







Three years ago, I took a leap that profoundly changed the course of my life. I stepped away from a stable, six-figure job at a plant—a position I had diligently worked towards and secured, along with my burgeoning career in real estate back in Indiana. This decision was more than a mere change of location; it was a profound commitment to personal growth. The mountains of Colorado called to me, not just for the love of snow boarding but for a chance to immerse myself in a new community and lifestyle.
Relocating to Colorado was a strategic investment in my growth and potential. What truly captivated me, however, was the chance to engage with the local business community. In my discussions with fellow business owners—each with their unique journey and depth of knowledge—I found a shared wealth of experience and insight. These conversations, fueled by mutual curiosity and respect, have led to the formation of remarkable relationships. They stand as a testament to the collaborative spirit of this community, where wisdom is exchanged freely, and every individual's experience enriches the collective.
This journey has taught me the importance of intertwining personal passions with professional aspirations. It's about seeking a meaningful place within the business community and being a part of the unique journeys of those around me. I aim to learn from their successes and setbacks, contributing to our collective narrative of innovation, challenge, and growth.
As I share my story with you, an esteemed audience who has traversed various paths to success, I'm reminded of the value of investing not just in business but in the full spectrum of our lives. It is crucial to invest in ourselves, our hobbies, our relationships, our children, and our community. Immense growth and discovery await in each of these areas. Start small and scale in, but do not hesitate to begin. Remember, sometimes the journey holds more significance than the destination. The destination might be predetermined, but the journey—its challenges, joys, and lessons—is entirely what we make of it.
Let's cherish and nurture every step, every connection, and every discovery along the way, for these are the moments that truly shape our lives and communities.
PUBLISHER
Cody Sturma | cody.sturma@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Dana Slone | dana.slone@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Lynn Davis | lynn.davis@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Valerie Bianculli, Michelle W. Parnell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Rachel Audette-The Turquoise Camera, Christian Huerta-@ChristianUnlimited
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray Learn
Proverbs 3:5-6
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WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: RE/MAX Alliance’s Valerie Westmark, Kimo Toguchi & Debbie Parker at Alice 105.9’s Cares for Kids Radiothon. 2: RE/MAX Alliance Arvada takes the first Radiothon volunteer shift at the hospital: 5:00am, Feb. 8. 3: RE/MAX Alliance Arvada team/additional volunteers in the RE/MAX Alliance network at Children’s Hospital Colorado. 4: RE/MAX Alliance Real Estate Brokers volunteer at the annual Alice 105.9 Cares for Kids Radiothon. 5: The Carroll-Kessler team’s Katie and Jordan Kessler at the February Keller Williams Conference, Feb. 25-29. 6: Katie and Jordan Kessler joined 17,000-plus agents at the Keller Williams “Family Reunion” Conference. 7: The Carroll-Kessler team’s Jordan and Katie Kessler, and TJ Carvalho, at the Keller Williams Conference.
Anzalone Law Offices is a boutique, personalized firm rooted in balancing the compassion for clients with the relentless fight for justice. Alana Anzalone is passionate about understanding what really matters when representing victims of someone else’s wrongdoing.
Advocating for Clients Injured due to:
NURSING HOME ABUSE MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE DOG BITES
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON SOMEONE ELSE’S PROPERTY BIRTH TRAUMA CAR & TRUCK CRASHES
877.256.6933 | AnzaloneLawColorado.com 2727 Bryant St. Denver, CO
The Arvada Chamber of Commerce, City Council, Mayor Lauren Simpson, Howell Construction, Raymond Management Company, Trammel Crow Company (TCC), Arvada Urban Renewal Association and the Residence Inn team celebrated the Arvada Residence Inn by Marriott completion at 7360 W 56th Ave. with a ribbon-cutting on Feb. 5. Designed by Gary Brink & Associates, the four-story hotel offers128 guest rooms with full kitchens, a swimming pool, dining area, commercial kitchen, a fitness center and meeting facilities.
