Meet Claudia Schauffler | Registered Respiratory Therapist and Small Business Owner

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

Hi Claudia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have worked my entire life in non profit health care and when I was reflecting on retirement, I came across and opportunity to purchase a small used clothing store. I have always loved fashion. As an activist for women’s issues the history of fashion is of particular interest to me because it reflects what is/was happening in society at any given time.
Changing from non profit pediatric health care to a retail, for profit business was a big leap for me. What it offered me was an opportunity to do something completely different. I was looking forward to providing a fun and positive experience to locals from my community as well as meeting new people that visit our town.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career was spend in health care, primarily pediatric and neonatal critical care. I was trained on the job as the field of Respiratory Therapy was brand new. I was able to work in that field while I was getting my degree so I was able to pay for all of my college in real time.
I did go to school part time until my final two years when I was able to go full time.
I adopted a high risk child my senior year of school but with the help of my fellow students and professors I was able to graduate on time with honors.
Growing up I did not think I was smart enough to graduate from college due to a learning disability I did not know I had.
When I went to Junior College they identified my disability as being primarily in math and put me in classes where I was assisted in learning how to learn!
After that, with little or no high school science or math, I went on to earn a Bachelors Degree is Science.
I believe I was able to do that with the encouragement and help from my teachers and colleagues.
I have to also credit my drive and ambition to be in a position to help people. My experiences growing up exposed me to people from all walks of life and I wanted to be able to contribute where I could,
I am most proud of the fact that I was gifted a wonderful child. In her short life she and I learned how to navigate a chronic disease with love and dignity.
I am also proud of the fact that I have, sometimes unintentionally, put myself in situations where I had to learn quickly how to adapt and survive. Those were almost always amazing life lessons.
I have taken all of those life lessons and I try to implement them in what I am doing now with community work and owning my own business.
My goal is the enjoy and learn from the people I interact with and hopefully make them smile and if possible help them a bit along the way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day one I would introduce people to Nederland. The Carousel of Happiness and the Train Cars. We would eat at Katmandu restaurant. Natures Own is a must and maybe a concert at the Caribou Room. We would visit The Shop and Wild Bear Nature Center Day two would be Rocky Mountain National Park and dinner in Estes Park
Day three would be Gilpin County which is mostly national forest, lots of wildlife and scenic views. Also historical homes and cemeteries to visit.
Day four would be Pearl Street in Boulder, dinner at The Leaf
Day five would be spent with family in Boulder.
Day six would be meeting up with friends at Ubon in Nederland for lunch
Day seven at home.

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?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my friends and co-workers in the medical field. I would not be the person I am today if not for them. I was hired by a man named Bill Hines to work at a local hospital as a secretary, a job I was terrible at. He really like me so he suggested that I consider being trained as a Respiratory Tech. I loved being in the hospital and a job in the field of Respiratory Therapy, which was brand new at the time (1976) sounded great. At that time I only had a high school diploma. I had no idea at the time what a gift I was being given.
I went on to graduate from Georgia State University with a BS Degree in Allied Health Respiratory Therapy,
While I was doing a practicum in a neonatal nursery at the end of my junior year I came across a premature baby that was being placed up for adoption. I immediately bonded with her and watched as family after family expressed interest in adopting her only to step back due to her medical issues.
At the end of my practicum I approached the adoption agency about considering myself and my then husband for approval to adopt her.
We were approved and we took her home with an ileostomy and a diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis.
I missed most of my first quarter of my senior year but with the help and support of my colleagues and professors I managed to graduate on time with honors.
After graduation I took a year off and then went to work at Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.
The hospital became a big part of my life as Jillian, my daughter, spent a lot of time there as a patient. I loved my job and my co-workers. The kids and families I took care as well as the staff became as much a family to me as my own family.
The support and love I experienced got me and Jillian through the next 18 years until she passed away. Many of those same people still love and support me now, more than 20 years later.
I would not be the person I am today if I had not been given a chance to enter a field that I had no idea I was meant to be in.

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

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

Image Credits
Dragonfly-Life is Good