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Learn About Candidates & Their Positions on Small Business Issues Before Heading to the Ballot Box!

Register Now for Sept. 26 State House District 59 Candidate Forum!

By Kim Oyler, Interim CEO of the Durango Chamber of Commerce

In every election, understanding where candidates stand on key issues is vital, especially when it comes to issues that impact small businesses.

Small business is the backbone of our local economy. The policies and decisions made be elected official can have far-reaching consequences on the ability of small businesses to thrive, create jobs, and contribute to the community.

On Sept. 10, the Durango Chamber, in partnership with the La Plata Forum, held a Candidates Forum for La Plata County Commissioner District 3. The forum featured incumbent Commissioner Matt Salka and challenger Paul Black, a small businessman and rancher, giving the public an opportunity to hear directly from both candidates about their visions for La Plata County.

Coming up on Sept. 26, the Chamber will host another forum, this time for Colorado State House District 59. Rep. Barbara McLachlan has held this seat and is now term limited. Ignacio Mayor Clark Craig, and 9-R School District Board Member Katie Stewart are both running for this open seat and the winner will represent our region at the state Capitol.

For the business community in southwestern Colorado, it's important to elect leaders who understand the unique challenges that small businesses face including high healthcare costs, difficulty finding and retaining skilled workers, and burdensome regulations that can stifle business growth and prosperity. Electing leaders who have firsthand business experience and a strong commitment to small business advocacy ensures these concerns will be front and center in making policy decisions.

Forums like these hosted by the Durango Chamber provide voters with a platform to compare candidates on the issues that matter most to them. In southwestern Colorado, ensuring that we have elected officials who will fight for our small businesses is key to securing a prosperous future for the entire region.

We encourage you to educate yourself before you head to the ballot box and join us on Sept. 26 at our HD 59 Candidates Forum at the DoubleTree Hotel from 8am to 10am. Register online here.

Many thanks to the Bank of Colorado and the Durango Area Association of Realtors for their support of these programs.

For more information about the Chamber, our activities and events, visit DurangoBusiness.org.

Jeff Dupont, Named New CEO of Chamber, Starts Oct. 14, 2024!

Jeff Dupont was recently selected by the Chamber Board of Directors to become the new CEO of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Jeff steps into the role following the 17-year tenure of Jack Llewellyn.

"I’ve raised my family in Durango and am deeply invested in the success of our community," Jeff said. "I’m excited to begin this new chapter and am fully committed to driving continued growth, strengthening community relationships, and boosting economic development. The Chamber has earned a strong reputation, and I’m grateful for the work Jack Llewellyn, Kim Oyler and the entire Chamber team have done to position the organization for success.”

Dr. Karen Cheser, Chamber Board President expressed her confidence in Jeff's ability to lead. "Jeff has demonstrated a deep passion for supporting local businesses and community engagement with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses," she said.

Cheser also expressed her gratitude to Interim CEO Kim Oyler for her dedicated leadership over the past five months. “Kim’s efforts have been instrumental in keeping the Chamber on track and laying a solid foundation for Jeff to be successful moving forward.” Kim will return to her role as Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber in mid-October, once Jeff assumes the role full-time.

The Chamber recently held a Member Appreciation Business After Hours where members, elected officials and the community had a chance to meet Jeff in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Jeff Dupont as he steps into his new role at the Durango Chamber of Commerce!

Eggs & Issues: State House District 59 Candidate Forum

September 26th 8am to 10am

DoubleTree Hotel

Learn more about the candidates' backgrounds and stances on polices and issues before you hit the ballot box!

Ignacio Mayor Clark Craig

9-R School District Board Member Katie Stewart

La Plata County Commissioner Candidates Forum

The Chamber partnered with the La Plata Forum on Sept. 10th to host a County Commissioner Forum with incumbent Matt Salka & challenger Paul Black. Thank you to Bank of Colorado and the Durango Area Association of Realtors for sponsoring the forum.

Downtown Next Step Forum

The Durango Chamber, Business Improvement District, and Local First partnered to facilitate a survey of downtown business and property owners on the Next Step Project. They also held a forum where business owners presented questions about this project for the City to answer. Learn more about the initial Q&A, which is found here.

Navigating Local & State Policy Initiatives

As part of the Durango Chamber’s commitment to effective advocacy, the Legislative Action Coalition monthly report is posted online so our members and community can stay abreast of the latest developments related to public policy on the state and local levels. Read the reports here!

Utilize & Develop AI Assistants on Sept. 25!

Dr. Tom Miaskiewicz, associate professor of marketing in the Katz School of Business at Fort Lewis College will present ways to utilize AI assistants for specific business needs. You'll receive hands-on experience in creating AI assistants capable of automating parts of your business.

Register now for the Sept. 25th Lunch & Learn, sponsored by TBK Bank.

