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What can an elite cycling coach teach business owners about building a stronger team? Clay Worthington joins the Colorado Business Podcast to share the lessons he carried from coaching athletes into entrepreneurship. Clay spent 16 years in elite cycling before moving into consulting and business ownership. He joins Marcus and Chris to discuss the value of simple processes, the standards that shape a team's culture, and why strong competitors can make each other better. In this conversation: - Learning from success as well as failure - Why simple, actionable processes matter - Using outside perspectives to improve communication - Avoiding unforced errors in sport and business - Matching decisions to the stage of a business - Mentorship, accountability and team standards - Competition, cooperation and playing the long game - Building businesses with a spouse and defining a meaningful legacy GUEST Clay Worthington, business owner and former elite cycling coach https://clayworthington.com/ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Atma Health: https://atmapmf.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Junk Jockey COS: Text 719-345-5064 for a free estimate. Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ BrightLeaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Coming up and intro 01:21 Meet Clay Worthington 01:55 From elite cycling to entrepreneurship 03:21 Learning from success as well as failure 04:12 Why simplicity wins 09:06 Sports psychology and outside perspective 13:46 Avoiding unforced errors 16:34 Sponsor messages 19:57 Business seasons: offense and defense 25:53 Finding mentors and taking action 35:13 The standards that shape team culture 39:55 Competition, cooperation and high standards 48:34 Sponsor messages 51:18 A Lake Como story about competition 57:14 The world champion who chose Clay as his coach 1:01:54 Attitude and the long game 1:10:16 Building businesses with your spouse 1:16:39 Rethinking failure and disappointment 1:22:47 Family, legacy and meaningful work 1:26:39 Business, community and civic participation 1:28:43 Where to find Clay and closing thoughts 1:30:20 Outro CONNECT WITH COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST Watch more conversations and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Visit the show: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What standard has made the biggest difference for your team? Share it in the comments and subscribe for more conversations with Colorado business owners and leaders. Episode 352 | Clay Worthington

Why can homes sit on the market while people still struggle to afford a place to live? Jill Gaebler of Pikes Peak Housing Network joins the Colorado Business Podcast to unpack the difference between a listing price and the cost of actually buying a home. Jill brings eight years of Colorado Springs City Council experience and her work as the network's executive director to a conversation about housing, local business and the future of the city. She discusses why the monthly payment matters, how housing choices affect employers and workers, and what makes a neighborhood livable. In this conversation: - Seller expectations, mortgage payments, insurance and property taxes - The gap between the homes being built and what households can afford - Smaller homes, accessory dwelling units and neighborhood zoning - Downtown businesses, walkability, bike lanes and community life - Condo construction, HOA fees and deferred maintenance - Principled leadership and investing in local institutions GUEST Jill Gaebler, Executive Director, Pikes Peak Housing Network Learn about the network and its housing resources: https://pphousingnetwork.org/ THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Junk Jockey COS: https://junkjockeyscos.com/ Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ BrightLeaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ Atma Health: https://atmapmf.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Coming up 00:48 Meet Jill Gaebler: from the Air Force to City Council 07:14 Tiny homes and workforce housing 09:58 City Council and City for Champions 15:08 Sponsor messages 18:42 Why Pikes Peak Housing Network was created 21:38 Downtown apartments and the housing data 25:55 Livable downtowns and local businesses 30:40 Walkable neighborhoods, density and city costs 37:38 Why young buyers struggle to afford a home 41:00 Smaller homes, ADUs and neighborhood zoning 43:51 Housing opposition and downtown development 49:47 Sponsor messages 52:19 Bike lanes, PikeRide and getting around 54:19 Why homes sit unsold while people need housing 57:06 The monthly payment beyond the listing price 1:00:21 Condos, HOA costs and construction challenges 1:05:33 The next chapter of growth in Colorado Springs 1:10:24 Principled leadership and investing in community 1:16:19 Where to find Jill and closing thoughts 1:16:57 Outro CONNECT WITH COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST Watch more conversations and subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Visit the show: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What would make your neighborhood a better place to live and work? Share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with Colorado business owners and community leaders. Episode 351 | Jill Gaebler

Growing a business starts with developing the people inside it. Joe Marzocco joins the Colorado Business Podcast to talk about leadership, hiring for potential and building a company that supports the life you want. Joe shares his path from working in his family's construction business in New York to leading teams in Colorado and starting LionShare Growth Partners. Through stories about employees, entrepreneurship and climbing mountains, he explains why people, process and product matter, how discipline carries you when motivation fades, and why growth sometimes requires changing the way you work. In this conversation:- Recognizing potential and giving people room to develop- Moving from corporate leadership into coaching and business advisory work- Taking action through fear and uncertainty- Finding the right roles as a company grows- Creating repeatable processes without losing the human side of business- Defining success around family, purpose and the cost of your time GUESTJoe Marzocco, LionShare Growth PartnersLeadership training, coaching and business guidance:https://lionsharegrowthpartners.com/ CHAPTERS00:00 Coming up01:06 Meet Joe Marzocco02:09 Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs09:14 Faith, identity and finding purpose in Colorado18:27 Sponsor messages21:36 Building a business by investing in people29:28 From corporate leadership to LionShare Growth Partners34:46 Family entrepreneurship and Overdrive Raceway39:02 Resilience, fear and the next step45:31 Discipline when motivation runs out49:28 Sponsor messages51:51 Growth ceilings and changing how you operate59:19 Define the business and life you actually want1:02:34 Capability, capacity and the right roles1:05:39 Repeatable processes and the customer promise1:08:39 Protecting family time while building a business1:12:31 What is next for Joe1:17:09 Where to find Joe and closing thoughts1:17:47 Outro THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORSEXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/BrightLeaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ CONNECT WITH COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTWatch more conversations and subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastVisit the show:https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ Which leadership lesson would make the biggest difference in your business? Share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with business owners and operators. Episode 350 | Joe Marzocco

What makes content feel like it could only come from you? Spencer McKee of OutThere Colorado explains why personality, firsthand experience and a connection with the audience matter, even as AI changes how content gets made. For business owners and creators, this conversation explores how to find stories worth sharing, learn from audience feedback and keep a recognizable voice. Spencer also takes us behind the outdoor reporting, travel experiences and career decisions that shaped his work. Spencer is Director of Content and Operations at OutThere Colorado. He covers Colorado news and outdoor adventures, and his team earned the 2022 Outdoor Media Summit People's Choice Blog of the Year award. In Episode 349, he shares how a loan from his dad helped him stay in Colorado long enough to pursue the job that became his career. The conversation moves from the economics of digital media to community feedback, AI and creative identity. Along the way, Spencer discusses Colorado's mountain towns and music scene, a memorable month in India, via ferrata adventures and the alligator wrestling class he took while reporting for OutThere Colorado. He closes by sharing how listeners can connect with his work and UpaDowna's outdoor community. TOPICS - Finding stories through firsthand experience and curiosity - Building a distinct voice that resonates with an audience - Website advertising, sponsored content and digital media - Separating useful criticism from online noise - AI as a creative tool and the importance of personality - Colorado adventures, travel stories and outdoor community GUEST LINKS OutThere Colorado: https://www.denvergazette.com/outtherecolorado/ Spencer McKee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencermckee UpaDowna: https://upadowna.org/ SPONSORS Thank you to the sponsors featured in this episode. Diamond read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ LINE-X read: LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: career, content and adventure 00:46 Colorado Business Podcast intro 00:56 Meet Spencer McKee 02:20 Finding a new life in Colorado 07:54 Mountain towns, bears and Colorado life 13:16 The career break that led to OutThere Colorado 19:36 Diamond sponsor read 22:51 Website ads, sponsored stories and the business model 24:25 Colorado's live music and comedy scene 29:34 Finding stories your audience cares about 33:02 Reading feedback and learning from criticism 39:02 AI, authenticity and keeping your own voice 50:57 Walking, reflection and the creative process 54:22 LINE-X sponsor read 56:45 Travel, curiosity and a month in India 1:04:22 How travel creators change the way we explore 1:10:04 Via ferrata and Colorado adventures 1:14:45 Wildlife encounters and outdoor responsibility 1:22:47 Spencer's alligator wrestling story 1:36:57 Where to find Spencer and UpaDowna 1:39:06 Outro ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST Conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders about building teams, creating value and serving their communities. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What makes your content feel unmistakably yours? Share your perspective in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #SpencerMcKee #OutThereColorado

