The Partnership Podcast

Erik has the opportunity to speak to two amazing guests, both leaders in their respective mental health fields.  Dr. Charles Raison is the Director of Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center as well as a professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Christine Whelan from Emory University, affectionalty known as "The Purpose Professor".  Dr. Whel...

Erik get's a chance to talk with Brandon Daruna, CEO of Eagle County Paramedics.  They discuss both comprehensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the community paramedic program, which provides health services in the home, increasing health and well-being by mobilizing care, addressing healthcare gaps and connecting people to necessary services.   Learn more about Eagle County Paramedic...

At the 2025 Annual VVP Success Awards, we were honored to highlight Julio Garcia as our Young Professional of the year and Erik had a chance to sit down with him recently.  In 2024, Julio Garcia Jimenez produced 141 episodes of Conexión Latina , welcomed over 200 guests, and created 10 unique segments to better serve the Latino community in Eagle County. He also launched Conecta en Vivo , a 24/7 l...

Erik heads to the Eagle County School District office to talk Community Engagement with Superintendent Phil Qualman and Engagement Coordinator Tia Luck.  They discuss a number of initiatives meant to bring students, families and businesses together with the common goal of supporting the next generation.  In the words of Superintendent Qualman, "Our students are watching, and we will continue...

Erik heads to Eagle to chat with Ben Caton, State Farm Agent and Owner to talk about insurance...and so much more.  Erik and Ben discuss retirement planning, the challenges of taking over a "legacy" business, and the changing state of insurance both locally and regionally.  Ben isn't afraid to answer the hard questions such as, "why are premiums going up?" and "how sh...

Erik heads to Edwards to talk with American Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical CEO and Owner Brad Payne.  Brad talks about his business journey from acquiring and refining into strategic growth and how that has lead to where they find themselves today.  They also discuss some of the latest trends in heating and cooling and the homeowner in Erik really struggles not to come out!  Listen in to...

Erik heads on down to Coldwell Banker to meet Amy Pates, a residential and commercial broker with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this Valley.  They discuss the current Real Estate climate, housing trends and commercial trends.  Erik asks Amy the question that many of us wonder,  "Is it still possible for a young professional to find housing and make this place their home?" Liste...

Erik "heads on down" to the Eagle River Center to check out the action at Trio Therapy Partners this week.  He's joined by Lauren Cremonese, Executive Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and Amanda Moody, Director of Operations and Occupational Therapist.  Tom the Horse is standing nearby as well, although he keeps pretty quiet. ...

Erik gets a chance to spend some time with Peak Plumbing Heating and Cooling with owner Mike Goldberg.  Mike talks about his business philosophy, hiring practices and the power of an education in the trades.  In addition, Mike takes Erik on a tour of Peak PHC to show their new training area for the future plumbers of this valley. To learn more about Peak Plumbing Heating and Cooling click HERE  

Join Erik as he gets a tour of Roundup River Ranch from Mackenzie Koffenberger-Young, The Community Engagement and Recruitment Manager for this wonderful organization.  RRR is part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, a global community of medical specialty camps founded by Paul Newman. He believed that kids with serious illnesses needed a place to “kick back and raise a little hell.” Mackenzie g...

Erik is joined by Erin Ivie, Executive Director of SpeakUp ReachOut, to talk about the history, current initiatives and future of the organization.  Erin gives historical perspective and current insights into our valley's mental health as well as discusses the upcoming Workplace Wellbeing Summit on Friday, April 11th. This immersive, workshop-style event is designed for teams of 5-10 members...

Erik goes on location to the new Salvation Army headquarters and is joined by Monica Villalobos-Russell, Executive Director, to talk about their new location, new staff and the ways in which they serve the community.  Monica shares why community partnerships and engagement with the Salvation Army is so important and how we can all be part of the solution. Learn more about the Salvation Army HERE

"Insurance protects what we love."  Join Erik this week as he welcomes a friend to the podcast, Tony Martinez, President and Principal Agent at Cornerstone Insurance and Financial Group.  Tony frames insurance in the best possible way, explaining when we are protecting our businesses it's more than just "insurance", it's about the success of the entire community.  In...

