In this episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Reed Miller, the owner of Northern Colorado Insurance Agency (NCIA) and a LoCo Think Tank member! Reed shared insights on the changing landscape of insurance, detailing how NCIA serves multiple areas for health insurance, including employee benefits, Medicare, and individual plans. We also delved into the various options for group plans, the principles guiding his business, and the significant growth NCIA has experienced since he purchased the business 2+ years ago.

Reed spoke at length about his family legacy in business, starting with his grandfather's Coca-Cola distribution company and continuing with his father's agency’s inception and growth before partnering with a larger insurance brokerage - which grew to become the dominant regional player over time. Reed's desire to strike out on his own was fueled by a commitment to transparency and ethical business practices, seeking to align his financial incentives with those of his clients. This focus extends to his personal life as well, where he balances business responsibilities with spending quality time with his wife Hannah and their two young boys.

Outside of work, Reed is actively involved in his community, notably serving as the President of Northern Colorado United for Youth, a volunteer organization that raises significant funds for local children’s charities - and has their annual Suitcase Party coming up on August 15th! Despite the various responsibilities, he manages to find time for travel and personal interests. Stories from his travels, including a memorable and somewhat nerve-wracking visit to Israel, highlight his adventurous spirit and commitment to both personal and professional growth. So please join me in enjoying my conversation with Reed Miller.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

I had an enlightening conversation with Brian and Mary McKnight, the driving forces behind Turf Tamers Landscaping in Fort Collins. Brian shared how he acquired Turf Tamers, initially a tiny business, and grew it from the ground up starting with a few clients in 2001. Brian shared his background, and the drama in moving from “trendy” California to “cowtown” Fort Collins in high school - but how he soon fit right in and found summer work in landscaping. Mary, on the other hand, came to CSU from Indiana and studied global tourism. They met at the Rio, and their shared passion for adventure and travel led to a quick connection, and soon jobs and business opportunities in Chile.

They bought property in Chilean Patagonia in 2008, and over the years developed both the property and deep relationships with the neighboring families. Despite travel challenges and lack of infrastructure - their valley finally got electric power in 2016! - they’ve developed an amazing fishing and recreation property in one of the most unique glacial valleys in Patagonia, and we spend a fair bit of time exploring their valley and the local culture.

Brian and Mary also shared extensively about their business evolution, particularly how incorporating systems and focusing on quality customer service has been their key to success. Brian appreciated how Mary’s involvement sped their evolution, and how his membership in LoCo Think Tank has broadened his and their perspectives. For young people, they emphasized the importance of travel and entrepreneurship, and shared how their focus on values informs their business and family decisions. Our time together was an exploration of building a business and a life with intention and an adventurous spirit, so please tune in and enjoy my conversation with Brian and Mary McKnight.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode, I was joined by Moses Horner, the Founder and Owner of Horner Painting, as he celebrates their 25 years in business! Horner Painting is a market leader in both new construction and residential repaints, and Moses is also my landlord and a longtime LoCo Facilitator for a Builders chapter.

We talked about Moses' special sauce in founding and growing the business, which for Moses has always been maximizing - continuous improvement and streamlining operations. Moses emphasized the importance of operating with profit margins from day one and advises against expanding too quickly - in team size or overhead expenditures. He shares his journey in developing his skills, acknowledging the significance of his LoCo Think Tank membership in helping him develop both business acumen and leadership skills. We also dug into his recent separation from a minority partner, and the challenge in both honoring a strong relationship - and knowing when it’s time for a change.

We dove into Moses' family life, discussing his 31-year marriage to Sara, his pride in his children and their pursuits, and their shared love of travel. Recent travels recounted included a surf trip to El Salvador and a harrowing motorcycle accident in Mongolia that turned into an opportunity to experience the region in a whole new way.

Our conversation highlights the cultural and business experiences that come from fostering strong relationships, and the power of intentionality with family, community engagement, and the pursuit of a lasting legacy. He’s a friend, a mentor, and a strong example of the power of peer advisory - so please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Moses Horner.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode of The LoCo Experience podcast, I sat down with Bob Hewson, the CEO and co-founder of Colorado Youth Outdoors,which will celebrate its 25th year in 2026! We started by inquiring the why around the organization’s focus on building relationships through traditional outdoor activities like fishing, archery, and trapshooting.

We talked about the importance of intentional one-on-one time in relationships - especially any parent-child relationship - and how his own upbringing influenced his career shift from corporate life to founding a nonprofit. Bob shared how the organization thrived during the COVID era due to its reliance on private funding and commitment to its mission, and positioned them for an upcoming expansion to a Colorado Springs area campus.

Bob also highlights the significance of having a strong board and community support in overcoming business challenges, and their future plans for a national presence. Additionally, we delved into Bob's personal life, including his family, kids, grandkids, and a memorable stint working in the fishing industry on Orcas Island.

Bob's story underscores the power of relationships in personal and professional life, and the principles involved in making them stronger. So please tune in, as I’m sure you’ll enjoy my conversation with Bob Hewson, CEO of CYO.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode of the LoCo Experience Podcast, I spoke with Julian Faure, the Founder and Owner of Momentum Counseling and Consulting. Julien is a member of Loco Think Tank's Next Level III chapter and has grown his company significantly, from a start-up solo practice in 2021 to over 100 employees in 13 offices in a few short years.

One of the topics we discussed was the challenge of constantly hiring and training and the high rate of burnout in the mental health industry. Julien shared the significance of building a supervisory internship model at Momentum to train new therapists. He emphasized the role of community in mental health and how the decline in organized religion and service clubs may be impacting people's psychological well-being - isolation is our enemy.

Julian's life and business journey is inspiring; he moved from France to Florida for college, overcame language barriers during his first few years, and attended law school and practiced law for several years before finding his calling in counseling. We reflected on the factors leading to the immense growth of Momentum Counseling and the risks and rewards of growing an enterprise vs. operating a practice. Finally, Julian shared his perspective on emerging trends in mental health, including the acceptance and benefits of telehealth and the potential benefits of chemically assisted trauma therapy. His is an inspiring and still early-stage journey, with lots of great insights into mental health and well-being, so please enjoy - as I did - my conversation with Julien Faure.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode of the Loco Experience podcast, I sat down with Mark Rushing and Kathy Rushing to discuss their entrepreneurial adventures and 45-year marriage. Mark is the Owner of Portable Restroom Solutions, while Kathy is the Founder of Loadstar Relationship Coaching. They share their journey from their college days at Texas A&M, and into their early entrepreneurial ventures - which included a failed church plant. We also delve into their faith journey, how it has evolved, and their struggles with finding the right church community in Colorado.

We discuss the challenges of maintaining a strong marriage in an entrepreneurial setting, and the impact of their business experiences on their relationship. Mark opens up about the difficulties of running multiple businesses, including a challenging assisted living business affected by COVID-19 which found them restarting in business and life in Northern Colorado .

Kathy emphasizes the importance of creating a vision together in maintaining a strong relationship, and Mark credits his experience with peer advisory groups like C12 and LoCo Think Tank, and how these communities have been invaluable in building skills and perspective. Throughout, the focus remains on the dignity of work, the importance of community, and the enduring strength of their partnership. There is strong wisdom from lived experience in this episode, and I know you’ll enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Mark & Kathy Rushing.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode of the Loco Experience Podcast, I sat down with Chris Elder, Patrick Elder, and Austin Dodder, respectively the CEO, President, and COO - and Partners in Elder Construction, Inc. We start by delving into their roles at Elder Construction, along with their roots in Northern Colorado - and previous to that, Colorado Springs. Friends since birth and 1st grade, respectively, we explore together the history of their friendship and the founding and evolution of the company. We touch upon their emphasis on building strong community relationships and focus on commercial construction projects - and the poor results when they dabbled in residential construction!

The trio shares fascinating anecdotes from their youth, including adventures and misadventures, and highlight the challenging yet rewarding path to their current success. We also discuss their personal lives, relationship-building, and deep-rooted faith, which plays a significant role in their company's ethos and leadership style. So please join me in enjoying my conversation with Chris, Patrick, and Austin, partners in one Northern Colorado’s most highly regarded commercial construction companies, Elder Construction.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain

In this episode of the Loco Experience, I welcomed Travis Luther - sociologist, researcher, writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and Founder of Time to Live LLC. Travis shares his journey from a tumultuous childhood with young parents to pursuit of a music career and eventually finding his stride as an entrepreneur. He recounts his entrepreneurial ventures, including starting a successful valet advertising company and a legal tech company, as well as the Queen Anne Pillow Company, which he grew to a million-dollar business in just 18 months and exited in 2021. Travis credits peer advisory for much of his learning as an entrepreneur, and he’s a longtime member of and Past President for Entrepreneurs Organization - Colorado Chapter.

The conversation delves deep into Travis’s personal battles, including a struggle with opioid addiction, and how he eventually overcame it through determination and support from his family and community. Travis also explores how his experiences led him back to academia, transformed his understanding of success to focus more on personal fulfillment and relationships, and the role psychedelics played in his healing journey. You won’t want to miss his LoCo Experience at the end, involving a week-long relationship with a valet Ferrari, so please tune in and enjoy my conversation with Travis Luther.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain