The LoCo Experience

347 Episodes

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The LoCo Experience EP 290 | Designing how Money Moves for Business with Ken Salazar

2026-10-0702:17:41

I was introduced to Ken Salazar by a pair of our LoCo Next Level members, who’d heard him present as a subject matter expert at a chapter meeting. They’d later engaged with him to work on “peak payments performance” in their middle market or approaching-middle market businesses - and had great things to say! Ken is the CEO & Chief Payments Architect at SilverEdge - or SilverEdge 2.0 as they’ve been referring internally. A payments architect is just what it sounds like - a designed payments system for business, instead of a “system” cobbled together through a series of vendors and accounting department leadership teams. Move money faster, reconcile easier, trim redundant work through AI and designed processes - and save money! Why it’s SilverEdge 2.0 is because the OG SilverEdge (that he founded in 2004) was acquired by Madwire in 2018, and Ken became part of their leadership team for a few seasons before joining BillGo as Chief Sales Officer and departing as Chief Revenue Officer in 2024. Ken has been on the leadership teams of some of the fastest growing firms in our regions for 2 decades now - and he knows a lotta things about a lotta things - especially fin-tech related. And - he’s a great conversationalist - so please tune in and enjoy my time together with Ken Salazar!

The LoCo Experience EP 289 | Seth Silvers - CEO of Story On - New Chapters in Life and in Podcasting

2026-09-3001:42:43

In today’s episode, I sat down with a third-time guest, Seth Silvers, CEO of Story On, and truly - my mentor in podcasting. Seth joined me in studio only a little over a month removed from the birth of his first child, and shared some new perspectives that he was told to expect - but still they hit differently when it’s real. Story On has been focused on podcast production since soon after Seth and I had our first venture together in 2018 - the Small Business Storytellers podcast - for which I stuck around for 10 episodes, and Seth went on to create a total of 100 episodes - and publish 99 - before putting down the mike and focusing on production and strategy services for others in the business podcast space. But soon - they’ll be producing content again at Story On, and formally launching their consultancy arm, and getting Seth back behind the microphone and digging into the stories that make business - and podcasting - great! If you’re watching the video feed on this one, you’ll note there’s only a solo camera. We were flying without studio support due to a scheduling goof with my producer - and decided to kick it old-school. But - I was happy to hang with my personal podfather, Seth Silvers, and I’m confident you’ll find joy in the journey when you tune into our latest conversation.

The LoCo Experience EP 288 | Life is Better Here! - Ben Smith & Lindsey Phillips

2026-09-2301:32:32

Life is Better Here! - Ben Smith & Lindsey Phillips - Owners & Therapists at Evolve Counseling In today's episode of the LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Ben Smith and Lindsay Phillips, the owners and therapists at Evolve Counseling. They shared abundantly about their inspiration to begin a private practice and the journey - first by Lindsay and then drawing in Ben - toward leaving corporate roles to become self-employed. We talked about the business of mental health, what drew each of them into the field in the first place, and some of the plans they have to expand the practice in the seasons ahead. I also put some of my own quirks on display and asked some nutty questions, and we wondered together why more and more young people have been seeking mental health counseling - and if the trends will reverse when Trump leaves office. Good people, great stories, and inspiring business journeys are all to be found in this episode, so please join me in enjoying my conversation with Ben Smith and Lindsey Phillips.

Building Community to Belong with Tara Rasmuson of Greeley Lifestyle Magazine

2026-09-1601:46:47

In today’s episode, I sat down with Tara Rasmuson, Owner/Publisher of Greeley Lifestyle Magazine and VP of Land for Bear Lake Resources. I’ve gotten to know Tara a bit over the past few months, and suspected there was a good story there - and she did not disappoint. The star of her recent journey has been Greeley Lifestyle Magazine, which she purchased in the fall of 2020, and launched in early 2021 - with 40 pages of content! When she began, she was in an open-book season of sorts - she’d been working as a “land lady” of sorts in the oil industry for over a decade - but wanted something new, and had recently moved to a town her new husband was well known in - but she lacked community. Creating the magazine - and building community through that conduit - was her answer, and her 100th Year Anniversary edition for the Greeley Stampede early in the journey anchored her value proposition in the community. Before all this though, Tara had a long and challenging chapter, as the stay-at-home mom of 4 kids, with a husband who didn’t want to work, despite the family near-starving on welfare. Long hours spent in education and rapid career advancement enabled a new chapter, and I’m confident you’ll be both inspired and entertained. So please join me for my conversation with Tara Rasmuson.

The LoCo Experience Ep 286 | Scott Dillon & James Merkley w/ NoCo's United for Youth

2026-09-0901:40:01

In today's conversation, I was joined by two highly active representatives from northern Colorado from United for youth, formerly NoCo unify this organization of under 40 business leaders has been among the most active fundraising organizations in Northern Colorado since its founding in 2007. 00:00:17:17 - 00:00:32:14 Speaker 1 They're the creators of some of the best parties in the region the Down in Derby Party, Every Me and the Suitcase Party every August, which we were on the heels of as we recorded this episode. Last year they brought back The Saint Patrick's Day party or parade to Old Town Fort Collins as well. James Merkley is an active member at Unify and also CEO and Chief Creative at Storey Path Marketing. He's a local think tank member, and we're also both members of a somewhat similar but very different organization realities for children. James has a diverse background of his own, largely focused on worship music, marketing and storytelling. Scott Dillon is the business intelligence director at Powder Valley Rei, our local electric cooperative, and also serves on the board of directors for Northern Colorado United for youth. Scott's journey helps explain his passion for kids causes, and his involvement. Here is just one way he goes back. Storytelling and business intelligence are the sweet spot for these guests, so I know you'll enjoy, as I did my conversation with Scott Dillon and James Merkley representing Northern Colorado United for youth.

#box-pro-ellipsis-179163355467846{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}The LoCo Experience