august 2011
Back to School
Local Women Entrepreneurs
Lincoln Center Revealed
www.stylemagazinecolorado.com | www.medicalandwellness.com A S T Y L E M E D I A A N D D E S I G N , I N C . P U B L I C AT I O N : : E S T. 1 9 8 4
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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s t y le me d ia a n d d e s i g n , i n c .
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w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o m w w w. m e d i c a l a n d w e l l n e s s . c o m Publisher Lydia Dody | lydia@stylemedia.com Editor Angeline Grenz | angie@stylemedia.com creative director Scott Prosser Senior Designer Lisa Gould digital director Austin Lamb | austin@stylemedia.com Advertising Sales EXECUTIVES Jon Ainslie (970) 219-9226 Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400 David Knight (970) 619-9846 Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932 Office Manager/About Town Editor Ina Szwec | ina@stylemedia.com Accounting Manager Karla Vigil Circulation manager Trisha Milton Contributing Writers Julie Estlick, Connie Hein, Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer, Marty Metzger, Corey Radman, Kay Rios, Carl Simmons PhotographerS Marcus Edwards, Brent Yoder Contributing photographers Rod Pentico, Craig Vollmer, Mari Wolf Affiliations Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce Loveland Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center 2011 Style Magazines January-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness Magazine and Directory February-Style March-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness April-Style May-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness June-Style July-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness Magazine and Poudre Valley Health System Physician Directory August-Style September-Women’s Health & Breast Cancer October-Northern Colorado Medical & Wellness November/December-Holiday Style Style Media and Design, Inc. magazines are free monthly publications direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, a one year subscription is $25/year and a two year subscription is $45/year. Free magazines are available at over 150 locations throughout Northern Colorado. For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspondence, contact: Style Media and Design Inc., 211 W. Myrtle St., Suite 200, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970) 2266400. Fax (970) 226-6427. E-Mail: ina@StyleMedia.com ©2011 Style Media and Design Inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Style Media and Design Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of Style Media & Design Inc.
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Kudos for Cultural Coverage
Food Column Brings Back Memories
Hey Paul, I just read your article in Style Magazine and I thoroughly enjoyed it – I can picture it in my mind, growing up in Lyndhurst and working for 15 years in Newark. I remember the old street vendor’s truck driving slowly down my street when I was about 6 years old and hearing him yell out “waaaaatamelons, ripe tomata’s” – it was so cool! All the moms would come out (they didn’t go out to work then) and buy their fresh produce. Oh my gosh, the fresh Jersey tomatoes and sweet corn! No one out here believes that it’s the “Garden State.” Anyway, great story! Donna A. Carlozzi McKee Conference & Catering Local Designers Recognized
Angie, I just returned from vacation and had a chance to read the Style article from the June issue. Great job! I enjoyed reading about the local designers. Thanks for featuring Dr. Sanders and also Kaitlyn Thomas. Take care, Gretchen Gerding Assistant to the Dean for Communications and Programs College of Applied Human Sciences Colorado State University Dear Lydia, Your work in Colorado reminds me of what Jill Abramson said last week when interviewed about her new post as executive editor at the New York Times. Abramson referenced the women who had come before her, saying it is on their shoulders she stands in her new position. Many women entrepreneurs in Colorado may say the same of you and the work you have done and the example you provide to those who come after. I am grateful for your work and that Pretty Brainy could provide news value for your readers. Thank you for your coverage, Heidi Olinger Thank Yous
Lydia, Thank you for the invitation and night out with the fiancée to the private showing of “King Lear.” We had a wonderful time and some delicious cupcakes! You do an excellent job with Style and thank you for the opportunity to advertise in such a respected publication. James W. Mitchell Broker Associate The Group, Inc.
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Lydia, What a wonderful article on Northern Colorado’s newest cultural destination: the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures (Style Magazine, June 2011)... and what a gem this newest Old Town museum/gallery really is! I had to check it out after your article and alas, the splendid Japanese exhibit had departed, but their new “Wonders of West Africa” is well worth a visit. Thank you for bringing this jewel to our attention. Like Style Magazine, they are indeed bringing the world to Northern Colorado and Northern Colorado to the world. Rob Johnson Fort Collins Style, How delightful to see so many caring and creative people highlighted in your June issue! It does reflect how unique our community is. I feel compelled to note two of your stories. Your article on the Global Village Museum of Arts and Culture touched my heart, knowing that one of its founders, Jeanne Nash, has just passed on. Jeanne was an endless treasure trove of originality, generosity and life-loving vibrancy. John Roberts, pictured in that same story, and others you mentioned reflect that same precious substance. Bruce and Denise Freestone of OpenStage Theatre, who you honored in your last page story on Community Innovators, are intimately known by so many to shine as brightly and selflessly as did Jeanne. Jeanne’s passing and your highlighting many of the shining people fortunately still with us reminds me: let us take not a soul for granted… for no one is here forever… let us cherish our community creators in the time they are with us… let us embrace their whimsies and invest ourselves in their dreams… both because they deserve it and because we and our community will always be the richer for their gifts! Robert Evans Open Pathways to Learning Fort Collins good job!
Lydia, Just picked up your most recent edition of the magazine; I am impressed how quickly your distribution systems gets these delivered. Good job on the magazine. I appreciate the effort it takes to sustain the quality level you have achieved. John Garnand, Fort Collins we love to hear from readers. send your comments and suggestions to:
angie@stylemedia.com Phone: 970.226.6400, ext.215 Fax: 970.226.6427 www.stylemagazinecolorado.com Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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on the cover The renovated Lincoln Center has taken shape, and the dramatic changes have been well worth the wait. See page 20 for all the details. Photography by Marcus Edwards.
features
lifestyle
Lincoln Center Remodel – Enhancing Experiences . . 20
Symphony Season Promises Greatness . . . . . 64
A Season Preview . . . . . . . . 24
Weld County Turns 150 Years Old . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Women Find Their Business Passion . . . . . . . . 26 Technology Tempers Painful School Cuts . . . . . 45 Back to School Basics . . . 50
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25 Years Offering a Helping Hand . . . . . . . . . . 59
Business Profile: Cleaning Up with Satisfied Clients . 14 Business Profile: Putting Their Stamp on Northern Colorado . . . .16
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Com-Palat-Able Conversations . . . . . . . . . . 70
about town a photo tour of non-profit events . . . . . . . 71 Weld Food Bank Stone Soup
business
26 54
Beet Street’s Enchanting Creative Garden . . . . . . . . . 68
Business Profile: Framing Memories . . . . . .16
Cultivate Hope Garden Party Celebration of Philanthropy Community Classic Bike Tour Junior League Terrace & Garden Tour Mulligan’s Pub Charity Golf Tournament
Business Profile: Old Town Charm in South Fort Collins . . . . .18
community innovators
Business Profile: Be Renewed at Essential Living . . . . . . . .18
Championing for Youths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Magistrate Mary Joan Berenato
Financial Planning for Her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From our readers . . . . . . . . 8
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building
departments
publisher’s letter . . . . . . .12
Special Building Section: HighCraft Builders . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Lindgren Landscape & Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
59 64 August 2011 :: STYLE
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It Takes a Team to Build a Dream (Home) . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
www.stylemagazinecolorado.com Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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Women in
Charge When I moved to Fort Collins in 1966 to open my first retail store there were not many women entrepreneurs I could look to as mentors. Times have happily changed. Women business owners are a growing force in our Northern Colorado economy, and I admire and applaud each of them for their focus, courage and creativity! Read “Women Find Their Business Passion” to get a peek at six young area businesswomen who are growing their own successful businesses. As you read our Business Profiles, notice another long-standing, woman-owned business in “Cleaning Up With Satisfied Clients.” I have always admired Nancy Glass for her tenacity and business acumen; her business, Maid Smart, has served clients over the last 33 years and she regularly gives back to area nonprofits. This issue has always been one of my favorites since we celebrate women professionals. Be sure to take a close look at the Who’s Who section to appreciate some of the interesting and varied women professionals in our region. I encourage you to patronize these local businesses and contribute to the overall health of our economy by keeping your spending in our region, which preserves jobs and ensures the quality of life we all enjoy. You probably noticed that our cover this issue does not feature a businesswoman. We made the deliberate decision to instead feature the work spearheaded by Jill Stilwell, Fort Collins director of cultural services, and Ty Sutton, general manager at the Lincoln Center. We are very excited to be the first publication to reveal the spectacular remodel of the Lincoln Center, showcased in this issue, which will wow everyone who visits this beautiful, re-energized facility. Susan Herlihy, public relations coordinator, took our team on a tour and we were impressed with the amazing expanded lobby, grand staircase, modern lighting, inviting bars, rooftop patio and tastefully selected details throughout. It is truly a jewel in our community. Congratulations to the entire team and to our community for getting behind this fabulous project. Read “Lincoln Center Remodel – Enhancing Experiences” to learn more about this premiere performing and visual arts center in Northern Colorado. On a more serious note, as many are starting to think of back to school, read “Technology Tempers Painful School Cuts” to understand the impact that slashed public education funds are having on our schools. It was very eye opening to me to learn about some of the difficult challenges facing our school systems. As the summer starts changing into fall, many of us are winding down our home and garden projects. My project: replacing my shake shingle roof; the hail did a real number on it. Luckily, I know Troy Jennings and Jim Simpson of Affordable Roofing well – they are about to start working on my roof replacement. Home ownership demands constant upkeep. Next will be painting. The idea of a condo is getting to be more and more appealing! Enjoy the last days of summer,
lydia@stylemedia.com
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Business Profile
Cleaning Up with Satisfied Clients By Connie Hein
Does your furniture need to be dusted and cleaned every few weeks? Do you occasionally need peanut butter and jelly cleaned off great-grandma’s buffet? Does the fringe on your Persian rug need to be combed and quaffed? Everyone wants their home and its treasures to be clean and peanut butter free, but who has the time or energy to keep it that way? This is how Maid Smart Residential Cleaning Service can become a luxury in your life by giving your home a sparkle and you more time with your loved ones. Owner Nancy Glass started the first professional housecleaning service in the Loveland/ Fort Collins area over 33 years ago. Glass started her business at a time when there were very few companies owned by women. Customers and clients say she has proven to be not only an efficient, hardworking business woman, but a compassionate business owner who gives back to the community through many charitable organizations including Hope Lives, the CSU Ram Club, Habitat for Humanity, Team Fort Collins, Partners Mentoring Youth, Fort Collins Gateway and Fort Collins Sertoma Club. Glass has also served on the Fort Collins Chamber Red Carpet Committee
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since 1985. Glass started her business as a result of many requests for housecleaning services while she and her husband owned and operated Service Master Carpet Cleaning. “We had loyal customers who trusted us to clean their carpets, furniture and draperies, and asked if we could do other tasks,” she says. “They wanted to know if we could also dust their homes and clean bathrooms.” She realized there was a demand for housecleaning services and decided to give her customers what they wanted and, in 1978, started the residential cleaning business. It grew quickly and they soon sold the carpet cleaning business. With her attention to the small details that make a house look and smell clean, she was soon
so busy she had to hire someone to help her keep up with clients. She now employs 12 employees, including a full time manager and has over 125 satisfied customers. Glass attributes her success to several important factors. “I have loyal employees who love their jobs because we are like a family,” she says. “We see each other every day where we chat over coffee and homemade goodies to start our day.” She says her employees respect her because they know that she is not just a business owner, but did the day-to-day cleaning herself for 28 years and knows what hard work it is. She adds that her hardworking employees have helped her keep the many loyal customers who appreciate her high standards of cleaning and continual communication with them to make sure they are satisfied. Glass’s success has come not only from hiring a great cleaning staff, but also an efficient, trustworthy manager that helps her keep up with all the details of the business so they can continually grow without losing their personal touch, flexibility and great customer service. “Leann Bumgardner, my manager, has been with me for five years and has been like gold for me,” Nancy says. “She trains and manages the employees, and does random house checks in our customer’s homes to make sure everything is done perfectly.” An important factor that sets Maid Smart apart in the cleaning business is that they are not only insured and bonded, but also carry workers’ compensation insurance on all their employees. “Colorado law requires that every cleaning service carry workers’ comp on all employees, but many don’t, so the homeowner could be held liable for injuries incurred by anyone doing a service in their home,” she says. There’s always an element of insecurity when you invite someone new into your home, says Glass. “We provide extraordinary care with reliable, on-time employees who have had extensive background checks,” she says. “We furnish our own cleaning equipment and use only the best products available to safely and thoroughly clean your home.” Glass is passionate about her business and loves working in the housecleaning industry. “It gives me such satisfaction to work hard on a home and leave it smelling great and sparkling,” she says. “That gives me a gratification that I wouldn’t get sitting behind a desk.” Her interaction with her employees and clients also brings her joy and many have become close friends. “I’ve had very little turnover with either employees or clients. I have some clients that have been with me from the time I started the business. It is very rewarding to feel like I’m part of making their lives easier, better and cleaner.” For free estimates in Fort Collins call (970) 226-6055; in Loveland call (970) 669-1112 and in Windsor call (970) 686-7070 or visit www. maidsmartinc.com. Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and hoping for a Maid Smart gift certificate for an upcoming birthday to make her home a peanutbutter free zone! Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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Business Profile
Putting
Their Stamp on Northern Colorado
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By Carl Simmons
Diane Boehner and Patsy Kral, owners of Artsy Stamps in Loveland, have been enjoying crafting and stamping for years, and now they’re sharing that passion with other women in Northern Colorado. As Kral says, “It’s a natural progression.” The shop was opened in March of this year
in east Loveland, just south of the Promenade Shops at Centerra. Artsy Stamps offers a variety of stamping, scrapbooking and papercrafting products, as well as complementary products including paints, inks, beads, brads, buttons, stickers, ribbons, flowers and other embellishments. “There’s a real need for this kind of shop in Northern Colorado,” Boehner says. “A lot of scrapbooking shops have closed, and there are none that specialize in stamping and other papercrafting projects.” Among the more interesting products Artsy Stamps carries is washi paper, which is often used for origami. Also, Kral points out, “One distinctive thing we do is carry full lines of products. For instance, most craft shops carry maybe five or six basic colors of [Tim Holtz®] Distress Ink. We carry all 36 – because we can.” Another distinction the shop has is a wide variety of crafting classes, ranging from origami to iris-folding to embroidery, as well as stamping, scrapbooking and papercrafting. “We have a lot of great, talented teachers,” Boehner says. “We also tap into the Northern Colorado community to bring in a lot of specialists from the area. “There’s a lot of ways for people to connect online,“ she adds, “but they lose that face-toface contact. We help provide a place for women to do that.” Before starting Artsy Stamps, Kral worked as events coordinator and teacher at Michaels in Fort Collins. “That experience helped me
tremendously,” she says. Boehner had a career as an interior decorator for more than 20 years. Kral and Boehner give back to the area by hosting a monthly card-making event that raises funds for an organization in the community. For the first three months after opening the shop, they worked with the CSU Women’s Association. “They sell cards all year long to raise money for their scholarship program for non-traditional students, like single moms and women who can’t afford college. That really appealed to us,” Kral says. In July, customers created and donated handcrafted cards, as well as collected funds, to benefit Operation Write Home, a program that provides cards to soldiers overseas so they can to write to family and friends back home. As for the future, Boehner adds, “We hope to be able to give other women jobs; that’s a big thing for us.”
Artsy Stamps Diane Boehner & Patsy Kral, owners 4880 Thompson Pkwy., Loveland (970) 613-1631 | www.artsystamps.com artsystamps@gmail.com Carl Simmons is a freelance writer and editor in Loveland and author of the six-book Bible-study series Growing Out: From Disciples to Disciplers (Group Publishing). You can learn more about Carl at carlsimmonslive.com.
