This week Erik is joined by Kaitlyn Merriman, Senior Manager of Youth and Family Programs for YouthPower365 to talk about an important topic. The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 is intensifying efforts to combat youth violence and promote student success through enhanced family-centered initiatives. Kaitlyn talks about the $1 million federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, enabling the hiring of a full-time family engagement coordinator at You...
Erik is joined by Core Transit Deputy Director Scott Robinson for an enjoyable conversation about Core Transit. Scott shares that Core isn't just "ECO Transit with a new name" it's a completely new company with an expanded community vision. They discuss the company formation, the marketing vision and the fact that Core Transit was honored with the Large Community Transit Agency of the Year award at the fall Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) conference. This award re...
Erik is joined in "the Bistro" (yes, that's what he calls his office) by Samantha Hodgkins, Executive Director of Caregiver Connections to talk about an extremely important, and often overlooked, demographic. With older adults 65+ as the fastest growing population in Eagle County and 70% of people preferring to age in place, Caregiver Connections is expanding its reach to address the growing needs of caregivers and their family loved ones.Samantha talks about resources that help family ...
Let's talk energy savings! With winter breathing down our necks we all are wondering the same thing, "Am I prepared?"Black Hills Energy is ready for this question and happy to help. Erik is joined by Amy Fiala, Energy Efficiency Expert and Jason Auslander from Public Affairs to talk about simple steps we can all do to make our houses more efficient as well as long term solutions that make sense for both your family and the planet. They also dig into hiring in this field and ...
Erik gets a chance to go on one of his "plodcasts" where he walks and talks with a local business and is so happy to tour the newly renovated Eagle River Inn in Minturn. Tierney Delude, General Manager at the Eagle River Inn provides the tour and information, guiding Erik through the idea, the renovation process and the reception the Inn has received. Spoiler alert, it's already a local's favorite! This is a true example of making a dream a reality and what it takes to do so...
Erik gets a chance to talk with someone he has long respected in this valley, Bob Bandoni, Executive Director of Students Shoulder to Shoulder. For years Bob and his team have shared ethical leadership practices with the youth of this valley and it's a better world because of it.Bob explains how leadership influences every part of society, and its ethical quality determines whether it drives progress or exacerbates challenges. The Annual Ethical Leadership Forum, on October 18th at the ...
In this episode, VVP's Erik Williams welcomes Katie DiGiacomo, President and Owner of Hot Jobs Staffing & Recruiting, recent honoree of Coloradobiz’s Top 100 Woman-Owned Businesses. They talk about hiring in the high country vs the front range, retention strategies, trends in the workplace, and the future of hiring for jobs in places where housing and childcare costs have made relocation more difficult in recent years. Katie's expertise and experience hiring in the mountain co...
Erik has a chance to spend time with a truly extraordinary person, Brielle Kelley. Brielle is a school-based therapist at Homestake Peak School and Eagle Valley Elementary School as well as as working at Your Hope Center. Her passion is for her students to succeed and it comes through loud and clear with the strategies and techniques she employs including cultural and linguistic responsivity and her case study work within families. She has helped to foster support groups for...
Erik get's a chance to spend time with Gracie Rounds, which is always time well spent! Gracie's Coffee was named Best Emerging Business of the Year at this year's Success Awards and Erik and Gracie go through her timeline of seeing a need, starting a business, growing that business and...spoiler alert...selling the business to another up and coming entrepreneur!Learn more about Gracie's Coffee HERE
Erik has a chance to sit with Ryan Santilli, Director of Sales with AVA Rafting and Zipline, for a wide-ranging discussion of trends in outdoor recreation. They discuss the COVID "bubble" of outdoor tourism, where it stands now, and the challenges of hiring and retention in a highly seasonal business. Ryan also teaches Erik what Via Ferrata is and why everyone wants to do it!Learn more about all the amazing outdoor opportunities that AVA offers HERE
In this podcast Erik gets a chance to chat about HR trends, challenges and solutions on a national scale with Yutaka Takagi, Principal Product Evangelist with isolved and how that transfers to our mountain communities with local isolved Business Coach Scott Trainer. They discuss what national trends are happening around employee engagement and retention as well as break down bridging the gap between the employee experience and the customer experience...and why that's so vital in today's...
