PRODUCED BY MAGAZINE
THE FACE OF TEAM USA
U.S. OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center (USOPTC) located in Colorado Springs, Colorado is the face of Team USA! It is a tangible representation of the hard work and dedication required to compete at the highest level of sport, on the world’s largest stage. Established in 1978, the USOPTC serves as the flagship training facility for all Team USA athletes, providing cutting edge facilities and resources to help the world’s best athletes reach the podium.
Did you know that the USOPTC has elite level athletes training year-round, Games years or not? Each year, the USOPTC welcomes over 10,000 Olympic & Paralympic athletes training to compete at the Olympic & Paralympic
Games (Summer and Winter), Pan and Parapan American Games, annual World Championships, and several other elite level international competitions. It’s not every four years. It’s every day!
You can experience the USOPTC for yourself by joining a public tour, offered every hour, on the hour, Monday–Saturday. Our tour ambassadors are passionate about the movement, each offering their unique stories with insight on the USOPTC’s history and operations. Many of the tour ambassadors are Team USA athletes! Be sure to swing through the team shop for your latest Team USA gear!
For more information, please visit www.teamusa.com/visit.
Pictured: Mike Beagley; Associate Director, Visitor Centers & Venues
REESE
Susie Reese, RN, BSN, is the founder and owner of Timeless Aesthetics, LLC, established in 2011. With over 38 years of experience as a registered nurse, Susie made the transition from a career in mental health nursing to aesthetics, inspired by her passion for helping others enhance their natural beauty. Known for her empathetic approach, Susie ensures her clients feel comfortable and rejuvenated without losing their natural look. She takes pride in her gentle hand and artistic eye, offering services like Botox, fillers, skin tightening, and body contouring. Susie and her team seek to help others look and feel rejuvenated and natural through their honesty, experience, and exemplary customer care.
Under her leadership, Timeless Aesthetics has won several awards, including the GOLD award for Best MedSpa in Colorado Springs. Susie continues to innovate in her field, constantly learning new techniques and investing in the latest technologies.
Welcome to the Faces of Colorado Springs featuring the city’s best and brightest businesses and their leaders. These crème de la crème professionals are top performers, pushing boundaries and setting new standards in their fields. They are leaders, innovators, and game changers who have made significant contributions and gained recognition for their outstanding achievements. Join us in celebrating the best of the best in Colorado Springs and be inspired by their stories of success.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETE EKLUND
CEO + EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Daniel Brogan
ADVERTISING
VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING
Ari Ben
PROJECT MANAGER
Teri Homich
ADVERTISING + MARKETING COORDINATOR
Tamary Curry
BRAND SERVICES
CHIEF BRAND OFFICER
Carly Lambert
PRINT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Megan Skolak
CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER
Chelsea Conrad
SENIOR GRAPHIC & UI DESIGNER
Caitlin Brooks
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Alyssa Chutka
5280 offers businesses the most cost-effective way to reach Colorado’s upscale consumers. Information about advertising is available on the web at 5280.com/advertising. Call 303-832-5280 to request a printed media kit.
5280 Publishing, Inc. adheres to high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner. Printed in Denver, Colorado, by Publication Printers Corp. Our printer is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
JOHANNES HUNTER JEWELERS
Johannes Hunter Jewelers’ founder and Robin’s mom, Linda Hunter, began her journey in the jewelry business by selling inexpensive Native American jewelry on the side of the road in Bozeman, Montana. Linda took the few bucks she earned at her roadside stand and opened a brick-and-mortar store with her partner and voila! ...a retail jewelry wizard began her story.
Linda’s sense of wanderlust eventually led her, along with her kiddos, to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where she met her future husband, Glenn Hunter, who was working for a competing jeweler. Her daughter, Robin, entered the jewelry business at the age of 14, during the Christmas season, when she and a friend dressed up as festive Santas and plugged parking meters on behalf of Johannes and Company in downtown Coeur d’Alene.
In 1988, Linda’s desire for sunshine brought her, Glenn, and Robin to Colorado Springs, where they opened Johannes Hunter Jewelers in the city’s downtown. Since then, the store has thrived, with Robin benefiting from the invaluable experience of growing up in the family business. In 2018, Robin acquired Johannes Hunter from Linda and Glenn, continuing the tradition of building longlasting relationships through exceptional customer service.