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The Carroll-Kessler Team, located at 5701 Yukon Street, Arvada, was named in the Top 100 of all real estate agents in the Keller WIlliams Colorado Region for 2023, an honor of distinction in serving the area. As a family-owned real estate team, this was the group’s 40th year serving Arvada and the surrounding communities. "We are beyond grateful to our clients, friends, and neighbors for their support and referrals,” said Jordan Kessler. Visit carrollkesslerteam.com/.
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PuroClean Disaster Response based in Thornton collected coats during a winter donation drive effort to help Mutual Aid Monday, a Denver-based grassroots nonprofit to aid those in need within the community. In January, the team gathered additional needed items, encouraging donations of coats, blankets and socks to help keep Colorado warm during the bitter winter months. PuroClean offers property emergency services, helping mitigate property damage from water, fire, mold and other conditions. Visit puroclean.com/pdr-co.
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Mortgage Broker Cleo Lewis says, “Home ownership is one of the most exciting aspects of our lives.” As CEO of Central Park Mortgage, Lewis knows the value of investing in your home and using that accrued value to continue to invest in your and your family’s future, be it through acquiring a second property or enhancing your current home through a variety of improvement projects. Lewis is no stranger to offering creative ways to help homebuyers and homeowners regardless of credit or economic status.
In 2021, she helped found the Open Hand Initiative, which gives out grants to help first-time buyers pay off credit debt and increase their credit scores, helping qualify them for mortgage loans and other homeownership programs. “I love thinking outside of the box to help our customers obtain financing and ultimately the dream of home ownership. Our team has the same passion,” says Lewis.
With over 20 years’ worth of experience in serving the greater Denver area, including its suburbs such as Arvada, Lewis offers one of the best ways to tap into the investment; your home equity and the ease of her five-day home equity line of credit program, also known as a HELOC.
Equity in your home means opportunity. It means you have money sitting in your home that you could make work for you and your family. Usually, you can borrow up to 85% of your home value or sometimes even more. Coloradan homeowners have significant equity in their homes that they can tap into and just don’t know it.
You can use the equity in your home as a down payment to purchase another home. You could use it to consolidate bills, you could make needed repairs or updates to your current home. Perhaps start a business, or just have cash for a rainy day. The possibilities are endless.
Once you borrow against your home you will have to pay back that loan just in any other situation. However, if you use your equity the right way you will only see it as an advantageous investment.
As long as you have equity in your home and a decent credit score you can take advantage of this very easily. You can use your income and your spouse’s income even if only one of you is on the loan. So, if one of your credit scores isn’t so great we can use the higher score but still use all income. We are just looking for a 50% Debt-toincome ratio. No appraisal and no underwriting. It is a very simple program.
I will get your general information and perform a soft credit inquiry. If everything is looking good, we can move forward. The application process takes about 10 minutes or less.
No, we will initially perform a soft credit pull. It will have no effect on your credit score at all.
A HELOC is a line of credit. Think of it like a revolving credit card that is secured by your home. It can be in
addition to any other loan you have on your home. However, you can use it to pay it off and then reuse it for a number of years. Your payment is based on the amount you have spent out of the credit line. A home equity loan is usually a cashout refinance of your existing mortgage where you take out one lump sum of cash as closing. Or a closed-end second mortgage. Once you use or take out the lump sum, you start making the payments to pay it off. You are not allowed to pay it back and reuse it again like a line of credit.
Let’s chat! It doesn’t hurt to explore your options. This is just one route to go in today’s market. There are many options out there for your situation, but if you don’t start the conversation, you will never get the answers you need.
Visit Central Park Mortgage at centralparkmortgage.co/ or call 720-SAY-HOME.
“I love thinking outside of the box to help our customers obtain financing and ultimately the dream of home ownership. Our team has the same passion.”
-Cleo Lewis
“Your home should be your sanctuary. You want your home to be welcoming and most importantly welcome you home.”
upgrades and EV car chargers, Felix and Team Tesla Electric offer peace of mind and ambiance, one thoughtful detail at a time.