Business Profile
FRAMING m e m o r i e s By Carl Simmons
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If you’re looking to capture memories, or just to add some atmosphere to your home, two FastFrame shops have opened recently in Northern Colorado to help you do just that. The FastFrame franchise, based out of Newbury Park, California, has more than 300 locations around the world and has been ranked first in
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its category by Entrepreneur Magazine for nine years straight. Jacqui Wilson, owner of FastFrame Fort Collins, and Bob Harris, who owns FastFrame Greeley, both were looking for a change and found the franchise to be a good fit. “We went to California and visited corporate, and we were pretty blown away,” Harris says. “We were looking for a good franchise, and this looked like a very solid corporation,” Wilson adds. Wilson previously owned a court-reporting firm in Fort Collins before opening her store in May 2010. “I was looking for something slower paced and not as deadline-driven,” she says. “I like the business model. I like the design part of it. It’s a fun thing to do. People are creating happy memories.” Wilson’s shop includes a selection of framed prints and mirrors, as well as local memorabilia and work from local artists. “We do custom framing, and will come to your home or office to get the right art and the right atmosphere,” she adds. Wilson recently partnered with the Fort Collins Museum of Art during its annual invitational sale, and donated a piece to be raffled for its Ansel Adams exhibit. The shop also recently donated a framed Tim Tebow t-shirt to the Lubick Foundation’s RamStrength Organization, which provides financial assistance for cancer survivors in the area. Harris also supports several charitable organizations in the Greeley area, donating framed prints for silent auctions as well as providing framing for the Greeley Stampede Art Show. Harris also holds a kids’ art show, sponsored by FastFrame. “We get artwork from kids ages 5 to 10,” he says, “then we pick a winner and send it to corporate.
Even if corporate doesn’t pick our winner, we still frame the piece, and present it to our winner with a gift card.” Harris and wife JoEllen opened the Greeley shop in June of 2008. From 1991 to 2007 they ran an advertising agency out of their home, but “we tried retirement for about six weeks and went crazy,” Harris says. “We missed the people contact. And that’s when we started looking at franchise programs.” “The most interesting part is the variety of things people entrust to us for custom framing,” he adds. “We get everything from expensive paintings to prints to sports jerseys. We really enjoy doing memory pieces, which range from kindergarteners’ drawings for Mothers’ Day to childhood treasures.” “This is really the most fun we’ve ever had,” he says.
FastFrame | www.fastframe.com FastFrame Fort Collins Jacque Wilson, owner 4321 Corbett Drive, # 112, Fort Collins Phone: (970) 232-9337 | Fax: (970) 672-8637 FastFrame Greeley Bob Harris, owner 6560 29th Street, Unit 105, Greeley Fastframe562@comcast.net Phone: (970) 515-6631 | Fax: (970) 515-6633 Carl Simmons is a freelance writer and editor in Loveland. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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Business Profile
Charm Old Town
in South Fort Collins By Carl Simmons
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Barbara Lovendahl wants to feather your nest. “We want people to come in and buy things for their home that are affordable, especially right now,” Lovendahl says. “We have modern accessories, vintage, traditional… I think we have something for everybody. We pride ourselves on making things affordable.” Barbara and husband Jonah opened Feather Your Nest this past March in Front Range Village. “I really wanted to have a store like this out here,” she says. “The south side of Fort Collins needs something like this, where people don’t always have to travel to Old Town.” Before opening the store, Lovendahl had worked as a buyer for the Colorado State University bookstore, purchasing the shop’s insignia gifts and other items. “I have a lot of experience buying things; I love to shop,” she laughs. As the Lovendahls explored what to do next, the answer came when Barbara’s mother announced that the family store in New Bern, North Carolina – called Patriotic Primitives – was closing. Rather than relocate back east, the Lovendahls chose to stay in Fort Collins and open Feather Your Nest, bringing many antiques and pieces of folk art from the North Carolina store back with them. “The antiques we brought back from North Carolina are probably the most interesting things we offer, because you can’t find those kinds of Southern things out
here,” she says. “We sell a ton of artwork. It’s just prints so far, but we carry everything from modern to traditional; there’s a lot of variety,” she adds. “We also have a vintage children’s area, as well as a large selection of organic and recycled products.” As far as what the future holds, Lovendahl says, “We are here for the long haul.” In addition to the shop in Front Range Village, the Lovendahls expect to launch their website and online web store in August. “I hope we do well,” she says. “We’ve had such a warm welcome out here; customers have been really appreciative so far. Fall and the holidays are going to be fantastic.”
lotions and you have the total body experience of an escape to Essential Living Massage and Spa in Fort Collins – the luxury of total peace with no rush. “I believe as we care for each other on an individual basis, we begin to care for the world,” says owner Alesha Rivera. “This is the philosophy that has made the spa so successful.” Rivera believes massage and spa treatments done by skilled professionals using the purest organic, earth-friendly products creates a foundation for health, wellness and peace of mind. She says people in Europe have understood the connection between regular massage and aesthetic treatments and overall well-being for decades. Americans are just beginning to understand the concept that it is not a luxury, but an important part of taking care of ourselves to enjoy a better quality of life at every age. Rivera says massage and aesthetic treatments keep oxygen moving through the body to carry nutrients to each individual cell. “If we think of massage as preventative healthcare, we are more likely to take advantage of this beneficial resource all our lives.” The gentle squeezing and stretching helps the body to renew itself, she adds. Rivera has 10 years of massage experience working in chiropractic and other professional medical offices. She decided in 2010 that she wanted to be more creative in how she cared
for each individual client through their entire massage experience, so started her own massage spa in one small rented room. Essential Living grew quickly and soon expanded to have seven employees – the most passionate professionals Rivera could find in the fields of skin, nail care and massage. Rivera believes the spa’s fast growth is due to it’s unique niche. It is one of the only membership-based spas in the area. “This allows us to give five-star quality spa treatments without the five star spa prices,” she says. Each member makes a small monthly payment and may use every service in the spa at deep discounted prices. Memberships start at $49 per month and include one free spa treatment of your choice per month. Massage treatments available at Essential Living include: Hot Stone, Herbal Body Wrap, Salt Glow, Raindrop, Pregnancy and Couples. Facial treatments, comprehensive hair removal services and nail care treatments are also available. “Out of our passion and skill for nurturing others, we find many opportunities to give back to the community by supporting our coworkers, our clients and charity organizations,” says Rivera. Her goal: to better the world one person at a time.
Feather Your Nest Jonah & Barbara Lovendahl, owners 2924 Council Tree Ave., Fort Collins (970) 223-2301 blovenda86@comcast.net Carl Simmons is a freelance writer and editor in Loveland and author of the six-book Bible-study series Growing Out: From Disciples to Disciplers (Group Publishing). You can learn more about Carl at carlsimmonslive.com.
Business Profile
Be Renewed at
E ss ent ial Livin g
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By Connie Hein
Lush forests with meandering creeks, gardens with butterflies and the scent of wildflowers – these are things we meditate on to center our hearts and souls and soothe our minds and bodies. Add soft music and a spa treatment with rich, organic essential oils and
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For spa membership information readers may call (970) 430-6630 or visit www.massagefc.com. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Jill Stilwell, City of Fort Collins director of cultural services, with Ty Sutton, general manager of the Lincoln Center, on the new rooftop deck.
Lincoln Center Remodel Enhancing Experiences
By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
Since 1978, the Lincoln Center has been a reflection of the community in which it resides. As the longest standing performing and visual arts center in Northern Colorado, it is proof that the people of Fort Collins believe life is enhanced by artistic performance.
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Lincoln Center is a magnet drawing various organizations together, thus it truly is the community hub for the arts. While Fort Collins residents recognized a need to foster the arts back in the 1970s, today the community has become even more culturally aware and artistically sensitive.
The Path to Remodel Eight years ago, Jill Stilwell was promoted to director of cultural services with the City of Fort Collins. It was around this same time that the age and condition of the Lincoln Center became a subject of discussion. The facility was showing the inevitable signs of a well-loved and well-used building, and in addition, the population of Fort Collins had doubled since the 1970s. “We really started looking at the facility and discussing how could we make it better and how could we improve it for patrons and performers,“ says Stilwell. “This became our focus.” The building had never undergone a significant
remodel, and after a number of retreats, focus groups and surveys of patrons, it was determined that improvements were necessary. The looming question was how to pay for a full-scale remodel. In 2005, voters approved the Building on Basics capital tax renewal, a package of capital improvements that would give the Lincoln Center $5.5 million in remodel funding. “People really recognized and acknowledged that the building needed improvement,” according to Ty Sutton, general manager at the Lincoln Center. “This proved that tons of people really had a connection to Lincoln Center and a sense of ownership in the building.” With the total project costing just over $8 million, the remaining funds came from grants given by the Bohemiam Foundation, the Gates Family Foundation, the Boettcher Foundation and the Griffon Foundation. The Downtown Development Authority also contributed $600,000, specifically for acoustical Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
improvements in the Performance Hall. Despite an ailing economy, private donations also played a significant part in raising the necessary remodel funds. “That shows the vitality of our community and their desire to have arts and culture as a centerpiece,” says Stilwell.
Renovations Enhance the Experience The remodel has resulted in scores of renovations at the Lincoln Center, some visible and others less so. The biggest and most recognizable transformation will be in the overall appearance and atmosphere of the Lincoln Center, both inside and outside. Fort Collins architecture firm, Aller-Lingle Massey, tied the outside of the modern looking facility to Old Town by using building materials reminiscent of brick. The grounds of the Lincoln Center now feature a central sidewalk circling the entire building, winding through water-wise landscaping and public artwork. “We retained our outdoor terrace where we do concerts and weddings,” says Stillwell. “It’s been relocated, but we’ve actually made it a little bit bigger and more centrally located.” Perhaps the chief difference between the 1970s-style Lincoln Center and today’s facility will be the expanded lobby and the grand, floating stairway leading to the previously underutilized second level. An elevator has also been installed. In all, the Lincoln Center renovations have added 19,000 square feet to the facility. Relocating the ticket office from the main lobby to the front of the building allows for it to stay open when the rest of the building is closed. This also makes the lobby a space for gathering instead of a place to line up for the box office. With high ceilings and a spacious seating area, the main lobby is filled with natural light from floor to ceiling windows across the front of the
building. The second level, also bathed in natural light, features an elegant seating area, restroom, bar and rooftop deck. There will be three permanent high-functioning bar locations, and the number of restrooms in the Lincoln Center has more than doubled. Each, including the family restroom, will be equipped with touchless technology. “I think the renovations puts us directly in competition with the major theaters in the region, including Denver,” says Sutton. “We’re producing a lot of the same national tours as other places, so now we’ve brought the physical space up to that caliber.” The entire project is LEED Gold Certified, and many of the eco-friendly improvements are not visible but will make the building sustainable going into the future. Entrance vestibules with inner and outer doors to improve heating and cooling, and motion sensors on lights are just a few of the innovative, energy efficient components of the building. There are two entirely new spaces at the Lincoln Center, including the rooftop patio and the Founders Room. The patio is a welcoming outdoor space ideal for cocktail parties and receptions, or just visiting with friends in the warm summer evenings during intermissions. The Founders Room is next door to the Performance Hall and is for pre-show receptions, intermission gatherings or other uses. It is connected to the backstage area making artist meet-and-greets a breeze. “That’s something we’ve never had before,” explains Stilwell. “We’re expecting touring troupes and local groups to get a lot of use out of the space.” Whereas the original Lincoln Center had a small art gallery spilling over into a narrow hallway, the renovated facility will boast a climate-controlled gallery. This allows the Lincoln Center to host
One of the new features at the Lincoln Center is the rooftop deck, available for weddings and special events.
Style 2011
exhibitions it could not have previously, and the designated gallery space will be available to rent. The Canyon West Room, popular for weddings, receptions and business gatherings has been updated to reflect modern styles. It is even equipped with customizable LED lighting that can turn an event pink or blue or another desired color. From top to bottom, the Lincoln Center now reflects a contemporary design and spacious feel. “My favorite part of the remodel is the vibe,” says Susan Herlihy, public relations coordinator at Lincoln Center. “It just feels good when you walk through here. It’s a place to gather and be with friends. Now, with the renovation, it’s as much about the experience of coming to the Lincoln Center as it is about the show that you are coming here to see.” Longtime Lincoln Center supporter and season ticket holder, Mayor Karen Weitkunat agrees. “The upgrades are going to provide people with a bigger experience. The renovated public spaces are inviting and unique and will make a visitor to the Lincoln Center feel welcome,” says Weitkunat. “I think that’s a real plus for those patrons of the arts beyond Fort Collins,” she adds. “It will draw those people in, and we need to be cognizant of that because those are dollars the community wouldn’t otherwise have.”
The Performance Hall and Magnolia Theatre The Performance Hall has undergone extensive acoustical improvements from the walls to the baffles, and Fort Collins Symphony director Wes Kenney is eager to test out these improvements during the upcoming season. While the seating configuration in the 1,180-seat Performance Hall will remain the same, one major change will be the acoustics in the orchestra seats. “The orchestra seats have traditionally been the acoustically least desirable seats in the Lincoln Center,” says Kenney. “In most halls, those are
The Lincoln Center’s exterior now sports an enlarged outdoor terrace for concerts, waterwise landscaping and 50 new trees.
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A recent wedding held in the beautifully updated Canyon West Ballroom.
One of the three new permanent bars, this one located outside the Magnolia Theatre, formerly the Mini Theatre.
The second level now features a bar, seating area and access to the scenic rooftop deck.
some of the most desirable seats, so we are very happy about this improvement.” Also new to the Performance Hall is a stateof-the-art orchestra shell that seals the stage and forces the sound out into the house. When not in use the shell folds down and will be housed in a newly constructed garage immediately behind the stage. Many of the aspects of the remodel occur behind the Performance Hall stage and out of sight of patrons. There are three new private dressing rooms, two chorus dressing rooms, and a few extra rooms for a performer’s entourage. “To be able to offer more professional amenities to large touring productions raises our reputation and reputation means a lot in this business,” says Stilwell. Some significant and noticeable improvements have been made to the former Mini Theatre, renamed the Magnolia Theatre. The 224-seat space now has a lobby area and is equipped with a light locked double entrance. A slight reconfiguration of the intimate theater enhances sight lines and sound quality. A technical booth was also added and changes have taken place behind the scenes. “We used to have to get five people into dressing rooms that were built for two,” says Denise Burson Freestone, director of OpenStage. Now, the dressing rooms that were previously used for Performance Hall entertainers belong to the Magnolia Theatre, greatly increasing the size of the backstage area. Other behind the scenes improvements of the Magnolia include higher doors for ease of prop management and a cross over space contained within the stage itself; previously when actors needed to exit the stage from one side and enter it from the other they had to run through a pubic hallway. The renovation of the Magnolia Theatre not only amplifies the overall professionalism of the space, but also greatly improves the experience of the theater groups that perform there and the audiences attending the shows. “Live performance is all about the interaction between the audiences and the performer on the stage,” says Stilwell. “The remodel really focused on the patron and performer experience. All of it enhances the feeling that people have and their
openness to having a great experience with the arts. “That’s what we hope we’re achieving with this overall renovation – really improving the experience both patrons and performers have at this facility,” she adds.
The Arts and Fort Collins
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The Challenges Associated with the Renovation The remodel officially started in July 2010. In any given year, 350 events take place at the Lincoln Center, so over 25 performing arts organization that use the facility were forced to do what they do best – get creative. While the Fort Collins Symphony found welcoming venues such as Timberline Church and high school auditoriums, theater troupes had to get even more resourceful. From the Rialto Theater in Loveland to public parks in Fort Collins, these groups found ways to entertain audiences all over Northern Colorado. While the past year was demanding, this gypsylike lifestyle opened previously closed doors and provided unique opportunities for the various performing arts organizations. Debut Theater Co., for instance, pared down their 24-show schedule. They decided not to produce the usual six large shows in order to take time to reflect on their 20th anniversary. “It gave us the wonderful opportunity to think about not only where we’ve come from, but where we want to go, and even more importantly, to think about the role we play in the Fort Collins community and the arts community specifically,” says Lee Kaplan, co-founder and artistic director of Debut. OpenStage Theater & Co., the longest user of the Lincoln Center’s Magnolia Theatre, put on their seven shows in three different venues in Fort Collins. They performed in the Blue Room at the Masonic Temple, at the Nonesuch Theater and at Art Lab. Freestone believes the past season gave the company a chance to get in front of new people who will now seek OpenStage out at the Lincoln Center. “It’s been an opportunity to do some creative thinking outside the box about how we perform our shows, but we are really excited to be back at the Lincoln Center this year,” says Freestone.
