rcws

Made in Colorado: The Story Behind a Family Business Changing How We Move

Emily Iliff — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:30:00 +0000

Made in Colorado: The Story Behind a Family Business Changing How We Move Emily Iliff Thu, 04/03/2025 - 05:30

Emily Iliff

Judy Kochevar, co-founder of The Hand Truck Company, LLC, shares her journey from a corporate marketing career to becoming an entrepreneur. After a journey in corporate America, she moved back to Pueblo and teamed up with her husband’s cousin, who had invented a multi-directional hand truck to solve the common issue of maneuvering plywood in tight spaces. Together, they launched a family-run business focused on innovation, safety, and ergonomic design—proudly crafted in Colorado. The company currently holds two patents and one provisional patent.

A New Chapter Begins in Pueblo

Judy never set out to revolutionize how people move heavy objects, but when a cousin walked into her Pueblo, Colorado, home with a prototype hand truck that could pivot in ways she’d never seen, she knew she was looking at something special.

"We never set out to reinvent the wheel—literally—but once Richard showed me the prototype, we knew we had something different."

A third-generation Coloradan with a background in marketing and business, Judy had worked with major companies like Campbell Soup, Conoco, and Intel. After earning her MBA from Arizona State University, Judy’s career had taken her across the country—from Houston to Atlanta to Phoenix—before eventually bringing her back home to recover from health issues. It was during this period of rest and reflection that the seed of a new business was planted.

A Family-Driven Solution to an Everyday Problem

While back in Pueblo, Judy reconnected with family, including her cousin’s husband, Richard Cortese. Richard, an industrial designer, had recently created a unique hand truck while trying to solve a practical problem: moving plywood through narrow doorways. When existing tools didn’t meet his needs, he began sketching and prototyping a multi-directional hand truck that could rotate 360 degrees and lock at various angles.

Once the design was finalized and a patent secured, Richard approached Judy with the idea of teaming up. With his engineering background and her expertise in marketing and business, they formed a partnership to bring the innovative product to market. What began as a personal solution quickly evolved into a broader business opportunity—one focused on solving real-world problems through ergonomic and efficient design, all while keeping the business rooted in Colorado.

Challenging the Status Quo in a Century-Old Industry

Building something new in an industry dominated by a few major players hasn’t been easy. The hand truck industry is long-established, with only a small number of U.S.-based companies maintaining dominance over the market. Breaking through that barrier—and getting noticed—has proven to be one of the company’s biggest challenges.

Because The Hand Truck Company’s product sits in the specialty segment, it hasn’t always been easy to convince buyers to consider an alternative to the well-known brands. Many purchasers stick with what’s familiar. However, the story changes once users—particularly warehouse workers and movers—try the product themselves. The improvements are immediately felt, whether by tall individuals experiencing less back strain or shorter users who no longer feel the physical toll in their shoulders and hips. Even small innovations, like a built-in strap to secure cargo, have gone a long way in improving safety and usability.

Since the first Hand Truck 360 was invented, other products have followed—such as the Wheeler 360 for the beer industry, Attachit Straps that turn a regular hand truck into a furniture dolly, and the new E-track Attachit Strap for the transportation industry. All of these products were invented because the team listened to the needs of their customers.

"You don’t ever want to be a one-product company."

Investing in Growth Through RCWS

Amid the daily demands of running a business, Judy has remained committed to learning and growth. She attended the Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS) in Pueblo, a program led by Erick Mueller and Visda Carson that equips local entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. For Judy, already engaged with the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC), RCWS offered a different kind of value.

RCWS delivers practical, hands-on business training tailored for small business owners. Focused on real-world topics like scaling, pricing, and brand positioning, RCWS makes complex concepts accessible and actionable.

What sets RCWS apart is its engaging, high-energy format and its commitment to serving entrepreneurs outside major startup hubs. By bringing expert-led education directly to local communities, it empowers business owners across Colorado to make smarter, more strategic decisions for long-term growth.

Advice for Future Founders

As the company’s products were made to protect those front-line workers who are moving products every day, Judy sees her entrepreneurial journey as both demanding and deeply rewarding. For students or aspiring founders who might feel like they’re too early or too late to begin, she’s living proof that there’s no one right time to start—just be able to solve a problem.

"There’s never really a 'too late' when it comes to starting a business, as long as you’re solving a real problem. I’m learning every day. Entrepreneurship challenges you in ways the corporate world doesn’t. You’re steering the ship, and that means surrounding yourself with the right team and being willing to grow constantly."