What can an orchestra conductor teach a business owner about leadership? Devin Patrick Hughes explains how to earn influence, raise standards, and bring skilled people together, even when everyone knows their own instrument better than you do. Devin describes the preparation, trust, shared vision, and rehearsal work that help skilled musicians perform together. For leaders of creative or highly skilled teams, the episode offers a different way to think about getting the best out of people. Devin is Music Director of Boulder Symphony & Music Academy and Artistic Director & Conductor of Symphony of the Rockies. He shares how a childhood love of music, college baseball, and a change of direction from pre-medicine led to his career on the podium. The conversation explores music education, the discipline of rehearsal, what gives creative work lasting impact, and how leaders keep growing alongside their teams. Devin also discusses building a music academy, making concerts accessible, his perspective on AI and live performance, and balancing family life with demanding creative work. TOPICS • Earning influence with experienced specialists • Shared expectations, healthy pressure, and preparation • Music education, collaboration, and community access • Mozart, Beethoven, and the context behind enduring art • Creativity, career direction, and finding your calling • AI and the human experience of live music GUEST LINKS Devin Patrick Hughes: https://devinpatrickhughes.com/ Boulder Symphony & Music Academy: https://bouldersymphony.org/ Symphony of the Rockies: https://www.symphonyrockies.org/ Find current concert dates and tickets through the orchestras' websites. SPONSORS Thank you to the sponsors featured in this episode. Diamond read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Bellwether read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: leadership and teamwork 00:36 Colorado Business Podcast intro 00:46 Meet Devin Patrick Hughes 01:33 From Springfield to a career in conducting 05:42 What a conductor actually does 10:04 Interpreting music and telling a story 14:24 Why music education matters 19:40 What makes a performance feel seamless 24:34 Diamond sponsor read 27:47 What makes great work last? 33:56 Raising standards without burning out the team 40:09 Preparation, trust, and empowering musicians 43:35 Creativity, passion, and finding your calling 52:00 Building the Boulder Symphony Music Academy 55:11 Bellwether sponsor read 57:37 The future of classical music 59:43 AI, artistry, and the human connection 1:07:23 What comes next for Devin 1:08:56 Family and the demands of creative work 1:14:13 Concerts and connecting with the orchestras 1:17:16 Outro ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST Conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders about building teams, creating value, and serving their communities. Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ How do you earn trust and bring out the best in a skilled team? Share your experience in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #DevinPatrickHughes #Leadership

Mike Kinner created Air O Sport around a simple challenge: how could he play a sport he loved with his daughter, his aging father, and friends who did not see themselves as athletic? In this conversation, he explains how a family-business upbringing and a difficult stretch as a founder shaped a game intended to bring different generations together. The Colorado Springs founder and inventor also shares how play has informed his work with families and business teams, why he values screen-free creativity, and what he hopes to build through the Air O Sport Foundation. In the episode, Mike talks about growing up around the Donut Mill, learning from his parents, the value he found in reading, and the product-design challenge that helped shape Air O Sport. He describes using play in corporate team experiences, the lonely stretch when the business felt difficult to sustain, parenting and screen-free play, and his hope to create more opportunities for people to play together. GUEST LINKS: Air O Sport: https://playairosport.com/ | Air O Sport Foundation: https://airosportfoundation.org/ | Peak Play Performance: https://peakplaypro.com/ GUEST Mike Kinner Founder and Inventor Air O Sport CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: play across generations 00:50 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:00 Meet Mike Kinner and Air O Sport 02:44 The Donut Mill and family business 08:00 From basketball to self-development 15:55 Reading, focus, and flow 19:49 Diamond sponsor read 23:51 Why Mike created a multigenerational sport 26:52 Product design and the patent challenge 28:59 Play, confidence, and corporate teams 35:19 The setback that nearly stopped the dream 37:15 Relationships, trust, and team building 44:03 What pushed Mike past the setback? 45:06 Parenting and screen-free play 49:59 Creativity and the gift of boredom 51:29 LINE-X sponsor read 54:33 A sport that makes room for more people 56:52 Breaking loneliness through play 59:47 Where Air O Sport is going 1:02:27 Family, community, and the mission 1:05:09 The next million play moments 1:07:59 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ LINE-X sponsor read: LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Review note: The recorded Diamond read includes Pioneer Rodeo event copy for dates that have passed. Confirm an updated read or approved use before episode lock. ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What should Colorado protect as it grows, and what should it be willing to build? Share your perspective in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #AirOSport #ColoradoSprings #Play