Day-to-day service work is the framework that the company is built on. That includes tackling a family’s “honey-do” list from a range of repair and maintenance tasks and projects that may feel more mundane but are critical in your home. Central to the Tesla Electric Company ethos is an unwavering commitment to excellence in service for all projects and jobs.
“We can help with adding outlets, switching, troubleshooting and wiring repairs, dimmer issues and upgrades, fan installs, new circuits, GFCI repairs and upgrades, smoke/carbon detectors, and more,” Keil said. “We are plugging in more and more stuff every day. If you have an older home and have newer
items such as an induction stove and car charger, this requires bigger loads, so we do a lot of service upgrades. We are invested in keeping our customers safe and offer full safety inspections.”
Keil understands that investing in quality electrical service work translates into a tangible enhancement of one’s living environment. Both residential and commercial service is a critical component of the team’s efforts. The team offers quality work, ensuring both functionality and client satisfaction, regardless of the job size. Keil emphasizes the meticulousness of his hiring process, ensuring that every technician who enters a client’s home embodies the company’s values of respect and integrity.
“We are vetting people, even before they are let in for an interview,” he shares. “We want to be respectful of people’s homes and their lives and we want our
clients to feel safe and comfortable with the technicians that are servicing their homes.” Tesla Electric Company places high value on its esteemed reputation and ensures that the team provides service with the best in the business.
For Keil and his team, home lighting is more than a functional necessity; it’s a gateway to sustainability and a cornerstone of quality living. With technological advancements, investing in good lighting is now not only a way to save money but also save the environment. “The LED industry is a revolution in the world of lighting,” Keil says. “The amount of energy it takes to run an LED in comparison to incandescent is so significantly less that it has revolutionized the industry.”
From minimizing glare to ensuring true color rendering throughout the home, lighting the finer details sets them apart. “It’s about creating an atmosphere,” Keil explains. Lighting can directly relate to quality of life and that feeling of comfort and happiness when entering a home. Curating experiences is part of the result. “Your home should be your sanctuary,” Keil reflects. “When you come home, it’s a time to relax. You want your home to be welcoming and most importantly welcome you home.” Quality lighting can play a pivotal role in fostering an overall sense of well-being. This is a sentiment that is echoed in every fixture installed by the company. Hot tubs and remodels are also part of the experiential delivery.
For clients who are looking to make small but impactful additions to their homes, Tesla Electric Company introduces the wonders of accent lighting, allowing them to highlight the elements that bring them joy. “Accent lighting is a very tangible addition to a home where you can accent the parts of your home that you like the most,” Keil notes. “It goes back to making you feel welcomed.” It’s about illuminating a beloved piece of art or the vase that is now
Top: LED lighting helps save money as well as reduce environmental impact.“Accent lighting is a very tangible addition to a home where you can accent the parts of your home that you like the most.”
a family heirloom. Bringing attention to those small details is truly what makes a house a home.
In the age of smart homes, Team Tesla Electric is at the forefront, integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance both safety and convenience. Automated lighting adjustments are one of the small luxuries that come with smart home installations. Adjusting the lighting based on the preferences of the end-user can provide a sense of ease in addition to being a time saver. Adding lighting to darker areas of the home
such as staircases or walkways is another way to provide the ultimate convenience.
It’s not just about solving electrical problems, it’s also about making dreams of any size come true. The feeling of finally installing the chandelier that took months to purchase, or the illuminated walkway that brings a sense of security on those late nights, or yes, checking that project off the list that was a lingering annoyance.Visit teslaelectriccolorado.com or on Instagram @teslaelectriccolorado
Top: Arvada Flooring + Interiors provides for all aspects of interior renovation.
Middle: Quality work accompanies quality choices from the showroom offerings.
Bottom: Arvada Flooring + Interiors offers an array of options guided by expert help the moment clients walk in the door.
Spring brings freshness to the world, full of new life and growth. The rebirth seems to prompt something inside homeowners to take a closer look and see what needs refreshing or improving. It is the perfect time to reinvest in the home, renewing it to mirror what is occurring in the natural world.