Judy encourages students to intern with small businesses or startups to gain exposure to the fast-paced, all-hands-on-deck nature of entrepreneurship. She also emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, whether that’s a marketing expert, a finance advisor, or a trusted manufacturer. With a strong team and a clear mission, even the most difficult challenges become more manageable.

Built in Colorado, Built to Last

At its core, The Hand Truck Company is a product-driven business solving everyday problems—built entirely in Colorado by a team that believes in doing things the right way. It’s not just about innovation; it’s about values. The company has never considered outsourcing production and remains proudly committed to keeping operations, manufacturing, and jobs within the state. That commitment to local craftsmanship is part of what sets the brand apart in an industry that hasn’t changed much in centuries.

From reimagining a centuries-old tool to navigating the modern challenges of distribution and scaling, Judy Kochevar’s story highlights what’s possible when perseverance meets purpose. For any student on the fence about entrepreneurship, it’s a powerful reminder that the right time to start isn’t defined by age or experience—but rather by your willingness to learn, lead, and stay the course.

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Revolutionizing Rural Colorado: $5,000 Grant Win to Escalate Entrepreneurship!

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Revolutionizing Rural Colorado: $5,000 Grant Win to Escalate Entrepreneurship! Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/26/2023 - 00:00

Katie Morton , Stefani Harrison

Nine years ago, the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the Leeds School of Business launched the first-ever Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS) in Chaffee County, Colorado. In the town of Buena Vista by the Arkansas River Valley, entrepreneurs gathered to learn how to grow their ventures. In this historically agriculture-based economy, the first workshop attendees launched ideas unique to their water-loving, mountain town community. The success of this workshop launched the larger vision that promotes economic growth in Colorado’s rural communities.

Fast forward to 2023, the ninth year of RCWS, and communities in Montrose, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Telluride, Craig and Sterling have enhanced the businesses in their communities by hosting yearly workshops across the state that focus on everything from value proposition to scaling to marketing and much more! Thanks to the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s Office for Outreach and Engagement, the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship received a $5,000 Community Impact Grant in the ninth year of RCWS to continue driving impact in Colorado’s rural communities. This grant will further support economic growth in rural Colorado communities for future years as the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship continues to provide first-rate entrepreneurship education throughout rural communities.

But why rural communities? According to the 2021 United States Bureau of Economic Analysis, 12 of Colorado’s 64 counties contribute to 88.69 percent of Colorado’s Gross Domestic Product. These 12 counties are all located in urban areas such as Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. Colorado’s rural counties have historically relied on agriculture, mining, oil and gas, and similar industries, which have seen significant reductions in the labor force over recent decades. Alongside local partners such as regional Small Business Development Centers, chambers of commerce, venture networks, and Native tribes, implementing RCWS in rural communities seeks to spur economic growth and empower the next generation of economic leaders.

Founder of RCWS and Executive Director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship Erick Mueller had this to say about the award:

“I want to give a huge thanks to ��ƷSM��ӰƬ’s Office of Outreach and Engagement. The Deming Center and its faculty and staff have made huge impacts in Colorado’s rural communities, helping over 700 rural and Native entrepreneurs. This $5,000 grant will help us make an even bigger impact, and we cannot wait to see what the amazing future RCWS participants do.”

The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship’s five-year commitment to each rural community brings Leeds School of Business faculty to various parts of the state who provide the university’s world-class education to these burgeoning entrepreneurs. Thanks to the $5,000 Community Impact Grant, RCWS can continue strengthening its current community partnerships and launch in new locations as the five-year workshops in Telluride and Sterling conclude in 2023. This financial support of the workshop series will help the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship to continue creating unique cohorts of entrepreneurs across Colorado that support and prompt each other and other ventures in rural communities.

You can learn more about RCWS, current workshops, news, and stories by visiting their website. Interested in starting RCWS in your rural community? Reach out to the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship’s Program Coordinator Katie Morton at kmorton@colorado.edu.

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StartUp to ScaleUp in Northwestern Colorado: Rural Colorado Workshop Series Yampa Valley Returns!

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

StartUp to ScaleUp in Northwestern Colorado: Rural Colorado Workshop Series Yampa Valley Returns! Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/12/2023 - 00:00

Lauren Gwyn , Katie Morton

The Demystifying Entrepreneurship Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS) in partnership with Northwest Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is coming to Craig, Colorado, on October 20th and 21st for their fourth year of the Rural Colorado Workshop Series: StartUp to ScaleUp Yampa Valley! This two-day event allows entrepreneurs with second-stage businesses to help shift out of their startup phase and onto “what’s next”.

Taught by award-winning professors and entrepreneurs Erick Mueller and Visda Carlson, this weekend-long workshop supports entrepreneurs at any stage in their venture, especially those working on scaling their operations. Attendees will learn how to develop marketing strategies, evaluate their business, finance/fund, and more! By the end of the workshop, entrepreneurs will have expanded their entrepreneurial toolkit and receive a University of Colorado Leeds School of Business Certificate of Completion. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn from this workshop’s incredible speakers and mentors!

Tammie Delaney, owner of Wild Goose Coffee at the Hayden Granary, attended the workshop in Yampa Valley in previous years. She mentions

“As a business owner, I rarely have time to step back and look at the big picture. The Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshop was a great opportunity to have the space and time, along with incredible expertise, to focus on long-term strategies and truly plan for the future.”

Northwest Colorado SBDC has hosted RCWS in Yampa Valley for the past four years. The organization focuses on no-cost consulting, training and funding support for small businesses in Northwestern Colorado. Since their inception, they have seen “thousands of entrepreneurs launch successful startups, expand existing businesses, or return a business to profitability”. SBDC believes that with persistence, education, and networking opportunities, entrepreneurs are more likely to grow into established and successful companies.

RCWS is kicking off the weekend on Friday, October 20th at 518 Wine Bar in Craig, Colorado, where attendees will introduce their business concepts and listen to a dynamic panel discussion. The following day, participants will attend a classroom-style workshop at the Colorado Northwestern Community College to hone in on their business and evaluate what is next. Don’t miss out! Be sure to register for this event here! We can’t wait to see you there!

For those interested in attending a future workshop, check our Rural Colorado Workshop Series site to learn more about other locations and our 10th year of the workshop series starting in Spring 2024.

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Shore Up Your Business: Rural Colorado Workshop Series Finale in Telluride!

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Shore Up Your Business: Rural Colorado Workshop Series Finale in Telluride! Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/28/2023 - 00:00

Lauren Gwyn

Over the past four years, the Telluride Venture Network (TVN) and the Leeds School of Business at the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ have hosted the Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS), a workshop series dedicated to providing college-level business education from award-winning professors to entrepreneurs in rural Colorado. This year, TVN and RCWS are hosting their fifth and final year of the series! Entitled Shore Up, attendees will learn from the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship’s Erick Mueller and Brad Werner how to leverage creativity, keep ahead of the curve of new technology, tighten up financial skills, and more for their current venture.

Anyone is welcome to come together and attend RCWS hosted by TVN in Telluride. Attendees will hear from an all-women panel of entrepreneurs including Stephanie Breedlove, founder of Care.com HomePay. Stephanie took the leap of faith and left the corporate world to build her startup while simultaneously raising two young children. She eventually sold HomePay for $50 million. The panel also includes past participant Natalie Binder, who now runs Camp V in Naturita, Colorado. This camp was inspired by her desire to transform a coal-impacted community into a place that connects people through art and experience. Last but not least, the panel also includes past RCWS participant Olivia Pedersen, who was inspired to start her company Sustaio through the sustainable work she did in her master’s program centered around human-based design. She is pioneering an application that rewards users for their sustainable outputs and inputs. All three panelists have immense knowledge about the business world and are eager to share their insights with the 2023 RCWS attendees!

Marketing Director for Telluride Venture Network, Annemarie Jodlowski, loves seeing people from southwestern Colorado get support for their ventures from high-level business professionals. She says

“It's fantastic to have such high-caliber professors facilitate the weekend, especially with their exceptional understanding of the challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs in our region. While Brad Werner and Erick Mueller cover a lot of ground over two days, they do so in such an enthusiastic and engaging manner that many of our participants return year after year."

On top of collaborating with the Deming Center for this workshop, the Telluride Venture Network supports their community with quarterly boot camps, investment strategy, programs geared toward Latinx entrepreneurs, and even access to capital for local businesses. They also provide mentorship programs, where entrepreneurs can seek guidance from CEOs, attorneys, marketing experts, and others. All of these resources can be found on their website.

Through the partnership with the Telluride Venture Network and the Deming Center, entrepreneurs in southwestern Colorado continue to grow their businesses and gain needed skills. Erick Mueller says

“It is always amazing to see the cohort of change-makers and people coming together from Norwood, Telluride, and the surrounding communities. The cohorts are always collaborative, and [it’s] inspiring to see [them] grow and innovate. I am certain that the groups that have participated in RCWS will elevate and continue to elevate the Southwest Colorado community!”