Most employees never choose the health plan their employer buys for them. Mike Markland believes that model is ready for a rethink. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Mike shares the personal healthcare experience that pushed him into employee benefits, the numbers that convinced him to leave a traditional brokerage, and why employer-funded individual coverage may give workers more control over how they use their benefits. Mike and the hosts unpack ICHRA, now discussed in the episode as CHOICE Arrangements, the incentives built into group health insurance, direct primary care, the role of consumer choice, and the pressure rising costs place on employers and employees. The conversation also moves into building ATMA PMF, hiring people who default to action, systems over goals, personal responsibility, and the standards Mike learned through sports and family. Specific savings figures and healthcare-system claims discussed in the episode reflect the guest's experience and perspective. Results and plan suitability vary by employer, employee, market, and coverage design. FEATURED GUEST Mike Markland   Founder, ATMA PMF   Website: https://atmapmf.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The health plan choice most employees never get   00:52 Colorado Business Podcast intro   01:01 Meet Mike Markland of ATMA PMF   07:19 Climbing Kilimanjaro and pushing through the summit   12:16 The health experience that changed Mike's direction   16:18 How employer-funded individual coverage works   19:02 Diamond sponsor read   22:56 Why Mike left to build ATMA PMF   25:44 Who carries the rising cost of health insurance   32:20 What healthcare can learn from unbundling cable   36:20 Direct primary care and access beyond insurance   40:38 What changes for employers and employees   43:15 Opting out of the traditional group model   45:19 The pressure building across American healthcare   48:14 Why the policy has bipartisan momentum   49:17 Bellwether sponsor read   52:29 Industry pushback and employee responsibility   57:29 Using AI to help employees choose coverage   58:10 Building the company and hiring for action   64:30 Books, mentors, and systems over goals   73:20 Responsibility, agency, and changing yourself first   79:45 What football taught Mike about standards   83:24 Where to find Mike and ATMA PMF   83:54 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read:   EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/   LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/   RAIN: https://rain.tech/   Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/   Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/   Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/   Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/   Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/   Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Standard sponsor read:   Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/   Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/   Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/   Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/   Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/   Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/   Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/   FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/   Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado's business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast   Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ If your employer gave you a benefits budget instead of one group plan, what would matter most in your choice? Share your answer in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #MikeMarkland #EmployeeBenefits

What happens when the business you bought starts running your life? Logan Bryson, owner of LINE-X of Colorado Springs, joins the Colorado Business Podcast to share how he went from installing truck accessories to owning the operation, working 68-hour weeks, and learning to lead beyond the day-to-day work. Logan explains how his father's truck sparked an interest that eventually led him to LINE-X, how his mother helped him acquire the business in 2020, and why the transition from skilled employee to owner was harder than he expected. He also breaks down the systems, scorecards, hiring decisions, community relationships, and outside guidance that helped him step out of the weeds. The conversation covers burnout, cash flow, hiring for drive, the franchise model, practical uses of AI, family responsibility, and Logan's definition of success. It closes with the story of Charlie, the 2008 F-150 that connects his father, his business, and the legacy he hopes to pass to his children. GUEST Logan Bryson Owner, LINE-X of Colorado Springs LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://www.linex.com/us/line-x-of-colorado-springs-f1367 Logan Bryson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-bryson-1194303b2 CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: the cost, the turn and the hard part 00:37 Colorado Business Podcast intro 00:46 The truck that started Logan's story 04:18 Buying LINE-X in his mid-20s 06:32 Learning the owner side of the business 10:58 When the business is running you 13:09 Systems, delegation and hiring the right people 14:40 Sponsor: Diamond 18:42 Would Logan choose entrepreneurship again? 24:57 Revenue, profit and business scorecards 32:00 Hiring for drive and accountability 37:39 Community over competition 41:45 Defining success and the life you want 46:48 How Logan uses AI in the business 48:34 Sponsor: LINE-X 51:38 The strengths and limits of a franchise 1:00:30 Pressure, identity and family responsibility 1:09:16 The support behind the entrepreneur 1:19:07 Charlie, the truck and his father's legacy 1:22:36 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ LINE-X sponsor read: LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://www.linex.com/us/line-x-of-colorado-springs-f1367 RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado's business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What lesson helped you stop working only in the business and start leading it? Share it in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #ColoradoBusiness #ColoradoSprings #Entrepreneurship