DR. MELANIE MARSDEN + TEAM
Established in 1971, Pikes Peak Veterinary Clinic (PPVC) has offered the highest level of pet care for over 50 years. As a private, local business, PPVC employs seven DVMs and 32 support staff and is strongly committed to establishing long-term relationships with clients. Children and grandchildren of original PPVC clients now bring their pets to PPVC. PPVC is heavily involved in the community, providing health care and adoption processes for stray and feral kittens, being a yearslong sponsor of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, and partnering with local rescues, sanctuaries, and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to improve the quality of life for both domestic
and wild animals. Proceeds from pet nail trims help support additional staff-chosen charities locally, nationally, and internationally. In broader organizational veterinary medicine, the current owner, Dr. Melanie Marsden, has been president of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and served on the Board of Directors for the American Veterinary Medical Association—overseeing and creating national guidelines affecting everyone in the national veterinary community. When clients choose PPVC, they and their pets become like family, and this choice to stay local and with a private practice then creates an opportunity to touch the world at large.
MOUNTAIN CHALET THE FACES OF THE OUTDOORS
The crew at Mountain Chalet recognizes that being in the mountains is not a lifestyle, it’s life—everyday and twice on Sundays. That’s how they’ve become the beating heart of Colorado Springs—outfitting people for mountain adventures, be it backcountry skiing, rock and ice climbing, mountain running, camping or backpacking—since 1968.
Mountain Chalet is the local outdoor shop with a quirky streak and an independent mindset. It’s a place where they honor pioneering alpinists (e.g., they created a dressing room using corrugated metal sheets as an ode to Chouinard’s original workshop). It’s where they support local groups caring for the environment (e.g., The Banff Film Festival on behalf of Rocky Mountain Field Institute) or for our fighting forces (e.g., helping sponsor expeditions of military members to Everest and Denali). And most fulfilling of all, it’s where they get to know their customers one-on-one, laugh (or cry) with them, and always revel in their stories. Outfitting their customers does not begin and end with the right garment, guidebook, or piece of gear but extends to a long-
term commitment to provide exceptional experiences—both within and outside of the shop. They meet their customers (affectionately known as “Chaletans”) where they are at any level, from the virtuous novice to the grizzled veteran. The Chalet crew shares their hard-earned knowledge and alpine experiences with each customer… knowing adventures are better when gear, apparel, and footwear become thoroughly second nature.
On the store’s 51st birthday, Jim and Elaine Smith moved the shop to its new location to create the “outdoor toy store” they would love to wander through. In fact, customers from other areas always stop by when they visit Colorado Springs because they don’t have a store like the Chalet where they live. The Chalet is grateful for the love and knows it’s not just the amazing product it offers or its “dirtbag industrial design” but also its personalized engagement with every customer to ensure the mountains are welcoming.
Please come check out the shop, meet the crew, and remember there’s free customer parking just to the north of the building.
THE FACES OF LIBATIONS
PEGGY MCKINLAY AND JIM LITTLE COALTRAIN FINE WINE, CRAFT BEER & SPIRITS
Established in 1981 by Peggy McKinlay and Jim Little, Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits has become an iconic presence in its little corner of Colorado Springs. With four remodels over the past 41 years, today’s beautifully designed building boasts 8,500 square feet of retail space dedicated to what Peggy and Jim fondly refer to as an “elevated shopping experience,” offering an internationally inspired selection of libations, gourmet food, and gifts that has earned Coaltrain the title of “Best of Colorado Springs” in the Gazette and Indy over 25 years and counting.
Peggy and Jim remain the local owners and operators of Coaltrain and are exceptionally proud of their team of over 18 employees who are dedicated to stellar customer service and
passion about the products the store carries. Coaltrain regularly receives outstanding customer reviews, demonstrating the team’s willingness to go above and beyond in its recommendations and service.
Additionally, Coaltrain proudly continues its history of giving back to the community through support of local organizations such as Children’s Literacy Center and as a 33-year sponsor of The Wine Festival of Colorado Springs, which is dedicated to fundraising for local arts nonprofits.
Whether you stop by for a hard-to-find brew, a wine and food pairing suggestion, or to enjoy one of Coaltrain’s wine or spirits courses in its classroom setting, rest assured that the team is invested in providing its customers with the best shopping experience in Colorado.
THE FACE OF TOURISM
DOUG PRICE, PRESIDENT
As President and CEO of Visit Colorado Springs, Doug Price leads a team of destination marketers who are dedicated to bolstering the local economy through attracting both leisure travelers, meeting planners, and event organizers. Alongside community partners, Doug and his team ensure that every visitor can create memorable experiences across the Pikes Peak Region.
Before joining Visit Colorado Springs in 2011, he served as Senior Vice President for Professional Development at Destinations International and had an 18-year career with Marriott Hotels. A recognized public speaker and author, Doug has written three influential books: License to Sell, License to Serve, and Change It!, all focusing on customer service,
leadership, and personal growth.