The Telluride Shore Up Finale will take place at Wilkinson Public Library on Friday, October 6th, and Saturday, October 7th, 2023. Click here to register
for this event and learn more about other RCWS locations by visiting the Rurual Colorado Workshop Series website.

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The Third Rendition of the Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshop Comes to Ignacio, CO

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The Third Rendition of the Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshop Comes to Ignacio, CO Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/24/2023 - 00:00

Katie Morton

[Ignacio, Colorado, August 17, 2023] The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ hosted the third year of the multi-year entrepreneurial workshop series, “Demystifying Entrepreneurship – StartUp to ScaleUp” on August 11th - 12th, 2023.

Taught by award winning faculty members from CU’s Leeds School of Business, Erick Mueller and Eric Bruno, this year's program focused on the core elements of a startup, how to launch, and how to grow along with basics such as marketing and funding.

Throughout the weekend, a group of 15 local entrepreneurs and innovators from La Plata County and surrounding areas joined together at the Sky Ute Casino to learn and build community. The weekend was full of positivity and entrepreneurial spirit as the group explored their unique value propositions and runways for growth. The varied group was comprised of companies such as a tortilla burger restaurant, a linguistic preservation service, and a coffee roaster.

“Don’t underestimate your competition and understand your why,” one participant shared as their most valuable take away. Each participant felt they could gain something from every module in the workshop, with some carrying more significance based on the stage of their venture. One of the keystones of the workshop series is the creation of a cohort – the attendees gained a community of like-minded individuals with whom to brainstorm ideas, overcome challenges, and celebrate victories.

One participant, and panel member, Diane Millich ran her tortilla burger business through the workshop and also shared her journey to date with the cohort. A serendipitous moment also surfaced when Millich realized her mother’s artwork was displayed in the event space, demonstrating the significance of family legacy and the creative spirit in this community. Another participant workshopped her venture to preserve Native languages, further emphasizing the deep roots this cohort had to its culture and heritage.

In the last three years, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has collaborated with the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ and invited community members far and wide for the workshop. This year’s participants came from the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Navajo Nation Tribe, Lakota Tribe, and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, as well as local La Plata County. “This year’s cohort was amazing!” says Erick Mueller, Adjunct Professor and Executive Director of the Deming Center. “Not only did the cohort come together to push their ventures forward, but we had multiple meaningful moments among the cohort that took our relationships and the workshop that much deeper. We are looking forward to coming back again next year!”

“I really enjoyed being a part of this great rural Colorado workshop series for another successful year,” says Colton Black, Economic Development Manager at the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. “The level of expertise and years of real-world experience that Erick and Eric bring to these workshops as instructors is incredible. They make the learning fun too! The smaller cohort size this year also really allowed the instructors the opportunity to provide more personalized attention to each aspiring business leader we had in attendance. It provided an elevated level of support and tailored advice that really seemed to help make things click and start coming together for each attendee and their different business ideas. It was a special thing to see!”

This series of workshops is put on in partnership with CU’s Leeds School of Business, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and is available in every major rural region in Colorado. The next Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshop is being offered in Telluride, Colorado on October 6th and 7th in collaboration with Telluride Venture Network. To register for this event, please visit: https://tellurideventurenetwork.com/shore-up-your-business/

And to learn about all locations, visit : /business/deming/community/demystifying-entrepreneurship-rural-colorado-workshop-series.

Many thanks to those who made this event possible.

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Rural communities get demystified when starting their businesses

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:56:22 +0000

Rural communities get demystified when starting their businesses Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/02/2023 - 10:56

Colette Czarnecki - staff writer for The Journal

University of Colorado teams up with the Southern Ute Tribe to help business ideas come to life

Southwest Colorado Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshop. Erick Mueller/Courtesy photo

One day in 2017, Yuma resident Tanya Flemister was distracted at a workout class by a woman in front of her who had, she estimated, 50 bobby pins holding her hair back.

That day, Flemister also had bobby pins that kept her bangs in place during the session, but not as many as the woman near her. On her way home, she thought about easier ways to keep hair out of people’s faces. At home, she pulled out her sewing machine and with the help of Google, made a headband prototype with six clips that secured the hair. That prototype still hangs in her shop as her business, SWAY, continues to grow.

In collaboration with the CU Leeds Business School and the Southern Ute Tribe, an intensive entrepreneurial workshop, will take place on August 11 and 12. Geared toward rural communities, Southwest Colorado Demystifying Entrepreneurship StartUp to ScaleUp supports people who want to start or continue growing their businesses.

Flemister took part in a workshop this spring about pitching a company in northeast Colorado. On top of gaining valuable pitching skills, she received accolades from the knowledge she obtained.

“I went home and totally reworked my whole pitch and ended up winning [the Colorado Pitch Competition in Yuma]. The judges commented and said I totally paid attention to the rubric. So that was nice,” Flemister said. “Erick [and Hunter] were absolutely amazing. They brought energy to it and totally kind of revitalized my life for my company, because you can get bogged down in the day-to-day things of it. I wish I would have found them earlier in my entrepreneurial journey.”

In its third year working with the Southern Ute Tribe, the two-day workshop covers necessary steps to aid businesses, with the guidance of award winning business leaders from the University of Colorado Leeds School, the Southern Ute Economic Development and local entrepreneurs.

Erick Mueller, facilitator of the Rural Colorado Workshop Series and executive director and adjunct professor of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at ��ƷSM��ӰƬ, has been teaching this workshop for nine years. He said it leads to economic vitality, job creation and a better quality of life in rural communities. Together, he’ll work with Eric Bruno, who is an adjunct professor and a chief marketing officer with many creative awards in the advertising field.

Mueller is thrilled to have been working with the tribe for the past three years. The program commits to each community they work with for five years in Colorado, and with much care and communication they are in their third year with the Southern Ute Tribe. The core of the program is to build bridges and grow ventures among local communities.

“Our Native communities are a bigger community that we really want to continue to focus on and help any way we can. We believe that they haven't had as much access to some of these workshops as we would like them to, and so we’re happy to contribute our part,” Mueller said.

Anyone is welcome to join at whatever stage their business idea may be in, even if they never attended a previous workshop. Mueller also said that community members who reside within a 100-mile radius from Ignacio are welcome to attend.

About the course

The three key folks who would find value in the workshop include current entrepreneurs who are looking for a refresh, aspiring entrepreneurs who want to learn how to act on their ideas; local leaders, such as city council members, mayors and local economic development offices.

The workshop goes over three separate levels for business development and growth within the five years it's held in each community. The first level is called Demystifying Entrepreneurship, a 101 course that teaches about value propositions, marketing and how to fund your business.

The second stage is called StartUp to ScaleUp, which focuses on growth. A common mistake Mueller found is that people grow on very shaky foundations, so they teach tools to evaluate if a business is ready to grow.

Last, ShoreUp educates on how to pitch business ideas, meaning how to present the organization in a compelling way that could help bring support.

Why rural communities?

Mueller realized how important the workshop is to rural communities when a Chaffee County economic development officer invited him to bring one of his executive courses to Buena Vista. They thought a dozen people would attend, but they found 66 community members standing in a small room waiting for that first workshop to begin. It became a success and since then Mueller has taught rural communities over the past nine years, bringing what is more accessible to the Front Range into rural life.

As with SWAY Headbands, another recent example was with a workshop held in Northwest Colorado in the Yampa Valley. Derek Martin attended the workshop last October and soon after pitched the wine bar he now owns with his wife at a pitching event. They won and were awarded $10,000 to bring the business into fruition. Mueller said the workshop was one piece of the journey where Martin brought the tools to action and Alpenglow at the Granary opened this summer in Hayden, Colorado.

“It kind of changed my mindset on how to approach business as an entrepreneur,” Martin said. “More often than not entrepreneurs end up working in their businesses rather than on their business.”

Olivia Pedersen attended two workshops based out of Norwood while she worked on her graduate degree. With the help of the workshops and networking, she launched Sustaio, a free sustainability app that measures the carbon footprint in people’s homes – natural gas, electricity and water.

“I thought it was really cool that it supports people who live in rural Colorado and brings entrepreneurship to the community. But entrepreneurship is everywhere. It’s like everybody’s relying on their neighbor to provide a service or product like the local butcher and our local florist,” Pedersen said. “I would definitely recommend the workshop or any workshop like it for people who are considering starting a business. It’s a low-risk way to have some outside input, which is super-important."

Challenges to rural entrepreneurship

Mueller said that challenges exist with rural communities when it comes to entrepreneurship. For one, access to talent is difficult to obtain. It’s hard to find people to relocate to rural areas, such as coders, in Pedersen’s case.

Another challenge is access to capital. Mueller said that although capital is key, it’s not always the answer. Creativity and thinking outside the box is crucial.

Last, logistics, such as shipping and supply chains, are more difficult to come by. This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible, it’s just more strenuous as compared with cities.

Overall, he found that bringing talent to rural communities is the most challenging.

“The more people that learn the way of innovative thinking, the stronger our rural communities and the state and the world would be,” Mueller said.

Over the nine years that the Rural Colorado Workshop Series has been in progress, they helped over 700 entrepreneurs and local leaders throughout rural Colorado.

Their goal is to help at least 1,000 entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses in rural communities.

To register, go to eventbrite.com and search for SW Colorado Demystifying Entrepreneurship. Scholarship opportunities are available.

Article originally published in The Journal on Friday, July 28, 2023. See the original article here.

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Empowering Native American Communities: Kayla Toledo’s Journey with RCWS Ignacio

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Empowering Native American Communities: Kayla Toledo’s Journey with RCWS Ignacio Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/06/2023 - 00:00

Lauren Gwyn

Kayla Toledo, a member of the Jemez Indian Tribe located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been caring for children her whole life. Since the age of 12, Kayla has played a huge role in raising her family's children and caring for the “little ones” during the summer, some as young as six months old. With six siblings and countless cousins, Kayla has worked long hours contributing to their upbringing. Her story is one of many for people in her community, as childcare options are sparse. That’s why Kayla was first inspired to create change in the Native American childcare space and pioneer an initiative to bring daycare centers to Native American families where they can learn and be educated on their culture.

When Kayla entered high school, she noticed a change in her friends and classmates. Some of them were getting pregnant, and there was limited access to adequate childcare. Driven to provide opportunities to those with limited options, Kayla sought to "offer something that hasn't been offered before." She decided to begin her entrepreneurial journey senior year of high school, and in the process was connected with US Secretaries, mentors, and community leaders to help get her vision across. One of these mentors recommended she attend the Leeds School of Business’ Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS). She knew it was going to be a great opportunity, so she took the trip from Albuquerque to Ignacio, Colorado.

Preserving Heritage: Kayla’s Vision for Cultural Empowerment

Kayla’s vision extends beyond conventional childcare; she aspires to establish a learning center where children up to 5 years old can embrace their culture and language. She aims to give parents from Native American communities opportunities while creating an immersive environment where each child can explore their unique heritage. By incorporating representation and knowledge from all 19 pueblos (tribes), Kayla strives to ensure that every child receives a comprehensive education about their cultural background so that future generations of Native Americans know values, traditions, and beliefs to have a sense of belonging. She also hopes to provide knowledge on lessons learned from ancestors and the history behind how Native American people came to be.

Guided by the Rural Colorado Workshop Series

Kayla was able to be asked tough questions, and ultimately set on the best path for success with her company by attending RCWS’s annual workshop last year. She says:

“It was nice attending the workshop. It really pushed me even more actually to figure out and understand what I want within my program because during the workshop they asked me questions that I never thought about. It would either push people to come up with an answer or kind of give them a stopping point where they needed to think more about their business.”

The Rural Colorado Workshop Series is renowned for helping entrepreneurs set foot on the right path to startup success. Workshops are held annually over five years and are led by award-winning professors Erick Mueller and Eric Bruno in partnership with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. This August in Ignacio, RCWS will have its third year where entrepreneurs can focus on scaling up their startups. This two-day workshop is where participants can shift their thinking to “what’s next.” No matter what the startup is, RCWS provides useful tools for any entrepreneur to dig deeper into what’s to come for the next phase of their company.

Join the Journey: Register for RCWS Ignacio

Interested in attending the third annual Native Entrepreneurship Rural Colorado Workshop Series in Ignacio on Friday, August 11th, and Saturday, August 12th? Register Here! If you are a member of the Southern Ute Tribe, the cost of admission is free through scholarships. For more information on the event, make sure to check out the RCWS Ignacio registration page. We can’t wait to see you there!

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Logan County Celebrates their Fifth and Final Year of the Rural Colorado Entrepreneurial Workshop

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Logan County Celebrates their Fifth and Final Year of the Rural Colorado Entrepreneurial Workshop Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/15/2023 - 00:00

Katie Morton

[Sterling, Colorado, June 12, 2023] The Logan County Economic Development Corporation and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ hosted their fifth and final year of the multi-year entrepreneurial workshop series, “Demystifying Entrepreneurship - Shore Up Your Small Business” on June 2-3, 2023.

Taught by award winning faculty members at CU’s Leeds School of Business, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, Erick Mueller and Hunter Albright, this year's program focused on the core elements that create critical resiliency in every successful business venture, regardless of stage, to help strengthen and reinforce strategy.

During this finale, a group of 30 local entrepreneurs and innovators from Logan County joined together at Sky Ranch Golf Course and Tennant Art Gallery to celebrate five years of successful collaboration. The weekend was full of positivity and entrepreneurial spirit as the group took their business concepts to the next level. The varied group included a camel milk for kiddos with certain allergies, a hair band that won’t fall out and with great style and an English tea experience on a 50-acre oasis.

“I would like to believe that today set me on a new path,” says a 2023 attendee. Other attendees emphasized the value of learning how to create a good pitch, and the one on one opportunities to connect with other attendees. Attendees “enjoyed the passion, energy and willingness to share,” as they heard from both local entrepreneurs and the instructors of the program.

Michelle Meade joined the final Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshop with her soap company, Meade’s Pure Soap. Her company manufactures a variety of soaps from locally sourced ingredients and that includes an element of art. She shared,

“The CU Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshop is a high energy experience packed with practical tools along with great action steps that will help propel Meade’s Pure Soap to new heights!”

Collaborating with over 100 community members throughout the five years, Mueller shares his thoughts about rounding out this series with this year's cohort.

“What a wonderful finale with these Logan County changemakers! We had participants from over the years of the workshop – ranging from brand new in their venture to seasoned entrepreneurs. It was super fun to watch this cohort collaborate and support each other in starting and growing their ventures. And what a celebration! Five years of impact and growth. I’m positive the graduates of this program will continue to elevate Logan County’s overall economic vitality. This community will always have a special place in my heart."

“The finale year definitely didn’t disappoint; we had another fantastic group of entrepreneurs and Erick and Hunter delivered a great program,” says Trae Miller, Executive Director of Logan County Economic Development Corp. “The impact that this program brought to the community over the last five years has been huge. We’re excited to continue building on the entrepreneurial ecosystem by bringing more programming through resources like The Annex coworking facility.”

Local Logan County entrepreneurs are also invited to come watch the final companies pitch at this year’s “Shark Tank” style competition on Wednesday, June 15th at Sky Ranch Golf & Grill at 17408 Colorado 14, Sterling, Colorado. These entrepreneurs will have a chance to compete for $30,000 in funding to take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journey. The finalists include She Will Amaze You (SWAY), Anywhere Cam, Camelot Dairy, Akro Co Colorado Craft Beer, and Wickedly Good Treats.

This series of workshops is put on in partnership with CU’s Leeds School of Business, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and is available in every major rural region in Colorado. The next Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshop is being offered in Ignacio, Colorado, on August 11th and 12th in collaboration with the Southern Ute Tribe. To register for this event, please visit the Eventbrite Registration page. You can learn about all locations, by visiting the Rural Colorado Workshope Series website.

Many thanks to those who made this event possible.

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Transforming Dreams into Reality: The RCWS Journey in Sterling Colorado

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Transforming Dreams into Reality: The RCWS Journey in Sterling Colorado Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/11/2023 - 00:00

Lauren Gwyn

Over the past five years, Brian Schaefer has been hard at work renovating and remodeling a historic 108-year-old building nestled in the rural countryside of Northeast Colorado. Brian's unwavering vision has been the total transformation of this time-worn structure into the distillery of his dreams that would create a hub of activity, drawing locals to experience something entirely new for the town of Sterling. The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship’s Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS) helped him gain the needed insights to have his dream of opening Overland Trail Distillery “come to fruition”.

Brian Schaefer grew up as a country farm kid in rural Colorado. Following his high school education, he got an associate degree from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling before earning his Bachelor of Science degree in health and exercise. After moving around to some more populated mountain towns and working at local rec centers planning sports events, Brian decided to move back to Sterling to begin his brewery career. Brian says RCWS gave him resources he didn’t know existed and said that

“It gave me the confidence that yes, I can actually do this. When I moved down here [to Sterling] starting a brewery was just an idea. I didn’t even know if it was even possible”

The highly anticipated distillery is set to open by the end of 2023. Other participants of RCWS Sterling are also coming close to running full-functioning businesses, some are already doing so. RCWS is a progressive five-year program, where participants meet for a reception on Friday and a full-day workshop on Saturday once a year to learn from award-winning entrepreneurship professors how to better their businesses.

Shore Up Finale-Sterling Colorado

The fifth and final year for RCWS in Sterling, Colorado, is quickly approaching. This finale event will take place on Friday, June 2nd, and Saturday, June 3rd where entrepreneurs will learn how to use their creativity to enhance their digital tactics, become more efficient in their financial story, and much more! Hosted by the Logan County Economic Development Corporation, join us to learn core elements critical to every successful business venture, regardless of your business’s development stage through what the Deming Center calls “sprints. The 6 sprints bring you through the most important parts of your business and further your development.

The 6 Sprints

People - How do you hire? How do you fire? How do you create a culture that is great?

Numbers - Learn how to manage Profit and Loss (P&L) statements, financials management as a CEO, and how to get funding

Marketing - Dive deeper into the world of digital marketing, partnership Marketing, and more.

Local Heros - Hear real-life stories from local entrepreneurs in the rural community.

Technology - How should we look at technology and integrate it into our business? How can we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for our startup?

How to Pitch - How can you show your company to a stakeholder the most effectively, whether for press, funding, partnerships, or even an employee?

The Big Finale

As a part of the RCWS finale in Sterling, 10 days after the workshop there will be a collaborative opportunity for companies to pitch for up to $20,000! Refine your skills, business, and pitch through the RCWS workshop to have a better chance of winning this funding! Deming Center for Entrepreneurship Executive Director Erick Mueller says

“People who take this workshop come out the other side two or three steps further along in their path because RCWS provides vital tools to be able to grow a business.”

Ready to take the workshop and learn from some of the best entrepreneurial minds?

Entrepreneurs who have the opportunity to attend gain the most valuable insights the start-up world has to offer. Registration closes soon so don’t miss out!

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Demystify Entrepreneurship In The First-Ever Rural Colorado Workshop In Montrose

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:57:53 +0000

Demystify Entrepreneurship In The First-Ever Rural Colorado Workshop In Montrose Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/19/2023 - 23:57

Lauren Gwyn

After working long hours in a Michelin-Star kitchen, James Fogerty found that not everything has to be made with fancy ingredients. With a drive to create “culinary masterpieces” through comfort food, James founded Trinidad Waffle Company. But James had never started a business before. With 24+ years of experience in the restaurant industry, his knowledge of practical business concepts was limited. Thanks to the help of the Demystifying Entrepreneurship: Rural Colorado Workshop Series (RCWS), James has learned the needed business and entrepreneurial skills to help his business succeed.

“The workshop provided practical tools that I can use right away to develop my business,” says James Fogerty, a self-proclaimed “fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants” type of person. The RCWS workshops gave him valuable takeaways that he applied to his business.

RCWS is a progressive five-year program, where participants meet over a weekend every year.

Year 1 & 2 - Launch Your Idea
For anyone with a business idea. Develop the framework to turn your idea into a business. Learn to create value, avoid common pitfalls and get funding to turn your idea into reality.

Year 3 & 4 - StartUp to ScaleUp
Designed for small businesses and aspiring business owners. Learn how to shift your business out of the startup phase and into "what's next."

Year 5 - Shore Up
Enhance your business. Learn to focus on the most important parts of your business to amp up creativity, marketing, and finances by leveraging must-know tactics to show the world what your business can do.

RCWS Heading West

On April 28th, the Deming Center will be traveling to West Central Colorado for the first-ever RCWS in Montrose, Colorado. Run by Region 10 and the West C entral Small Business Development Center (SBDC), RCWS brings award-winning professors from the Leeds School of Business to help support the growth and development of entrepreneurs and businesses in rural Colorado communities. With promising small businesses and entrepreneurs, who knows what businesses will be launched?

“The highlight of this workshop is that it breaks down entrepreneurship into tangible steps,” says Chelsea McGuire of Steamboat Springs, who founded The Whole Self, LLC. “You will walk away with the tools and confidence to know where to start.”

Mariana Cevallos, a participant in the program who launched Alluvia Packraft, values the networking aspect of RCWS especially. She says

“There’s not a lot of big networking events outside of the big cities; it’s a completely different pace here. Getting to know other entrepreneurs who face similar challenges provided a network of support I didn’t have before.”

The support from her local community, as well as the guidance of the RCWS workshop, allowed Mariana to set herself up to plant the seed, stir creativity, and hit the ground running. By growing her entrepreneurial toolkit, she was able to successfully follow her passion and take advantage of her unique business idea.

Over the next five years, the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship is so excited to see the entrepreneurial development in Montrose County. If you or someone you know is interested in attending this event, learn more and register here!

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Made in Colorado: The Story Behind a Family Business Changing How We Move

A New Chapter Begins in Pueblo

A Family-Driven Solution to an Everyday Problem

Challenging the Status Quo in a Century-Old Industry

Investing in Growth Through RCWS

Advice for Future Founders

Built in Colorado, Built to Last

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Article originally published in The Journal on Friday, July 28, 2023. See the original article here.

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