Meet Shawn Satterfield | Inclusion Architect

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

Hi Shawn, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For me, taking risks is essential for both personal and professional growth. It’s not about blindly jumping off into the unknown, it requires a deep connection to your intuition…that “gut feeling”. It took a lot of jumps before I figured that out. My first life changing risk was to move to Colorado, away from all my family and friends. Going from a town of 18k to a city of 1.5m was both terrifying and exciting and yet I knew it was where I was supposed to be.
After my son was grown, and years of working in corporate America, I started fine tuning that inner voice which was constantly asking me – What is your purpose? In 2017, I Co-Founded a web development company with a fellow peer, specializing in enterprise CMS platforms. Sounds risky, but it was more like jumping from the big pool into the adjacent wading pool. And the persistent voice continued to ask the same question…What is your purpose?
Then one day, the voice somehow acquired a megaphone. I clearly heard what it was saying but there was no way that message was for me. It would be the biggest risk of my life. When I finally stopped responding with Why Me?, and took that first step off the edge, it was as if the Universe had been waiting my whole life for that moment. Every risky step I had taken, since that very first one, all came into alignment.

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?
I am Founder of a web development agency that specializes in enterprise .NET CMS platforms. But it wasn’t until I started my non-profit, Shine Music, that everything came into alignment. Shine Music’s purpose is to create an all-inclusive accessible space where people of all abilities can share in the amazing power of music. Our project, the Shine Music Festival, is combining adaptive technology with a comprehensive accessibility plan, to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from attending a live music event.
For over two years, the Shine team has worked with various organizations serving the disabled communities to create a space that would allow everyone to attend; a space where people of all abilities can come together and share in the amazing power of music. By not separating those with disabilities, we are breaking down barriers which will allow everyone to see that we are much more alike than we are different, and ultimately creating a more inclusive world.
The Shine Music Festival, which is scheduled for August 8, 2021 at the 14,000 capacity Levitt Pavilion in Denver, will be a free event. This is by far the biggest obstacle in making the event a reality as fundraising was halted due to the financial impact Covid had on businesses and individuals. We have recently re-started our sponsorship campaigns and utilizing online networking and social media to get the word out to local businesses who historically have supported the communities they serve.
As a Inclusion Architect, for both Mozaro and Shine Music, my focus is to build a more inclusive world, one project at a time.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Breakfast on Broadway is a perfect start to any day with their Smothered Breakfast Burrito, fresh donut holes and bottomless mimosas. A stroll down Broadway offers countless antique shops that tell of stories past. The Santa Fe First Friday Art Walk, with a stop at my favorite, Access Gallery, encompasses the diversity of our amazing City. Enjoying some drinks and live music at Number 38’s outdoor pavilion is a perfect way to wind down and enjoy the beautiful Colorado sunset. A stroll down Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, with a stop at Shine Community Restaurant for some healthy deliciousness, as we head to Estes Park for some hiking in the crisp CO air.
I would show them my town of Evergreen, with the beautiful lake and old west mining vibe while we sat riverside at Murphy’s Pub and devoured everything on the menu.
A stroll down Colfax shows the diversity of Colorado, our restaurants, shops and galleries. Let’s grab some Steubie Snacks from Steuben’s for our walk through City Park and listen to the music from the free Jazz Concert float thru the air.
And as great of a time as they will have at all these amazing places, nothing will compare to their evening at Red Rocks where the music swirls around and bounces off the walls of Creation Rock and Ship Rock. With the backdrop of the City skyline, and the stars in the sky, we will dance as each note surrounds us with joy and creates a community of new friends and shared energy…if even only for a single day.
And they will leave loving Colorado as much as I do.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My music family is without question my greatest blessing. Each friendship has a unique story and our connections spans thousands of miles over many years. We love and support each other in every aspect of life. We inspire each other to be the best version of ourselves. And we have a lot of fun along the way.

Website: www.shinemusicfestival.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shinemusicfestivaldenver

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smsatterfield/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shinemusicfestivaldenver

Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/ShineMusicFestivalDenver

Other: www.tiktok.com/@shinemusicfestival

Image Credits
Beau Blackburn, Blue Spruce Photography, Josh Withers