The people who live in Northern Colorado have high expectations when it comes to the performing arts, and Kenney believes Fort Collins audiences are fairly sophisticated. “We can do things here that maybe some of the other area orchestras cannot because our audiences have traveled and have heard all sort of things, and their artistic experience has been really rather broad,” he says. But his real challenge is getting people to come indoors. “In the middle of the winter it can be 55 degrees and sunny here, so we have to put together some really attractive things to get the people of Northern Colorado to come inside and sit down,” he says. In order to serve the high expectations of Northern Colorado residents, the arts community is becoming increasingly collaborative. In the past five to ten years there has been a push to create a common vision of making Fort Collins an art and cultural destination, both regionally and beyond. Lincoln Center plays a major role in making this vision a reality. The facility will continue to be the heart of the arts community, and with many of the renovations directed by the requests of patrons, it will continue to reflect the community it serves. In addition, the remodel has resulted in a facility that will be sustainable into the future. “The ownership our community has in this building makes us special,” says Stilwell. “I think the way the community embraces what happens here is amazing. We’re unique because our community is unique. I think that’s it in a nutshell.” The Lincoln Center’s grand re-opening weekend is scheduled for September 16-17, 2011. First up, Gary Hixon and the Lincoln Center present Artwear Fashion Week, starting with a runway show and reception on Friday, September 16. The following evening, on Saturday, the Midtown Men will take the Performance Hall Stage performing classics of the 1960s. Tickets go on sale August 9, and can be purchased at www.fcgov.com/lctix/.
Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and freelance writer from Northern Colorado. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2011
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w e i v e r
a season
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Officially closed for renovations since July 2010, performers, staff members and patrons are excited to get back to the entertainment this season at the Lincoln Center. With a shiny new exterior and interior, the Lincoln Center is more than ready for the 2011-2012 season. “We have so much more to offer than we’ve ever had before, both in terms of our renovated facility and our programming,” says Susan Herlihy, public relations coordinator at Lincoln Center. “We’re doing more special events, more of everything. This is the time to check out Lincoln Center.” The grand re-opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 17, and the Midtown Men are slated to perform. Patrons will get a firsthand look at the impressive remodel that includes an entirely redesigned lobby, new art gallery and even a rooftop patio. The Lincoln Center features special events year round with headlining entertainers in the 1,180-seat Performance Hall. This year’s lineup is outstanding and includes the Vienna Boys Choir, Dallas Brass, “A Christmas Carol,” Celtic Nights, Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, “Stomp” and comedians Kathleen Madigan and Brian Regan. The Showstopper Series starts with “South Pacific,” the show that swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven top honors including Best Musical Revival. Next is the national tour of “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” followed by 100 Years of Broadway. Five of Broadway’s finest perform hits from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Chicago” and more. The sensational new group Straight No Chaser is also in the lineup. This all-male a cappella ensemble has been selling out concert halls since their “The Twelve Days of Christmas” YouTube video went viral. The Showstopper Series finale will certainly live up to the series’ name. Burn the Floor features 20 champion dancers who will amaze and delight the audience. There are three shows scheduled for the Lincoln Center’s Anything Goes Series, including “Get the Led Out,” “Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet” and “Tao: The Art of the Drum.” “I’m particularly looking forward to ‘Tao: The
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Art of the Drum,’” says Herlihy. “It’s a combination of a cirque show, “Stomp” and martial arts. It’s just absolutely stunning and very exciting. I think it will appeal to just about everyone.” The Imagination Series is designed with families in mind. All shows take place in the Performance Hall starting with “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters,” the African Cinderella tale. Up next, the Extreme Canine Stunt Dog Show features rescue dogs that will sign “pawtographs” after the show. Lastly in the series, a live production of “Stuart Little” will also be performed in sign language. Tickets to the Imagination Series are just $10, or $25 for all three. In addition, Lincoln Center will present a Dance Series with State Street Ballet’s “Jungle Book,” the creative collaboration called Pilobolus, and the dancer-actor-gymnast team of Diavolo. The Classical Series, performed at the University Center for the Arts, will feature the Parker Quartet, Shai Wosner and Jennifer Koh, and the Calder Quartet. “I would tell people to experience a show at the Lincoln Center because live performance speaks to the inner self. It speaks to our soul,” says Karen Weitkunat, mayor of Fort Collins. “To experience this along with other people who appreciate and enjoy the experience – it just can’t be matched in any other way, and the Lincoln Center provides this.” From weddings to major theater productions, there are 350 events held at the Lincoln Center each year. The Magnolia Theatre, formerly the Mini Theatre has shows year round. Check the event calendar and buy tickets on the Lincoln Center’s website at www.fcgov.com/lctix/. Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and freelance writer from Northern Colorado. She is also the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about Colorado events and festivals. Style 2011
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WO M E N find their
Busin es s Pa s s ion
By Angeline Grenz
There is no doubt that women business owners are a growing force in our economy. Recent statistics indicate that women owned businesses are growing twice as fast as other categories, and that women business owners will lead the nation in job creation in the future (according to Center for Women’s Business Research and The Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute data). All in all, women business owners are making an important impact financially and in quality of life across the nation. Locally, women business owners are young, driven and engaged in their businesses. Collectively, the six business owners interviewed here spoke about the passion they have for their respective industries, their ingenuity in searching out and starting niche businesses, and, in true female fashion, their openness to sharing their success with fellow entrepreneurs.
Beth Weber, Studio Be Beth Weber knew she would be a business owner. She had a passion for her craft and for teaching others. She was young, just 20, had finished her schooling, and was slowly growing her clientele. Weber’s husband and business partner, Ian, stepped in to help establish their salon in Old Town. A year ago, Studio Be moved into a larger space, doubling in size. Studio Be specializes in color and is a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon. Weber is a national Paul Mitchell color educator.
Age? 27 When did you start your business? 7 years ago How many employees? 25 employees What is your education? I started my training at
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Hair Dynamics. After graduating, I started Studio Be on a small scale in Loveland, built my skills and client base for a year, then started looking for a bigger location. My husband found a place outside of Old Town Square. Shortly after opening in Fort Collins, I was invited to join an education team, John Paul Mitchell Systems. This CONTINUED on pg 38
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Timiry Krieger, Dora Grace Rather than following a career passion, Timiry Krieger took a scientific approach to starting her own business: find a need and fill it. The Tennessee native has a close friend who owns two bridal stores near her hometown. When she learned of the closing of Mountain Avenue Bridal two years ago, she called her friend and asked her if she would help her with a business plan. Krieger chose bridal lines that run a range of price points, with gowns from $400 to $2,000. She also found an elegant, roomy downtown Fort Collins space. The mixture is appealing: “You don’t find the price point I have in this type of atmosphere,” she says.
Age? 30 When did you start your business? March 2011 How many employees? 2 employees What is your education? I have a B.S. in Communications from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee (Go VOLS!). After school I worked mostly in advertising sales before I moved to Fort Collins. What made you decide to start your own business? Starting my own business was based on identifying the need. It was not always a lifelong passion to open a bridal store but, when the opportunity arose, I put a plan into action. I am so excited to be working in such a unique industry. Despite the “bridezilla” stereotypes, our brides have been a pleasure and it’s been a great experience. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? Trying to find financing in one of the hardest economic times we’ve seen was the biggest challenge. I was one of the small businesses to benefit from some of the stimulus funds, but there were still quite a few hoops to jump through before it came together. Having a really strong network of supportive friends and family played a significant role. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? At this point in my life, opening the store would be my biggest personal and business success since it was such a risk. I’m really pleased things are going as well as they are. Hearing positive feedback CONTINUED on pg 39
Susan Byrum, She She Nail and Wax Lounge Susan Byrum followed a few passions before settling on her nail lounge concept. She pursued a [brief] career in fashion design in New York City, then headed to Vail to work just enough to allow her to spend her days snowboarding. Eventually, Byrum entered the beauty industry and began to look to new challenges. She observed business owners and wondered, “Why are they doing it that way? I could see it would be a better experience if they did things a different way.” That realization led to the next truth: if Byrum could see a better way to run a business, shouldn’t she take on that challenge? In three short years, She She has taken off.
Age? I’m 33 years young! When did you start your business? August of 2008 How many employees? 20 employees Where did you get your training? I started out in the salon and wellness industry 12 years ago. I studied at the Colorado School of Healing Arts as a massage therapist. I entered the salon world and found I loved many other aspects of the beauty industry. What made you decide to start your own business? I found myself growing restless in the worker bee position. My business brain kept wondering about the “why’s and how’s” of what other business owners were thinking. I felt up to the challenge. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? I opened She She during a financial crisis for many people. I knew I had to dig in and put all the components in place. I’ve had to overcome the thought process that I could do everything and that it would be perfect and had to start trusting my staff and start delegating. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? I’m not one of those people that opened a business thinking I was going to get rich. I opened She She because I enjoy the satisfaction that comes with having my own personal success. It’s not always about the bottom line. The best compliment is when clients tell me “your staff looks like they are having fun and everyone is smiling.” What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? Smile, it doesn’t cost a thing and it’s infectious. I have a freakish memory so I always address clients by name. It’s important to be personable. Leading an all female, fairly young staff is challenging. I’ve made mistakes along the way in the right way to relate to employees. I am direct and that works best for me. I always open the floor to my staff to contribute their ideas. How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? My biggest obstacle has been trying to keep up with the growth. Businesses can fail if you can’t keep up. Now I have to get really strategic. This year we extended our hours, spent more research time and money on our retail boutique area, and added new services. What is something interesting or unexpected about you that you can share with us? I think anyone who has met me can tell I’m from the South, and I love bringing Southern hospitality
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CONTINUED on pg 39
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Kristynn Jenkins, Furniture Consignments by Kristynn Kristynn Jenkins took a passion for quality furniture, the realities of a changing economy and a reversal in personal circumstances to reinvent herself last year. “At that time I needed to create a job for myself,” says Jenkins. “And I wanted to do something that I have always been passionate about.” The economy was favorable as well. “People want to reuse,” she says. “They hate throwing things away today.” Over the past year, Jenkins has refined inventory to weed out lesser quality items. It has been easy to bring in customers – both consignors and those looking to purchase. “People come in all the time and tell me this is the best furniture store in Fort Collins,” she says.
Age? 44 When did you start your business? June 2010 How many employees? 2 employees Where did you get your training? I have a B.S. in business management and I worked with Thomas Garvin & Assoc., the largest used office-furniture dealer in the U.S. I handled space planning, interior design and sales. During 13 years as a stay-at-home mom, I did a great deal of interior decorating. What made you decide to start your own business? I jumped at the opportunity presented by recessionary
frugality and local interest in buying and selling consignment furniture. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? Deciding to become an entrepreneur was difficult, but I’ve loved everything about it. The community has accepted the business with open arms. Timing is everything and I picked the right time to open. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? My three children are my biggest personal success: Ben, Claire and Sammy. Starting a business made our family stronger. My children see me in a different light, as a strong businesswoman who still manages to be a good mother. CONTINUED on pg 40
Gretchen Gaede, A-Train Marketing After graduation from college, Gretchen Gaede, a bohemian poetry major, took off with then-boyfriend, Ryan Kieffer, for a tour of Europe. Six weeks became three years. While there, they taught English; Gaede to mostly business executives. She began reviewing copy and naturally moved into copywriting. When they returned to Fort Collins and married, Gaede evaluated her next move. “I had all of this world experience and I didn’t just want to go get a job,” she recalls. Gaede started freelancing and networking. “It turned out there wasn’t really another copywriting agency around.” She established A-Train and soon found clients wanted more services than just copywriting (“they wanted the copy, and the brochure it goes in”). She expanded, adding designers, and Kieffer joined her to help manage the demand. Today, A-Train Marketing has a heavy focus on message and strategy with a strong creative component – a balance that is unusual in the marketing agency arena, says Gaede. Business has been good: Kieffer, after two years as executive director for Beet Street, is returning to the day-to-day operations, and they are planning for strategic growth into the future. Style 2011
CONTINUED on pg 40
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Marci Lautzenheiser, MAXimum Boutique When Marci Lautzenheiser faced tragedy, she had a decision to make: wallow in grief or take her energy and create a positive outcome. Her son Max was born with a rare genetic disorder and the doctor warned Lautzenheiser that her son would have a short life. She took this news and created a legacy for her son in the form of a retail store designed to bring happiness to others. Her boutique, appropriately named MAXimum, opened just a few short months before Max’s death. The store is full of vibrant, fun confections, such as Chamilia jewelry, Brighton accessories, and Vera Bradley quilted bags. It is posed to grow once more, as she moves into a 2,100 square foot store this fall. The store kept Lautzenheiser alive through those tough times and as it grew, “we learned everyone has struggles… and this was a place people could come and just be happy. They didn’t realize that they did the same for me.”
Age? 42 When did you start your business? 2008 How many employees? 6 employees Where did you get your training? My background is in the dental field in administration and consulting. Training? It’s been “on the job” training! What made you decide to start your own business? This business started with the need to do something fun to take my mind off of the possibility that my son, Max, would not live a long life. It has continued
to be a gift from all who support us. I love all of the customers; they help get me out of bed every day. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? The fact that our son Max passed away only a couple of months after we opened. It is hard to see that life keeps going on while you are grief stricken. Also, growing pains are real. I have always wanted our store to be a real shopping experience. When you start hiring employees, the dynamics change. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? Personal success would CONTINUED on pg 40
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Professional women making a difference in our community.
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
The Imaging Center
Dr. Sarah Jess & Dr. Amy Hayes Radiologists
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(970)282-2912 The-ImagingCenters.com
Business Description: I work for Advanced Medical Imaging Consultants, which provides radiology services in Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Nebraska, and Wyoming. I am a diagnostic radiologist, with a subspecialty certification in neuroradiology. I read general radiology exams, including ultrasounds, X-rays, etc., with the balance made up of neuroradiology exams. These include CT and MRI’s of the head, neck, and spine. Head and neck radiology is a special interest of mine. Education and Certifications: I have a BS in chemistry and a BA in French from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I obtained my medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee.
To what do you attribute your success? I attribute my success to perseverance and hard work in school, and to the fantastic attending radiologists I had the privilege of working with at the University of Utah. I had some amazing teachers who were fun to work with and made learning radiology a joy. What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is my family. My husband, Aaron, and I have been married almost 16 years and have two wonderful children. What qualities do you appreciate in people? I appreciate people who are calm and patient, and wish that I could be like that more often! How do you keep balance in your personal and professional lives? It can be difficult to balance working full time as a physician and being a good spouse and mother. I try to “turn off” work when I am at home. We always try to eat dinner together and spend time together as a family.
Style 2011
Business Description: Advanced Medical Imaging Consultants provides diagnostic and interventional radiology services for Northern Colorado and sites in Wyoming and Nebraska. I am a partner in the group and one of the physicians providing interventional radiology services, which are minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance. I also do general diagnostic radiology. Education and Certifications: I received my BA in chemical engineering from the University of Washington and did my graduate studies in medical engineering and medical physics at MIT. I received my medical degree from the University of Massachusetts in Worchester, Massachusetts, and completed my internship and diagnostic radiology residency at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. My fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology was completed at the University of New Mexico. I am board certified by the American College of Radiology with a certificate of added qualification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology. To what do you attribute your success? Hard work, perseverance, and setting goals. What is your proudest accomplishment? My husband and I adopted a 2-year-old boy from Russia, one year ago. It was a long and arduous process and at times frustrating, but the reward has been great. To have the opportunity to provide a child a home, hope, and a chance for a future has been the best thing I have ever done. What is the best part of your job? It is seeing patients and being able to focus on specific issues and doing procedures that often improve their quality of life. What qualities do you appreciate in people? Honesty, compassion and a sense of humor. I also appreciate those who have a passion for things in life, whether it is work or play.
