The LoCo Experience

In today’s podcast, I sat down with Matt Estrin, Founder & President of 477 Distilling and Oak & Maple Restaurants - and Author of the new book - I Know the Owner!  I was introduced to Matt this summer by a longtime prospect for LoCo I’d been having trouble landing.  She wanted a LoCo member experience, but not to travel to Fort Collins for it - and so she built a bridge to a preferred future by a...

Inspiring Hope for Teen Moms with Kodie Rosten & Kelsey Vandemark of Hope House Northern  Colorado I met Kodie Rosten at a BBB event in Greeley, and before I knew what happened, I was inspired by her cause and invited her to join me on the podcast - and I’m so glad I did.  She’s the Executive Director at Hope House Northern Colorado, and she brought her all-purpose Community Engagement Coordinator...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Angela Miller Curtis - author of the new book, Trading for Murder - the first in a Mazie Harris Mystery Series.  But I know her as Angie Curtis - who along with her husband, Rick, were the pre-marital counselors introduced to my wife and I some 24 years ago this fall.   I barely recognized it at the time, but the sweet couple from church who helped Jill and I se...

I was introduced to Ken Salazar by a pair of our LoCo Next Level members, who’d heard him present as a subject matter expert at a chapter meeting.  They’d later engaged with him to work on “peak payments performance” in their middle market or approaching-middle market businesses - and had great things to say!   Ken is the CEO & Chief Payments Architect at SilverEdge - or SilverEdge 2.0 as they’ve...

In today’s episode, I sat down with a third-time guest, Seth Silvers, CEO of Story On, and truly - my mentor in podcasting.  Seth joined me in studio only a little over a month removed from the birth of his first child, and shared some new perspectives that he was told to expect - but still they hit differently when it’s real.   Story On has been focused on podcast production since soon after Seth...

Life is Better Here! - Ben Smith & Lindsey Phillips - Owners & Therapists at Evolve Counseling In today's episode of the LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Ben Smith and Lindsay Phillips, the owners and therapists at Evolve Counseling. They shared abundantly about their inspiration to begin a private practice and the journey - first by Lindsay and then drawing in Ben - toward leaving corpora...

In today’s episode, I sat down with Tara Rasmuson, Owner/Publisher of Greeley Lifestyle Magazine and VP of Land for Bear Lake Resources.  I’ve gotten to know Tara a bit over the past few months, and suspected there was a good story there - and she did not disappoint.   The star of her recent journey has been Greeley Lifestyle Magazine, which she purchased in the fall of 2020, and launched in early...

In today's conversation, I was joined by two highly active representatives from northern Colorado from United for youth, formerly NoCo unify this organization of under 40 business leaders has been among the most active fundraising organizations in Northern Colorado since its founding in 2007. 00:00:17:17 - 00:00:32:14 Speaker 1 They're the creators of some of the best parties in the region the Dow...

Today, I’m here recording from the Fort Collins Food Truck Rally (https://www.focofoodtruckrally.com/) - where we’ve got the Tank parked in a row of food trucks and trailers - because this episode comes out tomorrow and we needed to use the just-in-time machine!   For this week’s episode, I sat down with Craig Woodall, retired Educator, Speaker, Coach, and Author of the new book “Overcome - Rebuil...

In today’s podcast, I sat down with Chris Aronson and Jeff Fleischer, the Principals at VFLA in Fort Collins.  VFLA has arguably been the leading architecture firm in Northern Colorado since its founding in 1986, and this year celebrates 40 years of service to the commercial and residential construction industries.   My connection with VFLA goes back to my banking years in the late 90’s, but is pe...

In today’s podcast, I sat down with Sheri Ridgeway, CEO of Ridgeway Group Innovations (RGI for short), which she runs alongside her husband, Ross and she’s also the current Board Chair at the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.  RGI has two divisions - one, a contract provider of technical support services to government agencies - and the other, a consulting business helping other small busines...

In today’s conversation I sat down with a pair of founders who also happen to be newlyweds! - Nima Mousavizadeh & Valeria Ortiz Mousavizadeh - of MO Benefits Consultants.  Valeria is a returning guest, having been on Episode 115 as the founder of Vortiz Insurance - which she retains.  Nima has been an impact player for Journey Payroll & HR since 2021, starting in sales, and moving through Director...

Today I was honored to sit down with longtime LoCo Think Tank member Glenn Frank, the CEO of Fort Collins Heating & Air Conditioning, along with his key leadership team today and into the future - Anthony Taylor and Jesse Frank.  Anthony serves as President & COO, and Jesse as Quality Assurance Supervisor.   We spent some time on the evolution of the business in recent years - the addition of plum...

