The Partnership Podcast

Erik has the honor of sitting down with two of the amazing staff at Your Hope Center, Executive Director Carrie Benway and Clinical Director Dr Teresa Haynes, PsyD. to both celebrate being named the 2023 Vail Valley Partnership Best Non-Profit by their peers in the business community but more importantly to talk about their ongoing and vital work.  Both are quick to point out what a difference an...

Erik gets a chance to sit with Marc Brennan, Ph. D. Vice President and Campus Dean of CMC Vail Valley to discuss their latest win in the 2023 Success Awards, Best Place to Work.  Marc discusses not only the reason for the best place to work (hint: it's the people!) but also what CMC means to the people of this valley and how our local community college is meeting our needs in extraordinary wa...

Erik gets a chance to chat with former Vail Police Chief and this year's Vail Valley Partnership Chairman's Award recipient Dwight Henninger.  Dwight reflects on his years in the valley, the importance of a strong team and community partnership and also advocates for more resources dedicated to first responders. Vail Valley Partnership (and the community!) thank Dwight for his service. L...

Erik gets a chance to sit with Christine Holmberg, Executive Director and have an awesome conversation about where Foresight has come from, where it's going and how you can get involved, particularly in the upcoming summer programs.  Learn more about all of that below! SUMMER CAMP FOR BLIND YOUTH ​JUNE 19-21 AND JULY 10-12, 2023 Foresight Adventure Guides for the Blind is thrilled to offer an...

Erik gets a tour of the Venture Sports warehouse from Owner/Operator Mike Brumbaugh, meets some of the team and learns about all things spring biking in the valley.  From what you need to get the machine up and running again, to some of the newer technology coming out, best trails, hero dirt, favorite road rides and more, they cover it all.  While Erik struggles to keep up with Mike's wit and...

Feed neighbors in need and get tax credit and marketing benefits? It’s a win-win!    More than 38 million Americans lack reliable access to nutritious meals. In Eagle County alone, over 8,700 community members are food insecure. Meanwhile, 108 billion pounds of food go uneaten in the U.S. — the equivalent of 40% of the country’s food supply.    REcover, a program of Eagle Valley Community Foundati...

Erik is joined by Vail Valley Partnership's own Anna Robinson to talk about the LEAD Eagle Certification.  They discuss who this is for, what the programs entail and why the certification came about in the first place. New in 2023, Vail Valley Works is pleased to introduce the LEAD Eagle Certification (Leadership Education And Development). This certification is awarded to individuals in Eagl...

What does it take to make it long term in this valley?  What does it take to put down roots in this place and see them grow?  Erik is joined by Bratzo Horruitiner, Executive Director of My Future Pathways and Seth Ehrlich, Executive Director of SOS Outreach to talk about the idea of BELONGING in this community.  Through the lens of their individual organizations as well as a greater community lens...

Erik heads over to Walking Mountains Science Center to learn more about this year's Climate Action Week...or 10 days...c'mon it should be everyday! He's joined by Elizabeth Baer, Sustainability Fellow and Will Barror, Climate Action Coordinator and they discuss highlights from the upcoming week and how this initiative only works with COMMUNITY behind it. Find out how you can get inv...

Erik heads to Cooley Mesa Detailing for a tour and conversation with owner Chris Baddick.  They discuss a number of different business issues including the joys and challenges of taking over a family legacy business.  Chris also discusses how a former professional cyclist came to work in the auto business and how he and his team can work towards positive social and environmental outcomes.  As Chri...

Erik is joined this week by John Burns, owner/operator/co-founder of Slalom Fox cocktails.  Based in the Front Range but with a strong mountain presence, John recounts the story of how this company came to be, what challenges they faced building their dream and how it is moving into the future.   They talk candidly about challenges around brand awareness, local market share and running a small bus...

Erik is joined by Shannon Grant, Director of Post Secondary Learning and Career Readiness for Eagle County School District and Carolyn Tucker, Regional Business Services Coordinator for the Colorado Workforce Center to discuss WORK WEEK!   It's not Shark Week, it's Work Week. Work Week 2023  March 28 – March 30 Join us for the new, week long spring hiring event! Over 100 business positio...