How do you keep balance in your personal and professional lives? I always set aside time for myself… and usually I spend that time running, which is one of my passions.
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American Cancer Society – 2011 Cattle Barons Ball
Ann Ghent Co-chair
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Business Description: For the last year and a half I have been working as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society as co-chair with my husband for the 2011 Cattle Barons Ball. We are excited for this year’s event, to be held September 17 at Spicer Arena in Eaton. The theme this year is “Horsin’ Around” and I think it is going to be a giddie-up good time! As part of Ghent Motor Company, I have worked at the dealership throughout the years. Before I had children, I worked full time. When we started a family, I dedicated less time to Ghent and am now involved in the business in a behind-the-scenes manner – taking over donation requests, writing or rewriting responses, and helping with proposals. Education and Certificates: I graduated from Poudre High School in Fort Collins in 1979 and then attended University of Colorado (CU) at Boulder. During my freshman year at CU, I competed and lettered in women’s gymnastics. I transferred to University of Northern Colorado to complete my education as well as my athletic eligibility, graduating in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in business finance. To what do you attribute your success? First of all, I believe we are all successes in our own way. I attribute my achievements to hard work, a good attitude and the people I have worked with. Working with the American Cancer Society and Cattle Barons Ball, I have met and made friends with the most incredible, giving, talented, fun and selfless people. It has been a wonderful experience. At Ghent Motor Company we have been extremely fortunate to have wonderful employees. We have several employees that have been with us since we purchased the dealership 22 years ago. What is your most proud accomplishment? I am not sure you can call it an accomplishment; it is more of a gift I have been given. The gift of two children: Erick, 20 years old and a sophomore at University of Colorado, and Sara, 17 years old, senior at Greeley West High School. I could not imagine my life without them. What is the best part of your job? Working with incredibly selfless volunteers. I have been privileged to meet people who give tirelessly of themselves in search of a cure. The best part of working at Ghent Motor Company is helping people with their automotive needs, whether it is service, bodywork, a new car, or a used car. We always put the customer first. Who is your role model? Jesus Christ and my parents, Jim and Julie Wise. In what ways do you give back to the community? I have been an officer and board member of Child Advocacy Resource and Education for 9 years. And, of course, the last year and a half I have been a co-chair for the Cattle Barons Ball, which is the premier gala for the American Cancer Society in Colorado. What qualities do you appreciate in people? The quality I most appreciate in a person is honesty. I also appreciate a positive attitude and a sense of humility and humanity.
www.cbbcolorado.com
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What is your hope and goals for your community? My hope for the community is that we continue to grow together and help each other spiritually, financially and educationally. Specifically, in Greeley we have challenges facing our school system that need immediate attention. Many are working towards a solution to this complex challenge, and with community support and guidance it will come to fruition.
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Harmony Office Horsetooth Office Mulberry Office Loveland Office Greeley Office Centerra Office
Serving You with 6 offices in Northern Colorado
Kathy Arents Mulberry • 419-2331
Georgena Arnett Loveland •481-9801
Judy Bogaard Harmony • 377-4931
Paula Hawe Nicole Huntsman Linda Hopkins Mulberry • 419-2332 Horsetooth • 377-6004 Harmony • 402-0221
Heather Matz Mulberry • 419-2310
Nancy Maus Centerra • 213-0554
Anne Pielstick Joey Porter Horsetooth • 377-6028 Harmony • 377-4905
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970.229.0700 970.223.0700 970.221.0700 970.663.0700 970.392.0700 970.613.0700
Cindy Blach Kelli Couch Joanne DéLeon Mulberry • 481-5821 Horsetooth • 310-8804 Harmony • 691-2501
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Karla VanDenBerg Greeley • 378-2296
Becky Vasos Harmony • 377-4969
Laura Thomas Centerra • 679-1556
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Corrado Executive Solutions
Cheri Corrado owner
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Business Description: Corrado Executive Solutions works with CEOs and business owners to develop prolific teams, stimulate growth and create positive environments... while helping them find balance in their lives. We accomplish this using our proven process, including an exploratory interview, organizational assessment, and management training. The skills learned here are strengthened through personalized executive coaching and implementation. To what do you attribute your success? I’ve been blessed with role models and coaches who have enlightened me both professionally and personally, allowing me to achieve true balance and prosperity in my life. Turning my own “failures” into valuable lessons has given me the exceptional problem-solving skills that allow me to do the same for others. What is your most proud accomplishment? Professionally, I am most proud of hitting a goal that I set as a teenager; I had the seemingly naïve plan of retiring by age 40. Although my original plan didn’t work, I was able to retire at age 40 by using the systems and knowledge I now teach. Being one who always has to feel productive, retirement did not mean vacations and time off. It meant that I was free to pursue other passions. Since then I have been able to participate in disaster relief, build a Habitat Home, and start a consulting business to help others learn to run their businesses so that they are not run by their business. What is the best part of your job? As CEOs and business owners we are often consumed by the need to keep our businesses running. In the process, we lose sight of our own lives and relationships going on around us and often without us. The most rewarding part of what I do now, is helping others learn to balance and achieve both business and personal success. What qualities do you appreciate in people or strive for in your own life? Being honest, even when it’s not easy. Being kind to others. Keeping a positive attitude even in adversity (one of the more challenging ones!). Finding value in others even when it’s not easy to see.
How do you keep balance in your personal and professional lives? Time management, prioritizing, delegating and discipline. It’s more of a counterbalance really. If work requires more of my time today I swap back some of the time for my personal life tomorrow. As a woman, what strengths do you bring to your position? As a business consultant, I often have to bring to light some harsh realities. As a woman, I think my delivery can be a little more palatable without losing the power in my message. I also believe women tend to be more intuitive. Intuition is sometimes crucial in uncovering issues that are buried in a company. Many leaders think they are addressing the cause when it is really just a symptom. It often takes some intuitive exploring to get to the truth.
970.364.6064 www.corradosolutions.com
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In what ways do you give back to the community? As a new arrival in Colorado, I’m looking forward to finding out how I might help the community using my skills as a business consultant, event planner, fundraiser, or simply offer an extra set of hands! I have been involved with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army (post-Katrina, 9th Ward), fundraising for Lupus research, Susan B. Komen Foundation, animal rescue/transportation, the National Association of Victim Assistance, and organizing regional food drives and yard sales.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2011
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Beth cont. from pg 26
team really challenged me technically and taught me how much further you can take this craft. What made you decide to start your own business? I have always had an entrepreneur’s spirit. I wanted a place to create great hair but also continue to grow technically and professionally. At the same time, I wanted to come up with a pay structure that gave opportunity to men and women in the industry. This is something I am very passionate about. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? The most challenging thing in our business has been hiring and maintaining a passionate team. Happy staff can create amazing hair, which is our bottom line. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? My biggest business success has been our recent expansion. I feel so fortunate to go into work each day. My biggest personal success would be my son, Asher. He is an amazing 6-year-old. He gives me a reason to be proud of him every day. What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? We treat our guests the way we want to be treated. This is great for someone who has always had a great experience. This is even better for someone who hasn’t. If we go above and beyond all the time, then we will always be proud of the outcome. Lastly, I think it is important to keep people out of a box. Free to be blond, free to be bold, free to be funky, free to be... How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? In order to grow into this new space, I needed to pay attention to the details and track everyone’s productivity and guest satisfaction. With a bigger space came a bigger team and a bigger guest list. So in order for me to make sure our philosophy was ringing true to all of our guests, I had to learn to pay attention to details. This is not my strong suit, but it is my current focus. What is something interesting or unexpected about you that you can share with us? Something interesting about our business – our business has very little to do with outward vanity. It is all about how people feel about themselves, something I never expected going into this business. I appreciate that people allow us to make an impact on them. What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? Personal goal: maybe baby number two! Business goal: to have more locations around the country that will be developed the way Studio Be Fort Collins has. How do you balance your business and family lives? I try to have good time management. My business is so much a part of my life that my son is pretty involved. He goes with me to pick up supplies and he plays next to my husband while he does payroll. So balance I am not sure, but for now it works.
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Timiry cont. from pg 27 from brides and others is an affirmation that it was the right thing to do. What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? My style is still developing. Right now I’m trying to focus on building relationships, and being open, honest and reliable. I think those have been key to dealing with anyone I’ve come into contact with be it bride, employee or vendor. How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? I’ve noticed the need to focus more on my web presence. Many of our initial clients came from referrals, but making small changes with my website and continuing our social media efforts has been imperative to bringing in a new segment of brides. What is something interesting or unexpected about you that you can share with us? Probably the one thing that people are interested most in is where my name came from or what it means. It is a very uninteresting story – my parents just heard it and liked it! What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? I’d like to stay active in the community but do it in a more focused way so that I can make a bigger impact. On the business side, my goal right now is to become profitable. For the future, I’d like to be able to increase the number of lines I’m carrying and possibly expand into prom and formalwear. How do you balance your business and family lives? The only dependent I can claim is my dog, Reno, but she understands that I’m only working a lot now so that one day she can have a bigger yard to play in and more bones to chew.
Susan cont. from pg 28
to She She. I’m a badass snowboarder and just bought a house this spring. I am a published writer and music fanatic. When I opened She She, I was commonly known as “the girl with pink in her hair.” What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? My personal goal is to start to carve out a personal life again and get back in touch with the things that make me ME. Snowboarding, reading, time with the dogs and hopefully starting a family. Business goal? Expansion. My goal from the beginning was to franchise. I could see a She She in Miami, Austin, Atlanta and every college town in between. How do you balance your business and family lives? I’m learning. A very wise man told me, “If you’re not healthy, then your business won’t be healthy.” If I’m a hot mess when I come to work, then I won’t have the respect of my staff or clients. Bringing management in was the first step so I can focus on the bigger picture. Style 2011
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Kristynn cont. from pg 29
This combination led to many personal and professional challenges I have overcome. I’m proudest, however, that people love to come into my store. What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? Clients and employees share in the success of a business. My philosophy is to enjoy the best interactions with everyone I encounter. I don’t fear taking risks. Risks are opportunities leading to success. How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? I’ve had to become more confident in my decisions. I’m now thinking about growing the business. Growth has required I learn how to make faster decisions or opportunities pass you by. Gretchen cont. from pg 29
Age? 37 When did you start your business? I started the business when I was 24 How many employees? 5 employees What is your education? I studied creative writing with a poetry concentration at Colorado State University. What made you decide to start your own business? I never planned on starting a business. I just thought I would do freelance copywriting and see where it would take me. Here I am with a full-service agency 13 years later. What was the most challenging aspect of starting your own business? My age was an issue; there was quite a bit of age discrimination, and rightfully so, considering you are putting faith in someone who doesn’t have as much experience as someone with longevity. What have been your biggest personal and business successes? I finished my first novel last year, which was a great personal success and one of the most difficult things I have ever done. In terms of business, simply owning a successful business over the last couple of years and not having to let anyone go because of the recession means a lot. What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? I believe in honesty, Marci cont. from pg 30
be my family. I am so proud of my husband, Jim, and our kids. Business success has been the continual referrals from customers. I have gone from 122 square feet to a new store that is about 2,100 square feet. What is your business style dealing with clients and employees? I want every customer to realize that the fact they have chosen to come to our store means a lot to me. And I love my employees! I want them to feel like family. How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? What makes this store great is I haven’t had to change! Though getting to know all of these people has changed me.
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What is something interesting or unexpected Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
What is something interesting or unexpected about you that you can share with us? People didn’t really expect that I’d pursue this dream but now they fully expect I’ll continue to grow. Thanks to all my friends and my wonderful family for their support. What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? My personal goal is to be a role model so my children will feel able to follow their dreams. My business goal is to continue growing, ensuring we offer the best, high-quality furniture consignments. How do you balance your business and family lives? Can any woman balance both? Balancing family and business is exhausting but also the best thing I’ve ever done.
transparency and generosity when it comes to clients and employees. I am personally invested in every person I work with and I take my work very seriously, which means I always treat colleagues and clients with respect, commitment and fairness. How have you had to change or adjust to grow your business? Flexibility and agility are crucial to success in business. I am not afraid to overhaul systems to create better operations or make adjustments for clients to ensure that their needs are consistently met. We are always analyzing what we do and modifying to become a better company. What is something interesting or unexpected about you that you can share with us? I grew up in Fort Collins and met my husband, Ryan Keiffer, at Lesher Junior High. The two of us went on to attend Fort Collins High School and CSU. What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? I want to work on publishing my book, which I have put on the backburner since finishing it. How do you balance your business and family lives? I could definitely be better at this, as I work a ridiculous amount of hours. However, my husband and I do get away relatively often. We love to travel, see live music and check out anything related to art.