Business After Hours Hosted by 1st Southwest Bank

Join us October 17th from 5-7pm for the next Business After Hours.

Business After Hours is a monthly networking event attracting professionals from all around the La Plata County area. Join us for an evening of connections, celebrations, and door prizes!

Pre-register online & SAVE - $15 includes 2 drinks and appetizers. $20 at the door.

Registration Here

Connecting Accountability to Leadership – August's Lunch & Learn Workshop

Suzanne Phare of Real Ideal Coaching shared how to elevate your leadership game with an engaging workshop in August! Suzy dove into the art of fostering accountability within your team and revealed how to lead with confidence and integrity. Suzy also shared effective practices to transform leaders into accountability champions.

Learn more about Suzy Phare and her coaching practice: RealidealCoaching.com

Mornings at El Moro!

Networking & Learning Series!

Join us on the first Tuesday of the month for an engaging networking and educational program from 7:45am to 9am at El Moro Spirits & Tavern. Connect with community peers, participate in a 25-minute learning session presented by a community leader, organization, or business. Showcase your best elevator pitch in this morning mingle.

Don’t miss the complimentary coffee by 81301 and the chance to savor a delicious El Moro breakfast burrito – the perfect start to your day! Brought to you by the Durango Chamber of Commerce and El Moro Spirits & Tavern. Check out DurangoBusiness.org for details & to order your breakfast burrito.

Mark Your Calendar!

Tuesday, Oct. 1st 7:45-9am Update on 9-R School District with Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser

Tuesday, Nov. 5th 7:45-9am Tony Vicari, Aviation Director, Durango La Plata County Airport

Tuesday, Dec. 3rd 7:45-9am

Historical Stories of El Moro Tavern & Durango in the Wild West Days!

Laine Johnson, owner of Horsefly History Tours told tales of the wild west in Durango and sordid stories of downtown Main Avenue, from a shootout between a Marshall and a Sherriff, plus the rough & tumble ways of the lawless west in Durango.

Take a tour and learn about the west. If you’re into ghost stories, there are also plenty of those. Laine has tours for anyone who wants to learn more about Durango’s past.

For more information, visit HorseflyHistory.com.

Sasquatch Sealcoating

Buck Taylor, Owner

By Sara Lynn Valentine

Buck Taylor, who grew up on a ranch in southwest Colorado and graduated from Bayfield High School, spent the first seven years of his professional life in corporate America. Then he got the call that his company was letting go of the product line he worked with and that a severance package was on the way. “It was alarming,” Buck says. “I had to do something and do it quick."

Buck's wife had graduated from Fort Lewis, and it was already a top priority for both of them to come back home once they had matured their careers enough.

Buck’s layoff jumpstarted that process in a way they hadn’t imagined. A lifelong friend of Buck’s had an idea. He owned a business that included installing seal coating, a protective layer applied to asphalt pavement to extend its lifespan and enhance its appearance. There was growing demand for seal coating in La Plata County, but Buck’s friend’s business could no longer meet that need. He suggested that this might be a career path for Buck.

Buck jumped right in. “My wife is in marketing,” Buck says. “She started marketing and promoting while I spent the next few months educating myself on the trade. As soon as the weather was good enough, the phone was ringing. We booked up solid the rest of the year and we’ve had momentum ever since.”

Sasquatch seals both commercial and residential asphalt, including roads and parking lots all around the county, plus a lot of luxury homes that require master work.

Sasquatch has built up great word of mouth and Buck continues to build a loyal clientele. A major driver has been the tremendous positive feedback from the city of Durango, the airport, and local businesses like the General Palmer House, the Gaslight Theater and the Durango Public Library.

“Seal coating requires periodic maintenance, and given the expense of installing an asphalt road, it only makes sense to have it sealed annually, to protect it as an investment,” Buck says.

He is passionate about his work, but he is even more passionate about giving back to the local community. He’s a huge supporter of local schools, and youth sports in general. He works closely with Durango’s Good Fight Boxing Club, championing the programs they provide for challenged youth. Sasquatch recently sponsored and Buck was the keynote speaker for their first annual Boxing Classic ‘Animus on the Animas.'

Buck also is proactive about employing kids coming out of high school or college, exposing them to the trades and teaching them to be do quality work and be responsible. “I want to help kids grow up on the right path.”

Buck has three sons of his own. His youngest is a senior in high school and works with Buck in the summers. “He’s a good hand.” Buck says.

Buck highly recommends getting involved with the Durango Chamber. “Being a member of the Chamber is great for a new business start-up. The networking automatically plugs you into opportunities for exposure you’d never be able to get anywhere else. The camaraderie and recognition from fellow Chamber members is invaluable.”

Learn more at www.sasquatchsealcoating.com. You can email Buck at buck@sasquatchsealcoating.com or call (970) 501-5023

Featured Chamber Young Professional

of Durango:

Kira Gullion

Where do you work & what do you do?

I own Lizard Head Trading Company in Durango and Bee Thrifty in Bayfield.

Why did you want to be a YPOD member?

I love surrounding myself with ambitious and hard-working individuals my age. I've found lots of amazing young professionals who encourage my business goals and help me along the way.

What do you love about the YPOD program?

I love all of the events and networking evenings. I've lived in the Durango area my whole life, and I'm meeting amazing people I've never seen before.

How do you spend your free time?

I love traveling for my store. We go all over the country to find vintage and high-end clothing to restock our racks. These trips are honestly so much fun. I'm always learning about different designers and trends.

Want to join the YPODs? Find out more here.

Young Professionals come together for Happy Hour & Speaker Series

The Young Professionals of Durango had their August networking happy hour at Union Social House and enjoyed the shady patio, Bocce ball, networking, and food trucks. At the end of the month, Jackie Garcia of Naked Cat Beauty joined us for the How I Made it in Durango series for a productive session full of inspiring insight and business advice.

Chamber Diplomat Spotlight:

Daniel Bleier

What’s Your Business? Business Banker at Vectra Bank

How long have you been a Diplomat? 3 months

How long have you lived in Durango? 4 years

Tell us about your family (including pets) My wife (Kaitlyn) and I like to do all the typical outdoor activities here (right now we only have time for skiing) and our cat Pierre just enjoys eating.

What is your favorite part of being a Diplomat? Getting to know the other dips and small businesses around town.

Fun Fact About You: I spent the first 22 years of my life in Alaska.

Want to Join this Fun and Professional Group? Find out more here.

Leadership La Plata Alumni Feature:

Kate Suazo

What do you do for a living? I am the Founder and Lead Consultant for Suazo Equity Consulting, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultancy working with local and national business and nonprofits on their internal DEI practices. I am also the Director of Belonging at Fort Lewis College, utilizing similar work to support a campus-wide sense of belonging.

What LLP Class were you in? 2022-2023, Recruitment chair for 2023-2024, Steering Co-Chair 2024-current

What do you love about LLP? I love getting to know what is happening in our community. All my work focuses on our community and supporting those who walk alongside us each day. LLP allowed me to learn about the ways folx navigate the community, its resources, and helped me understand areas of strength and growth for La Plata County.

How does the Chamber help your business/what do you enjoy about the Chamber? The Chamber has helped me form connections with fellow small business owners. I am running a business by myself and the resources available through the Chamber has allowed me to feel confident with this endeavor.

Share a less-known fact about you. I have been asked and interviewed to be on 3 dating shows for Netflix and TV. If you know me, you know I would make a great meme!

Learn more about Leadership La Plata at DurangoBusiness.org/llp.

Upcoming Chamber Programs & Events!

For more information & to register: DurangoBusiness.org

Sept. 18 Shred Day with Alpine Bank, Phoenix Recycling & the Durango Chamber

Sept. 18 5:15pm YPOD Happy Hour at HomeSlice Pizza on North Main

Sept. 25 noon-1pm Lunch & Learn with FLC Professor, Dr. Miaskiewicz: Utilizing & Developing AI Assistants

Sept. 26 8-10am Eggs & Issues Candidates Forum with State House District 59 Candidates

Sept. 27 8am How I’m Making it In Durango with Ben Sorenson, Ascent Digital Media

Oct. 1 7:45-9am Mornings at El Moro Networking & Learning Series with Dr. Karen Cheser, 9-R School Superintendent

Oct. 9 11:30am People & Culture Workshop: Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

Oct. 17 5-7pm Business After Hours at 1st Southwest Bank

Oct. 23 noon Lunch & Learn Workshop: Canva 2.0 with Marketing Concepts Squared

More details at Durangobusiness.org

What’s Happening with our Chamber Members!

Find more information here.

Every Wednesday American Legion

Trujillo Sheets Post Wednesday Luncheons

Every Wednesday Chicken SH*t Bingo at Grassburger

Every Saturday Durango Farmers Market 8am to noon

Sept. 19 Economic Alliance Summit

Sept. 19 FLC Men’s Soccer

Sept. 20-21 Blue Rain Gallery: Brushed Histories: An Evening with Hyrum Joe

Sept. 21-22 Durango Autumn Arts Festival – 30th Anniversary

Sept. 21 FLC Men’s Soccer

Sept. 27 FLC Women’s Soccer

Sept. 27-28 FLC Volleyball

Sept. 28 FLC Football

Sept. 28 Habitat La Plata Hammers & High Heels Fundraiser

Oct 2-6 Durango Cowboy Gathering

Want your event listed? It’s free!

(970) 247-0312 ext 2

Thank You to Manna Soup Kitchen for Hosting

Business After Hours in August!

