As Senior Marketing Manager for the 29^th Street, Kate Honea is one of the people who makes the mall more than just a shopping center.  From overseeing the advertising of 29^th Street as a whole, organizing PR and community relations, to scheduling events throughout the year, Honea constantly juggles her responsibilities, helping to make 29^th Street a solid participant in Boulder’s community lifestyle.

Born and raised in Niwot, Honea graduated CU-Boulder with a degree in Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Drawing.  Not convinced that she was going to continue as an artist in her career path, Honea pursued other career options after graduating college.

“I was looking for a marketing position or possibly something in advertising.  I felt that would be a solid career path but one that you could still use your creative side to some extent.”

After finishing school, Honea was hired on as an Assistant Marketing Manager with Macerich, a company that manages retail properties across the West and for two properties in Santa Barbara, CA.  Honea spent six years in California before moving back to Boulder in summer 2011 to take on the role of Senior Marketing Manager for the 29^th Street and Flatirons Malls.

As Senior Marketing Manager for a very active retail community, Honea’s job both challenges and rewards her given the constantly shifting nature and the many aspects and responsibilities demanded of her in the role.

“At the beginning of the day, I have my list of things to do, but at the end of the day, it’s gone in so many different directions that only half the list has gotten done, but you’re still accomplishing things.  Being responsible for so many avenues, every day is different.  It’s one of the things that I’ve loved about this job.”

Despite the constantly changing nature of her job and the challenges that go along with managing such a large property, Honea says she is most rewarded by the knowledge that the malls become part of each town’s culture.

“The shopping centers I’ve been able to work with, they’re not just a place for people to go and shop and buy things, they really add value to that community whether it’s through outreach and sponsorships or events like having Santa light the big tree at Christmas, or the fundraising we do to benefit the area.

29^th Street has many events hosted throughout the course of the year including the Boulder Home and Garden Show, Summer Concert Series, Fight Fire with Beer festival, Paris Street Markets, and in the winter, Miracle on 29^th Street with Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting.

Honea’s favorite event?  The 29^th Street’s Summer Concert Series, this year featuring That 80’s Band, Chase N’ The Dream, Quemando Salsa and others.

“The concerts are fun,” Honea says.  “Boulder is a community that really appreciates live music.  Last year we had participation from local breweries, and this year we’re getting food trucks to join us. It has a very Boulder feel to it.”

Each month during the Concert Series, proceeds from the concerts will benefit a different non-profit.

As for her involvement with 2140, Honea and her husband have been actively involved in the organization ever since coming back to Boulder in 2011, attending happy hours and networking events.

“2140 has been great both personally and professionally.  Personally it’s been great because you’re looking to meet other young people who are doing the same kinds of things you’re doing, and professionally it’s all about establishing relationships and building connections with other leaders in the community.”

Looking forward, Honea is very excited for Trader Joe’s to open (hopefully in October!), continuing to grow community relationships with new vendors, 29^th Street’s event lineup, and continuing to build relationships personally and professionally through 2140.

The post Kate Honea | Senior Marketing Manager at Macerich appeared first on Boulder 2140.

The post 5 Questions with Nancy Chin-Wagner | Founder and Owner of Nancy Chin-Wagner LLC and President of Boulder Networking International appeared first on Boulder 2140.

Located on the corner of 16th and Pearl Street, Ají’s vibrant decor and colorful Latin and South American art (including pieces from the pre-Colombian Incan Empire and Andes woven wool tapestries) suffuse the restaurant with a vibrant and festive atmosphere.  Guests can choose to mingle in one of the niches complete with comfy leather couches, dine with friends at a table or enjoy a happy hour special at the bar.

While the name Ají comes from the Caribbean word for pepper, the ají pepper is popular in Peruvian cuisine.  Indeed, the pepper makes up one-third of the Peruvian condiment trinity together with red onion and garlic.  The most common form of the pepper, the aji amarillo pepper is used in a variety of dishes ranging throughout Central and Latin America.

One of several Boulder-area establishments supported by local farms, Ají (along with eight other restaurants) gets produce from the Three Leaf Farm in Lafayette including heirloom tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, salad greens, spinach, squash and pumpkins, broccoli, beans and fresh herbs.  They have apple, plum, apricot, peach, and cherry trees and will soon add raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries to their repertoire.  In addition to the produce, the Three Leaf Farm is also home to goats and over 50 chickens, all of which contribute to the delicious menu offerings at Aji and the eight other restaurants, providing valuable products like goats’ milk (for goat cheese) and eggs.