about you that you can share with us? I am shy and incredibly conservative! The blue streak in my hair and my love of color is a reflection of my zest for life. What is a personal goal for the future? A business goal? I have a quote that was a gift from my sister and exemplified by Max, “In all of Living, Have much fun and laughter. For life is to be enjoyed, not just endured” – Gordon B. Hinckley. That doesn’t mean every day is easy. But because of this store, it has made a huge difference. How do you balance your business and family lives? We work and play together. We eat dinner when the store closes no matter how late it is! Style 2011a movie almost every night together. We watch
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Business Matters
Financial Planning
for Her
Money and finance have long been thought of as a man’s arena, but that trend is shifting. Today, there are many women who are on top of the money game, but there are also those who don’t understand the significance of financial decisions until a crisis hits. At the same time, approaches to planning can differ between the genders. To help women take charge of their financial health, area experts offer some financial planning food for thought. The technical basics of personal finance are essentially gender neutral, but women do face
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some issues that men don’t. They live longer (an average of five to seven years, according to the Centers for Disease Control). They earn less, with the U.S. Census Bureau putting the number at $.77 to every dollar earned by a man. Women tend to spend less time than men in the paid workforce either caring for children or elderly parents, says the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, so they receive lower Social Security benefits. In general, women suffer more financially after being widowed or after a divorce. And they typically have one-half as much in retirement savings as their male counterparts. The approach can also be very different. As a broad generalization, women may focus on longterms goals while men may be more transaction oriented. Louise Kuntzelman, assistant vice president and business promotion and development officer for First National Wealth Management,
By Kay Rios
noticed the difference. “When I was first hired, I worked with Barbara Albert to plan educational seminars for our clients and their guests,” she recalls, “I noticed that women were tentative about asking questions in front of men or a large group and would stand in line for half an hour to 45 minutes to talk to Barbara afterward. I said, ‘I think we have a need.’” Women’s Resources So in 2003, the First National Wealth Management staff invited a few clients to a tea at the Avery House. “It was a small group of 30,” Kuntzelman says. “We asked attendees what they needed, and we found that they wanted to know everything from what questions to ask an advisor to what the difference is between a stock and a bond.” Several more teas were held and followed by Investments 101, a seminar designed to explain Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
industry jargon and the basics of financial investments. The third event was an opportunity to have breakfast with an investment officer. Out of that process, the Women’s Series was born. The free series has looked at a number of different issues, Kuntzelman says. Topics include: What is a trust? What to do if a loved one has passed away and the class Financial Fitness for Women: Estate Planning for You and Your Heirs. The seminar topics change as interest and need changes, Kuntzelman says. (See www.1stnationalbank.com under Wealth Management for current classes offered.) “We draw on the expertise of our staff which includes certified trust and financial advisors, Certified Finanical Planner Board of Standards Inc. certified financial planners, certified wealth strategists and chartered financial analysts,” she adds. The intent is to provide a solid foundation for women so they can look at all the components, understand the language and learn about some of the options available, Kuntzelman says. “We want our members to have fun, but we also want them to take something home that will help them look at their finances realistically.” The Nuts and Bolts A realistic look is very important, agrees Thad Dunn, a certified financial planner with Dunn Hogerty. But there’s work to do before that happens, he says. “We’re really interested in developing a relationship first and the financial planning comes after that.” Developing the relationship allows the financial planner to know exactly what the client hopes to achieve and then help develop the means for getting there. His firm is positioned to do just that. “Last year we merged with United Capital, a national Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), and that gives us the ability to take a broader look.” There’s a significant difference between an RIA and a typical brokerage firm, Dunn explains. “An RIA is held to a higher fiduciary standard than a brokerage firm. We have the ability to advise clients on their assets regardless of where they are held. Brokerage firms are now owned by banks and the goal is usually to get the assets transferred into that system because they can give advice. We can advise clients on assets that are held in other places. An RIA has more flexibility, and we can even help a client negotiate a car lease.” From a broader perspective, financial planning is not gender specific, he says. “Male or female, you need to focus on the same things. It’s more important for any investor to first understand what things they can control: your spending, your savings, when you are going to retire, when you are going on a trip. The flip side is what you can’t control: inflation, taxation, the volatility of the market. They are identifiable and you need to manage around them.” It is important to find the proper resources that meet an individual’s need, he says, and he suggests working with a certified financial planner. “They have gone through extensive training and know how to deal with taxation, with a legacy, with risks. If you focus on investments alone, you aren’t seeing the bigger picture.” He suggests going to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards website, www.cfpboard. org, to find a planner. Qualifications are important, Style 2011
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Louise Kuntzelman, Assistant Vice President, First National Wealth Management
Thad Dunn, Certified Financial Planner, Dunn Hogerty
Dunn says, but he adds, “You also need to find someone you are comfortable with. Everyone has different approaches and different fee structures. A planner may charge by the hour, they may charge a percent of the assets on which they will advise, or a retainer or a project management fee.” So ask the question, he says. For Dunn, a client doesn’t have to be well versed in finances. “That’s why you are going to a professional. You don’t need to know the difference between an open ended mutual fund and an exchange traded fund, or between a preferred stock and a common stock. But you do need to know what is important to you and, at least in general terms, what you are trying to accomplish. The planning, for us, is two or three conversations into the relationship.” He takes his clients through an exercise called Honest Conversation. “Sometimes people don’t know what is important to them or how to articulate that,” he says. “The investment strategy is easy once you know that.” But, he cautions, “there is so much information out there, you do need a professional to decipher that and help plan appropriate strategies.” In Your Senior Years It’s never too late to start that planning and find those appropriate strategies, says Alicia Lewis, vice president and co-owner of GrowSecure, Inc. “And it’s always good to review your portfolio periodically to make sure there is an appropriate balance.” She points to three very common mistakes. “First, taking too much risk. Second, paying too much in fees. Third, getting low returns.” The Rule of 72 (the process of determining how long an investment will take to double) applies especially to seniors, she says. “You take 100 minus your age and that gives you the percentage that could be put in volatile areas. We’re pretty conservative because we work with a lot of seniors and they are relying on that money.” Lewis, who is in partnership with her father Chuck Layman in GrowSecure, says that the company philosophy is to achieve safety and balance. “It’s also very individual. People I meet often ask what would you recommend but that’s hard to say until we’ve looked at all of the factors. But we do
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Alicia Lewis, Vice President, GrowSecure, Inc.
always tell people not to let their income depend on the whims of the market.” Clients like that approach, Lewis says. “We’ve had so many clients say, ‘Because of the guarantee you provide me, I can sleep easier not worrying about what is going to happen.’ That’s the joy of my job.” Helping people understand their finances is also a joy for Lewis. “We sometimes use pictures and draw a fiscal house. When you build a house what do you build first? The foundation, of course. And, in a fiscal storm, where do you run first? To the foundation,” she answers. The second piece is balance, she says. “A lot of the balance has to do with the person. What do you need to make you feel comfortable, to have the proper income? What does that look like? Some people want more in safety and some want to take a higher risk.” GrowSecure draws many single and widowed women as clients, Lewis says. “I think it’s because we teach so much of the foundations of life. When a spouse dies, a lot of women go with the portfolio as before but there is a huge foundation change in their lives. They should look at the portfolio and see if there are necessary changes that will make them safer and provide more balance.” Lewis says, “We keep it simple and we get them educated. We take the ‘hope-so’s’ and replace them with the ‘know-so’s.’” As with Kunzleman, Lewis finds that sometimes women don’t want to ask questions at first, during seminars they offer. “They will give us a call later and ask questions. But,” she adds, “when they want an answer, they make sure they get it.” Often, women are happy to turn over some of the financial routine. “There are a few people that are good at being self-directors when it comes to finances but it’s a full time job and a lot more people don’t want to take on that job,” says Lewis. “We can take the burden off the client.”
Kay Rios, Ph.D., is a freelance writer in Fort Collins. She writes for a variety of publications and is at work on a collection of creative non-fiction and a mystery novel. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Technology Tempers Painful School Cuts
If necessity is indeed the mother of invention, the state’s $250 million slashing of public education funds gave area schools one heck of an opportunity. The national recession and the slow economic recovery in Colorado has drained resources and forced school districts to layoff teachers, eliminate courses and dip into savings to make ends meet. With no relief on the horizon, savvy Northern Colorado schools are turning to technological solutions in the classroom and grant-funded online teaching tools to close the gap. The result? Students in the region’s three largest districts – Poudre School District, Thompson School District and Weld County School District Style 2011
By Julie Estlick
6 – are being exposed to a true 21st century workplace and learning to master the technical skills needed to succeed.
Schools Squeezed First, the bad news. Students and staff in Weld County School District 6, also known as Greeley-Evans 6, are really feeling the heat. Just one year after an emotional three-school consolidation and the loss of 110 positions, the district’s $6 million shortfall led to more agonizing choices for the 2011-12 school year. Dipping into budget reserves will cover $4 million, though these monies are generally used for one-time expenses like replacing a broken boiler. The move is a short-term fix, explains Director of School/Community Relations Roger Fiedler. “This is similar to spending from your savings account to pay your mortgage,” Fiedler says. “It works right now, but you’ll soon empty your savings and then what will you do to pay the mortgage? We may be able to do this again in 2012-13, but our reserves won’t last
beyond that.” The next money-saving move hurt the most. Students will have four fewer school days this year, saving the district $400,000 a day. All furlough days fall directly before or after a holiday or non-school day. “The furlough is counter-intuitive, because we’re always asking for more instructional time,” says Dr. Ranelle Lang, District 6 superintendent of schools. “No one wanted this, but after the closures and two years of salary freezes the school board realized there was no ‘fat’ left to cut.” Weld District 6 has an “Accredited with Improvement Plan” rating based on the new state assessments. Lang wonders how her schools are supposed to bring lower performing students up to speed with fewer resources and more days away from school. She weaves a story to make her point: “We’re running a race and our kids are competing with other runners around the world,” Lang begins. “The students in Copenhagen are fed 3,000 calories a day and have the best trainers. We’re giving our kids in Greeley good training, but only
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Dr. Ron Cabrera, Superintendent, Thompson School District
Dr. Ranelle Lang, Superintendent, Weld County School District 6
Dr. Jerry Wilson, Superintendent, Poudre School District
1,000 calories. Who’s going to win? We don’t have bad trainers. In reality, when you have 110 less people, four fewer school days and fewer resources, time and money do matter. It’s not an excuse, but it makes a huge difference in improving student achievement.” Strict energy-saving measures are also being employed. All district schools and offices will again be shuttered between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays – everything unplugged, lights off and thermostats lowered. This move saved $60,000 last year, but adds major headaches for janitors who can’t do routine cleaning and maintenance, teachers are barred from their classrooms and administrators must use vacation time. “It’s a sacrifice, but hey $60K is a teaching position!” Lang exclaims. Head west to Thompson School District RJ-2 and the picture isn’t much brighter. The numbers for the district, which includes Loveland, Berthoud and southwestern Fort Collins, read like a dreaded math word problem. If you take a $6.7 million cut in state revenue, a loss of enrollment to the new Loveland Classical charter school that subtracts an additional $3 million, then add in rising health insurance costs, how do you create a balanced budget? The district’s answer is to eliminate 62 positions, including all first-year teachers and second-year middle and high school teachers, to help make up the deficit. Lucille Erwin Middle School and Mountain View High School (MVHS) both lost more than 10 teachers each. Tenured teachers who were squeezed out of their schools transferred to fill some of the slots. Thompson, which earned an “Accredited” rating from the state, also achieved savings by slicing the textbook budget, professional development and transportation costs to the tune of a couple million dollars. “After staving off staff reductions for 2010-11, we couldn’t keep the district whole this year,” says Thompson Superintendent Dr. Ron Cabrera. “We retained fullness of programs, but sections were
reduced for small classes like French 4 or Music Theory. Our popular Geometry in Construction course was cut at MVHS because of numbers.” Geometry in Construction students built a home that was purchased by Habitat for Humanity this past spring. The program continues at the other three high schools and interested MVH students can travel for the intensive course, which combines math and industrial arts. Students in the program tend to score higher on math standardized tests. Up I-25 we go to Poudre School District R-1 (PSD), which includes Fort Collins, Timnath to the east and north up to Red Feather Lakes. PSD absorbed $12 million in state budget cuts last year, losing nearly 140 jobs, and was hit with another $6.6 million shortfall for the upcoming school year. However, voter passage of an annual mill levy in November creates a rosier picture here than in the rest of the region. The mill levy infused $16 million into the budget, to be phased in over three years ($8 million this year, $12.9 million in year two, $16 million in year three and each year after). The funds allowed PSD to make up the reduction in its general fund and balance it’s budget for 2011-12. Poudre is also restoring positions with the hiring of 200 teachers and staff, and unveiling three new high school academies in the fall focused on post-secondary readiness. “We’re extremely grateful to the community for the support they’ve offered by the mill levy and bond and helping us provide high-quality programs,” says Poudre School District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Wilson. He notes that during recent tough times, the district managed to keep it’s priorities of preserving music, physical education and art instruction, and maintain all choice programs: International Baccalaureate (IB), Core Knowledge, bilingual, dual language, Advanced Placement (AP) and Expeditionary Learning. The state gave PSD an “Accredited” rating under the new system.
Competitive Schools
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Now, the promising news. Despite the funding issues, all three districts remain competitive, particularly for the most motivated students. This is born out in the high number of seniors earning college credits and the many millions in college scholarships and support programs, like Venture Scholars, given out each spring. PSD and Thompson students score extremely well on the Colorado Student Assessment Program, or CSAPs. Pupils in various grade levels are tested in reading, writing, math and science. The results are scored as advanced, proficient, partially proficient or unsatisfactory. PSD’s district-wide averages for students scoring proficient and advanced remain well ahead of state averages, from 5 percent to 15 percent higher in all subjects, at all grade levels, according to the district website. Thompson’s students also score above average on CSAPs compared to the rest of Colorado in all subjects. Rankings for the region’s International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are also favorable. IB is an academically rigorous program for students who want in-depth scholastic preparation for college that leads to an internationally recognized diploma. Poudre High School ranks as one of the top IB schools nationally when looking at test scores, and nine out of 10 grads have completed at least one class of post-secondary rigor, according to Wilson. “Those are pretty high standards.” Thompson’s Coyote Ridge Elementary, just a few years old, rates as exemplary among Primary Years programmes (sic), Cabrera says. Resources were funneled into Lucille Erwin Middle School and Loveland High last year to make those programs more rigorous and raise expectations for scholarship per recommendations from IB reviewers. Greeley West High also has an IB honors program. Greeley high schools produce a disproportionately high number of National Merit Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Scholars – six between 2007-10. Ten Greeley students in the past five years have been awarded the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship, which provides full tuition, fees, books, plus a living stipend, to students who stay in-state for college. Less spectacular are CSAP scores for Weld District 6, where a higher percentage of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and are not native English speakers. Steady improvement in reading in the past several years led to 58 percent proficiency for 3rd-10th graders in 2010. Only 42 percent were proficient in writing, 40 percent in math and less than a third of the students showed proficiency in science. Programs are in place or being developed to close the learning gap, with a needed focus on Spanish-to-English learners in the Weld 6 and Thompson districts. One positive step is the Expansion of Early Childhood Education program, which makes pre-K a part of the K-5 campuses in the Thompson district. “Our moral purpose is to close the learning gap with English language learners,” Cabrera says. “How can this subpopulation become more like our most successful learners? Our approach is to accelerate learning and we’re making moves to do that.” Innovative programs for independent learners, online learners and students of all abilities are popping up every year, underwritten in many cases by area companies who see the value in an educated, prepared workforce. All three districts now have online schools with the addition of Engage Online in Greeley, opened to ninth and tenth graders this fall with plans to build up. Thompson Online offers K-12 coursework, as does PSD Global Academy.
High-tech Classrooms Thompson’s Cabrera is a huge believer in the value of the Internet in education. Under his watch, Thompson’s textbook budget was reduced from “a couple million” down to $500,000. Another $100,000 was removed from this year’s budget to meet other pressing needs. “We use more open source curriculum and technology to help teachers get content to children,” says Cabrera. “The good news is that we can maintain, and perhaps even obtain more current content online than from a hardback textbook on each desk.” All Thompson district buildings now have wireless internet. Teachers are encouraged to use TeacherTube (similar to YouTube) to stream videos onto a large screen in the classroom. This fall, ninth and tenth graders will use iPads for social studies assignments. Students can download and read documents during class time or in school media centers and labs. “We look at technology as our greatest resource,” says Cabrera. Math teacher Monika Hardy introduced a cool program called Innovation Lab for selfdirected learners last year at Thompson Valley High School. The lab gives students a place to experiment and pursue independent study, using the Internet for research and connecting virtually with mentors in some cases. One lab student is writing an opera and working with people across the country as well as the Thompson orchestra teacher. Another connected with biologists to Style 2011
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explore the tundra. Around 60 students, mostly high schoolers but some middle school and even elementary students, are working on projects. “The program offers real digital content and connection by the teacher, teaches fluency in technology and the ability to use it that might transform the educational process,” Cabrera explains. Students still attend regular classes and devote one or two periods to working in the lab. Some really got into it and kept working on projects over the summer, Hardy says. “The virtual connections so far have been very good,” Hardy reports. “Free space and selfdirection is hard and some students weren’t quite sure what to do at first. Once kids believe they can learn and do whatever they want, their drive comes from within.” To view a video and learn more about Innovation Lab, visit: http://www. facebook.com/l/b0fc2dETK5DdRuSnpd2Wa6wT3uA/www.slideshare.net/monk51295/the-skinny. On any given day in Poudre schools, someone is teaching geometry on a Smart Board, or electronic white board like the ones popping up on TV news shows. Down the hallway, students are using interactive “clickers” to send quiz answers onto a screen, allowing the teacher to do a quick assessment. Rather than adding yet another computer teaching tool at the high school level, each ninth grader is getting a laptop they can take home this year, “building a mobile one-to-one learning environment.” In the lower grades, all fifth graders at Title 1 schools already have access to a
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netbook computer, thanks to an Ensuring Access grant that provides technology to economically disadvantaged students. Kids pull them off a cart that stores and charges the devices when not in use and is rolled between classrooms. In the future, the district would like enough computers for all fifth graders and eventually fourth-graders, Wilson says. “We’ve put instructional tools in place and backed them up with opportunities for teachers to learn how to use them,” says Wilson. Coaches are placed in the classroom to help instructors use the technology. The investment in technology is getting results. Preston Middle School’s Science Technology Engineering and Math Program (STEM) is a finalist for Intel’s “Schools of Distinction” award for innovative programs in science. The school received $5,000 and students in the program get a trip to Washington, D.C., in September where the winners will be named. District 6 has installed 300 interactive Promethean Boards (like white boards) in classrooms. An alert elementary teacher found a grant to buy iPads for audio projects for social studies. “Even our technology budget has been reduced, so we’re becoming more aggressive about seeking grants,” says Fiedler. Greeley’s new online school, Engage Online, has a dual purpose. It draws in home schooled children and drop outs who want to work independently at home, while also serving many different learners in one bricks-and-mortar classroom. The pilot program ran at West High’s
summer school and received high marks. “The cool thing about the curriculum is that it will be available for blended learning in the high school,” Lang says. “The teachers are excited about the potential for one class period where one child can make up a lost credit while another does acceleration work.”