In May, I got an email from Albert Wolfe, sharing that he’s travelling to Fort Collins area visiting family soon, from Guangzhou, China, and that he loves what I’m doing with LoCo Think Tank, and has been listening to and enjoying The LoCo Experience podcast - and would I be interested to have him on as a guest? Flattery will get you everywhere with me, so of course I said yes - and we had one ope...

When Andrew Johnson was yet a pre-teen, his older sister started taking dance classes - and he’d be dragged along.  Soon, there was the inevitable odd-numbered class, and Andrew was volunteered to be partnered up - and it was quickly apparent to all - that boy can dance!   Soon after, Andrew was training with private tutors, and entering Pro-Am competitions around the country - and later, around t...

I had a ton of fun in today’s podcast - kind of a get-to-truly-know someone you’ve known and appreciated for 25 years already - Kelly Sage - FKA Kelly Jones - FKA Kelly Peters when we first met circa 2001.  Kelly has worked in economic development since I first moved to Fort Collins in 1999, and was instrumental in the launch of the Rocky Mountain Innosphere and the Warehouse Business Accelerator,...

In today’s conversation, I sat down with Matthew & Quint Redmond - and learned that Quint is also Matthew - Matthew Cook Redmond the 5th as it were - and I can safely say that it’s the first time I’ve been in a room with a 5th and a 6th of a family name.  Quint is the Co-Founder and CEO of Agriburbia (https://agriburbia.com/) - along with his wife Jennifer - which began as a leading-edge consultan...

Welcome back to The NoCo Pulse for the week of July 6th, 2026, where Curt Bear and Kelsi Harris bring you one final episode keeping our finger on the pulse of what's moving in Northern Colorado. We hope you had a safe 4th of July despite around 50 firework shows being canceled over the holiday weekend, and we're declaring our independence from the extra work of producing this show.\n\nWhat's movin...

My guest for today’s conversation was Bob Schaffer, Headmaster of Liberty Common School in Fort Collins, and Chairman of Leadership Program of the Rockies.  Bob presented to my Rotary club a couple months back, and was kind enough to share time with me on The LoCo Experience podcast! Long before his focus on education - because he had yet no children - Bob got into politics mostly as a writer.  Hi...

On today’s episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, Kristin Todd returns to share some updates from the NoCo Foundation.  Kristin was previously my guest on Episode 136 - when she was yet fairly new in the role - so listeners might choose to tune into that episode for the deeper dive into her life and career journey.   The biggest news up front - is that yet another past guest of The LoCo Experienc...

Welcome back to The NoCo Pulse for the week of June 22nd, 2026, where we keep our finger on the pulse of what's moving in Northern Colorado. Kurt Bear joins Kelsi Harris to bring you the latest community news, business updates, and local highlights as we celebrate the Weeks of Freedom between Juneteenth and the 4th of July, and watch countries from around the world come together for World Cup slee...

In today’s episode, I sat down with The Mayorettes - which we’ll describe here as a lifestyle brand of sorts, focused on uplifting community through advocacy and connections in the small business and non-profit world of Northern Colorado.  The Mayorettes is currently comprised of Kerrie Lugenbill, the very recently married Jackie formerly Christman now Stevens, and Giuli Diaz.  Three full-time hig...

Welcome back to The NoCo Pulse for the week of June 15, where we keep our finger on the pulse of what's moving in Northern Colorado. Kurt Bear joins Kelsi Harris to bring you the latest community news, business updates, and local highlights as baseball season heats up and Northern Colorado families navigate the whirlwind that is summer. What's moving features insights from the FCP Insider event wi...

In today’s conversation on The LoCo Experience, I was joined by Matt Ackerman, a Co-Founder of and Brand Ambassador for Meadkrieger Meadery in downtown Loveland, Colorado.  Matt developed a taste for mead while exploring his passion for music, and was a semi-professional touring musician for several years before taking on a new challenge -  imagining and creating a production meadery and tasting r...

["Welcome back to the NoCo Pulse for the week of June 8th, 2026, We open with a heartfelt tribute to Matthew Fugate, a friend of the show and member of the community who passed away unexpectedly. Matthew was featured on The LoCo Experience podcast episode 197 alongside his fiancée Gabrielle Judge, and he participated in multiple Wild West relay races. Our hearts go out to Gabby and his family duri...