No matter the size and scale of the project, finding quality materials and expert help makes projects go more smoothly. Arvada Flooring + Interiors has both, coupled with the desire to help homeowners succeed in making their ideas come to fruition.
“I love helping people make selections that enhance their quality of life,” said Liz Matovina, Business Manager and Accountant
for Bear Claw Trading Company, the parent company of Arvada Flooring + Interiors. “We specialize in renovations in areas where people go to relax. So, I enjoy making sure the space works well for them.”
Arvada Flooring + Interiors provides for all aspects of interior renovation. For years, the company was known for its exceptional service in the flooring industry and recently, the name was officially changed to encompass the many aspects of interior renovation provided as well.
“We offer everything. We work with all facets of flooring including carpet, luxury vinyl plank, engineered laminate, and refinishing of existing hardwood floors. We do complete kitchen and bathroom remodels including cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, bathroom fixtures, faucets, and sinks,” explained Matovina.
“We also offer services such as coating garage floors with protective epoxy and waterproofing basements. Pretty much anything that a person needs to have looked at or revamped inside their home, we can do.” The company also serves as a Benjamin Moore paint distributor and Norman window treatment retail store.
Customers range from do-it-yourself weekend warriors to those who want to take a hands-off approach and have someone else manage the project. The team is prepared to walk customers through their process with the three C’s: Concept, Construction, and Completion.
The first step for the in-house interior designers is developing a customized Concept for the remodel by getting to know the customer and forming an understanding of their lifestyle and goals.
“We ask questions like, ‘Do you have children or pets,’ ‘Is this a forever home,’ or ‘Is this something that you want to fix up and sell,’” said Matovina. “Based upon those conversations, we take them to the different areas in our showroom and help them make selections to best fit their goals.”
Once a design and concept are solidified and the materials obtained, one of the subcontractors that
the company works closely with takes the lead on the Construction aspect of the plan.
“I’ve been working with many of our contractors for years and we hold all our contractors to a high standard,” she shared. “We have also made it our commitment not to start a job until we have all the products available to ensure that we can, from start to finish, get the job done in the least amount of time. We want to ensure that people are not out of their house or out of their normal routines for longer than necessary.”
Completion, the last step, encompasses follow-up to ensure customer satisfaction in a job well done. “Our employees, subcontractors, and people who work in our showroom are dedicated to making sure that each experience is the best it can be,” said Matovina. “Customer service and quality work are our top priorities. We want our customers to be completely satisfied with the final product. If we don't get it right the first time, we will work until we do.”
According to Matovina, when looking for the best return on investment concerning home renovations, homeowners can focus on a few particular projects. “The quickest and least expensive remodel that someone can do as an improvement is replacing the carpet,” she explained. “For larger projects, the areas that give homeowners the most return value for their money is updating the bathrooms and kitchen.”
By working in conjunction with the Frisco location, the company covers a wide service area. “If you own a house up in the mountains and you want to work with somebody here, locally, we'll be more than happy to work with you. Then, we hand it off to Frisco once it's ready to go and vice versa. They do the same thing. Two locations – one great team.”
Founded in 1963, Arvada Rent-Alls recently celebrated 60 years in the equipment rental industry. President and Owner Andrew Heesacker is the second generation of his family to run the company. However, he followed a non-traditional route before joining the family business.
“My dad has been a part of the business my entire life, so I was essentially raised around it all,” shared Heesacker. “However, as I was growing up, he always pushed me to explore and do other things. I went to college and got a degree in business and then actually got my start in the equipment rental industry through another company. I joined Arvada Rent-Alls as an employee about 11 years ago.”
Heesacker views the company as more than a rental company; it is a way to invest in the growth of the community. “Our core focus is helping our community solve problems through building relationships,” he said. “Whether you are constructing a garage, working on your backyard, building a roadway, or working on a large multifamily project, at some point you will likely need extra or specialized equipment you don’t already have. By offering professional grade equipment, it helps people build and reinvest in the community.”