Manna Soup Kitchen provided tours of their incredible gardens and pavilion with a memorable Business After Hours featuring live music, delicious food, and great door prizes!

LLP Monthly Focus:

Power Skills: Creativity is Crucial to Innovation

By Beth Porter, Four Corners Broadcasting

Last month, I started delving into “Power Skills.” These are sometimes referred to as “soft skills.” They aren’t taught like engineering or acting. While we often think these are—or are not—a part of our nature, they can—and should—be developed by any leader.

In August, we explored adaptability and resilience. This month, we’ll delve into creativity.

In this instance, we’re referring to creative thinking and problem-solving as a means to innovation. On LinkedIn, creativity was identified as the most critical corporate asset out of 50,000 work-based abilities. According to an article in Forbes, a Future of Jobs study from the World Economic Forum cited creativity as one of the top five talents for the future. Innovation—or creativity--is crucial to solving the issues that our businesses and economies confront.

Building creative thinking skills

How do you develop and encourage creativity, within yourself and your team, to create value for your organization? Take a page from the Young Entrepreneur Council and incorporate these 8 steps to build creative thinking skills.

Beth Porter is the Senior Marketing Consultant with Four Corners Broadcasting and an alumni of Leadership La Plata Class of 2015-2016.

Congratulations to Central Bank on their New Brand and Great Location on Main Avenue!

The business community, and the Chamber Diplomats came out for a ribbon-cutting celebration as Central Bank unveiled their exciting new brand! Located at 1211 Main Avenue. Learn more at CentralBank.net.

Celebrate Wild New Way’s New Downtown Location!

Join Cindy Schmidt as she unveils her practice’s new downtown location at 813 Main Ave, Suite 209 with a ribbon cutting reception. Learn more about her practice at WildNewWay.com.

Metallic Minerals

Bryan Eisenbraun

(303) 945-6781

799 Tech Center Drive

Durango, CO 81301

website

FARRIS RENOVATIONS LLC

Christopher Farris

(970) 946-2793

378 Browns Lake Road

Durango, CO 81303

American Red Cross of Western Colorado

Barr Engineering Co.

Boys & Girls Club of La Plata County

Duck Girl Art

Durango City Lifestyle Magazine

Durango Harley-Davidson

Durango Infusion Center

Durango Nursery & Supply, Inc.

Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours

DWolf Designs Fine Art &

Custom Framing LLC

Essential Operations, LLC

Eytchison Insurance Agency, LLC

Four Leaves Winery

General Palmer Hotel

GOAL Academy High School

Gotcha Covered of Farmington / Durango

Grease Monkey & Car Wash

Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County

Holt Sheet Metal, Inc.

iAM MUSIC

J. Paul & Debbie Brown

Kennebec Cafe

KSUT Public Radio

Leah Ilanah - Business Solutions Inc

Ledger Metrics, Inc.

Lisa Mackey Photography

Mountain Septic

Next Level

Real Ideal Coaching

Rocky Mountain Chocolate

Second Story Books

Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH®)

Sky Ute Casino Resort

Sunshine Gardens Senior Community

UniFirst

Visiting Angels of Southwest Colorado

Websites by Khara

Appetizers & Snacks - The Meal Before A Meal

La Plata County Extension: Tip of the Month

by Nicole Clark, RDN, M.Ed.

It’s just a few bites of food. How is it possible that eating appetizers and snacks can account for 25% of our daily calories?!?

The culprit? Fat.

From a culinary perspective, fat and other ingredients enhance flavor and provide a pleasant mouthfeel. This combination is especially appealing when hunger peaks, right before a meal.

Imagine yourself at a restaurant, scanning the appetizer menu. What do you see but an assortment of dips and fried foods? All of which tend to be highly appetizing (hence the name, “appetizer”), and high fat.

In addition to flavor, fat gives us more than twice as many calories per gram (9) than carbohydrates and protein (4).

For reference, a medium-sized paper clip weighs a gram. For better reference, 6 - 9 chips with nacho cheese and ground beef provide roughly 25 grams of fat and 430 calories. Or, 22% of the daily calories for a 2,000-calorie diet.

Don’t get me wrong. Snacks and appetizers can be a strategic approach to reaching your health goal.

Depending on your choice, it can become an opportunity to add nutrients into your diet and give your body the energy necessary to keep your hangry and ravenous self at bay.

I know, I know. The dip is the whole reason for eating the appetizer - it’s the best part. But, what if you made fruits or vegetables the vessel for the dip rather than chips or bread?!?

What if your chip scoops up a big bite of salsa (fruits and veggies) rather than a lillydip?

What if you made dips with beans, herbs and vegetables rather than cheese and cream?

These are all just ideas of course. But with action, they hold potential and you reap the benefits.

La Plata County Extension health programming: nicole.clark@co.plata.co.us or (970) 382-6461.

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