Future Funding Woes? No one expects the state budget to turn around in 2012-13, so schools are likely to remain pinched. The Thompson school board held special meetings in June and early July to consider asking voters for a mill levy override this year or next year to put money back into programs and stay academically competitive. No decision had been made as of press time. Board of Education member Judy Kron summed up the anger and desperation felt in Greeley – a more economically depressed area that relies heavily on state funding – in her comments at the budget approval hearing in late June. “It is time that the state of Colorado and the Greeley-Evans community begin really thinking about the importance of education and our ability to adequately educate our children with the limited resources we have,” she said. A report from the June 27, 2011 issue of the Greeley Tribune was used in this article. Julie Estlick is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and mother who is happy to live and work in Fort Collins.
Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
By Angeline Grenz
For many children, heading back to school is often simultaneously exciting and rife with anxiety. Young children, who are not yet completely ready to leave the comforts of home, may be especially conflicted. But back to school readiness is a challenge that parents can conquer with a few practical tips and timely considerations. To help get your children ready for the upcoming school year, Style sought the practical advice of Dr. Julie Brockway, pediatrician at the Fort Collins Youth Clinic and mother to four school age children. Dr. Brockway offers up a mix of professional and parental advice for parents, whether children are headed to school for the first time, or returning for the new year.
Medical Considerations Dr. Brockway encourages parents to look at back-to-school as a great reminder to get your children in for their yearly physical. Yearly exams include checking that a child’s height and weight are within the growth chart boundaries, that they are eating and sleeping well, that there are no signs of learning disabilities or medical problems, and that they pass a standard vision checkup. Once children hit junior high and begin to play sports, schools do require sports physicals. Another compelling reason children should see their pediatrician annually: “They come to know who their pediatrician is, they grow up with them, and when they get sick, children do a better job of asking questions and being open with us,” she says. Get your children their booster shots. Immunization recommendations change from time-to-time, says Dr. Brockway. The current required immunizations for children entering kindergarten include diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis booster (DTaP), chicken pox booster (varicella), a polio booster (IPV), and a measles, mumps and rubella booster (MMR). Children entering fifth grade are also required to get their tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis booster (Tdap). Dr. Brockway also recommends children get their meningitis shot at that time, and begins discussions with girls about the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV). The hepatitis A vaccine is also recommended, which can be started as early as age 1 year, and protects against food borne illness.
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Meningitis vaccine recommendations have changed due to recent outbreaks. The previous recommendation was for children to get the vaccine every 10 years. That has been revised to every five years. This is especially recommended for children who travel frequently, play sports or who are in college, says Dr. Brockway. “We typically recommend the vaccine at age 11, boost at age 16 and that will last into college,” says Dr. Brockway. If children have medications they need to take while at school, Dr. Brockway reminds parents to complete any school paperwork needed for the medication to be administered. And if food allergies are a concern, sit down with the health tech at school to form an allergy plan. Talk to teachers, too, if the allergy is significant. Discuss classroom snacks and parties. “Peanut butter may be better left home,” says Dr. Brockway, emphasizing the seriousness of some food allergies.
Combating Anxiety If your child is experiencing anxiety about the return to school, Dr. Brockway says one cause may be the disruption in their established schedule. “Start to walk to school a couple days before, playing on the playground and looking in the windows. Maybe even try to meet their teacher before school starts.” Talk to your children about the fun things about school, too. Make getting ready fun: picking out clothes, a new backpack, school supplies, etc. If your child is starting school for the first time and you find yourself emotional over their flight from the nest, “don’t show it,” says Dr. Brockway. “Be excited for your kid and hide your tears.” Another practical suggestion: find out if there are other children in the neighborhood starting school and arrange a play date. When school starts your child will already have a familiar face when they arrive.
Set Sleeping Patterns and Eat Breakfast A disruption in sleep patterns can cause anxiety and affect school performance. Once school is out, children often stay up later and sleep in late. The day before school starts is not the time to suddenly enforce an 8 p.m. bedtime and a 7 a.m. wake up. “It really throws kids for a loop,” says Dr. Brockway.
Julie Brockway, M.D., Fort Collins Youth Clinic
Instead, reset their schedule to match the school schedule a couple weeks before school starts, “and be consistent about it,” she adds. All school age children need to eat breakfast. “You can’t run your engine if you don’t put any fuel in it,” says Dr. Brockway. Skipping breakfast is often the result of a lack of planning. Waking up 15 minutes earlier or planning for breakfast the night before is how she tackles planning breakfast in her household. “Pick a breakfast that has balance to it,” she adds. “What is most important is to make sure there is some protein. Carbs are not sustaining. Children will get hungry and tired, and it tends to cause attention issues in the classroom. Protein will sustain them till lunch.” A complex breakfast (containing carbs and protein) will also cut down on bellyaches and headaches during school. Talk About Safety The beginning of the school year is a good time to talk to children about safety. Dr. Brockway recommends establishing the route to and from school, where children should wait to be picked up, and establishing a code word in the family in case they need to be picked up by someone else unexpectedly. Teach young children their phone number and address before sending them off to school for the first time. For older children and teens, safety concerns may often stem more around the availability of electronics. Dr. Brockway suggests discussing cell phones, and when they are appropriate to use, and putting parameters on other things, such as Facebook and online chatting. Dr. Brockway also recommends parents retain full access to their children’s electronics: Internet, email, websites, texting, etc. Finally, Dr. Brockway encourages parents to keep their children active by having them bike to school – it is great exercise – but make sure they are “wearing their helmets, not just hanging them on the handlebars.” And don’t forget water bottles and sunscreen as they head back to school during the still hot month of August. Following these simple, common sense tips can make back to school a breeze for your children – and relieve any anxiety you may be harboring as well. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Building Northern Colorado
Kent and Elaine Bejcek love to entertain, but the kitchen in their Fort Collins home lacked some of the fundamental design elements that make gathering easy for guests. The space was small and cramped, the layout was less than ideal and the style had become dated. For the Bejcek’s entertaining comfort, it was time for something new. “There was just not enough room in the kitchen,” said Kent Bejcek, chef at the home. “Even if you try to direct guests into another room, everyone ends up congregating in the kitchen.” This simple truth led to an entire kitchen overhaul and a new space that is sleek, sexy and functional. The remodel was spearheaded by HighCraft Builders, and included a complete tear out of the old kitchen. One wall was removed almost entirely to open the space up to the adjacent living room, and new cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances and light fixtures ensure the space looks and feels brand new. Kent and Elaine envisioned a kitchen with clean lines, in a mid-century modern design. Architect David Heuter’s renderings were so close to the Bejeck’s vision that they followed the design for the finished product. Per the homeowner’s request, a very large social island has become the centerpiece of the new space. Exotic granite countertops with a caressed finish add both interest and visual contrast against the dark, walnut cabinetry. A raised custom butcher-block countertop made of contrasting hickory hardwoods also adds a strong, modern element to the structured space. The best part about the kitchen for Kent? “The amount of space I have now and the ease of clean up.” The cabinet fronts are solid slab, so clean up is a breeze and the movement in the granite countertops disguises any mess, adds Kent. Other additions include a Sub-Zero refrigerator, induction cooktop and multiple sinks for convenience in food storage and preparation. Naturally, once the kitchen remodel was underway, the homeowners loved the design so much that the project “took on a life of its own,” expanding into the adjacent
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Special Advertising Section
living area. The fireplace was completely updated with a new firebox surrounded by dry-stacked stone to match that of the kitchen. The design continues to the lower level family room and office with a second, double-sided fireplace. A new railing system was also installed and the kitchen’s sliding glass doors were opened up to increase access to outside living areas. “HighCraft was wonderful to work with,” says Kent. “Scott Fetters, our project manager, was great and we are excited and happy with the results.” The project, completed in February, has proved to be a great investment for the fun-loving family of four. They officially tested it out this spring during their annual Masters golf tournament party, with approximately 100 guests in attendance. “It was fun to have people in the house who have seen the kitchen before that were amazed to see it now,” says Kent. If your home’s functionality has fallen short of your expectations, give HighCraft Builders a call and let them help you re-imagine your space. www.highcraft.net/(970) 472-8100
970.472.8100 • www.highcraft.net Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Special Advertising Section
Outdoor Fireplaces You can’t live in Colorado without enjoying the diversity of our Rocky Mountain weather. Warm, 60-degree days in the middle of winter and the occasional June snowstorm make for exciting variety in every season. But out-of-doors living is a challenge without the correct amenities and a romantic, mood-setting fireplace is the perfect addition to make outdoor spaces as habitable as our living rooms. Fireplaces add an exciting element to the outdoors, turning an ordinary patio or garden area into an inviting gathering place, perfect for entertaining a large party or an intimate dinner for two. Options today allow you to be as elaborate or as simple as you want in the design of your fireplace. They can be constructed or veneered out of numerous materials to match the architecture of the home. Custom mantles, double-sided fireplace designs, and the ease of simply flipping a switch to turn heat on or off make them a luxurious addition to any space. Fireplaces also add great functionality to outdoor areas – enclosing an area, acting as a windbreak or serving as an artistic focal point. And for the ultimate in outdoor living, pair your
Style 2011
Building Northern Colorado fireplace with an outdoor television, making for dynamic family TV nights that are coupled with roasting marshmallows by a warm fire. They can even be made multi-functional with fireplaces that double as wood-fired pizza ovens. Or design your outdoor fireplaces adjacent to a spa, pool or water feature to create an exhilarating environment through the combination of the conflicting elements of fire and water. So make the most of the ever-changing Colorado climate and incorporate a fireplace into your patio to create a truly exceptional outdoor living space that can be sheltered and enjoyed in every season. For more information, call landscaping experts Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation at (970) 226-5677 or visit their website at www. lindgrenlandscape.com.
970.226.5677 www.lindgrenlandscape.com
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Building Northern Colorado
It Takes a Team to
Build a Dream (Home) By Carl Simmons
It took 14 months and many hands to complete Carol and C.W. Miller’s home in Rist Canyon, but as soon as you walk in the door, you know they got it right.
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Aneka Jensen, owner of Aneka Jensen Interiors in Fort Collins, ought to know. Jensen has more than a professional interest in the home – she’s also C.W.’s daughter and Carol’s stepdaughter (and current employer). “We moved up to the property [with C.W. and her mother] when I was a year old, and I moved away between fifth and sixth grade,” Jensen says. “It was a very wonderful place to grow up. It means a lot to me to be involved in building the home up there.” C.W., a professor of cardiovascular physiology at Colorado State University, bought the original 133-acre lot in the early 1970s, and lived in another house on the property. Carol is
a retired dietician from both the U.S. Army and the Adams County School District (K-12) before working for Jensen. Fort Collins home designer David Hueter was also a critical piece in making the Millers’ dreams a reality. “The architectural style is ‘mountain craftsman,’” Hueter explains. “It’s in the details, flowing from the exterior all the way to the interior. The main part was having a very functional layout. It’s open, but the spaces are distinguishable from one another.” Hueter is most proud of “the indoor-to-outdoor flow to all the pieces of the property. Also, it has comfortable, livable spaces that aren’t too big, Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
The Miller home has an open layout with rich architectural detail that still serves to distinguish each living space.
which have their own identity.” The teamwork extended to the interior design as well. “With Jensen’s team being a part of the layout, and me involved in the interiors, it was a fun way to work together, and with the client,” Hueter says. Both Jensen and Carol are quick to point out the role of Jensen’s assistant at the time, Meredith Parrish, in the overall design of the house. “With Aneka’s overall supervision of the design, Meredith was the primary interior designer who selected and designed most of the interior finishes,” Carol says. Parrish selected and designed the tile, recommended the wall colors and finishes, lighting fixtures, wood and carpet, and designed the woodwork details. “Almost everything you see is Meredith,” says Carol. “She listened and incorporated all of our interests into the final result.” “Mark Foster was the cornerstone of success behind the house,” Carol adds. “He was both project coordinator and owner’s advocate, which is one of the reasons there were very few problems.” “It was the incredible team of David, Mark, Meredith, Adrian Jones [Frameworks Timber, Fort Collins], Jason Bigge [Dirtscape Enterprises, LaPorte], Fernando Ceja of Ceja Construction, and Lorna Reeves from Cache Bank & Trust who made all this possible,” says Carol. All in all, the 5-bedroom, 5½-bath home, set on 46 acres, covers about 6,000 square feet. Construction began March 2008, and the Millers moved in June 2009. Upon entering the home, Jensen describes Style 2011
one’s first impressions this way: “As you walk in the front entrance, there’s a really prominent entry with a beautiful layout of tile, and into a barrel vault that continues through the entire house.” Zimbabwean sculptures from Loveland’s Chapungu Gallery artists flank the beginning of the gallery-style hallway, with its rounded ceiling. When the sides of the faux-finished ceiling are lit, your view is naturally led all the way to the far end of the home, where the master bedroom and bath reside. In between those two points lies 2,000 square feet of living area – the kitchen, great room and dining room. The deftness of design is especially evident here, with its use of different types and heights of ceilings and the hall posts that provide both space and separation. “We love to entertain, so we wanted to have this big open space,” Carol says. “We designed it so we could live on the first floor and never have to go up and down, if we had to.” “Architecturally, David really did a nice job,” Jensen says. “There are different details to each room but there aren’t divisions. They wanted it to be a ranch-style home, which it almost is. It’s a just a beautiful home architecturally.” “There’s certain architectural spaces that are just a joy to be in, and there’s not a lot of homes that feel that way,” Hueter adds. “It lives well with a couple like Carol and C.W. and it lives well when you’re entertaining 40.” Each of the hall posts is not only load bearing, but assembled without use of a nail. Carol explains, “The roof trusses were pre-assembled on site. The entire roof structure was lifted up on
The gallery-style hallway has a rounded barrel vault ceiling and beautiful tile inlay.
The woodwork in the Miller home brings alive its ‘mountain craftsman’ feel.
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DREAM HOME SUB-CONTRACTORS
a crane and rotated so it could be set into place. Each man – probably 12 people in all – held a post when the roof was lowered into place; they put the pegs in the holes and pounded them in with rubber mallets. It was extremely precisionmeasured and drilled. There are no nails in the timber frame part of the house.” Ceja Construction of Fort Collins handled the rough framing of the home, as well as the exterior deck and siding. Business owner Fernando Ceja is proudest of his team’s work on the framing. “We like to keep the work clean,” Ceja says. “The homeowners are really nice people and were easy to work with. They were really understanding about all the hard work involved and the schedule we had to work on.” Carol affirms, “Fernando is an extraordinary worker, and the consummate craftsman. He was very precise; everything fit just right.” The master bedroom, like all the bedrooms in the home, has its own bathroom and direct access to outside. “With the arch windows, you can look out and see the moon and stars; you feel like you’re camping,” says Carol. As you step to the outside deck, you also hear and spot the water-fountain boulder on the grounds below. “I grew up in the Midwest, and I always wanted to live near water, so that’s my husband’s concession, my babbling brook,” she adds. The master bath suite features his-and-hers closets, as well as a steam shower and a bubbling tub. The downstairs includes a large exercise/recroom/home-theatre area, featuring a wet bar and wine room. There’s even a small “Barbie loft”
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room under the stairs, for the granddaughters, as well as two guest bedroom suites. And then there’s the property itself, which lends to the home’s design. “There are views throughout the house,” Jensen says. “Going out the front door you can see Fort Collins; in the back through the dining room you can see the mountains beyond. It’s like having a 360-degree view from your living room.” Carol adds, “One of my friends said, ‘Oh my God, you even get views from the garage.’” The property is good for more than just views, though; its design takes full advantage of the sun. In addition to the use of two large solar hot-water tanks for hot water and heating, solar tubing is used for natural lighting throughout the home, including all of the bathrooms. “We took advantage of passive and active solar systems when designing the home, incorporating the natural path of the sun and using the south orientation of the home,” Hueter says. In all, the Miller home is a perfect getaway only a short drive from Fort Collins. “C.W. is a mountain man at heart. This home is his present to me; I like to call it my 25th-anniversary present,” Carol says. “We love it; it’s our dream mountain ‘resort.’” Great mountain views are evident from every room of the home, such as the vista from the large windows in the Miller’s dining room.