Doug co-chaired the initiative that launched the “Olympic City USA” brand, enhancing the city’s reputation as a premier destination for both sports and tourism. His leadership also extends to the City for Champions project, which created five groundbreaking tourism initiatives, sparking economic growth and revitalization throughout the city.
Doug’s unwavering dedication and vision continue to elevate Colorado Springs as a premier destination. With his leadership, the Pikes Peak Region is not only thriving but is also poised for a bright future, inviting travelers from around the globe to discover extraordinary experiences in Colorado Springs.
THE FACES OF SPECIAL EVENT VENUES
DONAVAN AND ASHLEE KENNEDY HILLSIDE GARDENS
Approaching its 25th anniversary, Hillside Gardens has grown into one of Colorado Springs’ most cherished special event venues. Spanning four acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, Hillside provides an unforgettable setting for weddings, concerts, and community events. Since siblings Donavan and Ashlee Kennedy took ownership three years ago, the venue has flourished under their leadership, blending natural beauty with cultural vibrancy.
Every Wednesday night during the summer, Hillside transforms into a mini music festival with its popular concert series. Featuring three local bands across three stages, nine bars, and an inviting festival atmosphere, it has become a weekly highlight in Colorado Springs. In addition to live music, the venue is known for its highly qualified bartenders and expert drink service. With multiple sommeliers working the bars during concert nights, guests can enjoy everything from craft cocktails to fine wines, adding an elevated touch to the vibrant music scene.
Beyond events, Hillside Gardens is home to an
outstanding garden center, renowned for its amazing selection of plants. Whether visitors are seeking native Colorado species, seasonal flowers, or unique greenery, the garden center offers a curated selection perfect for gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike. It’s become a favorite destination for those looking to enhance their outdoor spaces. Hillside also features a seasonal coffee shop, where guests can relax with a cup of locally roasted coffee while soaking in the serene surroundings of the gardens. The coffeeshop adds a welcoming touch to the overall experience, offering a peaceful retreat amid the hustle of events.
As passionate advocates for the local arts and music scene, Donavan and Ashlee have made Hillside Gardens a cultural hub. With 21 nights of live music, countless weddings and special events, and the addition of new experiences such as their Oktoberfest event, Hillside continues to grow and enrich the community. Its commitment to excellence and constant innovation has made it a leading venue in the region.
MICHELLE TALARICO & KATHY DREILING
When Kathy Dreiling and Michelle Talarico chose the name Soup to Nuts for the book they plan to write, they knew it would not be difficult to recount their craziest experiences of 30+ years in the catering business. Voted the “Best Catering Company in Colorado Springs” for the past 30 consecutive years, Picnic Basket Catering Collective had its beginning in 1989 when two friends combined their love for food, fun, and $300 each to pursue adventures in catering. Over the past 35 years, the company has grown into three distinctly different divisions in answer to the needs of their clientele: Picnic Basket Catering Company, Buffalo Gals Grilling Company, and Cravings Catering & Five Star Events.
Located in Southwest Colorado Springs, the business has been expediting events from its current facility since 1990, employing 27 full-time staff and 52 part-time serving staff. The company’s culture is progressive, tolerant, and family-oriented.
Last year, the company traveled 35,000 miles along the Front Range and around the Pikes Peak Region to facilitate 1,984 events serving over 118,600 guests—weddings, open houses, fundraisers, holiday parties, company picnics, corporate lunches, family celebrations in beautiful venues, the great outdoors, and in client’s homes.
RACHEL YOUNG THE LIVING ROOM
Rachel Young opened The Living Room in December of 2019. She grew up working in her dad’s wholesale greenhouse and comes from a long line of green industry entrepreneurs. She always knew she wanted a store that sold everything—art, book, decorations—but was uncertain of the main theme.
While vacationing with her mom and sisters in the summer of 2019, she walked into a tiny, little store packed full of houseplants and pottery, and she knew that was what she wanted to do. When Rachel arrived home, she found a perfect location in the up-and-coming south end of
downtown Colorado Springs and opened the store three months later.
The Living Room is a beautiful, calm space packed full of houseplants, pottery, books, local art, and other wonderful things. Rachel is a strong believer in having life in your home. Rachel and her team strive to help their customers find the plants that will work for their time and space. The team prides themselves on trying to give accurate care instructions to every plant to help their customers be successful in their plant parenthood journey.
Over Three Decades of Inspiring Stories.
FACES of COLORADO SPRINGS 2024