, and rewards constant productivity. Read more>>
Tony Meade
I think many creatives struggle with the idea that their artistic pursuits are part of their overall life and not a separate thing. Read more>>
Natriece Spicer
I think most people believe that entrepreneurs are focused on two main things: living their dreams and succeeding financially. The truest entrepreneurs are responding to a deep pull within themselves that draws them toward the next mark, fuels their drive to be great, and challenges their limited beliefs. Read more>>
Kym Terribile
Lately, things at work and in my business have been moving quickly. I recently opened my first retail store and hired a team—growth I hadn’t anticipated happening so soon. With that growth has come new stresses and time commitments, so taking care of myself and managing my time has become even more important. Read more>>
Courtney Yalen
My best friend Devin – I met her in high school and she is still my best friend over a decade later. I used to care about what popular people in school thought of me and would hold back some myself because I didn’t want people to think I was bizarre. Devin could not care less about what anyone thought of her. Read more>>
Mimi Heitkamp
One truth I’ve come to live by is that beauty isn’t frivolous—it’s powerful. And that joy? Joy is reason enough. There’s a question that always floats around burlesque: “Isn’t this just for the male gaze?” And for me, the answer is simple. No. My performance isn’t about being consumed—it’s about being seen. And more importantly, about seeing myself. Read more>>
Hannah Dorsher
The thing we know we won’t regret is putting our time, energy, and love into The Mom Walk Collective. Supporting moms isn’t just about the moms themselves—it supports their kids, their families, and our entire community. We truly believe in the ripple effect of what we’re creating: stronger, healthier moms lead to stronger, healthier families, which strengthens Northern Colorado as a whole. Read more>>
Brianna Roybal
My closest friends would say my family matters most to me. It’s one of the reasons I love my business so much—I get invited back into families’ homes year after year and get to watch their kids grow, milestones celebrated, and bonds deepen. That kind of human connection is so underrated, and it means everything to me. Read more>>
Ethan Browningg
They would miss the ability to contact us easily through text or email and get quick hands free service. I’ve had customers message us Tuesday afternoon and we’ve gotten their problems solved before the end of the morning Wednesday. This common with our regular customers. Read more>>