Carl Simmons is a freelance writer and editor in Loveland and author of the six-book Bible-study series Growing Out: From Disciples to Disciplers (Group Publishing). You can learn more about Carl at carlsimmonslive.com. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2011
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DREAM HOME SUB-CONTRACTORS
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Mary Carraher, Project Self Sufficiency executive director, with Bethany Hicks, a PS-S graduate who is now an advisor at the Loveland office.
25 Years Offering A Helping Hand
Mary Cahill never expected to need Welfare or public assistance of any kind. She also never expected that the man she married would repeatedly try to kill her and her daughter. “We went into hiding because [when we left] he tried to blow up our house by rigging the gas lines… twice,” she recalls. Style 2011
By Corey Radman
This train wreck marriage robbed Dr. Cahill, today a local veterinarian, of her security as well as the safety net of family (who couldn’t understand what was really happening to her). “Tragedy blindsides you,” she says. “I never really thought it could happen to me. It’s cliché to say, but it’s true.”
Mary In Dr. Cahill’s early years of obtaining restraining orders and running, around 1990, it never crossed her mind that she might one day become a veterinarian. Making sure she and her daughter were safe, clothed and fed was about all she could do. But eventually, she knew she needed more education if she were ever to rise above the constant struggle. In the process of finding aid, Dr. Cahill discovered Project Self-Sufficiency. Now in its 25th year of helping people like Mary Cahill and her daughter, Project SelfSufficiency (PS-S) exists for people who are
willing to fight their way beyond their current circumstances. They bridge the gap for singleparent families who live in poverty, but want something more. Their mission is to assist low-income, single parents (men and women) in their efforts to build and maintain strong, healthy families, achieve economic independence and become free from community and government assistance. Remembering Dr. Cahill’s experiences gives hope to Mary Carraher, PS-S executive director since 1989. “Looking at the successes we can claim makes me proud,” she says. “We feel like a partner in their accomplishments.” The PS-S approach, honed across two and a half decades, is all encompassing. They support 150 Larimer County families from offices in Fort Collins and Loveland. PS-S refers clients to many community agencies for assistance and also has funding to directly help with housing, cars, clothing, scholarships, school
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Mary Cahill, DVM, credits PS-S with helping her to overcome an abusive marriage and gain the confidence and support she needed to become a veterinarian. Photo courtesy of Heidi Muller.
supplies and activities for children. However, their success is because of so much more than the things they provide. PS-S clients report that the single most important service they receive is mentorship. “My advisor, Fran Richburg, was a counselor and mentor to me,” says Dr. Cahill. “More than that, she became my friend. She saw everything that we were going through and supported us. There was never a need I had that wasn’t met.” Dr. Cahill cites the example of reconstructive surgery that PS-S helped organize for her shattered face, another present from the ex-husband. “Without [an advisor relationship], nothing else would happen,” Carraher says. “That person helps with career decisions, solves problems, gathers resources and, most of all, provides emotional support and encouragement.” Carraher is aware that there are members of society who think that “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is the only way to learn self-sufficiency. To them, she offers the suggestion of empathy: “Until you have walked in the shoes of a person in poverty, you don’t really know all the challenges they face. Selfesteem can be a huge barrier. If you have always received messages that you are not good enough… that can be the biggest barrier to moving forward.” She continues, “These people need to [be able to] go to a job interview and convince someone they need to be hired.” For that reason, PS-S offers a self-esteem building class, Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
among other life skill courses. Dr. Cahill, who graduated from PS-S in 2003, agrees that poverty erodes self-esteem: “Part of you feels like you’ve failed by asking for food stamps or not being able to afford your rent. Standing in the line to get food stamps was really hard, but looking around at the other faces there, I realized that they were just like me.”
Bethany “If I could do one thing, it would be to make Welfare Mom a dirty word,” says Bethany Hicks, a PS-S graduate who is now a PS-S Advisor in their Loveland office. “These programs are there to help people; you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask for help if you need it,” she says with the characteristic fire of a survivor. Hicks was living right above the precipice of poverty with her son, whom she had at age 15. Completely on her own, she finished her GED and was working as a waitress for a conference center. “I was paying my bills and sometimes would be eligible for childcare assistance, but there were many months I would make too much and lose that assistance.” Known as the cliff effect, this happens to a lot of families who need assistance. Any raise or overtime pay often bumps them too far up the sliding scale and they end up having to pay out of pocket for healthcare and childcare, putting them even further in the hole. Hicks knew she was going to have to get a college degree to ensure that wouldn’t happen any more. With a sigh, she headed to the Housing Authority in Loveland and asked for a Section 8 housing application. “You know the moments in life when the clouds open and an angel appears?” Hicks asks. “The woman who helped me, Arlene, asked me if I was a single parent. I said I was, and she referred me to Project Self-Sufficiency.” Arlene unwittingly pointed Hicks down a path that would change her life. At PS-S Hicks found a nest of support, which helped her gain confidence, a social work degree and a passion for helping others in her situation. Hicks says she needed to learn how to set goals, how to break them down into manageable steps, and more than that… how to believe in herself. Mary Carraher remembers well Hicks’ entrance interview and application process: “Bethany just blew us away. She always stood out as one of our stars.” All Project Self-Sufficiency applicants go through an application, orientation and interview process before being accepted to the program. This process takes one to three months before an invitation is offered to a qualified applicant. Hicks recalls how her advisor encouraged her to apply for many different scholarships; she wasn’t certain she had a shot at any of them. “Then I got a letter that I had won a Soroptomist Award. At the awards banquet they called the third place winner, the second, and that’s when I realized I had won the first place award. It was so exciting. That’s when my confidence turned around. It was like, ‘People really do support and believe in me Style 2011
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and now I can believe in myself too.’” That award was the first of many Hicks received during her school career. Hicks adds that PS-S is providing much more than handouts: “It took me six years and a lot of community resources to get where I’m at. I’m now a homeowner; I donate to United Way and Planned Parenthood. An investment in me ultimately became an investment in the community.”
Tanya Tanya Spence started with PS-S in 2008 and will graduate this summer as she finishes her EMT training. Like Hicks, Spence really believes that the mission of PS-S is achieved through advising. “It’s a balance between
learning, teaching and providing assistance. I didn’t expect to learn so many skills – skills I’ll use forever and so will my daughter.” Spence indicates that she still employs the goal setting and the money management skills she learned as she works on her credit and saves for a home. One of the PS-S programs she is grateful for is the Cars for Families program (funded by the Bohemian Foundation), which provides many families with transportation. Volunteer mechanics from the City of Fort Collins donate maintenance and repair time to keep these well-loved cars on the road. Asked to describe the reason PS-S works, Spence cites the parable: “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for today; teach a man
to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. Project Self-Sufficiency isn’t there to provide, they’re there to teach you how to provide for yourself. “I can’t say enough to express how much they helped me and my daughter,” she continues. “I think she’ll be better off for having watched me go through this. She has seen that hard work pays off. You may start at one position, but you don’t have to stay there.”
Alyssa Alyssa Bain is the daughter of a PS-S graduate. She and her sister grew up in the program (she jokes that her mother was one of the longest-running program participants). Via email from Guatemala, where she is finishing a semester abroad, Bain says, “I don’t know what would have happened without PS-S. I honestly don’t. My religious beliefs and the faith of my mother tell me that it would have worked out somehow, but I know that without PS-S things would have been that much harder.” Bain is thankful for the children’s programs she participated in through PS-S. In particular, knowing that people shopped for Christmas presents specifically for her has always made her feel special – not awkward. PS-S partners fund back-to-school clothing, holiday parties and extra-curricular activities like swim lessons so that kids in the program can have the same advantages as their peers. The Future Mary Carraher reports that the current economy is by far the toughest she has worked in. “The biggest burden in my job is keeping our organization funded. Each year has been a challenge but when the economy declined… I thought it was hard before, but I had no idea.” The main dilemma is that PS-S is seeing an increase in demand for their services, but donors are trimming their budgets. PS-S is currently able to fund their commitments, however, the future is uncertain. In order to better serve more participants, PS-S can no longer support participants through a graduate degree program. “We’ve been wise about saving over the years for a rainy day, and it’s raining,” she says. “Every year it becomes a challenge to decide if we can continue services at the same level for that next year.” United Way is the single largest PS-S donor, but that’s less than 10 percent of their overall $1.2 million annual budget. In other words, the need is great. In Carraher’s first years on the job, PS-S used to approve seven out of every ten applications. Now the number is more like three out of ten. Carraher is still hopeful, though. People are still giving, sometimes a few dollars at a time, sometimes – like from Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation – thousands at a time. Carraher’s faith in human kindness assures her that PS-S will continue to help people for years to come. Corey Radman is a writer and mother living in Fort Collins. She can be reached via her website at www.fortcollinswriter.com.
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LifeStyle
Symphony Season
Promises Greatness
After a year of bouncing between venues, the Fort Collins Symphony (FCS) will kick off this season at the newly renovated Lincoln Center. Despite recent challenges, both economic and procedural, the Fort Collins Symphony is coming back strong and has high hopes for an outstanding season.
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By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer
With the Lincoln Center undergoing construction, the FCS was homeless, but they took a lighthearted approach to the predicament. The theme of the season, “Where’s Wes?,” playfully described the symphony’s nomadic ways. Fortunately, finding new places to perform was an opportunity for the symphony to reach new audiences around Northern Colorado. The majority of the 2010-2011 concerts were held at Timberline Church in Fort Collins. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partnership than we had with them last year,” says Wes Kenney, music director of the Fort Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Collins Symphony. The symphony also performed at the University for the Arts, and partnered with both Fort Collins High School to play in the McNeal Auditorium and with Thompson Valley High School to play in the Roberta Price Auditorium.
Wes is Back Thanks to a $600,000 contribution by the Downtown Development Authority, the FCS will be returning to an acoustically improved Performance Hall at Lincoln Center, and Kenney plans to take full advantage of the upgrades. “We’ve created a season that is going to take the acoustics out for a test drive,” says Kenney. “A lot of the repertoire is pretty loud, and intentionally so, and then there’s also a lot of repertoire that is very, very subtle.” There are four sections of the orchestra, including strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion, but Kenney explains there is also a fifth section, and that is the hall in which the orchestra is playing. With enhancements to the baffles around the presidium, the hall’s orchestra seats will now be highly desirable. While acoustic renovations have occurred, seating in the Performance Hall remains the same. “Either the hall is working with you or against you. So what I’m most looking forward to this season is being in acoustical environments that are really going to enhance the symphony,” says Kenney. The season kicks off on September 24, with Elizabeth Pitcairn. An admired violin virtuoso, Pitcairn’s Colorado debut was with the FCS five years ago, and since then she has returned to play for several fundraisers. Another popular artist who FCS has had in the past, Zuill Bailey, one the hottest cellists in the business, is going to be at their second concert in October. In February 2012, hometown girl and violinist, Nina Fan, will perform “Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.” Fan, a student of Will Schwartz, the conductor who spent 50 years with the FCS, is now a member of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Mid-season the symphony will play at Lincoln Center and will make a return trip to Roberta Price Auditorium for music by Vaughan-Williams, Britten and Elgar. Then, thanks to the relationship developed between the FCS and Timberline Church, the symphony will return there for their annual youth education series in collaboration with Poudre Schools, and a pops concert, A Tribute to John Williams, on April 14. “Everyone knows John Williams’ music. It’s ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Raiders of the Lost Arc,’ the Olympic theme – we’ll have it all,” says Carrie Newman, executive director of the Fort Collins Symphony. “Timberline represents a new audience that we are trying to reach and that’s the family,” she added. The season will conclude in May with Style 2011
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Carrie Newman, executive director of the Fort Collins Symphony
Russian Masterpieces at the Lincoln Center and Roberta Price Auditorium in Loveland. With David Korevaar on piano the new acoustics in the Performance Hall will shine with “Schedrin’s Symphony Fanfares,” “Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on Theme of Paganini” and “Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5.” “David has played all around Colorado, but never with the Fort Collins Symphony. He’s very, very popular in the Boulder area where he’s on the faculty at University of Colorado Boulder,” says Kenney.
Continuous Challenges The symphony has not been immune from economic woes. While individual donations have gone down, corporate donations have nearly stopped. The FCS budget went from over $700,000 to $400,000 in just over a year, and in response the symphony downsized. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, and from last season to this season Newman and Kenney feel the symphony has gained back its stride and is sized right and ready to grow. “It actually presented us with new opportunities because we had to diversify,” says Kenney. “I think, as a result, we’ll see much more diverse sponsorships for the symphony
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Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
and economically that will make it more stable.” With help from the Fort Collins Symphony Guild, and many other supporters, the 62-year-old symphony is able to give back to the community that has given them so much. From free concerts to other community oriented programming, the FCS is also finding new audiences. This season, the FCS will introduce the Founders Society. Joining will give season ticket holders perks, including a chance to get up close and personal with Elizabeth Pitcairn and Zuill Bailey. “We’re excited about the Founders Society. It’s a chance for us to be able to give experiences to our supporters and to be appreciative of their generosity,” says Newman. To learn more about the Founders Society and the Fort Collins Symphony visit www.fcsymphony.org. Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer is a journalist and freelance writer from Northern Colorado. She is also the Mayor of HeidiTown.com, a blog about Colorado events and festivals. Style 2011
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LifeStyle
Beet Street’s
Weld County Turns
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Finch.
150 Years Old In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was the newly elected President of the United States, and the country was on the verge of civil war. James “Wild Bill” Hickok joined the famous Pony Express. And in the West a new county was formed in what was once the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. In September of that year, St. Vrain County was officially renamed Weld County after Lewis Ledyard Weld, the Colorado Territorial Secretary under Colorado’s first territorial governor. He was a lawyer practicing in the Pike’s Peak area who later died during his military service in the Civil War. On November 1, 1861, the Colorado Territory’s General Assembly organized and ratified 17 counties, including the newly renamed Weld County. This is considered to be the day Weld County officially began. This year is packed with sesquicentennial celebrations, marking this event all over Weld County. It was officially kicked off in January with a proclamation announcing 2011 as a year of celebration for Weld County. The proclamation recognized upcoming celebratory events and the official anniversary website. Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway says they are very excited about the website because it is interactive. Weld County residents can learn about the county’s rich history and submit their own historical stories and photographs. “Each month the website will feature a different topic relating to the history of Weld County,” Conway says. “It is updated weekly with stories from readers about their lives in Weld County and some of the founding fathers and pioneer families of the county.” The website has received many fascinating stories from readers, adds Conway. Among the topics featured on the website are the beginnings of the county’s education, water, transportation and agricultural systems. During the year, a traveling educational road show is making stops in each of Weld County’s 31 municipalities at service organizations, chamber events and museums, and at all the Weld County festivals. Conway and the other commissioners are traveling throughout the county with the road show to explain the heritage of the county and each municipality’s role in its history.