At Ají’s happy hour from 3-6 every day (and Sundays from 3-close), you can choose to sip on a Spicy Strawberry mojito or try their house made sangria.  Nibble on poached lobster and banana ceviche, duck taquitos, or poblano tortas with asadero cheese and avocado.  See more of their menu offerings here.

This month, join Boulder 2140 members and young professionals at Ají to enjoy an extended happy hour menu featuring $3.50 beers, $4.50 margaritas, mojitos, and wells, plus delicious food specials!

Wednesday, April 24th from 5:30-7 p.m.

Ají Latin American Restaurant

1601 Pearl Street, Boulder

Click here to register for 2140′s April Happy Hour.

We hope to see you there!

The post April Happy Hour Preview- Aji Latin American Restaurant appeared first on Boulder 2140.

With cancer affecting one in three people, and Pergola’s family not unaffected by cancer, she knew it would be easy to be passionate about working for an organization like the American Cancer Society. What appealed to her most about the position was the ability to get out in the community, talk with other people and form relationships with others through her work.  It was right up her alley.

With a background in sales and event planning in the wedding industry, and an infectious positive personality, it’s easy to see where Pergola would excel in this position. Her tasks range from organizing event venues, recruiting volunteers, and coordinating sponsorships, and she is constantly on the move.

“My days are very busy.  I’m juggling a lot of projects at any one time.”

Two to three days a week, Pergola goes out into the community, hers being the Boulder area and CU-Boulder, in order to spread the word about the many services and programs offered by the American Cancer Society.

“I network in order to find people interested in Relay for Life, our biggest fundraiser for ACS, and in order to find participants and volunteers for our committees.  So much of my job is not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”

Pergola has a talent for putting together successful volunteer teams and committees and takes great pride in seeing the work that those volunteers are able to accomplish.

            “I work hard to find people, finding those – right – people and seeing them all come together to do their thing.  I’m rewarded in knowing that I put them all together, that it’s something I had a hand in.  [It’s about] getting the right people together and watching magic happen.”

How has Boulder 2140 helped you?

Pergola joined Boulder 2140 just over four months ago, but she readily admits that it is one of her favorite groups.

“My very first luncheon with 2140, I’ve never felt so comfortable.  I felt like I was meeting people who just wanted to be my friend.  I never once had to talk about my own business to socialize.  After that first luncheon, I remember me and four other girls hugging because we had become friends.”

Since then, Pergola has gone to many other 2140 events, networking and engaging with other young professionals in the organization, and even within the community.  Pergola is encouraged by those attending 2140 and Chamber events; emphasizing the importance of networking and getting to know others in the community.

“The more people you know, the more successful you’ll be.  You can learn a lot from people.  That’s why it’s important to be involved with something like 2140.  The more contacts you have, the more you know about things on in the community.  For these reasons and many more, you should be involved in networking.

What’s ahead for you and the American Cancer Society?

Relay for Life is THE big event for the American Cancer Society and we’re always looking for volunteers and those interested in forming a team. If you are interested in participating in the Boulder area Relay for Life or forming a team, the event will be July 26-27 starting at 6 p.m. at Potts Field.  More information can also be found at www.relayforlife.com/boulderco

The post Margo Pergola | Community Relationship Manager at the American Cancer Society appeared first on Boulder 2140.

 What is the most rewarding thing about your job now?
Being totally aligned with what my values and my strengths are and getting to do it every day.  I feel like I get to make a difference in people’s lives which is something I’ve always wanted to do.  I also really love running the business.  I love my team, I love managing everybody and I love to lead.

 What are you hoping attendees take away from your discussion?
Next to who you’re married to, your job is the number one thing that will determine your happiness or unhappiness in your life so it can be very all-consuming if you hate your job.  My hope is that attendees walk away knowing that they CAN be in a job that they love.  It takes putting together a strategic plan and in some cases it can take more time for everything to come together, but you can get there and there are people out there who can help if you feel lost or unclear.
  What would you say are the most important skills to have for someone in a position similar to yours and what advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry in which you currently work?
One of the most important traits to have to be successful as an entrepreneur, is the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  You’ve got to have the stomach for running your own business and will have to be pretty at peace with your feelings around money realizing that a key source of discomfort will be the financial decisions you’ll have to make.  All great leaders have great teams so you’ll need to be good at delegating and delegating means that you have to have an inherent trust in other people.  Many people who are hitting road blocks in their business are having issues with trust.  Be adaptable.  One key to my success has been an ability to let go of specific outcomes I had in mind and from a more general vision, leave a little space to allow things to unfold and shift and turn into products and projects better than I could have imagined.  Lastly, strive for Work/Life focus.  Its important to realize that there is simply no way everything is going to get done.  Focus fully on work when that’s where you are and focus fully on family, play, friends, etc. when that’s where you are.  Make peace with the undone things and leave them where they need to be.