Erik is joined by Tony Martinez, Founder and President of Cornerstone Insurance and Financial Group to discuss the vital role that proper insurance coverage plays in owning and operating a business of any size. Tony talks about some potential pitfalls that may occur but focuses more on the idea that working with an insurance broker is relational rather than transactional and can have so many benefits for both your long-term and short-term business goals. Tony shares some real life...
It's a real "plodcast" this time with Vail Valley Mountain Trail Alliance as we hike and talk! Erik is joined by Ernest Saeger, Executive Director with VVMTA and Nicky Asselin, Development and Engagement Manager. Join this trio as they head up Boneyard in Eagle on a cold Spring morning to talk about spring trails, hiking, protecting our resources (including wildlife!) best hiking shoes (randomly) and their second favorite trails. C'mon, nobody shares their favorite!The VVMTA advoc...
Erik gets a tour of the new medical spa in town, Apres IV, Aesthetics and Dental Haus from Dr. Hillery Oliver. Dr. Oliver talks with Erik about their multifaceted business, from skincare to dental and more while trying not to look too closely at how Erik himself is aging. Yes, he was invited back for a free consultation and you are too! Dr. Oliver talks about the business community in Avon, what she sees as her target demographic and what has been the best advertising for her (spo...
Erik has a chance to visit an actual podcast room in the Slifer House, Slifer Smith and Frampton's shared workspace, with guests Jay Peterson and Kim Fritzler.They discuss the Slifer Foundation, why community involvement is so important and the upcoming Skivenger event to benfit the Community Market.The 4th annual Skivenger Hunt is a fun-filled day on Vail Mountain to give back to the place we call home. The SSF Foundation was established in 2015 focusing on supporting local community organiz...
Erik has a chance to chat with Nancy Heard, GM of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and it's such an enlightening conversation! From the history of the Caverns, to the creation of the first attraction, to the addition of Iron Mountain Hot Springs, this longtime local business has been growing strategically and with community in mind. Nancy shares stories from the Caverns as well as some great business insights.Learn more about their incredible story HERE.
Erik had a chance to take his mic on the road for another "plodcast" and couldn't be happier to visit the fabled Alliance Moving Systems warehouse. Owner/Operator Andy Clark takes Erik on a tour of the facility that includes residential moving, document storage and shredding, what you might expect from this type of business.Then things get a little different. TThere's also a professional recording studio, a weight room, a bbq deck and "The Attic" which you have to see to believe. ...
Erik is joined by Vail Valley Partnership President and CEO Chris Romer to discuss Senate Bill 24-033 that has recently been introduced in the Colorado Senate. Vail Valley Partnership’s board has expressed opposition to this legislation due to the negative impacts on our economy. We believe it will essentially destroy spring, summer, and fall tourism and lead to a sizable decrease in our transient visitor bed base with no benefit to the creation of long-term rental inventory. This issue ...
In this episode Erik gets a chance to sit with Barb Waters, owner and founder of Peak Business Management, to talk about the world of project management. There is a good chance you are actively involved in project management right now (even if it may be called something else!) and Barb talks about ways to not only maximize your results but perform in an agile way.Peak Business Management guides and inspires individuals, leaders, and organizations with quality learning experiences throug...
Erik gets a chance to sit down with SpotSurfer Founder and President James Hohenlohe and Marketing Director Marissa Selvy to talk about this incredible idea and how it came to fruition. Not only are travelers taking aware of this new option but both businesses and homeowners are finding a simple passive income stream.The location-based app provides ski drivers a hassle-free way to locate and secure advance parking reservations, while property owners can utilize unused parking spaces.Thr...