What does it take to build a business that can thrive beyond its owner? Lauri Armstrong, Founder & Owner of Little Fins Swim School, joins the Colorado Business Podcast to share the water-safety mission, one-on-one teaching model, and team culture behind the Colorado Springs business.Lauri explains how Little Fins grew from a small swim-lesson idea into a larger operation, why water safety matters for Colorado families, and how a difficult family season forced the business to develop stronger leadership systems. The conversation also covers community involvement, training young team members, and the communication skills that help a service-driven organization grow.Lauri Armstrong is the Founder & Owner of Little Fins Swim School in Colorado Springs. Little Fins provides one-on-one swimming lessons and water-safety programs for children, adults, and families.TOPICS IN THIS EPISODEWater safety and survival-swim foundationsWhy one-on-one lessons are central to the Little Fins modelScaling a service business without losing cultureBuilding a team that can operate beyond the ownerCommunity involvement and Hope on the RocksTraining young employees to communicate, serve, and leadLINKSLittle Fins Swim School: https://littlefinsswimschool.com/Hope on the Rocks tickets and donations: https://givebutter.com/hopeontherocks2026GUESTLauri ArmstrongFounder & OwnerLittle Fins Swim SchoolCHAPTERS00:00 Water safety, growth, and building the team00:44 Colorado Business Podcast intro00:54 From lifeguard to Little Fins03:50 Why one-on-one swim lessons matter05:50 Water safety for Colorado families11:55 Scaling Little Fins without losing the mission15:25 Sponsor: Diamond19:18 Building a team beyond the owner35:15 Hope on the Rocks and community impact50:38 Sponsor: Bellwether53:50 Culture, service, and developing young leaders1:07:45 The call-a-thon and teaching communication skills1:24:34 OutroABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTThe Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastExplore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/What would change in your business if the team could run it without you? Share your perspective in the comments.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #LauriArmstrong #LittleFins #ColoradoSpringsBusiness

Colorado is growing, but the bigger question is whether its communities are prepared to handle the projects, infrastructure, housing pressures, and business consequences that come with it.In Episode 343 of the Colorado Business Podcast, Andrew, Marcus, and Chris sit down for a candid roundtable on several of Colorado’s biggest business and development debates. They examine Project Taurus and the proposed AI data center near Colorado Springs, the One Vela high-rise, the planned Buc-ee’s north of Monument, Denver’s housing slowdown, crime, politics, and the growing friction between development and resistance to change.The conversation also moves beyond individual projects. The team discusses regulation, water and energy infrastructure, public-private collaboration, what healthy businesses owe their communities, and why owners must move from survival mode into a position where they can serve, invest, and create opportunity.ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTSAndrew HazzleeMarcus AlvaradoChris SeegersCHAPTERS00:00 Cold open: growth, business and Colorado’s future00:58 Colorado Business Podcast intro01:08 The roundtable and the stakes03:19 Project Taurus and the AI data center fight16:22 Diamond sponsor read20:24 AI infrastructure, water and regulation35:06 One Vela and downtown Colorado Springs51:51 LINE-X sponsor read54:55 The cost of blocking growth57:24 Buc-ee’s and economic opportunity1:10:29 Denver housing, crime and the business climate1:21:34 Colorado politics and the governor’s race1:24:44 Business owners, government and opportunity1:26:11 Why successful businesses serve more1:29:56 Survive to thrive1:31:29 Big projects and Colorado Springs’ future1:32:57 If you’re not growing, you’re dying1:33:42 OutroSPONSORSDiamond sponsor read:EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/LINE-X sponsor read:LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/RAIN: https://rain.tech/Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCASTThe Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community.Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcastExplore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/What should Colorado protect as it grows, and what should it be willing to build? Share your perspective in the comments.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #ColoradoBusiness #ColoradoSprings #EconomicDevelopment