What is your dream job?
My mission in life is to transform the way people think about work and from where I am now, I’m already in my dream job, but I know there are bigger things ahead.

The post 5 Questions with Kendra Prospero | Owner of Turning the Corner LLC appeared first on Boulder 2140.

In 2009, Roberts heard from one of his friends in the Student Conservation Assocation about a seasonal position opening up at Wildlands Restoration Volunteers.  His previous experience and knowledge from working with the City of Boulder Junior Rangers and SCA gave Roberts an edge and he got the job with WRV.

“WRV is a lot like the Junior Ranger program, but on a much larger scale,” Roberts said.  “Change [that] happens in a weekend would take three to four months with the Junior Ranger program.”

Reaching out to over 5,000 people, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers is a non-profit organization that provides an opportunity for people to come together, learn about their natural environment, and take direct action to restore and care for the land.

Today, Roberts is the Community Programs Director for WRV, a position that incorporates training, project planning and marketing.  As a relatively small non-profit, WRV trains and positions their volunteers as leaders within the organization.

“We rely on volunteer leadership.  Fifty percent of what WRV does is community building, training people and giving them skills so that the community itself can do the restoration.  The other fifty percent of the time is spent with on-the-ground projects.”

Running over 75 projects each season, WRV hosts 12-20 volunteer training sessions each spring, helping to train volunteers as crew leaders, those helping to lead the volunteer groups; tool managers who manage the tools and equipment; project leaders, those helping to run the projects who, when trained will run up to eighty to ninety percent of the projects; technical advisors, who are the ones who plan and design the actual projects, and cooks.

Because WRV relies so heavily on volunteer interaction and leadership, Roberts admits that no day is ever the same.

“There is no typical day, which is part of what I love about this job.  We all work crazy, crazy hours because we’re working a lot with volunteers.  Probably a third to half my weekends I’m doing something and a lot of evenings, which is really cool because it gives me flexibility to take off and go for a hike in the morning.”

Of course, being so passionate about the work that he does, it’s easy for Roberts to find things he enjoys about WRV.

“Working with WRV, most of us love the outdoors or appreciate them, and we get a benefit from the land, but the land doesn’t benefit from us using it.  It’s a one-way street.  This is one of the few opportunities where it’s beneficial for the land; it’s a symbiotic relationship.  I get to see growth in the environment and growth in people.  When those two things are put together, that’s an unbelievably powerful thing.”

Looking to the future, Roberts is really excited to further developing the Youth Program within WRV.  In the past three years, they’ve come from bare bones to engaging over 500 youth a year, doing 10-15 projects with them.  Wildlands Restoration Volunteers is also excited about becoming a bigger presence statewide, expanding their network and connections in Colorado.  For more info about getting involved with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, visit their website.

http://www.wlrv.org/get_involved/index.html

The post Jarret Roberts | Community Programs Director at Wildlands Restoration Volunteers appeared first on Boulder 2140.

What is the most rewarding thing about your job now?

Learning about so many different industries from the business owners we work with and seeing them empower themselves to change their lives and the lives of their teammates – doing things they dared not dream. It’s the coolest thing in the world.

What are you hoping attendees take away from your discussion?

- You have to learn to fail to win.

- You don’t learn how to win by getting a “yes,” you learn how to win by getting a “no”.

- You either choose to learn something from the experience of failing, or you choose not to draw any lesson at all from your mistakes.

- A life without risk is a life without growth.

What would you say are the most important skills to have for someone in a position similar to yours?

Patience and understanding.

What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry in which you currently work?

Decide what you want. Believe you will get it. Suit up each and every day and take action. Winner’s simply don’t know how to quit.

What is your dream job?

Teaching (I’m doing it).

The post 5 Questions with Bob Bolak | President of Sandler Training appeared first on Boulder 2140.

What is the most rewarding thing about your job now?

