Meet Hot Wheels Rachel | Practice Manager & Motorcycle Enthusiast
We had the good fortune of connecting with Hot Wheels Rachel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Hot Wheels, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance has changed over time, with more experience, comes more responsibilities, and you have to take time to refuel your spirit. It’s ever so import to prioritize working hard and playing harder. Taking small steps quarterly at the beginning of my career on short vacations or staycations, focusing on short term achievable goals, and expanding my reach every year has allowed me to build up more time for fun. Landing a career path that I’m passionate about has led me to gain more years of service, accruing additional, competitive time off benefits, and taking full advantage of what adventure is waiting for me. Finding what refuels your soul and ensuring you enjoy the fruits of your labor are key factors to work life balance. Take every chance you get!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Currently I’m a practice leader in a specialized healthcare setting that’s demanding, in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. There’s lots of man hours and stressors; with that, comes inevitable change and adaptation; with that, comes growing pains; and with that, comes innovation forcing us to learn something new.
There’s always a quest to be the best in our field and offer a high level service or experience for those in our care. This is not always easy and it takes a village, and I ’m forever grateful for our team. What’s nice is when I get to take care of someone from the motorcycle community and help provide a peace of mind personally for their health care needs. It gives me a lot of joy when things come full circle and I get to share a part of my work with them. To do that, I have start from scratch.
Getting where I am today was a risk moving and starting all over as a young person attempting to become an adult. I believe in all things worth fighting for, even if that’s fighting to find yourself, there’s inherent risks with great reward. I was privileged to have a great support system that allowed me to figure things out on my own terms.
With any case, trial and error can be a huge motivator, failing until you succeed can produce the will to win spirit, and having a competitive attitude towards life’s challenges can beat down the biggest of barriers.
Getting back to basics is sometimes the most simple, over looked principal when reinventing yourself: how to write a resume, learning how to use transferable skills in a career change, how to apply for jobs online, getting through online screenings, working with temp agencies, and humbling yourself to a job you never thought you’d take.
I had to learn that accepting the first “no” is not an indication of your skill level or worth, to keep on trying and keep on improving myself until I get the chance to breakthrough success. I just hope that my work family knows that taking a chance on me wouldn’t be in vane. I strive to make them proud everyday and know that my leadership team (Angie and Tonya) has forever shaped my growth mindset in every aspect of my life.
I am so excited to share a little snippet of my story with my community. Hard work really does pay off as cliche as it sounds. I hope you learn that a smile can do more for someone’s life than we could ever imagine. Gentleness to one person can impact them forever and change their heart. I hope you can see the kindness and the generosity of those taking a chance on me can be proof that you too can do anything. Just have the faith as small as a mustard seed and believe in yourself, even when you don’t think you’re deserving, even when you feel all of the odds are stacked against you, nothing can stop what’s meant for you.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best week ever starter pack would include an obligatory outting in Estes Park to respect the beauty that calls most to reside in this great state and observe the up close encounters of spectacular, must see wildlife. Head into town to get the latest “you know you’re from Colorado” fashion threads complete with the best stickers to plaster your newly bought Nalgene water bottle, some strappy Chacos, water repellent pants, the best Pit Viper shades money can buy, a Mountain Hardware jacket, a North Face beanie, and an Osprey back pack to seal the deal.
Travel down the hill for a pit stop to fuel our gas tank and our stomachs at the world famous Buccees with a bbq brisket sandwich, Buccees nugs, home style chips, and grab a keepsake souvenir from the incredible Buccees gift shop.
Grab midday breakfast or “linner” at Johnsons Corner for cinnamon roll French toast, prepared and served any time of the day! Memorialize the visit with something from their famous gift shop too.
We would have to head south and get the best wings in the state from O’Malleys in Palmer Lake, garlic Parmesan flavor with home made blue cheese dressing of course! They pack any size to-go orders for any occasion, just give them a shout!
No journey is ever complete without ice cream at local favorite, The Little Man or The Churn. Every cookie sandwich, every cone, and every flavor of ice cream or sorbet is made fresh daily. You digest your delectable delight watching the sunset on a concert at The Red Rocks Amphitheater.
The Buell Broadway theater and The Ellie Caulkins Opera House are a must if you’re spending time in Denver and you have an appreciation for fine arts. If you love murals like I do, then the RiNo art district has to be on your list, and grab a snack at the Shake Shack. The Denver Art museum, The Selfie Museum, and Meow Wolf can drain all of your sense of reality if you want a mental workout. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs should also be mandatory when visiting Colorado.
