Meet Asa McKee: Entrepreneur & Business Owner

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

Hi Asa, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Be there for them with love, affection and attention no matter how fast the world and business are spinning. No matter how stressed or distracted we could be, we always show up for our kids so that they have a strong foundation of love and support. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Khala & Company crafts zero waste provisions to help people replace plastic for food storage and prep from the kitchen to the campsite and all points in-between. We consciously source materials that are as organic, local, and regenerative to the environment as possible to make a host of products like reusable food wraps, bags, coffee filters and more. All of our products are reusable for a year or more, and can either be repurposed or easily composted at the end of their use-life because they are made from two simple ingredients: organic cloth and natural waxes. Khala & Company’s zero waste provisions are not only functionally superior to other brands’ products, they are more beautiful and intentional in their designs, telling the story of our company’s commitment to the environment. We have won awards for this alchemy of function, beauty, and intentionality – most recently the 1% for the Planet partnership award with the National Parks Conservation Association and our “Windows into the Still-Wild” print that was painted by Khala’s co-founder, Tamar McKee. When people despair about climate change and the state of the world, we literally put the power of everyday action and change in their hands with our plastic-replacement products that also extend the life of food 5-7 days. We are proud to do good business by doing good in this world, but we also find it difficult to affect social change when business is run as usual – you need a lot of money to campaign for your brand, to get in front of the right people, while also ensuring you stay ahead of the competition and protect your assets. You have to have brains, brawn, heart and soul – and a constant ability to stay on top of things and always ahead of the curve. This can lead to stressful days and restless nights, and requires just as much vigilance paid to balance and self-care as it does to run a business well.

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?
We’d go to Rockies games, Larimer Square restaurants and the Brown Palace, downtown cultural institutions like History Colorado and the Denver Art Museum. If there were a concert we’d hit up the Pepsi Center for big headliners or out to the Grizzly Rose for some alt-country shows. I love Denver because you can get such a wide spectrum of people, places, and things to check out!

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 partner in life and business, Tamar McKee. Without her intelligence and creativity, Khala & Company would not be where it is today as a company and a catalyst for good change.

Website: https://www.khalaco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khalacompany/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/khala-company
Twitter: https://twitter.com/khalacompany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KhalaCompany/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzvCJEg1XWnsaPr6PzSxs-g
Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/KhalaCompany/_shop/

Image Credits
All photos courtesy of Khala & Company