Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Andrew Perkett | Realtor & Owner of COS Hauling

The thought process really was simple: I discovered a need in our community, saw an opportunity, and wanted to meet that need. Owning a business has given me and my family the opportunities to do the things we love and be present with each other. Read more>>

Sorinne Ardeleanu | Guide & Metaphysician

I had been relatively successful working for others early on in my adulthood, yet ultimately felt I was merely a means to others’ ends. I was feeling unfulfilled and at odds with myself at a deep level. For the most part, I had always been handpicked for the positions I worked, and interviews were a formality. Read more>>

Jason McSherry | photographer

Doing something I enjoy was more important to me than making a certain amount at a job I didn’t like. I worked at a desk job for eight years and knew it wasn’t making me feel fulfilled. Photography was always something I just couldn’t get enough of. I wanted to learn everything I could about light, composition, and camera gear. Read more>>

Jonna Cammack | Co-Owner, Principal, Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant

We saw a need for quality positive dog training that didn’t make owners break the bank. People should not have to choose between price and positivity. Most positive reinforcement training companies in Colorado are incredibly expensive, and we saw clients choosing aversive training simply because they could not afford an R+ company. Read more>>

Alexis Wren | Owner of The Wrens Nest

When I started my first business I did it because I wanted to share my ideas and creations with others. That has since transitioned into sharing my knowledge with others as well. Read more>>

Andy Pankratz, Joy Pankratz | Coffee Roasters

In the late 90s in college, Andy experimented by roasting green coffee beans on an air popper on his apartment floor. His dream was born to roast coffee right then and there. Over a decade later, he met Joy who managed a small time coffee shop at camp they worked at. Read more>>

Samantha Halbrook | Beekeeping Enthusiast & Energy Practitioner

Freedom. When it comes to my core desires, freedom of choice is at the top of my list. The freedom to choose my own path, to plan my own days, to re-route as necessary. So when I fell in love with the way that beekeeping made me feel, it was an instant yes to creating my dream life around something that I could easily put my heart and soul into. Read more>>

Diana Leutenegger | Co-founder of MomoDesigns

My best friend from College (Naty) and I always dreamed of starting a business together doing something we are passionate about. And one thing we are passionate is our Colombian roots and heritage. We are proud of our values, family traditions and artisanal goods. Read more>>

Rebecca Colvin Colvin | Marketing and advertising consultant

I wanted a job where I could work remotely and have control over my schedule and the amount of money I made. Since I could not find the perfect job, I created it. Read more>>

Adrian Molitor | Custom hardwood flooring artisan

I was a returning university of wisconsin english student, a person in recovery from addiction, father and felon at the time of being left with few options. I felt alot of pride because I had made it into a big ten university at the age of 40 but I also recognized that was leaving me zero room to live not to mention get money. Read more>>

LaNette Orebaugh | Owner/Pastry Chef

I have always had a passion for food and the way it brings people together. I worked my way through the corporate world gaining the knowledge and experience I knew would one day help me start my own business, offering scratch made meals at an affordable price. Read more>>

Shannon Leonard | Baker

I’ve always loved baking, though I never thought of making it my career when I was younger. I went vegan in 2010 and I loved making delicious vegan baked goods. When I would bring desserts to gatherings, people would always tell me, “You should open a bakery!” That always sounded like a lot of fun, but I didn’t take it seriously. Read more>>

Tracey Felicidade Jones | Creative brand builder, avid traveller and music lover

I never thought I would be a brand builder, I wanted to be a surgeon when I grew up 🙂 I studied a B.Sc Dietetics at college and after taking a “gap year” (which turned into 2 years travelling in the USA), I ended up in medical sales for 4 years as I was not loving the dietician work in the hospitals in Johannesburg. Read more>>

Melissa Wenn | Art Creator

My friends kept bugging me to sell my art, and the more I created the more it sounded like a good idea. I had an etsy shop years before so I knew I could make it happen if I put the work in. Read more>>

Cameron Carcelen | Architect + designer

I always dreamed of working for a large architecture firm, collaborating with a dynamic team to design exciting, large-scale urban projects. Then, when my two kids came along I had terrible FOMO – fear of missing out on their childhood. I worked for a firm with good work-life balance for a while when they were very young, but always felt frustrated about missing school events. Read more>>

Amelia Fries | Everbee Permanent Jewelry

Everbee is a permanent jewelry passion project that started out of a care for people and for enjoying the simple treasures in life. I am a pretty simple girl who loves to enjoy the little things in life. For me that’s family time, good coffee, yard sales, and crafty things that make people feel good! Read more>>

Michelle & John Miller | Artistic Autistic Duo

We had many different thought processes behind starting our own business. 1) Michelle grew up with the idea that she would be able to work any job with a background in business for a degree. Her parents pushed her to get the degree if she didn’t have a choice of her own. Unfortunately, she didn’t realize what she really wanted to do until the quarter before graduating so just got the business degree anyway. Read more>>

Cody & Janis Wille | Founders of Boho Disco

Boho Disco was born out of love with the intention to bring more joy and fun to our community! While planning our wedding we combined our passions. We created and facilitated a 60 person Bohemian style picnic for the rehearsal dinner. We also created a LED light up dance floor that syncs with music for our reception. Our wedding was a day to remember! Read more>>

Victoria Shumulinsky | Energy Healer, Intuitive Guide, and Community Curator

From the beginning, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I grew up with two business-owner parents, both immigrants from Kiev, Ukraine, owning a tailor shop and travel agency. You could say running a business is in my blood! I always loved the idea of being my own boss. Read more>>

Shelby Little | Creative Writer, Blogger and Founder of Yarrow Creative Agency

It was summand and I was a new mom, on maternity leave from a corporate marketing career. I loved rocking the baby on the porch in the mornings, and I would contemplate what is next in my life. How can I blend motherhood into a career? The culture at my office was not conducive to new moms, so I knew I’d have to make a change. Read more>>

Bob Arciniaga | Chief Board Collaboration Expert

Board effectiveness and impact were things I needed for my own family business. 20+ years ago we followed the same conventional board structure that most companies use. This process is heavily reporting-based with little measurable impact on the business. The was frustrating to me so I went about trying to fix it on my own. Read more>>

Erin Doty | M.Ed., NCC, CCC, Creator and Facilitator of ShatterStress, Breathwork & Reiki Certified

As a woman growing up I received messages from societal standards that “I shouldn’t be emotional or express my needs”, I needed to “stay small”, “put others before myself”, and “not take up space”. As I grew older I started to understand how those messages were more harmful to myself and would keep me stuck, small, and never prioritizing myself. Read more>>