Andrew Graff did not step into his family’s jewelry business at the top. After serving in the Navy and building a corporate retail career, he joined Luisa Graff Jewelers by applying through HR, interviewing with his mother, and starting at the bottom wiping counters. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Andrew explains how he earned his way into ownership, built role-specific training systems, helped his mother retire, and became CEO of the Colorado Springs jewelry store his family built. He also shares the leadership rule he returns to under pressure: when you want to react, don’t. The conversation covers family-business succession, military discipline, people management, customer feedback, authentic advertising, custom jewelry, parenting, faith, work-life balance, and Andrew’s plan to train the next generation of bench jewelers. FEATURED GUEST Andrew Graff CEO, Luisa Graff Jewelers Website: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/ Team: https://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/about/luisa-graff-team/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The rule, the legacy, and the system 01:03 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:13 Andrew Graff and Luisa Graff Jewelers 03:52 A Colorado family legacy in gold 07:12 Learning jewelry at six and joining the Navy 13:47 Starting from the bottom in the family business 14:46 Diamond sponsor and sponsor read 18:39 From corporate retail to a family business 22:10 Becoming a partner and building training systems 27:21 Helping his mother retire and taking ownership 31:26 Customer feedback and a service-first team 33:19 Building custom jewelry in-house 37:21 Authenticity and fun in advertising 43:58 Family legacy, faith, and parenting 46:47 Balancing business and family 52:47 Bellwether sponsor read 55:59 Leadership lessons from business and family 58:19 Presence, execution, and Navy values 60:32 The next generation of bench jewelers 63:42 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Standard sponsor read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado’s business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ What is one responsibility you had to earn before you were ready to lead? Share it in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #AndrewGraff #FamilyBusiness

Doug Price remembers arriving in Colorado Springs in 2011 when streetlights were dark, parks were not being watered and the city was struggling to pay its utility bill. Fifteen years later, Colorado Springs has built a national identity as Olympic City USA and the Pikes Peak region welcomes more than 25 million visitors a year. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Visit COS President & CEO Doug Price explains how tourism, civic leadership and coordinated investment helped transform Colorado Springs. Doug shares lessons from a 52-year hospitality career, the creation of City for Champions, the development of the Olympic City USA identity and the business impact of attracting visitors throughout the year. The conversation also explores destination marketing, downtown and regional growth, the local sports and live-music ecosystems, Labor Day Lift Off, Fountain Creek, smart growth and the leadership required to keep building a city where people want to visit, work and raise a family. FEATURED GUEST Doug Price President & CEO, Visit Colorado Springs https://www.visitcos.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-price-889aba34/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Colorado Springs: Then, Now and Next 01:06 Colorado Business Podcast Intro 01:16 Doug Price's 52-Year Tourism Career 03:24 Arriving in Colorado Springs in 2011 06:03 What Visit COS Actually Does 08:33 Building City for Champions 17:59 Diamond Sponsor and Sponsor Read 22:02 Creating Olympic City USA 27:54 More Than 25 Million Visitors 33:22 Growing Tourism Beyond Summer 36:18 Conventions, Downtown and Regional Growth 41:14 The Economic Impact of Tourism 44:18 Live Music, Neighborhoods and Local Pride 51:51 Sponsor Read 54:55 Andrew's Tiny House Festival Story 57:22 Sports and Labor Day Lift Off 59:23 Planning a Colorado Springs Visit 1:02:17 The Next 10 Years and Fountain Creek 1:04:28 Leadership, Government and Smart Growth 1:09:42 Community Collaboration and Legacy 1:14:02 Doug's Plans for Retirement 1:19:33 Visit COS and Closing Thoughts 1:21:39 Outro ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders and leaders shaping Colorado's business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/