I love that everyday is a new adventure; that Creative Alignments has been growing and solidifying organically and at the perfect speed; that I have the most amazing team members and partners possible!; that we are truly redefining the way that companies can engage with recruiting firms such that they can have their needs met, feel like they have truly been heard, and not break the bank to make it happen; and that we get help people find new jobs that they are excited about.

What are you hoping attendees taking away from your discussion?

I hope that attendees gain insight on how to make sure that they are approaching their hiring processes as intelligently and effectively as possible.

What would you say are the most important skills to have for someone in a position similar to yours?

With clients and colleagues, I just try to be human and humble.  With my team members, I try to provide guidance where helpful and also know when and where to just let them run and do what they do best.  And in general, I think my passion for our business model and the fact that we have hired amazing team members ourselves makes up for any skills I may be lacking.

What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry in which you currently work?

If you are smart, honest, personable, hard-working and a great communicator both in writing and face-to-face…I would seriously consider you for an open spot on our team knowing that we could train you on the hard recruiting skills with time.

What is your dream job?

That’s a tough one.  At this moment, I can’t think of anything I would prefer to do be doing.  So I guess you could say this is.  Of course, maybe second to being a professional golfer or being paid to just love on my kids all day.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out this week’s Brain Food Lunch, “How to Hire the Best Talent for Your Company” with guest Peggy Shell.  Click the link here for more information or to register to attend.

The post 5 Questions with Peggy Shell | Founder & CEO of Creative Alignments Recruiting Agency appeared first on Boulder 2140.

For some people, working on new natural foods labels for retail mega-giant Wal-Mart, making edits to a new web app, and then posting a spoof video of Pearl Street clipboard campaigners may seem like a far stretch in your job duties. For Mighty Fudge Studios Manager Ashley Strandburg, it’s all in a day’s work.

Growing up, Georgia native Strandburg was passionate about dance and had performed with the Atlanta Ballet throughout high school. Originally a dance major in college, Strandburg rethought her major to reflect her long-term career plans. Inspired by her mother, she changed her path to advertising.

“She thought it would be a really great fit with my creativity, my organizational skills and my attention to detail,” Strandburg explained. After graduating from the University of Georgia with her Advertising bachelors in 2005, Strandburg went on to work with several prominent creative agencies in the Atlanta area before finally coming to Boulder in 2011.

Soon after she arrived in Colorado in 2010, Strandburg accepted a position with Mighty Fudge Studios, a small creative agency specializing in 2D animation, mobile app development,  branding, packaging and illustration.

The studio manager, Strandburg explained, is not a position you’d typically find at other advertising agencies. Her role as account manager, project manager and employee manager, consists of duties such as managing the accounts, budgets and timeframes, communicating with clients, working with the Mighty Fudge creative team and making sure that the client’s expectations are met with the final product.  “It’s all-encompassing of everything I do,” she said.

When asked about her favorite part about working with Mighty Fudge, Strandburg readily admitted that her coworkers and her clients are a major part of what she loves most about her job. “I love the people. I have some really good people that I work with, the staff is great and I really enjoy the clients. It’s such a wide variety of work.”

Interestingly enough, one of Mighty Fudge’s clients is Wal-Mart, which has also presented its own challenges to Strandburg and her coworkers, given the outspoken attitudes Boulder residents have towards the retail mega-store.  “We do a lot of work for Wal-Mart and their private label brands, which is awesome. It’s kind of hard to work for Wal-Mart in a town like this, but actually, they’re becoming more focused on fresh ingredients and good-for-you food.” That obviously fits very well within the Boulder scene.

In the two years she’s been at Mighty Fudge, Strandburg said her portfolio has vastly expanded to include mobile app development, branding and packaging.  “At the other agencies I worked at, I was really focused on online work, like banner ads, websites and landing pages. It’s been a good change for me to come here and increase my repertoire of what I can do and projects that I can manage.

Having worked at two corporate agencies before her time at Mighty Fudge, Strandburg says the work environment has also contributed to her success here in Boulder. “The agencies that I worked for in Atlanta were very corporate, and it was very much a corporate environment. We want to have fun because that shows in our work. If you’re not having fun, you’re not making good work and you’re not coming up with good ads. We don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

While Strandburg says that the most challenging part of her job has been negotiating and managing budgets, she also said that she has grown a lot through those challenges; she’s learned how to communicate with people in a variety of situations.