In this podcast Erik steps WAY out of his comfort zone to talk taxes...and finds out it's not really that uncomfortable after all!  Brush Creek Financial Advisors' Matt Welsh joins Erik to talk about new additions to the tax code, things we should be aware of in the coming year and some simple strategies that make sense for people of all income levels. There's also an impromptu Mett...

Childcare. Early Childhood Education . It's a topic frequently in the news, it's a strategic priority for Eagle County but what does it look like from a local childcare provider perspective? Whitney Young, Executive Director of The Family Learning Center (FLC) and Cristina Betancourt Santos, Site Director at FLC invite Erik into the school (during naptime...you'll hear how that went...

This is the podcast where host Erik Williams says "Really?" and "No way!" far too many times, however we dare you to listen and not feel the same! Local archeologist, founder and curator of The Museum at Dinosaur Junction, Billy Doran takes the listener on a private tour of the museum, sharing stories of Eagle County's incredibly rich dinosaur history, how he came to find...

VVP's Erik Williams learns about the world of professional coaching, not sports however, you'd be surprised at some of the parallels.  Kim Smith talks about her personal journey to becoming a coach, working with teams and maximizing potential that exists in both us and the system around us. Learn more about Kim Smith and Professional Coaching HERE They also discuss Vail Valley Works Indu...

President John F. Kennedy once said in a speech “No American is ever made better off by pulling a fellow American down, and every American is made better off whenever any one of us is made better off. A rising tide raises all boats.” The non-profit collaboration and coordination in this valley is a testament to those words, however it hasn't always been the case.  Learn a little about the his...

Host Erik Williams at VVP is honored to be joined by this year's Vail Valley Partnership Success Awards Community Impact award winner Ariana Gonzalez.  Ariana is a true success story from this community with as much as she has already accomplished.  She has worked with United Way, Community Consciousness and TEDX Youth Vail. She has also served on the District Accountability Advisory Council,...

Join Vail Valley Partnership and host Erik Williams as we take a walk (Plodcast?) through Little Bird Commissary Kitchen and Gourmet Market. Owners/operators Anne and Scotty lead the conversation around many relevant business topics including effectively listening to your customers and changing business plans and adapting to current conditions. Learn about what a commissary kitchen is (think &quot...

VVP's Erik Williams is welcomed into the lobby of the classic Sitzmark Hotel in Vail Village to talk transitions! How do you let go of something after 49 years? In this case with grace and confidence in those you are handing it to. Erik is joined by Jeanne Fritch, whose family has owned and operated the property for 49 years and Steve Kisielica, who's family takes over the reigns.  Jeann...

Brooke Skjonsby, Executive Director of Vail Valley Charitable Fund breaks down Eagle County Gives day with Erik Williams from VVP.  Learn about some of the participating organizations, the mission and goals and how you can maximize your donations before December 6th. Learn more about the 67 participating non-profits HERE .

Erik Williams is joined Chris Romer, President and CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, for a look ahead at the 2022-23 Winter Season.  Chris breaks down current economic data as well as giving us a historical perspective on guest occupancy, sales tax, community collaboration PLUS the "secret sauce" for a successful year. Find more information and resources HERE.

Kyle Foster, owner/operator and more of Seagull's Cycles invites Erik from VVP (and you!) behind the counter on location in Eagle.  They discuss what it takes to start a small business in this community through the lens of Kyle's story and why Seagull's Cycles is more than just a bike shop.  Kyle believes that through building community and relationships this is exactly the bike sho...

Erik Williams from VVP heads to the Salvation Army to spend time with Tsu Wolin Brown, site coordinator and all around valley saint! (She was a volunteer for 21 years before working at SA!) More than just a food pantry, learn about the different services that Salvation Army provides for the community including rent assistance, social services, disaster relief services, Adopt-a-Family, volunteer op...

Lauren Mendez, Marketing Manager for Vail Valley Partnership sits down with Madison Partridge, Executive Director of Mountain Pride to chat about inclusivity for our LBGTQ+ community in the Vail Valley.  Learn what steps you and your business can take to be more inclusive today. Mountain Pride is an organization inspired and driven to serve the needs of our LGBTQIA+ communities. Mountain Pride is...