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By Connie Hein
Conway says the commissioners are proud of the history of the county and happy for the opportunity to share it with residents. The work ethic and financial foresight of the founding fathers made a better life for future generations of the county, says Conway. “The pioneer families of Weld County were a no-nonsense, hard-working bunch that believed in saving for what residents needed and not going into debt.” Weld County is a Home Rule county, and their charter states that commissioners are prohibited from allowing the county to incur any debt, so all county buildings are built with money saved for that purpose. “We, as commissioners, are very proud and grateful for this great example of fiscal responsibility and honored to be part of carrying on [that legacy] for our children and grandchildren,” says Conway. Weld County’s more modern economic history is just as admirable, he adds, with steady growth throughout several economic downturns as evidenced by Kodak Colorado Division moving into the area in 1969 and, more recently, companies such as Vestas, Luprino Foods and several oil and gas companies that have chosen to make Weld County their homes. As part of the celebration, on September 9, 2011, will be the grand opening of historic Fort Lupton, which is commemorating its 175th anniversary at the newly refurbished replica of the original fort. The 150th Anniversary Celebration will come to a close on November 21, 2011, with an open house and gala at the new Weld County Administration Building. All county residents are invited to this event, which is free to the public. All the stories, photographs and memorabilia collected this year will be carefully preserved so that none of this important history is lost. Each municipality will be presented with a board of historical information about how they fit in to the story of Weld County. For more details about the anniversary celebration, to read about the history and stories of the pioneers who founded Weld, or to add a story, readers are encouraged to visit www.weldcounty150.org. Connie Hein is a freelance writer living in Windsor and the author of the Toliver in Time series of children’s books.
Enchanting Creative Garden The Fort Collins arts scene is on fire this summer! If you’ve happened to run into one of the colorfully hand-painted pianos being played spontaneously by a child or a group of friends gathered around one who is singing a capella, then you’ve been a part of the Pianos about Town program. Streetmosphere, which brings free, family-friendly entertainment to downtown Fridays-Sundays through Labor Day weekend, lights up Old Town with jugglers, magicians, painters, live music and more. And what about all the free concerts we can enjoy: Noontime Notes, the Lagoon Concert Series, Bohemian Nights Thursday Night live concerts, and Ben & Jerry’s FAC Concert Series, to name a few. So, maybe you’re wondering – What’s next? How about Beet Street’s Creative Garden? Creative Garden within Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest will showcase some of the most talented visual artists and performing arts organizations in Northern Colorado. Beet Street will transform the Remington Street parking lot between Oak and Olive Streets into a relaxing oasis within the bustling festival with a juried arts show and sale, including a youth arts display, and a performing arts stage. Visual arts will include everything from pottery and fine art painting to furniture and jewelry designed and handcrafted by over 20 local artisans including Chris Wolff, Gary Hixon, Gwen Hatchette, Diane Findley, Bob Coonts and many more. Interested in the performing arts as well? The performing arts stage will feature performances from Opera Fort Collins, Bas Bleu Theatre & Company, Impact Dance, Debut Theatre Company, Canyon Concert Ballet and others. This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to enjoy the arts on a large scale in a relaxing setting that includes shady café-style seating, fresh food, specialty beer and wine, and hands-on arts demonstrations. Visitors to Creative Garden will also be enthralled by a large-scale sculpture created by local artist Tim Upham and art décor by Lisa Cameron. For those of you who love local artist Amelia Caruso’s work, you can purchase prints, tote bags and t-shirts with a unique design Caruso created especially for Creative Garden. Beet Street is also excited to be sharing the Remington Street parking lot with the Bohemian Nights Singer/Songwriter Stage. So mark your calendars for August 13 and 14 to join us at Creative Garden within Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest and experience all of the amazing talent, art and more that Fort Collins has to offer! For more information, please visit www.beetstreet.org. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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LifeStyle
Com•palat•able Conversations
also important – you need to be able to avoid burning the outside and still achieve a perfectly moist, cooked interior. All senses need to be onboard at this point, typically at about the three-beer stage. Here I like to pause and reflect on my barbeque travels, reviewing the steps I have taken thus far before embarking on the final step: what will be served along with your barbeque? Potatoes? Grits? Cornbread? Potato salad or coleslaw? Buns or no buns? And the most important question to be answered: Who will I share this with? Should I share this? Of course, if your neighbors ask about the tantalizing smells, you may have to get creative so you don’t have to share. And, gentlemen remember: women love men who cook, so this may be the icebreaker and dealmaker you need. One of my favorite barbeque finishing sauces is called the “San Diego Style.” Here is my recipe:
where hospitality and food come together By Paul Pellegrino
San Diego Style Barbeque Sauce E
B
BQ TIM
What does BBQ mean to you? While the spelling has many variations – barbeque, barbecue, BBQ, Bar-B-Que – the real meaning to me for this summertime staple is that you had Better Be Quick, or you may not get any. Barbeque preferences are as personal, and regional, as the clothes each of us wear. Some enjoy their BBQ slathered in sauce; others take a dry rub approach. Do your tastes run to sweet, spicy, smoky or tangy? And because this is such an intensely personal thing, we want people to recognize what our preferences say about us. In the Philippines you can find vendors up and down the streets, fanning a little charcoal grill with a banana leaf, grilling wood skewers speared with chicken, pork and even squid, yelling out “Bar-ba-que! Bar-ba-que!” In the USA, barbeque styles vary by region. We have Kansas City, Texas and Carolina styles, each with their unique characteristics. The principles to creating truly magnificent barbeque are at once simple and complex. In many households (like mine), this art has been mastered by the Men (so we think, anyway), commandeering the grill and thumping our chest proudly at this display of culinary prowess. For me, my claim to any skill stems from the fact that it is a labor of love, drawing out flavors from each ingredient as you would with a fine wine or beer. First, consider the meat selection. Is it pork, chicken, beef or something else that contributed to this experience? Second, which cuts of each type of protein are best to use? Generally, good barbeque is made from meats that have a higher fat content. The idea is that a protein with a high
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fat content ensures that you will end up with a moist, juicy product that leads to a high level of barbeque satisfaction. Keep in mind that at the end of the barbeque process, the meat that had an initial high fat content is generally not greasy. Instead, the cooking process acts as a protection for the meat, leaving it tender and juicy. Once you have decided on your protein, now is the time to make the oft-contended decision: to dry rub or brine. Both processes begin to infuse the meat with a flavor base that will also keep it tender throughout the cooking. The brine method utilizes a low boil in a flavor base added to water, simmering for a lengthy time period. Dry rubs are a dry spice mix that is rubbed over the entire surface of the meat then slowly oven roasted. The trick to dry rub is to be aware of your overall cooking time so as not to overcook, resulting in a (literal) crash and burn. There is a window of success in the dry rub/oven roasted method, but it is a small window. The next phase of creating barbeque brilliance generally takes place with a beer in hand, at least my method does. The beer jumpstarts the creative juices and enhances the superhuman ability of creating that perfectly caramelized, slightly charred perfection of a true barbeque masterpiece. Before moving your meat to the grill for the final steps of cooking, consider the smoky elements that will add yet another layer of flavor to your barbeque: hickory, cedar, cherry, and applewood chips can impart a smoky brilliance to your meat. Now comes the grilling. Move your meat to the grill and begin the process of brush and mop – adding appropriate amounts of your finishing barbeque sauce onto the meat at perfectly timed intervals to create that sticky sweet perfection with impressive meat to sauce ratio. The finishing sauce can be thick or thin, sweet or spicy – or both. Here is where your personality comes in to play. Temperature at this point is
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1 quart Sweet Baby Ray’s barbeque sauce to use as a base
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1 cup of your favorite orange marmalade
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1 chipotle pepper in 1 tsp. adobo sauce
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1 cup diced mango
Mixed all ingredients together and refrigerate. Slather generously to meat on the grill. And remember, plenty of face and hand towels are required.
Tastefully Yours, Paul Pellegrino Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
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W eld food bank stone soup April 30 :: UNC Ballroom :: Greeley The 9th Annual Stone Soup Dinner brought over 250 community members together to draw awareness to hunger and those it impacts. Area companies, organizations, service clubs and individuals enjoyed a prime rib dinner, silent auction, games and more. The event raised nearly $80,000 for programs at Weld Food Bank such as Kid’s Café and the Backpack program, which provides weekend food for children at risk of food insecurity.
Greg & Molly McIntosh
Photos courtesy of Magic Shoebox Studio.
Standing: Kim & Fred Devore, Robin & Scott Moser, Seated: Sheila & Tim Croissant
Joise & Rick Branham
C U LT I VAT E H O P E G A R D E N PA R T Y May 5 :: Marriott :: Fort Collins More than 330 guests came together to celebrate spring and enjoy a festive evening. Highlights from of the event included a garden-themed silent auction, personal stories from The Matthews House alumni and the awarding of the inaugural Volunteer of the Year award. More than $20,000 was raised for The Matthews House to continue to help youth with little family support to successfully transition to living on their own. Photos courtesy of Craig Vollmer Photography.
Brian & Esther Hansen, The Matthews House 2010 Volunteers of the Year, Vanessa Ashmann
Stacy & Kevin Unger, Ben Magsamen
Staci Clark, Marjorie Moss, Rachel Olsen
A N N U A L C E L E B R AT I O N O F P H I L A N T H R O P Y May 11 :: Hilton :: Fort Collins Recognizing the generosity of Northern Colorado community members, this popular event hosted by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado (CFNC) had more than 500 business leaders, community members and elected officials gather to learn about local nonprofits, honor two trustees for their years of service and dedication to the CFNC’s mission, and hear keynote speaker Dr. David Krueger, noted physician, author and executive coach, deliver his message to think strategically and creatively about philanthropy and community engagement. Photos courtesy of Sherri Barber Photography.
Sarah Hach, Cindy Guldy, Annette Geiselman Style 2011
David Fritzler, Tom Kula, Kristi Benningsdorf, Luis Ramirez, Paul Mendoza
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C ommunity classic bike tour May 15 :: McKee Medical Center :: Loveland Despite cold temperatures and wet roads, more than 1,500 cyclists geared up to ride in the 24th annual Community Classic Bike Tour event. Taking off from McKee, cyclists chose between four different routes through Loveland and Fort Collins to fit their skill levels. Cyclists, were taken care of by more than 200 volunteers who provided safety, aid and helped riders maintain endurance. More than $85,000 was raised to benefit the Stepping Stones Adult Day Program at McKee.
Lauren & Cole Evans, Troy & Lori McWhinney, Carrie Martello
Nancy & Jay Hardy, Ryan Will
2 9 th annual junior league terrace & garden tour June 18 :: Seven Homes in Old Town :: Fort Collins Mountain Avenue and neighboring streets in Old Town provided the staging area for this event as more than 2,000 gardening enthusiasts toured seven homes and their unique gardens and outdoor spaces. Each home had something special to offer the attendees, including shared driveway gardens with neighbors, a yard housing chickens and an exquisite transformed carriage house, xeriscaping, and a four season yard attracting bees, birds and butterflies. The signature event netted $40,000 and will benefit several Junior League projects to enhance and better the community such as ABLE Women, PSD Snack Program and more.
Connie Nelson-Cleverley, Cathy Brown, Jenn Birks, Dawn Byers, Sonia ImMasche
Joan & Bill Whirty
Leslie Harms, Michael Spearnak
Julie & Gary Luckasen
MULLIGAN’S PUB CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT June 18 :: Southridge Golf Course :: Fort Collins An early morning scramble brought out 76 players for a day of friendly competition at this 4th annual golf tournament. Special event holes provided fun extracurricular activities and prizes, like the longest marshmallow drive. Following play, golfers joined their families, volunteers and other patrons at Mulligan’s Pub for a barbecue buffet and live auction, and awards and prizes were presented to winners. The fun day helped to raise more than $10,000 for Shared Journeys Brain Injury Foundation and the Shared Journeys Advocacy Program benefitting brain injury survivors and their families.
Michael Durnil, Steve Durnil, Sara Durnil, Lisa Bergerson
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Ken Forzley, Mike Dersham, Todd Heenan, Dave White Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2011
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Magistrate Mary Joan Berenato
Championing for Youths
M
ary Joan Berenato moved to Fort Collins in 1982 for the same reason that thousands of others do every year: to attend Colorado State University. The Philadelphia, PA-area native literally bounced through her college years, as a player on the CSU women’s basketball team. Berenato’s intent was to remain in the game she loved beyond college as a coach. Her father, however, benched that aspiration when he offered her a choice of just two careers, medicine or law. Berenato decided to follow in the footsteps of two brothers already in the legal profession. After graduation in 1986, she attended law school at Temple University in Philadelphia, but spent her third year at Denver University. She then clerked for a Jefferson County judge. After passing the Bar exam in 1990, Berenato became a county attorney representing elected officials and the Department of Human Services in Eagle County in 1991. Seven years later, she moved to Vail, where she spent 19 months in private practice. Berenato came down off the mountain in 1999 to work for the Weld County District Attorney in the 19th Judicial District. That one-year position was followed by 3 ½ years in Larimer County’s (8th Judicial) District Attorney’s office. Berenato became a magistrate in January 2003, replacing Magistrate Joe Coyte in the
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Juvenile Unit. “I immediately realized I was home,” she says. “I just loved working with kids.” Berenato credits two mentors for the positive posture of that unit. Larry Abrahamson, current Larimer County District Attorney, was previously Chief Deputy of the Juvenile Unit. He encouraged his staff to implement creative ways to work with kids. And, adds Berenato, Coyte, then-Juvenile Magistrate, set a kind and gentle example for staff to follow. It was when Coyte left that Berenato applied for and got his job. She has high praise for his “awesome” staff, which stayed on with her. “Every day you made a positive difference,” says Berenato. “It was a wonderful, invigorating environment.” She stresses that there’s so much hope in Juvenile, which works to keep children out of the adult system. Children have always been central to her various positions. As a county attorney, she worked dependency and neglect cases. In the D.A.’s office, she prosecuted delinquents ages 10-18. But the juvenile system, says Berenato, is not punishment-focused. On the contrary, it uses upbeat methods to turn damaged lives around. Berenato’s department early on partnered with community members and non-profit groups to establish classes for youth within the juvenile justice system. These included knitting, yoga, gardening, pottery, photography, art and tutoring. Some of those activities were open to young people in the greater community as well. To encourage kids’ perception of the courthouse as a friendly, not scary, place many of the classes were held there. Berenato also stresses the importance of treating the whole family, not just merely a young offender’s symptoms. It is her philosophy that it can take just one person to effect change in a child’s life. Positive role models can be found in such groups as The Center for Family Outreach, The Jacob Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and other non-profits that assist youth. Additional community involvement can be found in area businesses. St. Peter’s Fly Shop, for example, has taught fly tying and taken children on fishing trips. (Anyone with their own
By Marty Metzger
great idea should contact the Probation Department or Center for Family Outreach.) Berenato extols both outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system and the children’s influence on her. She recalls, “I learned something new from each at-risk child that appeared before me.” In September 2010, Berenato was rotated to a new position. As one of two magistrates presiding over Domestic Relations, she handles divorce and parental responsibilities cases. In this role, she still continues to influence and help children. She considers her interaction with those kids as leaving a mutual imprint. “At least, I know it did on me. Not a day went by without something positive happening. I absolutely loved my job!” she declares. Those who know the magistrate credit her passion for helping youth for the many successes in her department. “I’ve never met a more dedicated, passionate person and champion for children’s issues than Mary Jo,” says Laurie Klith, Executive Director for The Center for Family Outreach. “I worked with her in the juvenile justice system. She’s a visionary beyond her years and a wonderful human being. I’m honored to be her friend.” Berenato’s connection continues intact with many kids from her former, 7½-years-long assignment. Even now, she receives announcements of graduations, jobs and births (a testimony to her imprint on the children she worked with). She has breakfast quarterly with some of those young people and does different activities with many others. Berenato has one child of her own, a 16-yearold daughter who, she states, “has no legal aspirations whatsoever.” (Of course, that was also her own viewpoint three decades ago!) The magistrate never did, however, totally abandon her original career goal. She’s spent most of her legal professional life coaching children how to succeed in society. Basketball-loving Berenato has merely swapped one kind of court for another. Marty Metzger, who lives in Fort Collins, has worked as a freelance writer for 23 years.
in•no•vate – v. 1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established, 2. to alter. Style invites you to nominate your Community Innovator. Send suggestions to angie@stylemedia. com for consideration. Lydia’s STYLE Magazine
Style 2011
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