My guest today was Zak George, Founder and Owner and Head Coach at Zak George Landscaping, LLC.  ZGL - as the trucks around town say on the side - is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year!  Zak has a strong history of growth in the Residential and Commercial Construction and Commercial Maintenance segment, plus a substantial snow removal operation to keep some of the guys busy in the winter.  

Zak has an interesting business model in that he relies heavily on long term HB2 Visa employees, who return seasonally - mostly from Mexico and Guatemala - and we discuss his concerns about labor force in 2025, and how ZGL was almost taken down by an HB2 shortage in 2017, amid over-reliance on seasonal workers.  Zak has a big beard and a big heart, is a fellow Rotarian, and is a joy to have a conversation with - so I hope you enjoy, as I did - my conversation with Zak George.  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Ginger Graham returns to The LoCo Experience studio, and this time brings her hunky husband, Jack!  

Jack Graham came to Fort Collins to play quarterback for CSU, and was drafted into the NFL for the Miami Dolphins.  In his post-football career, Jack quickly became an innovative disrupter in the reinsurance industry, and he founded International Catastrophe Insurance Managers, distributing risks from natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes - and was recognized as the Earnst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003.  He returned to Fort Collins and led the charge to build a new football stadium, and went on to the role of Athletic Director at CSU.

Ginger Graham is a country gal from Arkansas, who earned a Harvard MBA and went on to become CEO of several companies, including a Fortune 500 and a Nasdaq 100 firm - and she makes the best pies west of the Mississippi!  And she’s on my short list of favorite people.  

Since Ginger had shared previously (Episode 73), we focus in on Jack’s journey in this one, including his journey in football and reinsurance - and the challenges around the stadium project and tour of duty with CSU Athletics.  The Grahams share the short story of their romance and their why in Ginger and Baker, and Ginger settles my fears about Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs - which I didn’t recall she’d been involved in developing!  And - we talk about all the great things going on in Northern Colorado now - and the even better times ahead! 

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

I met Pete Gazlay late in my banking career, as one of my colleagues was pursuing a banking relationship with the owner of a young but rapidly growing janitorial company - Total Facility Care.  Pete founded the business in 2010, after departure from a fast-growing middle-market company in the same industry.  

At the start, Pete was a one-man team, selling janitorial services during the day - and executing the cleanings at night!  They grew steadily throughout though, and sold in April of 2023 with a team size of around 150 and a significant market share in both the general janitorial space as well as specialized tech and medical clean room janitorial.  

We spend a good amount of time talking about business principles in this episode - relationship selling, margins and bidding, account management, hiring entry-level workers during a labor shortage - and finding the right time and manner of exit.  And, we talked about life after exit - community engagements, a recent mission trip to Tanzania, and Pete’s why in joining the team as a LoCo Facilitator.  We’re so glad to have him on the team, and I know you’ll enjoy - as I did - my conversation with Pete Gazlay.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Alex Raymond is a 3x tech startup founder and entrepreneur who made the journey up from Boulder to The LoCo Experience studio to share his journey and some wisdom he’s learned along the way.  He was an early client of TechStars, and has been a long-term mentor in the program.  And - he share how listeners can expand their business brains and mindfulness at the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit - upcoming May 28 and 29 in Boulder.  

Alex is also the Host of the Conscious Entrepreneur Podcast, which has hosted many dozens of conscious leaders on topics as diverse as building teams for scaling, developing a personal brand, or redefining happiness in your life.  He’s also a generous guy, and gave our listeners the opportunity to save $100 off your Summit tickets by March 31 - use code LOCO - and one lucky listener will win 50% off tickets - but you’ll have to listen to win!  

As always, Alex and I enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation, dialing in on crucial business and life principals - and chasing lots of squirrels.  So please enjoy - as I did, my conversation with Alex Raymond.  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

This week, I was pleased to spend time with Scott Kissel, Executive Director of Sky Corral Ranch - located near the top of the full-year drivable portion of Old Flowers Road in Bellvue, Colorado.  LoCo Think Tank has held its annual Next Level Summit at Sky Corral the past two years, and we’re pleased to return this August for another amazing dose of mountain hospitality!  

Scott has lived quite an interesting journey, growing up in a retail grocery family in South Fork, Colorado as a hard-working multi-sport athlete, finding faith and then drawing his family to it - and then attending Colorado Christian University in Denver.  After college he soon found himself as a leader in Sales and Operations at Gibb’s Bagels and then Yancey’s Food Service - and then finding his way back to ministry as a Senior Executive with Timberline Church.  

Scott shares many amazing business and faith stories in this episode, and also gives us a behind the scenes on the renovation, operation, and future plans at Sky Corral Ranch - so tune in and enjoy my conversation with Scott Kissel.  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Ann Baron is the Founder and CEO of Northern Colorado Community - an events and networking and business support organization with members across Northern Colorado - as the name would imply!  

Ann has lived an extraordinary journey, in some ways starting when was adopted from a South Korean orphanage at 4 years old, and raised by a family in Oregon.  She became a teacher fresh out of college - didn’t like it - and went into her father’s industry of Insurance.  She moved to Colorado with State Farm and did everything from Claims to Sales Training, and later worked in Payroll, Business Development for the Loveland Chamber, and did freelance event planning and more before launching NOCO Community.  

Ann is wise beyond her substantial years :o) - and shares abundantly from her practical toolkit on networking and sales.  Tune in and sharpen up your skills, and enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Ann Baron.

Also - congrats to Ann for winning Best of NOCO for 2024 Networking Organization!  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Phil Gottula was my first guest to bring in a charcuterie plate - and we shared a beautiful bottle of white wine he also brought in - and we talked about the business of event rentals.  Specifically, his business which is the leader in Northern Colorado event rentals - FLEXX Productions.  

The event rental industry is an interesting critter.  Unlike a retail transaction where the customer pays and leaves with their stuff - event rental requires the business not only to deliver - (on time, every time, no matter what!) - but also the business must pick their equipment back up from the location, and clean and refresh for the next customer.  Phil is an expert in the industry, and shares abundantly from what he’s learned.  

And - he’s a philosopher, an adventurer, a dog dad, and a wonderful conversationalist.  So please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Phil Gottula.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Harpist Meredith McCrindle was in Northern Colorado for a few weeks this winter, visiting her parents on an extended trip away from her transplanted home in Ayr, Scotland.  For a portion of the trip, her close friend Jai McDowall joined her - his first time in Colorado.  I met Meredith when she was at our Rotary Club one morning, promoting her upcoming concert with Jai in Fort Collins.  She agreed (and voluntold Jai) to come on the show, and it was a lot of fun!

Meredith’s album, When Walls Speak, is a study on Dumfries House - home to King Charles when he’s in Scotland, and where she has been resident harpist for many years.  She’s also resident harpist for Trump Turnberry, Glen App Castle, Culzean Castle and more - if you need an amazing harpist in Scotland, or around Europe and the world, you’d be wise to call on her.  She’s also the founder of a festival called Tamfest, a serial entrepreneur, and a business consultant!  

Jai McDowall grew up in music, and performed on stage with his father going back to his teenage years.  After he won Britain’s Got Talent in 2011, his life changed forever - and he caught amazing traction during his first year.  When he went independent however, he had much to learn.  Equipped with Meredith’s friendship and insights for business, he’s crafted an extraordinary world-ranging career from those first opportunities, and he’s a great case study on how talent alone - isn’t enough!  

Inspiring and entertaining as always, and this time with one of the world’s most famous harpists, plus a friendly baritone with a fun Scottish accent.  Enjoy.  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Dain Johnson was a high-level mechanical and industrial engineer for a decade, during which time he worked under some great managers - and some terrible ones!  He developed a keen interest in psychology, eventually leading him to further his education with a Masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from CSU, and to the founding of his business, Rev 0.

Dain is a coach for engineers turned managers. These range from first-time managers, to rising stars potentially headed toward the CEO role - and even new CEO’s.  This podcast zooms in on the principals of coaching others to better lead people, and apply to anyone. 

Dain is an awesome guy, and shares abundantly from his knowledge and craft.  He also built and sold a coffee company in Texas in a previous chapter, and is co-founder and partner in Isolation Coffee here in Fort Collins, offering premium coffee, delivered to your door!  

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

Jane Brewer grew up in a diverse neighborhood in the heart of New York City, with a constant heart for people and service and adventure.  She signed up for AmeriCorps to work in support of Habitat for Humanity projects, and at 22 revealed that she didn’t have a driver’s license when asked to drive a truck and trailer to a project!  

A few short years later she drove herself to Crested Butte, Colorado for a job on a ski hill, and worked a series of small jobs before landing in 911 dispatch.  Her journey turned after a beneficial season with a local chiropractor, and an encouraging word - and she landed in the Front Range of Colorado fresh out of chiropractic school in Atlanta.  This year, she’s celebrating 10 years of growth, and the purchase of a new office location!  

Jane has been a member of LoCo Think Tank for over 5 years, and hers is a story of steady growth, constant love for her clients and community, and building healthy lives on strong foundations.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain