Meet David LaSalle | Entrepreneur, veteran, learner.

We had the good fortune of connecting with David LaSalle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
When my bride Alix and I moved to Estes Park in 2016, after three decades as military officers and government/corporate employees, we felt as if we had discovered a secret. We still worked hard – Alix is an attorney and real estate agent, I was learning to manage a gym and a commercial building, we organized and ran non-profit retreats for veterans, and we each served as HOA presidents. But we also found that building nourishing relationships with our friends, colleagues and neighbors, and liberal doses of exercise and time spent in the forest and mountains created this amazing blend of productivity, community and movement that left us feeling more healthy and content than ever. We increasingly wanted to share that possibility with others and thanks to a series of events, including lessons from the pandemic, we created Vert Coworking as a place for Estes residents and guests to work, connect and play. We created a tech’d out, ergonomically thoughtful work facility with myriad opportunities to play in nature just minutes from our front door. Inside the building we offer traditional, functional and rock climbing gyms. We have two massage therapists and a chiropractor working from the building. We put in self-care tools like rollers, Normatec boots, and saunas. We regularly hold events in our space that bring together like-minded people and grow a grateful tribe. Living in the mountains isn’t easy, but the rewards are so worth the effort. And Vert is a vehicle for us to share how the compromises most people feel they have to make in life are not necessary.

What should our readers know about your business?
In January 2016, we had an opportunity to purchase a commercial building with a gym business in it. At the time it was the largest fitness facility in Estes Park. Two years later, the town opened a $26M community center with subsidized prices that forced us to drastically downsize and look for innovative ways to pay our commercial mortgage. We struggled through another couple years, just barely making it work, when COVID hit. For a few months we were completely shut down and were facing a decision – sell the building and try to get out whole or pivot to something new. I was then working part-time for our local Economic Development Corporation and discovered coworking as an industry and began thinking about how we could provide that service to a town that had lived primarily on tourism since its inception. The societal changes taking place as a result of the pandemic, and our relatively painless experience throughout the COVID lockdowns, helped evolve our thinking toward offering a business that would support resilient economic opportunities nested in an active mountain lifestyle that integrated productivity and wellness. We believe it is possible for where you work to make you healthy and happy – we’re living it and Vert Coworking is how we can share that with others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1 we’d start out with Barre or Yoga at Vert Coworking’s studio, then coffee and breakfast at Kind Coffee, followed by a vehicle tour and gentle hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. After our hike, and lots of hydration, we’d stop in at Avant Garde Brewery for a locally produced brew. Each day would end sitting on a west-facing deck or looking out windows that showcase the sun dropping over the Continental Divide. The next few days would be a mixture of mountain biking/hiking or backcountry skiing/fat biking/snowshoeing in Roosevelt National Forest, depending on the season. We would set up a guided rock climbing session with Matt or Seth at Estes Park Rock Climbing to get more intimate with this Rocky Mountain granite. Post-outings, we would swap stories and rub elbows with locals at Rock Cut and Lumpy Ridge craft breweries, as well as The Barrel taproom. Day 4 would be a great time for a sauna at Vert followed by a life-changing restorative session on those sore muscles with Margo Good at Emerald Lake Massage. For a leisurely breakfast we’d stop in at Notchtop Bakery and Cafe, and if we’re eating on the go, the breakfast burritos at Scratch Deli and Bakery can’t be beat. The Stanley Hotel bar is an obligatory stop one evening for a drink, and we would dine out at Hunter’s Chop House and Bird & Jim, two of our favorite local restaurants. If we’re lucky, we would be able to see local bluegrass favorite Chain Station playing at the Rock Inn one evening.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife Alix shares and stokes the passion we have for building community in a small mountain town. She is also a retired USAF officer who works hard, gives lots, and remembers to be grateful for everything, including the hard lessons. We both learned much from the sisters and brothers we served with during our military careers and especially those who were injured during their service but still continue to seek ways to live productive, joyful lives.

Website: https://vertcoworking.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vertcoworking/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VertCoworking