SENTINEL EXPRESS C O M M E R C E
32 VOLUME 34
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ISSUE ISSUE48 5
TUESDAY , ,NFOVEMBER 2020 TUESDAY EBRUARY 24, 2, 2021
New COVID-19 restrictions will prohibit dining, personal gatherings Downturns and mishaps can’t indoor stop Colorado entrepreneur Commerce City resident shares experiences, mishaps in new book
able to keep strong until a cure can be found. Frew was raised in New Jersey and in lived in New York City for many years. She went to school at Regis University. She was there in New York during a recession and she could not afford to spend money on high-dollar designer fashions. So she discovered thrift stores and found designer outfits that were inexpensive. “From there on she started a a nonprofit Thrifinista, it’s an organization that helps other organizations in the community with fun bus trips to thrift stores,” said Frew. She met her husband William in Breckenridge at one of her business coaching seminars. They have one step daughter and two male furry friends. And also have a Brazilian exchange student who has been living with them since 2017. “He is like a son to us,” said Frew.
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Since COVID-19 has impacted businesses and forced people shelter in place, one Colorado entrepreneur said now is a good time to remember that there is plenty of room for hope. “You will survive this, you will! It may feel like walking through hell for a period of time but you will survive. The best advice is to have a concrete solid plan to move forward,” said Susan Frew, of Commerce City. “Stick to a budget and get humble before you do anything else. Your family and your team need to become the priority and it is your responsibility to do whatever it takes to keep your business going to the best of your ability.” Frew has included her experiences, her successes and setbacks in a new book from the CampExperience Network. The book, “The Stew: Smart Talk Exceptional Women: Arts & Insights,” features more than 200 pages of inspiring stories, artwork and poems. “I think that stories of overcoming adversity are even more important than the feel-good stories that we see so often,” Frew said.
Susan Frew. COURTESY OF SUSAN FREW
Frew’s contribution to the book shared her own emotional stories of how many times she had fallen down and turned her life around. Since she was 16-year old, Frew has had 17 broken bones, 10 concussions and developed a rare disease called Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis which causes the soft tissue in her body and her bones to form spurs. “There is no cure for this condition. As a matter of fact many people with this disease are in a wheelchair or homebound,” said Frew. The condition impacts Frew’s shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. With exercise and moving she is
Coaching to success
Even though Frew dealt with a history of physical health issues it did not keep her from success. Frew was General Manager for AT&T and got the opportunity for an international assignment living in Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines for two years. Upon returning in 2009, she purchased a coaching franchise to help business owners impacted by national recession. “I felt as though I could really make an impact and in 2009 when I
was coaching, I helped many businesses through the recession, said Frew. “I had one large client that did not sell his business as per my advice and he still thanks me for it every time I see him,” she added. Frew’s coaching business led her to the next business venture, Sunshine Plumbing, Heating & Air. That was when she met her husband William. “We started the company from the ground up with women customers being our target market,” said Frew. He was plumber. “We merged our collective talents and Sunshine Plumbing & Air was born,” she said. A strong attitude helped her succeed in an industry long dominated by men. “I think when you are confident you eliminate a lot of challengescompetence and confidence,” said Frew. In her contribution to “The Stew,” Frew shared one experience with a rogue employee who nearly took down the Sunshine Plumbing Heating and Air business and almost forced it into bankruptcy. It was a tough lesson, but she maintained who she was at her core. “I learned that I will not stop being generous or stop trusting people because of this experience. I do feel that I like many other business owners, we suffer at times from post traumatic stress. I find that I make SEE FREW, P3
Henry voted chair for Adams Commission
A long line of cars outside the city of Brighton’s rapid testing site at Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s 14-day test positivity rate was 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, according to Tri-County Health Department. STAFF REPORT City’s test positivity rates were both “It is an honor Brighton andBYCommerce higher thanto serve as the board 13The percent. Forty-five people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have Adams County Board of Comchair and I am died from COVID-19 related health issues. To limit the spread of COVID-19, missioners unanimously elected grateful that my Eva J. Henry as board chairtofor 2021 restrictions that prohibits peers have placed at least 15 counties moved tighter indoor and their trust in me,” at their meeting Jan. 26. personal gatherings. Henry has previously served as board chair in 2013 and 2017. She’s beginning her final term as the represenative for Adams County’s district 1.She was first elected to the board in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020.
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Henry
said Commissioner Henry. “We are ready to continue with COPhotoour by work Belen Ward VID-19 response and recovery efforts and bring our com-
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LOCAL COUNTY
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2 • Platte Valley works with Schools moves 3 Adams•27J County to offer online-only 4 senior vaccine site.Dec. 1 6 • Page 3 • Page 7
By Ellis Arnold
Colorado Community Media
As Denver metro counties continue to inch closer to local stay-at-home orders munity back to system a safer,ofhealthier under Colorado’s coronavirusplace, and get our economy back on related restrictions, the state announced track.” a new levelgrew of rules prohibits indoor Henry up that in Adams County dining and personal gatherings — a and raised her children as a single change that to the proponent majority of the parent. Sheapplies is a strong of effi cient human services to meet the Denver metro area and many counties in needs of residents. She is dedicated other regions. to decreasing poverty through job andThe state’s housingCOVID-19 support. dial, which has been in effect since September, the set Henry currently serves onisthe of different levels of restrictions that each boards/committees of the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), Hous-
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county is required to follow based on the severity of a county’s local virus spread. The dial grew out of the state’s safer-athome order — the policy that came after the statewide stay-at-home order this ing Authority , Colorado Commuspring and allowed numerous types of nities for Climate Action, Rocky businesses to reopen. Mountain Partnership Policy The state recently switched to color Legislative Advisory Network, and identifiers — levels blue, yellow and Airport Coordinating Committee. Henry inherits the boardlevels chair— to orange rather than numbered role from Commissioner Emma avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red Pinter, just completed herlevel meant awho stay-at-home order. Now, first stint as chair. Commissioner red — “severe risk” — is the representsecondCharles “Chaz” Tedesco,
ing District 2, was chosen unanimously as the board’s vice-chair for Please see RESTRICTIONS, Page 2 2021.
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