One of the things that drew Strandburg to Mighty Fudge and Boulder was the casual lifestyle and the appreciation for the work-life balance, as opposed to the fast-paced, work-centered office environment at the agencies she had previously worked at in Atlanta. Part of that work-life balance Strandburg has embraced since coming to Boulder has been attending many of Boulder 2140’s events including happy hours and networking events. “It’s a great group of people and it’s a really good way to meet people in the community and see what they’re interested in and what they’re doing. The events are good networking opportunities and you guys always throw really good parties.”

Having fun, sharing creativity and putting in hard work sounds like it has paid off for Ashley Strandburg and for Mighty Fudge Studios. That balance of work and play is what makes Boulder an amazing place to for young professionals to thrive. We here at Boulder 2140 wish Ashley all the best in her career and hope to continue providing that sense of social camaraderie and professional growth that she and other local young professionals seek. If you’d like to meet Ashley and our other inspiring members, join us at an upcoming Boulder 2140 event!

The post Ashley Strandburg, Studio Mananger at Mighty Fudge Studios appeared first on Boulder 2140.

CU graduate makes ’30 Coolest Entrepreneurs Under 30’ list with revolutionary business

Written by Amanda Barrell

Parents sending their children off to college can find this a very daunting mission. Whether students are going 20 minutes or 2,000 miles away, parents are often unaware of the resources available to their students at school. While eager high school seniors have a lot to look forward to with the new and exciting experiences of college, parents are left wondering how they can help once their kids aren’t at home anymore. Many parents struggle in toeing the line between being overbearing “helicopter parents,” hovering over the student’s every move, or giving too much distance while their student struggles to adapt to life at college.

Sarah Schupp, a Dallas native, and her family had been coming to Colorado for vacations and ski trips for years before she decided to attend college at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2000. As a student, Schupp specialized in the marketing and entrepreneurship management program through CU’s Leeds School of Business and participated in the President’s Leadership Class.

During her time at CU, Schupp noticed a gap in the information about resources that help parents support their students while at school. With this in mind, Schupp, along with a few of her entrepreneurship program classmates, found the inspiration to make a change. For her senior project, Schupp created a resource for parents called University Parent Media to help inform them about everything from tuition deadline dates and financial aid to restaurants, activities and other things to do in their student’s college town.

Schupp acknowledged that starting UPM had its share of seemingly insurmountable problems. From HR issues to increasing cash flow, Schupp faced no shortage of challenges, but she overcame them through perseverance.

“I just had to keep going and overcoming small obstacles,” Schupp said.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, Schupp had a clear passion and dedication for the goal that she and University Parent Media were working toward, which ultimately led to UPM’s success.

Young professionals in the Boulder area can learn a lot from the example set by Schupp’s dedication to University Parent Media. Given the nature of her company, it is essential for Schupp to reach out and interact with members of the communities which UPM features. Schupp works with university officials to engage with local community resources to provide material for each edition of the guidebook.

Additionally, Schupp and her team work with various local businesses in order to build solid relationships and facilitate advertising sales for the guidebooks. Her largest advertisers are local hotels and Dell Inc.

Eight years after its founding, University Parent Media now reaches over 200 campuses and millions of parents every year, with new schools being added every month. UPM has published guidebooks, an email newsletter, and a new website with helpful information for parents.

“It’s so exciting,” said Schupp. “90% of the time our work is changing, but I’m rewarded in hearing the impact UPM has had on parents, schools, and the local community.”

In 2011, ColoradoBiz Magazine chose the company as one of the Top 100 Women-Owned Colorado Businesses. In 2012, Inc. Magazine featured UPM on their “30 Under 30” list of America’s coolest young entrepreneurs.

Schupp credits her staff with the company’s success: “I’m really proud of our team.  We rely on everyone’s contribution to make us successful.”

Learning about the university system has been one of the biggest accomplishments since starting the business.  “I’ve gotten to learn about how higher education works,” said Schupp. From the admissions process and financial aid to extracurricular activities and weekend events around town, Schupp has gained unique knowledge about all facets of university life.

“I recently attended a conference put on by AHEPPP (the Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals), and it was really interesting to get an inside view of the challenges facing schools,” said Schupp.

Looking to the future, Schupp and University Parent Media continually strive for ways to achieve their goals and increase their presence at schools across the country. In December they will launch a brand new mobile website, in addition to bringing on new schools every month. Schupp’s other goals for University Parent Media include providing information for 1,000 schools across the country, increasing their email list to one million recipients and making it onto Inc. Magazine’s “5,000 Top Fastest Growing Companies” list.

The post Sarah Schupp | University Parent Media appeared first on Boulder 2140.