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Tourism as a Cornerstone of Durango’s Economy
by Jeff Dupont, CEO, Durango Chamber of Commerce
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Tourism is a foundational piece of our regional economy. In the greater Durango area, tourism accounts for roughly one-third of our economic viability. That means every third dollar circulating through our community, whether through retail, lodging, dining, or recreation, is tied directly to our visitors.
Our key attractions continue to drive this success. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Purgatory Resort, and Mesa Verde National Park remain major draws. They anchor a broader visitor experience that includes our trail systems, hot springs, downtown shopping, cultural events, music, and local food. These are the pieces that not only fuel tourism, but they also help shape our identity as a community.
Tourism dollars support infrastructure improvements, strengthen our tax base, and help fund everything from workforce housing and roads to public transit, and community art. The impact of our tourism economy benefits residents and businesses across the board.
That’s why the relationship between our visitors and our community matters. Our hotels, retail shops, and restaurants depend on our guests having a positive experience, not just with the product or service they purchase, but with the town itself. When visitors feel welcomed and valued, they come back. They bring friends and family. They tell others. That kind of return on their experience is something we can collectively influence.
At times, visitors may not fully understand or reflect our community. But we have an opportunity to influence behavior, even in small ways. Many guests are interacting with our community values for the first time, like prioritizing sustainability, choosing to walk or bike as a commuting option, or drinking from reusable containers. How we prioritize access to public lands, choose function over fashion, and emphasize physical activity, has the potential to leave a lasting impression. For some, this may be their first time experiencing a place that operates with those principles at the forefront.
Visit Durango, our community’s tourism office, has done an excellent job marketing these values through its Responsible Tourism Campaign, aimed at creating sustainable and equitable tourism. Promoting a tourism industry that benefits local communities and minimizes environmental impact. But marketing is only part of the solution. It’s how we show up as locals that reinforces these values in a meaningful way.
Peak seasons can bring added pressure—busy trailheads, long lift lines, packed restaurants, and the occasional double-parked vehicle downtown. But it’s worth remembering that our visitors are contributing in real ways, and many are simply navigating an unfamiliar place the best they know how. A bit of patience and grace can go a long way in creating the kind of experience that makes people want to return.
Tourism is one of our most reliable and impactful economic engines. Let’s continue to treat it like the long-term investment it is.
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Join us on the first Tuesday of the month for an engaging 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.
Enjoy complimentary coffee by 81301 and a delicious $12 El Moro breakfast burrito – the perfect start to your day! Check out DurangoBusiness.org for details & to order your breakfast burrito.
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Mark Your Calendar!
May 6th Economic Alliance Update on Childcare Initiatives
June 3rd
August 5th
October 7th
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Stay Connected, Stay Informed
Kim Oyler, COO, Durango Chamber of Commerce
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At the Durango Chamber of Commerce, we understand that staying informed is essential for business success. With the Colorado General Assembly introducing over 500 bills during the 2025 legislative session, it's vital to be aware of potential legislation that could impact your operations.
To assist, we offer a directory of State Senators and Representatives on our website. This resource enables you to quickly find and contact your elected officials, empowering you to voice your concerns and support on issues affecting your business.
If there's a specific bill you're monitoring that could impact your business, please reach out to Kim (kim@durangobusiness.org). We can help track its progress and provide resources to connect you. Remember, your voice matters, and elected officials value hearing from their constituents.
Stay informed with the monthly reports presented by the Legislative Action Coalition (in partnership with the Durango Area of Association of Realtors, Energy Council and Durango Chamber), and access other valuable resources on the webpage. Find the latest reports here.
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Business Connection with Nunn Construction
By Sara Lynn Valentine
| | Nunn Construction, with offices in Durango, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, was founded in 1983 by Ray Nunn. All projects were located on the Front Range until 2013, when Nunn was awarded the new high school project in Cortez. | | |
During the course of that project, Nunn was awarded the job of building an addition to the hospital there. “Those projects gave us a four-year window to see what it might look like to have a Nunn office here. By the time we finished the Cortez projects we’d also been awarded the Moore Park project in Durango, which included new offices for the City of Durango Parks and Recreation Department," said Chris Schnurr, senior project manager at Nunn Construction. "We began to build relationships, and once we opened our Durango office, we started to be part of the community.”
Nunn Construction then had the opportunity to build the new fire station #3 for the Fire Department, and renovated the old armory building in Bodo for the Sheriff’s Department. They’ve also done work for Mercy Hospital, Axis Health System, and the Pagosa Medical Center in Archuleta County. Nunn is now working with Fort Lewis College and doing the LaPlata County airport expansion.
“It’s really important to us to build spaces that improve communities,” Chris said. “We want to do projects that make a positive difference. This is part of our vision and helps define who we are. We’re committed to quality work, lasting relationships, and dedicated service."
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Chris continued, "These things set us apart as a company. We don’t have a one size fits all approach. Our relationship with the owner is foremost with each project. We are interested in developing relationships that will continue over many years.”
Five years ago, the Durango office had a staff of three, and now they have a staff of 16. They focus on hiring local sub-contractors. Their large construction projects in Durango are major economic drivers, bringing money into the community and creating local jobs.
Nunn Construction has taken an active role in supporting the community. They donate to many worthy local organizations and causes, are involved with the Chamber's Leadership La Plata program, and are a big corporate sponsor of Fort Lewis Athletics. “We appreciate the Durango Chamber of Commerce,” Chris says. “They offer great support to local businesses and have helped us with name recognition. Every local business should be a member.”
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Featured Chamber Young Professional of Durango:
Connor Roach
Where do you work & what do you do? Co-owner/Broker @ Mountain to Desert Mortgage LLC. Helping our community achieve the dream of homeownership. I volunteer at La Plata County Jail through my church St. Columba.
Why did you want to be a YPOD member? I moved back to Durango from Phoenix 1 year ago and don’t have a big network here. I joined YPOD to meet young professionals in our community
What do you love about the YPOD program? The people and events!!
How do you spend your free time? I’m an avid golfer, love riding my motorcycle, fly-fishing, and I play in our adult hockey league for the Ice Monkeys.
Want to join the YPODs? Find out more Find out more
| | YPODs in Action: March Recap | |
There's no YPOD without Durango, and there's no better Durango activity than skiing at Purgatory. We enjoyed this time honored tradition this past weekend with powder runs, lunch at the Powderhouse, and après refreshments at Durango Mountain Club. Stay tuned to YPODs social media for more outdoor gatherings in the spring and summer.
February's YPOD happy hour event took place at one of our favorite venues - Lola's Place. We enjoyed drinks and conversation with familiar and new faces. Our next casual networking event takes place April 23.
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Chamber Diplomat Spotlight:
George Johnson
What’s a typical day like for you in your profession? I currently work part-time at the Durango Welcome Center and field all the questions that tourists have, from "what is there to do in town" to "what day do the leaves change". It is always new and refreshing. Love being the face of Durango.
What motivated you to join the Chamber Diplomat Program? I knew some of the folks who were Diplomats, I enjoyed their company, and decided the Dips were the ones I needed to hang out with.
If you could describe Durango in three words, what would they be? Accepting, friendly, and close-knit
What’s a skill or passion you have outside of work? Durango Film Festival
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? From my dad. "We are all the same and need to be treated with dignity and respect."
Want to Join this Fun and Professional Group? Find out more here.
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Congratulations to Alpine Bank on their
20th Anniversary!!!
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Leadership La Plata Alumni Feature:
Cindy Coleman
What do you do for a living?
My business is Duck Girl Art - I'm a graphic designer for a lot of great clients in town (Honeyville, DSNGRR, San Juan Symphony, and more) and I'm also an artist. I paint local landscapes with chalk pastels - I'm one of the four artists at the Animas Chocolate Company's Artist Collective. You might also recognize my prints in the entryway of the airport.
What LLP Class were you in? 2010-2011
What do you love about LLP? LLP was an incredible experience for me. I learned so much about the community, but I also learned a lot about myself.
What do you enjoy about the Chamber? I get a lot out of the Lunch & Learn Sessions, and I enjoy meeting other business owners at the Business After Hours events. I was a member of a Leads Group for a few years and have also been a Diplomat. The Chamber really helps small businesses (and tiny ones like mine!)
What is a less-known fact about you? I went to Space Camp!
Learn more about Leadership La Plata at LeadershipLaPlata.org.
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LLP Monthly Focus:
The Pause that Leads to Success
By Beth Porter, Four Corners Broadcasting & LLP Alum
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Purposeful pause. Intentional pause. Strategic pause. Power pause. In this instantaneous digital world, we can lose sight of the value of the pause.
Emails, texts, heated meetings…have you ever responded immediately then wished you’d taken some time to reflect on your response…content, tone…before hitting send or jumping into the fray? Our to-do list culture often compels us to move constantly rather than purposefully.
A pause can feel like losing momentum. Yet taking the time to reframe that response and understand that clarity fuels growth and creativity and lowers stress. Yes, it takes time. But intentional pauses can lead to greater progress in the long run.
Here are a few tips to add the purposeful pause to your skill set:
- Prioritize intention over urgency
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Recognize there is time to pause…even if it’s for a few seconds to become present in the moment
- Be open to how are you feeling emotionally, physically, mentally. If your attitude is wrong for the situation or your mind is racing with chaotic thoughts, pausing can give you the awareness you need to realign
- Here’s a quick exercise to help ground you in the present: What are five things you see? Four things you hear? Three things you feel? Two things you smell? One thing you taste?
- Know your mind will likely wander. It isn’t failure, it’s awareness and the opportunity to redirect your focus back to the present.
There are also business processes that just take time and patience to let a solution work...
| Beth Porter is the Senior Marketing Consultant with Four Corners Broadcasting and an alumni of Leadership La Plata Class of 2015-2016. | Thank You toThis Month's LLP Sponsor: | | |
What’s Happening with our Chamber Members!
Find more information here.
Every Wednesday American Legion Trujillo-Sheets Post 28 Luncheons
Every Thursday Yoga at April's Garden
Every 1st & 3rd Sundays VFW Post 4031 hosts a community breakfast
April 12 Earth Day Durango, Earth Day Ride & Drive Event
April 17 Library Takeover with El Pomar
April 24 Create & Paint at Adela Floral
April 25 Stand Up for Local First
Want your event listed? It’s free! Log in to your portal or email us.
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Advantage Physical Therapy & Wellness P.C.
Arete Mortgage
Bank of the San Juans
Blackmore Group
Blue Rain Gallery
CommonSpirit- Mercy Hospital
Durango Education Foundation
Durango Kids Pediatric Dentistry
Durango Natural Foods Co-op
Four Corners Broadcasting
Garrhs, Inc.
Half Price Tees / Durango Embroidery & Print
Hermosa Cafe
Jacobs
Jay Short Insurance Agency, LLC
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La Plata Electric Association, Inc.
Mail Room and Copy Center
Mesa Verde Estates
Michalak Insurance Agency
Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Trail Tours
Our Own Lives
Oxford Financial Planners
Peak Eyecare
PJ's Gourmet Market
Sachs Construction, LLC
Springs Resort
Steamworks Brewing Co.
Swan Global Investments
The Powerhouse
Wagon Wheel Liquors
Western Group, Inc.
Will Construction, LLC
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Workplace Hostility Pushes Employees to Seek New Jobs: 30% Report Higher Confrontation
Recent Survey Shows Toxic Behaviors Eroding Workplace Culture
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Durango, Co — New data reveals a troubling increase in toxic behaviors within the workplace, underscoring the critical need for companies to take immediate action to prevent employees from becoming job seekers.
This is according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
With 30% of employed U.S. job seekers reporting employees at their company are more confrontational than they were three years ago, the urgency to address these issues has never been greater. The trend is particularly pronounced among male job seekers, with 34% noting increased confrontational behavior compared to 23% of female job seekers.
Furthermore, more than one in five employed job seekers (22%) have observed a rise in employees being mean to others at work over the past year. This escalation in toxic behaviors is not only damaging workplace relationships but also undermining the overall company culture, prompting many employees to seek new job opportunities.
| The Durango, CO Express office is located at 1911 Main Ave Ste 282 and serves the Four Corners Area. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to stop by, visit www.ExpressPros.com/durangoco or call (970) 403-8780. |
| 2025 DURANGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | | |
Staff
Jeff Dupont, Chief Executive Officer
Kim Oyler, Chief Operations Officer
Madison Anderson-Oles, Member Relations Coordinator
location: 2301 Main Avenue | Durango, CO 81301
mailing: PO Box 2587 | Durango, CO 81302
970.247.0312 ext. 2
www.durangobusiness.org
chamber@durangobusiness.org
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Chamber Board Members
Vaughn Morris, President; Boys and Girls Club
Josh Neff, Vice President; CommonSpirit/Mercy Hospital
Mike Vermette, Treasurer; Star Liquors
Dr. Karen Cheser, Immediate Past President; 9-R School District
Melisa Jackson Palmer, Secretary; Bank of Colorado
Brian Lundstrom, Sky Ute Casino & Resort
Nick Johnson, Exit Realty Home & Ranch
Sarah Brandt, Durango Motor Company
Tom Loch, Diplomat Representative
Land Title Guarantee Company
Jenn Bartlett, Leadership La Plata Representative
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Ryan Simonovich, YPOD Representative
Ryan MTB Media Company and Local News Network
Dave Woodruff, City Councilman, City of Durango Representative
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