Arvada Rent-Alls provides professional-grade equipment rental for contractors and homeowners alike: the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement made easier. Equipment ranges from lawn aerators and garden tillers to forklifts and excavators, and everything in between. As one of the largest suppliers of STIHL equipment in the region, the company also sells, services, and carries parts for the brand.
Heesacker and his team work to connect each contractor or homeowner to the best piece of equipment for the job or project as well as offering delivery and servicing of that equipment.
“One of my favorite questions is so simple, it is - 'What are you doing?' Because the answer gives us a better idea of what equipment is best suited for the project,” he explained. “I always like to use the chainsaw analogy. Somebody will call and say they want to rent a chainsaw. We ask what they are doing, and they respond that they are planning to trim their bushes. Well, there is a better tool for that and we are passionate about giving you the right tool for the job. It is easier on our equipment, easier on the customer, and it makes the job get done safer and more efficiently.”
Included in equipment rental is education to ensure the user understands the best way to operate each machine. This is done either by having the renter stop by either one of the branch locations for a demonstration or a tutorial can be provided when the equipment is delivered. Arvada Rent-Alls has a YouTube channel with instructional videos and works to label each piece of equipment with a QR code that links to operator and safety manuals.
“The operation of a machine is, 99 times out of 100 times, actually fairly simple,” Heesacker explained. “It just takes a little bit of practice; if you go slow and are intentional with your movements, you’ll see what you’re doing with the equipment and get a feel for it. With larger equipment, you kind of have to play around with it a little bit someplace where you are not going to run into a building or a fence. You can get the feel of it and see what the machine can do, then you continue to get better. It happens fairly quickly for most people.”
“Our core focus is helping our community solve problems through building relationships.”
For Heesacker, investing in the community goes beyond its business. “Giving back to the community has been a major part of our DNA since 1963 when Art Tidwell opened the company,” he said. “We work closely with Food for Thought, an organization that provides meals on Fridays for kids in the Denver school system who may not have access to food over the weekend. We recently wrapped a piece of equipment with the logo and information about Food for Thought on it and a percentage of the rental revenue from that machine is donated to the organization.” The company also holds food and toy drives in collaboration with Hope Connection and Community by offering a discounted rental rate for customers who donate to the drive. Visit 10675 Ralston Road, arvadarentalls.com, or call 303-422-1212.
Arvada Rent-Alls’ Nick Bauman, Richard Gibson, Kale Grove, Owner & President Andrew Heesacker, Savannah Acosta, Dana Lunning, Ryan Holmes and Angie Diaz.APRIL
APRIL 12TH
14615 W. 64th Ave., Arvada | 6:30 PM
Local nonprofit improv comedy group Ultimate Comedy Fighters (UCF) hosts a family-friendly show to benefit Hope House Colorado, an Arvada-based organization that offers free classes and programs for teen moms to reach personal self-sufficiency. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $10, advance or at the door if not sold out. Reservations are encouraged: Visit ultimatecomedyfighters.org orhopehousecolorado.org/small-events/.
APRIL 14TH
Arvada Kite Festival
Stenger Sports Complex, 11200 W 58th Ave., Arvada | 10:00 AM
The Arvada Kite Festival is one of Arvada's most celebrated community traditions! Bring your own kite, or buy a kite at the festival, and enjoy a day full of free activities for all ages. Visit ArvadaFestivals.com/Arvada-Kite-Festival to learn more.
APRIL 20TH
RE/MAX Alliance Arvada Community E-Waste Collection Drive 2024
RE/MAX Office Parking Lot, 5440 Ward Rd. Arvada, CO | 9:00 AM
RE/MAX Alliance Arvada’s E-Waste Collection is hosted in honor of Earth Day 2024. Partnering with 3R Technology Solution. Community can drop off old electronics for recycling such as computers, appliances, batteries, etc., to keep e-waste out of landfills. Coffee provided by CAFE 13. Donuts are provided by Golden Appliance. Find a full list of accepted items available: https://rem.ax/48nPhGC.