Eating at The legendary Dirty Dogs for an order of ahi tuna or The Burnout Grill for a juicy burger should be experienced, especially for bike nights. After you stuff your face during the week, watch a movie with $2 pop corn and soda at the Elvis Cinema theater in Arvada to wind down for the weekend.
If you’re into a whimsical feel, then count on Gunther Toody’s satisfying your diners and dives taste buds. If you’d drive 100 miles for a hot dog, be sure to stop at Coney Island in Bailey for an elk cheddar jalapeño brat, standard beef Frank, or a pork and buffalo dog, all locally sourced meats. Top off your dog with your typical fixings including, a Colorado staple, green or red chili for a kick you won’t forget.
As this epic voyage comes to a close, relax your bones in a the mineral dense hot springs in Glenwood after hiking Hanging lake or warm yourself up in Strawberry Hot Springs following a day’s ride to Steamboat. Either way you go, you can’t go wrong!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I am today if i didn’t shout out my parents Bruce (Dad Dukes) and Marilyn (Mom Dukes). Both Army combat veterans, they always supported me with any radical idea that I put in motion. From the beginning, they’ve always been there for my ambitious endeavors, whether it was moving to a big city to attend college and compete as an All American National Champion track and field, student athlete, or move out west to fulfill my motorcycle dreams, they were always by my side, smiling along the way. On the track I had a great coaching squad in my corner-Coach Bingham, Coach Reiter, Coach Schick, and Coach Harris- helping to shape my professional development and preparing me for the big, harsh, real world once graduation commenced. Off the track, my folks always created a loving and supportive environment, allowing us as kids to individually think for ourselves, and have an exploratory approach to problems and solutions. My dad always said if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.
That strategy carried on after college, when I got into motorcycles. Motorcycling became my way of solving life’s problems, relieving stress with a short or long jaunt with dear friends like Paula Marshall, and feeling the wind pull a smile on our faces. That’s when I knew all was once again right in my world.
My parents bought not one, but both of my first two bikes, both as birthday gifts. Riding truly lights up my world and they recognized that. After the first motorcycle was totaled in an unfortunate multiple motorcycle accident, I believe my folks pitied me, thinking I’d fall into some sort of deep depression for not “living to ride,” that they surprised me with a second bike to continue “riding to live.” Riding for a purpose has become a huge part of my “Why.”Whether it be for charity rides or ministry opportunity, there’s always a greater, divine purpose for the journey.
In the ten years riding across North America and living in the west, I’ve come across so many wonderful people in the industry. Starting my adventures with motorcycle ministry in the Christian Motorcyclists Association, introduced by Ray (Cowboy) and Kathy (Pinkyjo) Worley. I’ve been a member for over 10 years and now currently presiding over the Glory Riders #404 chapter. Our mission is simple, to go out to various motorcycle events and change one heart a time, praying over your life’s journey, and sharing stories that make us much more relatable than we could ever be different. You can find me on any weekend serving at the local motorcycle meet ups with CMA or Rider Justice.
Rider Justice has been a huge backing for the motorcycle community in the western states. The Scott O’Sullivan Law Firm and creative genius Chere Martin have a vision through Scott’s motorcycle arm Rider Justice that motorcycling is not a crime and I enjoy spreading that awareness at various events as part of their work family. On the dirt or in the streets, #TeamRJ has helped me see how a one-of-a-kind motorcycle smoothie blender or dressing in ridiculous props for a Photo Booth shot can positively impact our community. If you’re interested in how to make a motorcycle smoothie or want to know more about how Rider Justice can benefit you, give a shout out and call my lawyer!
Instagram: @hotwheelsrachel
Facebook: @hotwheelsrachel
Other: If you would like to participate in the charity rides i’m supporting, please carefully consider making a donation to the Mile Monster’s Inc. Monster K fundraiser for kids with DMD, providing a means to let the DMD Heroes live their best lives. Learn more here: https://givebutter.com/monsterK/HotWheelsRachel Or Donate to CMA Run For the Son motorcycle ministry fundraiser, credit to another member form, CMA #163150: https://cmausa.org/Donate/RUNFORTHESONDONATIONCREDIT?FormSeqno=1 TikTok/FB/Insta/SnapChat @hotwheelsrachel
Image Credits
Captis for my two headshots.
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