This week Erik is joined by Kaitlyn Merriman, Senior Manager of Youth and Family Programs for YouthPower365 to talk about an important topic. The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 is intensifying efforts to combat youth violence and promote student success through enhanced family-centered initiatives.  Kaitlyn talks about the $1 million federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and De...

Erik is joined by Core Transit Deputy Director Scott Robinson for an enjoyable conversation about Core Transit.  Scott shares that Core isn't just "ECO Transit with a new name" it's a completely new company with an expanded community vision.  They discuss the company formation, the marketing vision and the fact that Core Transit was honored with the Large Community Transit Agen...

Erik is joined in "the Bistro" (yes, that's what he calls his office) by Samantha  Hodgkins, Executive Director of Caregiver Connections to talk about an extremely important, and often overlooked, demographic. With older adults 65+ as the fastest growing population in Eagle County and 70% of people preferring to age in place, Caregiver Connections is expanding its reach to address t...

Let's talk energy savings!  With winter breathing down our necks we all are wondering the same thing, "Am I prepared?" Black Hills Energy is ready for this question and happy to help.  Erik is joined by Amy Fiala, Energy Efficiency Expert and Jason Auslander from Public Affairs to talk about simple steps we can all do to make our houses more efficient as well as long term solutions...

Erik gets a chance to go on one of his "plodcasts" where he walks and talks with a local business and is so happy to tour the newly renovated Eagle River Inn in Minturn.  Tierney Delude, General Manager at the Eagle River Inn provides the tour and information, guiding Erik through the idea, the renovation process and the reception the Inn has received.  Spoiler alert, it's already a...

Erik gets a chance to talk with someone he has long respected in this valley, Bob Bandoni, Executive Director of Students Shoulder to Shoulder.  For years Bob and his team have shared ethical leadership practices with the youth of this valley and it's a better world because of it. Bob explains how leadership influences every part of society, and its ethical quality determines whether it drive...

In this episode, VVP's Erik Williams welcomes Katie DiGiacomo, President and Owner of Hot Jobs Staffing & Recruiting, recent honoree of Coloradobiz’s Top 100 Woman-Owned Businesses.  They talk about hiring in the high country vs the front range, retention strategies, trends in the workplace, and the future of hiring for jobs in places where housing and childcare costs have made relocation...

Erik has a chance to spend time with a truly extraordinary person, Brielle Kelley.  Brielle is a school-based therapist at Homestake Peak School and Eagle Valley Elementary School as well as as working at Your Hope Center.  Her passion is for her students to succeed and it comes through loud and clear with the strategies and techniques she employs including cultural and linguistic responsivity and...

Erik get's a chance to spend time with Gracie Rounds, which is always time well spent!  Gracie's Coffee was named Best Emerging Business of the Year at this year's Success Awards and Erik and Gracie go through her timeline of seeing a need, starting a business, growing that business and...spoiler alert...selling the business to another up and coming entrepreneur! Learn more about Gr...

Erik has a chance to sit with Ryan Santilli, Director of Sales with AVA Rafting and Zipline, for a wide-ranging discussion of trends in outdoor recreation.  They discuss the COVID "bubble" of outdoor tourism, where it stands now, and the challenges of hiring and retention in a highly seasonal business.  Ryan also teaches Erik what Via Ferrata is and why everyone wants to do it! Learn mor...

In this podcast Erik gets a chance to chat about HR trends, challenges and solutions on a national scale with Yutaka Takagi, Principal Product Evangelist with isolved and how that transfers to our mountain communities with local isolved Business Coach Scott Trainer.  They discuss what national trends are happening around employee engagement and retention as well as break down bridging the gap betw...

Erik is joined by Tony Martinez, Founder and President of Cornerstone Insurance and Financial Group to discuss the vital role that proper insurance coverage plays in owning and operating a business of any size.  Tony talks about some potential pitfalls that may occur but focuses more on the idea that working with an insurance broker is relational rather than transactional and can have so many bene...