Brandon Kirk returns to the Colorado Business Podcast with his biggest Planet Duct update yet: the Colorado Springs company has been acquired by another local home services business.In this episode, Brandon explains what selling a business actually looks like, including due diligence, financial negotiations, employment agreements, company culture, and the difficult process of giving up control over something you built.But the acquisition is only part of the story.Brandon also opens up about the fear that shaped his leadership, losing everything after 9/11, going through bankruptcy, putting his business ahead of his marriage, and finally confronting the anger and ego that were affecting his life.Whether you own a trades company, operate a home service business, or are building something you eventually hope to sell, this conversation offers a candid look at business acquisition, leadership, family, failure, and legacy.Learn more about Brandon and Planet Duct:https://planetduct.comSubscribe to the Colorado Business Podcast for conversations with the entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders shaping Colorado.What would be harder for you as a founder: selling your company or giving up control after the sale? Let us know in the comments.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome to the Colorado Business Podcast02:12 Planet Duct has been acquired05:05 Inside the business acquisition process09:43 Local acquisition versus private equity11:57 Lessons from joining a larger company12:30 Why Brandon stopped paying hourly18:33 Letting go of control21:32 Better systems and accountability26:11 Life after the acquisition30:36 The move that helped save his marriage32:38 Counseling, anger, and ego37:37 The cost of ignoring your well being39:50 Mentorship and paying it forward45:14 Teaching his son entrepreneurship48:32 Building a family business legacy50:10 Brandon’s next business55:07 Marriage advice for entrepreneurs59:53 Improving his health1:02:21 Bankruptcy and the root of his fear1:07:00 A message to his wife1:08:52 Closing thoughts#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #BusinessAcquisition #Entrepreneurship

Jay Dial spent years pursuing an idea he could never get off the ground. Six years into building the Pioneer Rodeo, he opens up about the disastrous decisions, hard earned lessons, and deeper purpose that kept him moving forward.Jay joins Marcus and Chris on the Colorado Business Podcast for an honest conversation about what it takes to turn passion into a sustainable business. They break down event marketing, budgeting, cash flow, business systems, leadership, community partnerships, and why many entrepreneurs quit before momentum finally begins working in their favor.Jay also previews the Pioneer Rodeo experience, including bull riding, barrel racing, mutton busting, family entertainment, and scheduled appearances from Denver football legends Terrell Davis and Ed McCaffrey and Yellowstone actor Forrie Smith.CURRENT EVENT SCHEDULEPioneer Rodeo performances: August 14 and 15, 2026Location: Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado SpringsPioneer Demolition Derby Crash or Treat: October 17, 2026Pioneer Rodeo tickets and information:https://www.pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/Updated Demolition Derby information:https://norrispenrose.ticketspice.com/the-pioneer-demolition-derby-august-16-2026CHAPTERS00:00 Jay Dial and the Pioneer Rodeo02:09 The pressure of producing live events03:28 Why loving the work matters08:18 What makes the Pioneer different14:30 Bringing new audiences into rodeo22:58 Why people crave real experiences30:25 The business behind major events35:09 Expensive lessons and smarter marketing38:34 Passion, profit, and sustainable systems45:37 The hard truth about entrepreneurship51:23 Why success can take ten years57:39 Ideas are common, execution is rare1:01:17 Creating value in the marketplace1:06:55 Jay’s vision for the future1:11:05 Collaboration across Colorado rodeo1:18:31 What the Pioneer means to Jay1:23:51 The Ride and Raise nonprofit programSubscribe for more conversations with Colorado business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.The Colorado Business Podcast is the show where Colorado business owners go to see who’s winning and how they can win too.#ColoradoBusinessPodcast #PioneerRodeo #ColoradoSprings

What happens when the business you built becomes the foundation of your identity? Taylor Draper appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough. His menswear company reached New York Fashion Week, attracted major industry attention, and secured paperwork for a promised $20 million investment. But the money never arrived. Two years later, Taylor was facing approximately $1 million in debt, the collapse of his business, a divorce, and a complete loss of identity. In this deeply honest conversation, Taylor joins Andrew Hazzlee and Marcus Alvarado to explain identity fusion, the psychological trap that causes entrepreneurs to tie their self worth to their work. Taylor shares the philosophy behind his upcoming book, Work Hard, Let Go, and explains how business owners can remain ambitious without allowing success, failure, clients, or money to determine their value. Connect with Taylor Draper Instagram: @TaylorJayDraper Website: TaylorJayDraper.com Marketing company: Draper Company Subscribe to the Colorado Business Podcast for honest conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders.