Ladies LaunchWhoMissLegacyAmerica’s ThunderingVictoryto SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 FEMALES ON FIRE
1 coloradoexpression . com MAY/JUNE 2022 www.grubercommercial.comFirstAmericanStateBank 8390 East Crescent Parkway #100, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (720) Russell@grubercre.com490-1442 (303) www.fasbank.com694-6464 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP “In the current tight industrial market, every edge you can get h elps the buyer. First American State Bank was able to approve and close one of my client’s loans in just a few weeks, allowing us to beat out the other buyer competition.” Russell Gruber Owner of Gruber Commercial Real Estate Services Jay Davidson, CEO, Michelle Gruber, VP, First American State Bank, and Russell Gruber, Owner, Gruber Commercial Real Estate Services
By Hillary Locke Mujica by: Hailee Lucchesi by: Michael Moore
2 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
features Females on Fire
Make up
A photo essay with women who are leading the way Photos: Jensen Sutta Styled
Shot at: Void Studios Sharon Magness Blake By Elizabeth Hamilton A source of inspiration, on and o the eld 4238 PhotographyThachWIlliamPhoto: Sharon and Thunder 3 in 2019 SuttaJensenbyPhoto Fierce, fashionable, and fabulous
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 3 We invite you to explore our Colorado Springs vacation packages and special o ers. Take advantage of these exclusive savings, and start planning your unforgettable wellness and destination spa experience for a welldeserved getaway at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. An intimate resort and club experience with abundant space for distancing in nature’s playground of Colorado Springs. CHOOSE ONE OF OUR WELL-DESERVED STAYCATIONS 3320 Mesa Road Colorado Springs CO 80904 | gardenofthegodsresort.com *Cancellation information – Reservations may be cancelled, or stays shortened, up to seven (7) days prior to arrival. Cancellations or shortened stays will forfeit deposit if made within seven (7) days of arrival. Deposit information – Your credit card will be charged immediately upon booking for the frst night’s room rate plus 2.50% property improvement fee and 8.25% tax fee. Upon arrival to the resort, your card will be authorized for the remainder of your stay, as well as an incidental authorization equating to $100 per night. Any authorizations not used will be refunded to your card within fve to seven business days. Resort Fee Additional – $38 per room, per night + tax. Resort Fee includes valet parking, in-room Nespresso Coffee & bottled water, PressReader digital newspapers/magazines, WiFi & access to club amenities, dining outlets, and group ftness classes. BOOK NOW ONLINE OR BY CALLING 719.632.5541 BE ENRICHED BY NATURE’S BEAUTY at Garden of the Gods!
Denver native Ali Wil helm follows her passion for parties BITS PIECES& By Danielle Yuthas Galas, fundraisers, art and more VOL. 31, NO. 5, COPYRIGHT BY WIESNERMEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PERMISSION TO REPRINT OR QUOTE EXCERPTS GRANTED BY WRITTEN REQUEST ONLY. COLORADO EXPRESSION (ISSN # 1070-5066) IS PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY (6 ISSUES/YEAR) BY WIESNERMEDIA, LLC. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO COLORADO EXPRESSION, 1780 S. BELLAIRE ST., STE 505, DENVER, CO 80222. SUBSCRIPTION QUESTIONS: (888) 815-1436. UNSOLICITED MATERIALS WILL BE HANDLED WITH CARE, BUT THE MAGAZINE ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR Locke Jessica Hughes By Jessica Hughes Hillary Locke Mujica Hillary Locke Mujica with
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Upcoming fundraisers to put on your calendar
SPOTLIGHTBUSINESS
By Lisa Buscietta and Pamela Cress
Photo: Jensen Sutta Hailee Lucchesi up: at:
Mujica Connecting with nature, one brush stroke at a time Sip &TheSavorSpicy Radish By Cynthia Pasquale One woman’s quest to deliver chef-driven dishes to Colorado homes Byte Bars By Cynthia Pasquale Go-getter cousins o er up bites on-the-go 2628228 54 3634 TravelsGETAWAYSHarvestSeason By
Kristen Blessman By Joanne Davidson Stepping into her power Public Persona look at ladies in Colorado who are setting the tone for excellence in leadership and polished elegance
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MATERIALS. GET EVENT UPDATES BETWEEN ISSUES ISSUUPINTERESTINSTAGRAMTWITTERFACEBOOK@coloradoexpression@coloexpression@coloradoexpression@coloexpression@coloradoexpression Art SceneMelinda HaymonsSmith By Hillary
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By Lindsey K. Schwartz e legacy of a woman who embodies grace, courage and philanthropy Maggie Morrissey Joanne Davidson look at her direct im pact at the Rose Andom Center Griese Joanne Davidson woman on a mission to help children grieve loss of a loved Busch Hillary Locke Mujica true community
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4 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
By Hillary Locke Mujica
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ELIZABETH HAMILTON Group Publisher Colorado Expression , Colorado Homes & Lifestyles , Mountain Living From the Publisher COLORADOEXPRESSION.COM WiesnerMedia Chief Executive O cer DAN WIESNER dwiesner@wiesnermedia.com Chief Financial O cer JON RICH jrich@wiesnermedia.com Vice President, Information Technology JOHN WIESNER jwiesner@wiesnermedia.com Founder E. PATRICK WIESNER pat.wiesner@gmail.com Credit Manager PATTY BARBOSA pbarbosa@wiesnermedia.com Administrative Assistant PENNEY SMITH psmith@wiesnermedia.com Customer Service VONG PHANMANY vphanmany@wiesnermedia.com ADVERTISING AND EDITORIAL OFFICES 1780 SOUTH BELLAIRE ST. SUITE 505, DENVER, CO 80222 303 248 2058 SUBSCRIPTIONS
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COLORADO’S INSPIRING WOMEN
Printed in Denver, Colorado
Our fall issue is one of my favorites of the year, and this one is no startEachexception.timewetolookat the female leaders in our community, I am always amazed at what incredible things are being done by them, right in our backyard. Our writers captured a special group of powerful and successful women for whom giving back is at the forefront of their minds. Marilyn Van Derbur Atler embodies grace and courage in her eforts to always help others. Maggie Morrissey’s dedication and the impact she has made at Denver’s Rose Andom Center is aweinspiring, and Brook Griese is on a mission to help children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
PBS12’s Kristen Blessman brings a breath of fresh air everywhere she goes; what a pleasure it was to get to know more about her. We also celebrate Thunder, a very special horse owned by Sharon Magness Blake. Blake’s generosity and love of animals have brightened lives and led to a trio of Thunders leading the Denver Broncos onto football felds for 30 years. Finally, this issue wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of a few spectacular trips to take for fall colors near and far. Please enjoy this special issue; we sure did.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 5 A WiesnerMedia Publication Group Publisher ELIZABETH HAMILTON ehamilton@coloradoexpression.com Managing Editor HILLARY LOCKE MUJICA hillary@coloradoexpression.com Operations Director LISA BUSCIETTA lisa@coloradoexpression.com Design/Production HANNAH ROGERS Photography PAMELA CRESS, JENSEN SUTTA Digital/Social Media MISTI MILLS Events and Partnership Coordinator JOSIE CISNEROS jcisneros@chlml.com Production Manager DAWN PAUL dpaul@chlml.com Contributing Writers JOANNE DAVIDSON, LINDSEY SCHWARTZ, JESSICA HUGHES, CYNTHIA PASQUALE, DANIELLE YUTHAS, HILLARY LOCKE MUJICA Stylist HAILEE LUCCHESI Makeup MICHAEL MOORE Sales sales@coloradoexpression.com
Inquiries and Submissions info@coloradoexpression.com
6 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Kentwood.com InRootedLuxuryCastlePinesVillage·CastleRock 6426 Country Club Drive, $3,500,000 Annzo Phelps | 303.570.3429 | 6426CountryClubDrive.com Cherry Hills Village 1 Ravenswood Road, $2,975,000 Matt Conway | 720.341.0951 | 1RavenswoodCherryHillsVillage.Kentwood.com
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8 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Shot in the Dark 1 Coreen Miller, chief fnancial ofcer and interim chief executive ofcer for the Colorado Symphony; Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Marlo Canedo and Steve Brett 2 Mary Krugman with Dr. Richard Krugman and Julie Rubsam, co-chairs of the Colorado Symphony board of directors, and ofce manager Shannon Fraser 3 Coreen Miller, Colorado Symphony’s chief fnancial ofcer and interim chief executive ofcer, with Bob Friedlander, Barbara Porter and Eric Israelson 4 Betsy and Joel Ambrosino, with Ty Colman and Angela Coleman 5 Tony Pierce, Colorado Symphony chief artistic ofcer, Karen and J.J. Rams, and Byron Haselden 6 Chris Furman, Will éand Ali Frankfurt, Libby Anschutz and Jeff Allen 7 Jillian Parker and board member Rich Kylberg 8 Raul Murciano Jr. and his wife, Vivian 9 Bethany Fetté and gala co-chair Bill Myers 10 Bethany Smith with board members Amy Harmon, Andra Zeppelin, Maggie Anderson and Julie Rubsam ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA
Rapper RZA, leader of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, and vocalist Jessica Vosk joined the Colorado Symphony to entertain guests at the orchestra’s Imagination Gala held May 21 at the Mission Ballroom.
Colorado Symphony Imagination Gala Photographer: Steve Peterson 1 432 5 6 7 9 108
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 9 Shot in the Dark 1 Diana and Winston Wall, Beverly Schmitt 2 Chad Skrbina, Jeff Rieb, Matt Adrian, Christopher Leach 3 Jen and Alex Hardie, Chad Skrbina, Kathryn Birnbaum 4 Kathryn Stalmack, Paola Baglietto, Solveig Lawrence, Elle Ethington 5 Elizabeth Hamilton (group publisher, Colorado Expression, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, Mountain Living) and David Orlovsky 6 Kinny Bagga, Becca Chasin, Stephanie Barthel 7 Courtney Holmes and Lois Paul 8 Dwinita and Rev. Timothy Tyler 9 JC Buck, Liz Richards, event chair Amanda Precourt and Stacey Sinclair 10 Marco Capitelli and Lana Cordier 11 Tamara and Francis Barron ALL FOR CAUSEGOODAUncorked, the Denver Art Museum’s 20th annual fund raising event celebrating art, wine, and community, was held on June 9 at the Lanny and Sharon Martin Build ing. Proceeds from the event will beneft the museum’s Acquisitions Endowment. DAM Uncorked Photographer: Pamela Cress123 4 5 6 87 9 10 11
10 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Shot in the Dark ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA Held in LoDo on May 28, this annual one-day music festival featured headliners Chris Isaak and Ingrid Andress, along with 18 other bands. Amp the Cause provided entertain ment and community service projects that raised funds for more than 55 local nonproft organizations. Amp the Cause Day of Rock Photographer: Pamela Cress 2 1 1 Latasia French and Phyllis French 2 Jackie Claux, Terry Oehler, Frank Pappas, Jane Whittaker 3 Amp the Cause president Christie Isenberg and Rob Broden 4 Tedra Scott, Kaylee, Calen Watkins 5 Zach Westergren and Jasmine Maletta 6 Volunteers Alison Torbin and Ryanne Buchannan 7 Mark Grusich and Shannon Schilaci 8 Gary Yampolsky and Scott Armstrong from Denver PD 9 Tori Mateer, Brant Roth, Carli Franks, Charlie Walling, Shannon Asher 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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12 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Shot in the Dark ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA Held June 25 at the Seawell Ballroom, the evening featured a performance of Moulin Rouge! The Musical along with dinner and an online auction. This annual event supports the DCPA’s theater and education programs. Saturday Night Alive Photographer: Pamela Cress 1 Trustee chairs Manny and Carolina Rodriguez and their son Tomas 2 Community chairs Jerome and Jackie Davis with William Morrissey and Lacey Golonka 3 DCPA President & CEO Janice Sinden and Garfeld Warren 4 DCPA Chairman Martin Semple and his wife Jo 5 DCPA’s Suzanne Yoe, Erin Walker and Whitney Staloch 6 Rodney Hicks, Chris Coleman, Jamie Clements 7 Scot Smith and Susan Blake-Smith 8 Matthew and Buffy Cooper 9 Brianna Firestone and Chris Garofoli 10 Carrie and John Morgridge 11 Britany and Kyle Chism (corporate chair) 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 6
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 13 Shot in the Dark RECEPTIONS | GALAS | BANQUETS | BAR MITZVAHS | DINNER PARTIES Iconic InspiringModernarchitecture.elegance.spaces. Inspiring spaces for groups of 10 up to 1,000 Host your next event in the newly renovated Lanny & Sharon Martin Building, brand new Anna & John J. Sie Welcome Center, or iconic Hamilton Building. Enjoy world-class art, stunning architecture, and state-of-the-art event space in the heart of Denver. Book your event today! denverartmuseum.org/event-rentaleventinfo@denverartmuseum.org720-913-2798
14 coloradoexpression Shot in the Dark ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA 1 2 3 4 5 1 Nathaniel Hackett and Cindy Schulz 2 Maribeth and Bill Hanzlik 3 Letha Atwater, Stephanie Rivers, Cathie Thompson 4 Russ and Lisa Jeffries, Sarah Berkman 5 Billy Thompson 43rd Annual Mile High Holiday Mart Presented by the Junior League of Denver November 4 – 6, 2022 Gates Field House, University of Denver @juniorleaguedenver #JLD #HMDenver @juniorleaguedenver@jldenver Enjoy a boutique shopping experience while giving back to the Denver metro Pleasecommunity!visitJLD.org to learn more. SAVE THE DATES! Clayton Early Learning Jordan Vineyard & Winery marked its 50th anniversary with two nights of celebration at the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion in Denver on June 3 and 4. The events benefted Clayton Early Learning. Photographer: Getty Images
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16 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Shot in the Dark 1 Kim McKee and her wife Dr. Apryl Steele, president and CEO of DFL 2 Dr. Christoph Heinrich and his daughter Henni 3 Doug and Pam Cooper with Annette and Scott Scholes 4 Katy Loughney, Scott Bainbridge, Bob Weyland, Kathy Ashenfelter 5 Leslie Capin and Jayne Eshelman 6 Steve and Jean Kemp, Paul Latham, Pattie McClure 7 Carol Walton and Amanda Phillips-DeSaverio (past board chair) with Todd, a pet up for adoption 8 Pam Krider, director of marketing and Amy Farnan, development director from DFL 9 Joann Fuller and Karen Shenoy from Hill’s pet food 10 Cathey and Dick Finlon ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA Lulu Pawlooza was held at the Dumb Friends League’s Harmony Equine Center on July 23. Proceeds benefted the DFL. Lulu Pawlooza Photographer: Pamela Cress 1 543 6 7 8 9 10 2
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 17 Shot in the Dark ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA e Yellow Rose Ball and Presentation of the 2022 Flower Girls at the Central City Opera House in Central City was held on June 25. 1 Ball chair Brooke Maloy and co-chair Stacy McHugh 2 Flower Girls go for a walk. Bradley Calkins, Edith White, Taleigh Davis, Samantha Rudnick, Sawyer Beardsley and Avery White 3 Kim Leversedge, her mother, Kay Isaacs, and her daughter, Flower Girl Riley Leversedge 4 Flower Girl Kate Jordan Little, second from left, and past Flower Girls Lane Rippey, left, Cecily Coors and Molly Jordan Little 5 Pam Bansbach, Cate Maloy, Maggie Maloy and ball chair Brooke Maloy 1 2 5 Rankings and recognition by unaffiliated rating services and publications should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he or she will experience a certain level of results if Obermeyer Wood is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of Obermeyer Wood by any of its clients. Rankings published by magazines, and others, generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and submitted by the recognized adviser. Rankings are generally limited to participating advisers. Guiding You to Financial Peace of Mind. Experienced Investors. Thoughtful Financial Advisors. Focused Problem Solvers. ASPEN | DENVER | 303 . 321 . 8188 | www.obermeyerwood.com FORBES’ 2021 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors BARRON’S 2021 Top 100 Independent Advisors FORBES’ 2021 Top Women Wealth Advisors 4 3 Photographer: Steve Peterson
Shot in the Dark PICK YOUR FORMULA: Matte | Enriched | Oil Free PICK YOUR COVERAGE: Sheer Full WE ADD CUSTOM SKIN CARE TO MAKE IT A FOUNDATION AND A TREATMENT CUSTOM FOUNDATION Made For You We Match Your Skin Type, Tone and Texture Perfectly Every Time! Or Mineral Powder 303 484 1857 MOOREFORLIFE COM 3035 E 3rd Ave, Denver, CO 80206 Expires 10/31/2022Mention this ad and get 25% off! ALL FOR CAUSEGOODA The Kiwanis Club of Southeast Metro Denver (SEMD) hosted Pints and Pinot on May 5 to beneft Second Wind Fund and help further its mission of connecting youth at risk for suicide with life-saving mental health treatment. Pints and Pinot 1 2 3 4 5 1 Andrea Weule, Dave Rich (SEMD Kiwanis board member) 2 Gail Coombs (co-chair), Lizzie Coombs(cochair), Lucy Buck 3 Logan Bradley, Lauri Hamsher, Troy Hamsher, Melissa Schupp (SEMD Kiwanis president) 4 Janie Tubbs, Jack Forhan, Melinda Pederson 5 Teara Walters, Camryn Jarczynski, Cynthia Giffen (Second Wind Fund board member), Marjorie Laird (Second Wind Fund board member) Photographer: John Elmblad
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By Lisa Buscietta
You are invited to the 29th annual Western Fan tasy gala. All proceeds from this event bene t Volunteers of America and more than 50 hu man service programs that it provides through out Colorado. e evening features dinner, a live auction and entertainment featuring country singer Justin Moore.
Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | 1550 Court Place, Denver, 80202 Tickets: org/2022-hope-house-gala-registration/hopehousecolorado.
Volunteers of America Western Fantasy
Photo credit Bernard Wooten, FocusTree Photography Guests at the Summits & Stars Gala
epilepsycoloradowyoming.org
Time: 5:45 p.m. Location: National Western Events Center | 1515 E. 47th Ave., Denver, 80216 Information: westernfantasy.com Hope House Colorado Reunion Gala Hope House Colorado presents its 20th annual reunion gala. e evening begins with a cocktail hour, dinner and then a live auction. Hope House Colorado empowers teenage moms to strive for personal and economic self-su ciency to ensure a healthy future for them and for their children.
Photo courtesy of Volunteers of America Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado & Wyoming Summits & Stars Gala is event provides essential funding for the programs and services that the foundation o ers to the 65,000 individuals in our region a ected by epilepsy. e evening will feature three oors of fun that include inspirational speakers, a seated dinner, entertainment, and a live and online auction. Time: 5 p.m. Location: Ellie Caulkins Opera House | 1385 Curtis St., Denver, 80204 Tickets:
22 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Social Calendar
Justin Moore will be performing at the 2022 VOA Western Fantasy.
October 29 1 15
Social Calendar
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 23 THANK YOU, SPONSORS REGISTER TO ATTEND PRESENTING urbanpeak.org/un22SPONSOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 6:00 O’CLOCK // FILLMORE AUDITORIUM A celebration of fashion, art and philanthropy benefiting youth experiencing homelessness at Urban Peak. Musical guest Too Many Zooz Runway for a Reason fashion show Live auction
Global Down Syndrome
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: Glenmoor Country Club neighborhood Tickets: lesprithometour.com or centralcityop era.org
24 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Social Calendar
is is the 46th year for the L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour. e in-person walking home tour returns this year and will feature ve homes in Denver’s Glenmoor Country Club neighborhood decorated for the holidays by local orists and designers. is year also marks the return of the Holiday Boutique at Glen moor CC Clubhouse on Nov. 19. is event raises funds to support Central City Opera, in cluding education and community engagement programs serving more than 80,000 people each year.
Photo courtesy of Global Down Syndrome FoundationMicah, the 2022 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show ambassador.
Jewish Family Service Celebrating JFS: 150 Years in the Making
Join JFS for dinner, a short program, live enter tainment and dancing as it commemorates 150 years of service. Jewish Family Service of Colora do provides vital services to individuals and fam ilies, including aging care, disability programs, housing stability and food security. Funds from the gala will support the many programs that it o ers to the community.
Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | 1550 Court Place, Denver, 80202 Tickets: Sponsorship opportunities and tickets available at jewishfamilyservice.org/event.
Time: 5 p.m. Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel | 1550 Court Place, Denver, 80202 Information: bebeautifulbeyourself.org
November 18
BeFoundationBeautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show
Global’s annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fash ion Show is the largest fundraiser for Down syndrome in the world, raising $24 million over 13 years for life-changing research, medical care, education and advocacy. e evening features a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dinner and a fashion show.
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Central City Opera Guild L’Esprit de Noel
By Hillary Locke Mujica
Anyone who’s ever hosted a small get-togeth er, let alone a huge event, knows that success is in the details. And no one knows that better than Ali Wilhelm, the founder and creative guru behind AW Events, a full-service event planning company that thrives on making all events
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CREATIVELY CHALLENGED AW EVENTS SETS THE SCENE FOR DENVER SOIREES
26 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Business Spotlight
Foundation gala, the AW Events team brought in the cutest pint-sized kid DJ to bring home the impact that the organization has on the Denver community. Guests couldn’t get enough of the mini-maestro and danced the night away while raising funds to support the mis sion of the foundation. Wilhelm believes that every event has a story to tell and that “it’s our job to help clients create an experience where guests leave transformed and invested in the vision.” For example, at a recent Basalt wedding on a private ranch under a tent, the AW Events team incor porated traditional Chinoiserie vases with bold fall
“It’smemorable.allabout the guest experience,” says Wilhelm. “No matter the size of the event, the goal is for guests to be fully immersed in what they’re experiencing.”
Case in point: At a recent Colorado I Have a Dream
Ali Wilhelm, owner and creative director of AW Events. Fall forals and classic Chinoiserie set the stage for a Basalt wedding.
Bottom photo: Kids getting groovy on the dance foor.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 27 Business Spotlight
EventsAWofcourtesyPhotoEventsAWofcourtesyPhoto
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colors that were a true vision to behold. “It was a strong mix of classically chic decor with a touch of mountain charm that you can only nd in the Rockies, and the guests took that to heart.”
Photo courtesy of AW Events
Passionate about Denver and getting involved with the community, Wilhelm is an active supporter of local arts and not-for-pro t groups that give back to her be loved home state. Born and raised in Denver, Wilhelm graduated with a degree in marketing and obtained her MBA in management from the University of Colorado. Ultimately, she obtained certi cation as an Internation al Event & Wedding Professional.
From a 1,000-person fundraiser to a small, intimate wedding, a garden luncheon or a toddler’s birthday, AW Events has experienced it all. “Overcoming obstacles is inherent to producing events, and that is where our team thrives,” shares Wilhelm. “We enjoy nding beau tiful solutions to creative challenges.” Sounds like it’s time to get this team of event master minds on speed dial!
Top photo: The DJ stole the show at the I Have A Dream Foundation gala.
AW Events 303-882-4911myawevents.com
Frank Lloyd Wright, Inside the Walls
Lamp composed of art glass pieces designed 1903–1904 by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959), glass with copper-plated zinc caming. Gift of Louis Newman and Justin Ferate; Collection Kirkland Muse um of Fine & Decorative Art, Denver. Cabaret dinnerware designed 1916–1922, modifed c. 1933, by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) for the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, ceramic. Collec tion Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Denver.
Stenographer chair designed 1956 by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) for Price Tower in Bartlesville, Okla., aluminum with cloth upholstery. Collection Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Denver. Lecture: Oct. 13 Exhibit: through Jan. 8, 2023 Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art
By Danielle Yuthas
Photos by Wes Magyar
28 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Bits & Pieces
Inside the Walls showcases pieces from 11 of Wright’s architectural projects spanning 50 years, including designs from the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Midway Gardens in Chicago, the SC Johnson Wax Building in Racine, Wisc., and Price Tower in Bartlesville, Okla. “Frank Lloyd Wright is a name that many recognize as an in uential American architect, but few may know he designed speci c decorative art pieces to accompany his building projects,” explains associate museum director Renée Albiston. A lecture titled Iridescent Light: Lampshades by Frank Lloyd Wright on Oct. 13 will be hosted by Julie Sloan, a New York-based expert on Wright’s stained and architectural glass. She will discuss the Kirkland Museum’s newly acquired lamp made from two pieces of art glass designed by Wright. kirklandmuseum.org
Help us save and transform lives today!
SPONSORS Denver Vintage Jazz Festival Sing the blues of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s at the three-day live music extravaganza hosted by Community-Minded Dance. e agenda includes swing dance classes, dance workshops, live music, a cocktail party, special dance performances and more. Time to face the music and dance! cmdance.org
Consumers can shop the Denver Design Dis trict Sample Sale Sept. 15 and 16 for once-ayear savings. Purchase directly or consult with the designer on duty for exclusive products. is is a can’t-miss event. Visit the Denver Design District at 595 S. Broadway. denverdesign.com
Denver Design District Annual Sample Sale
Cirque du Soleil Presents Ovo Cirque du Soleil’s new production, Ovo (“egg” in Por tuguese), takes the audience underground at the artistic, acrobatic, contemporary circus. Feel the movement of the amazing ants, exible dragon ies, silky spiders, crazy crickets and colorful ecosystems. cirquedusoleil.com Sept. 8-11, Ball Arena Sept. 15-16, Denver Design District Sept. 16-19, the Studio Loft at Ellie Caulkins Opera House
30 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Bits & Pieces RAISE WOOF!THE LHM Nissan PRESENTS:Arapahoe ROOFTOP PARTY FOR A CAUSE EMCEE: MIA VOSS A FUNDRAISER TO FEED MORE PETS IN COLORADO SATURDAY, OCT. 8th, 2022, DOORS OPEN 4 PM LIVE MUSIC WITH: THE DOLLHOUSE THIEVES GOURMET HORS D’OEUVRES COCKTAILS GALORE X DENVER CLUB ROOFTOP DECK, 3100 INCA ST., DENVER EARLYBIRD TICKETS: $100 AFTER SEPT. 8th: $125 www.coloradopetpantry.org/woof www.BoulderAreaRealty.com
OPERA
2022 l’esprit de noël CENTRAL
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holiday
Convention Center
Colorado Fall Home Show
Colorado Expression is a Proud Media Sponsor of the 46th Annual
Sep. 24-25, Colorado
We are back IN PERSON for 2022 and featuring 5 beautiful homes in the Glenmoor Country Club neighborhood! Join us and be inspired by the holiday designs of Denver’s top florists and table designers. This year’s tour will also feature a holiday boutique and lunch on Saturday.
Arapahoe
Inspiration for your home projects, interior design, renovations and remodels can be found at the three-day marketplace featuring more than 200 vendors. Receive free design advice from the American Society of Interior Design, whose members are onsite with advice on projects you can accomplish before Christmas, using bold colors, tips for optimal backgrounds for from-home video calls, and home gym installation tips. One-hundred percent of all tickets sold bene t the Colorado Garden Foundation for grants and in-state scholarships. coloradogardenfoundation.org
Other local fall home shows include: Longmont Home Show Sept. 9-11 longmonthomeshow.com Castle Rock Home Show Oct. 7-9 castlerockhomeshow.com County Home Show Oct. 14-16 arapahoecountyhomeshow.com
NOVEMBER 18 - 19, 2022 | 10 AM - 4 PM home tour
CENTRAL CITY OPERA GUILD CITY GUILD
Visit lesprithometour.com for more information.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 31 Bits & Pieces
DenverRescueMission.org/Give
Bridal and Wedding Expo
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
As our favorite funny Warner Bros. car toons play on the big screen, the Colorado Symphony performs original scores live. e “cine-concert” will include music of Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, as in spired by Wagner, Rossini, J. Strauss, Liszt, Smetana, von Suppé, Mendelssohn, Ponchielli and Donizetti, with a backdrop of iconic classics like What’s Opera, Doc? and e Rabbit of Seville. Orchestras have sold out this must-see event for 30 years running, and this year the show will include ve new vignettes. coloradosymphony.com
Oct. 7-9 and 14-16, Ellie Caulkins Opera House Dracula at the Colorado Ballet
See Dracula as you’ve never seen it be fore: en pointe. e Colorado Ballet will perform the haunting 19th-century Tran sylvanian gothic love story just in time to kick o the scary season. Garlic will not be permitted. coloradoballet.org Oct. 8, Boettcher Concert Hall
HOPE STARTS HERE
32 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Bits & Pieces
After the exciting resurgence of both social events and weddings, the union of the industries at the Bridal and Wedding Expo is ex pected to outdo previous years. Blushing brides and event planners will say “I do” to the new, the blue and more than 40 categories of vendor options providing every detail they can dream of. bridalshowsco-nw.com Oct. 23, National Western Complex Nov. 20, Colorado Springs Event Center
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression com 33 Bits & Pieces
By Cynthia Pasquale International Culinary Center chef delivers curated dishes to Denver homes
If someone like Katie Kannen—a French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) graduate and private chef—enjoyed cooking but didn’t feel like preparing a meal at the end of her day, how would other, non-foodie parents feel about dinnertime?atwasthe question Kannen asked herself when she and her husband, Chris, thought about leaving New York City to establish a business where they could work together and control their future.
“My own experience was the idea for a meal delivery service,” she says. “I thought: Wouldn’t it be great if ev erybody could have a version of a private chef where you are not thinking about [cooking a meal] and it’s done and it’s good?”
THE GIRLGOURMET
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With that idea rmly planted, in 2012 e Spicy Radish was born. It was well before meal kit subscriptions were a thing, and Kannen remembers having to explain how the service worked. People would sometimes ask if she was a caterer or if her business was like Meal on Wheels. Since then, the business has ourished, delivering fresh, family-style meals to customers in the Denver area. Each week, a new menu is posted on e Spicy Rad ish website. e entrees usually are American classics but sometimes include items with a Mexican, Japanese or Indian in uence. e top seller, says Kannen, is the chicken pot pie, no matter whether the month is July or December. Another selection for the week might be a mini meatloaf made with Angus ground beef, pork and veal, seasoned with onions and parsley and served with classic macaroni and cheese. Or customers may choose the roasted salmon with green goddess sauce served with couscous pilaf. Dishes usually repeat on the menu every six to eight weeks, says Kannen, so that clients don’t burn out on the same o erings. Dairy-free, gluten-free or vegetarian en trees are regularly available, but e Spicy Radish doesn’t plan the menu around specialty diets. is summer, Kan nen added salads and light lunches to the weekly picks, and the move has been popular. And, she says, people love the desserts, including chocolate peanut butter pie and oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
OlsonJenniferbyPhoto Katie Kannen started The Spicy Radish in 2012.
Cynthia Pasquale is a Denver writer.
e Spicy Radish thespicyradish.com
Photo by Chris Kannen
Photo opposite page: A Spicy Radish classic: Chicken Pot Pie.
Kannen became interested in cooking after she graduated from college and worked for an event planning rm. While watching the catering companies work, she says she realized for the rst time that cooking was something a person could do for a living. She wasn’t interested in restaurant work— too chaotic and unpredictable for her personality. Instead, she became a private chef for two families until the urge to leave New York City took over. e Kannens moved to Denver in the mid-2000s and “bootstrapped” the business themselves. ey relied on family and friends and wordof-mouth advertising to grow e Spicy Radish. Katie cooked and Chris deliv ered the meals and, every Saturday, their daughter would be in the kitchen watching cartoons on an iPad. e hardest part of the start-up was not the cooking but the business of a business. “I went to culinary school because I enjoyed the act of cooking,” she said, “but I was only cooking 20 percent of the time.” She also had to focus on insurance, inspections and payroll.rough the years, she discovered that she enjoyed developing a business and creating a positive work environment. Now, Kannen has a sta to help her, and she even gets to take a few Saturdays o . “ e whole thing has really been amazing, to see how much it has grown and to have customers who are truly appreciative of what we do,” she says. “It feels personal to us still.”
we are conceptualizing new dishes, those are the three main concerns,” Kannen says. is is one of the reasons the chicken pot pie is a favorite. “We add a pu pastry on top that is cooked in a person’s home, so it is a really fresh, lovely thing you pull out of the oven.” In contrast, she explains, “While I love a summer tomato, I won’t use it at e Radish because once you cut a tomato and refrigerate it, it just isn’t the Kannensame.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 35
and her sta do the food prep work on ursdays, cook on Fridays, package the meals on Fridays and Saturdays, and deliver to customers on Saturdays and Sundays, or on Mondays by special request. People are no longer asking her to ex plain her meal delivery service. During COVID-19, the demand for her cooking increased by as much as 35 percent.
“It was wild. We feel fortunate that we were able to keep our doors open and continue to employ people and, at the same time, provide a service that people were searching for,” she says.
All food prepared at e Spicy Radish must pass three tests: Does it travel well? Does it keep well in a refrigerator? Does it reheat “Whenwell?
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36 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 COLORADO COUSINS WITH A PASSION FOR HEALTHY LIVING
By Cynthia Pasquale
Twocontrol.more
protein bar avors are in the future, as well as an expanded shelf presence and marketing campaign. Later this year, Byte Bars will be found in King Soopers stores, and the women hope to move the product into Whole Foods stores in other regions.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 37 W hat began as a kitchen dream to improve energy bars found in retail markets has burgeoned into reality for a pair of locals who wanted a healthy snack that t their own and others’ active life styles. Cousins and University of Colorado alumnae Casey Nunnelly and Sabina Rizzo co-founded Byte Bars in 2018 with con dence that their product would succeed. e willingness to try, fail and try again has been ingrained in these two women from childhood. e cousins come from a family of entrepreneurs, includ ing a grandfather, Herman Dupre, who patented the rst snow-making gun. Additionally, “Our moms are the two oldest of nine girls, and so we come from a big female-empowered family—and that runs through both of us and helps us in the business world,” says Nunnelly. e folks in Boulder’s natural foods community also were quick to assist when the pair needed help. “We had our whole brand identity before the actual bars,” says Nunnelly. “We’ve always been stoked about the branding and knew that would be just as im portant as our product.” e pair are active outdoors people who wanted their brand to represent “being healthy and comfortable in your own skin.” Addition ally, they value their playful nature and love for the Rocky Mountains—assets that are ingrained in their branding and their product. Nunnelly and Rizzo started with ve ingredients and a tablespoon, “which is kind of where the byte name came from, scooping the blended mixture out of a food processor,” says Nunnelly. eir kitchen recipe included healthy, raw and organic items like oats, peanut butter and dates, says Rizzo. When they con cocted a recipe that they thought would work, they approached a manufacturing facility to help convert the kitchen recipe into a mass recipe.
“Unfortunately, the bars were too crumbly,” shares Nunnelly. “ e product essentially came out as gra nola.” So the women sought out a food scientist for advice. After a bit of reformulation, the bars eventu ally made their debut at a Boulder library café, and Byte Bars was o and running.
With passion, personality and a powerhouse of in gredients, Cousins Casey Nunnelly and Sabina Rizzo co-founded Byte Bars.
In just a little more than a year from the kitchen concept, Byte Bars were being sold in Whole Foods Market stores throughout Colorado. Other locations in the state soon followed: Choice Market, Leevers Locavore, Marczyk Fine Foods and a variety of mom-and-pop co ee shops. After listening to consumers, the Byte team added a protein bar to the product line and started o ering nut-free bars. “People would look at our wrappers, looking for more protein and complex carbs. Others said they loved the branding but were allergic to peanuts,” Rizzo explains. “ at’s when we decided to have a nut-free option to expand our reach.”
Cynthia Pasquale is a Denver writer. Byte Bars bytebars.com
A variety of locations in California and Washington state also stock Byte Bars.
In January, the Lemmy Razz Protein Byte Bar joined the updated Choco Chip, Cinna Cherry and Peanut Butta “no-regrets” energy Bytes. e bars are pack aged into two squares in each wrapper for portion
At the same time, the business partners tweaked their original recipe, adding monk fruit—a natural sweet ener without calories or sugar—to enhance the avor and MCT oil, a fat derived from coconuts that, says Rizzo, feeds the brain and “helps kick cravings.”
By Hillary Locke Mujica
thewomenExceptionaltakingwheel
A n exceptional woman is one with a sense of inclu sion and rightness that can change the world. Our world is made up of so many incredibly resilient, independent, graceful women; and so many amaz ing changes are being made by women who recognize their importance. From entrepreneurs to artists, philanthropists to community leaders, mental health crusaders, and thank less cheerleaders, this month we are celebrating a few of our favorite local ladies who remind us of how powerful we all are, if we just take the wheel and step into our power.
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Styled by Hailee Luchessi, a powerhouse herself with designs from St. John, jewelry from John Atencio and Cocotay Jewelry, and makeup by Michael Moore of Moore For Life, these ladies embody the style, grace and fortitude needed to inspire the next generation of leaders.
Photos by Jensen Sutta
Melinda Smith Haymons MSHArtistStudio Art Scene, page 54 Kristen Blessman President & General Manager PBS 12 Public Persona, page 46
Dr. Brook Griese Co-Founder & Board of Director’s Chair Judi’s House/JAG Institute Cause Worthy, page 51 Maggie Morrissey Emeritus Board Member & Community Leader Rose Andom Center Cause Worthy, page 49 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 41
Thundering
By Elizabeth Hamilton
Sharon Magness Blake’s legacy of teamwork and her love of animals
Ann and Thunder 3 leading the team onto the feld in 2018.
Photo courtesy of the Denver Broncos to 30!
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At the time, Bob and Sharon Magness had 900 Arabian horses in their Magness Racing Ventures. Arabians, Sharon notes, are “super friendly and people-oriented,” making the breed a perfect candidate for a team mascot. Bob Magness died in 1996. In 2004, Sharon married Ernie Blake, an attorney and former mayor of Breckenridge who shares her love of horses. e rst horse to go by the name of under was JB Kobask, a 10-year-old stallion who had experience as a show horse, some thing that would make it easier for him to adapt to situations involving large crowds, lots of noise and other distractions.
Football games can be pretty exciting—especially when a nail-biter of a win is involved.
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“We’d play tapes of crowds cheering and replicated the blackand-white eld markings on the oor of our arena,” she recalls. “We did this so the horse wouldn’t shy or try to jump the lines while galloping on the eld.”
has his own team on the eld—Ann Judge, who trains and rides him; and Sharon Magness Blake, who helps take care of him and helps direct him on the eld. en there’s Ernie Blake, who works with the photographers and personnel on the eld to help keep everyone safe, and Rudy Mendiola, who saddles and holds under before he runs. Rick Holman helps protect him and clears people out of the way, and David Blake loads the ag and alerts the referees. “And we all scoop poop,” Sharonunderlaughs.alsohelps rev up the crowd by leading the team onto the eld at each home game’s start. “ ere is such a sense of pride and emotion as he leads the team out to the eld,” Sharon says. “I get that every time I see it.” under also participates in a meet-and-greet prior to each game where fans can have their picture taken with him and visit with trainer/rider Judge. under traveled with the Broncos to four Super Bowl appear ances, including the 2014 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks that was played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. under ew to the game and though the Broncos were defeated, un der scored several press appearances in New York City. Sharon vividly remembers walking under through Manhattan for his spots on the Today Show and Fox Sports.
Sharon told him. “We would love to do it.”
e roar of the crowd can be deafening when under and trainer/rider Ann Judge, ying the team colors of orange and blue, make the celebratory lap.
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e rush that fans of the Denver Broncos experience with every home-game touchdown or eld goal is ampli ed when a majestic white Arabian who goes by the name of under puts a gurative exclamation point on the score by triumphantly galloping from one end zone at Empower Field at Mile High to the other.
Ann and Sharon with Thunder 3 in Manhattan for Super Bowl 48 in 2014.
Sharon and Thunder at Thunder’s Christmas Party at Empower Field at Mile High.
e 2022 season is under’s 30th year as the mascot of the three-time Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, and to mark the occasion, owner Sharon Magness Blake met with Colorado Expression to share highlights of the horse’s crowd-pleasing ways.eidea for having a live animal mascot dates back to 1993, when Sharon and her rst husband, Tele-Communications Inc. founder Bob Magness, received a call from general manager John Beake. He asked if they would be interested in bringing one of their horses to the stadium to add to the fans’ entertain “Absolutely,”ment.
And adapt he did. Judge has described under No. 1 as a “bold and courageous horse with a huge ego” who “so loved the crowds.”under
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 45
Every December, under rides the freight elevator to the Em power Field club level to mingle with 300 members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Denver—many of whom have never seen a live horse—for a Christmas party hosted by the Broncos.
O the eld, under makes appearances at various community and charitable fundraising events, most notably Western Fantasy, a dinner, auction and country music extravaganza bene ting Volunteers of America that Sharon founded 29 years ago with Jean Galloway. Sharon opens the event by circling the National Western Events Center arena oor astride under, carrying the American ag, as Lee Greenwood, either in person or via recording, sings God Bless the USA.
under No. 1 retired after 10 seasons and was succeeded by Winter Solstyce, a gelding who had been Sharon’s personal riding horse. As under No. 2, Winter Solstyce was timid at rst, but with each season he became “very social, quite the poser and eager to experience new things.” under No. 3, Me N Myshadow, also is a gelding whose run as the team mascot is nearing an end.
Sharon, whose concern for the most vulnerable earned her the title of Best Live Philanthropist by Westword in one of its Best of Denver issues, is expanding her philanthropic reach by partnering with veterinarian Kelly Tisher and Littleton Equine Medical Center to form the under Fund. It is a foundation that will help provide life-saving emergency surgery for horses whose owners cannot a ord the cost. Littleton Equine Medi cal Center has cared for all of Sharon’s horses, including each under, since 1965.
Photo by Gary PettitErnie Blake, Thunder 3 and Sharon Magness Blake proudly show ing the Super Bowl 50 rings in 2016. Even Thunder got one.
“We are excited to work with the foundation Sharon has created to help people with their horses in the most stressful time,” Dr. Tisher says. “ is will be a great tribute to all of the unders.”
Joanne Davidson contributed to this story.
in Business. THE HometownKristenDETAILSBlessman
: pbs12.org
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46 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 K
former Colorado Lt. Gov.
BLESSMANKRISTEN 2019, Blessman CWCC’s 25 Women
Donna Lynne for a mentor provided her with no-nonsense, down-to-earth advice.
By Joanne Davidson Photo courtesy of the Colorado Wom en’s Chamber of Commerce
risten Blessman didn’t grow up with the idea of becoming a chief executive, let alone the head of a Public Broadcasting Service station, Denver’s PBS12. In fact, she says, her life easily could have gone in a di erent direction had it not been for two things: Girl Scouts and the support of strong women. Blessman, who in September 2021 be came president and general manager of PBS12, had what she says could best be described as a “chaotic” childhood. Her parents were still in their teens when they married, and they struggled with addiction and other health issues as they raised their six children.
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was one of the
Scouts–helpedGirlshape
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Joining Girl Scouts provided an early boost. “I got my sash and a book that listed all the badges there were to earn, and I quickly realized that if I put my mind to it, I could be super successful and earn every single badge. Which I Havingdid.”
“She asked the hard questions about my choices, and that gave me incredible Afterperspective.”moving to New York to do media relations and advertising for a compa ny that specialized in corporate turn arounds, Blessman returned to Colorado to become associate director of media relations for Regis University and then vice president and chief market ing o cer for Goodwill Industries of Denver. From there, she spent ve years as president and chief executive o cer for the Colorado Women’s Chamber of LeannaCommerce.Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado, was chair of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce board when Blessman was the CEO.
“ ey did the best they could,” Blessman says, “and were incredibly loving. My mom, especially, rode me and my sister to do well in school. Both of them were super book-smart. I did OK in school, getting mostly Bs and Cs, but once I started on my MBA, I knew I had found my niche and started to soar.”
“Kristen is an incredible leader who really put the Women’s Chamber on the map,” Clark says. “During her ve years
Claremont, Calif. Current job: President and general manager, PBS12 Website:
She dreamed she’d become the leader she is today, but strong women–and her career path
Joanne Davidson is a frequent contributor to Colorado Expression.
You have been honored as a Girl Scout Woman of Distinction. What made that a memorable experience?
I grew up in a sometimes di cult environment, and Girl Scouts was a successful distraction for me. It gave me something to work hard for. While there was chaos at home, I could focus on earning badges and learning about new things. I’ve been lifted up my whole life by strong, inspirational women. I believe that Girl Scouts sets the stage for us to be strong, successful women and shows us that other women are key to getting there.
What should people know about the station and its programming that they otherwise might not know? ere are two PBS organizations in our market. Our station is the grassroots, hyper-local organization. I look at PBS12 as a nonpro t whose rst goal is to serve our community and happens to have broadcast as a means of delivery for our programs. But we will use every means of outreach available to us to get our message out there. We were found ed by a group of individuals who were frustrated with the anti-gay environment in the late 1980s and early ’90s and were one of the only media organizations that was showing LGBTQ programming at a time when most media organizations wouldn’t. We are getting back to our roots and are going to be storytelling for people who want to have an open mind to perspectives other than their own and want to be brought back together as a local community.
It’s more common than not for our current employee base to have started at PBS12 as interns and grown into their roles today. We are also in the process of putting in place a more formal partner ship with universities. Describe your career path and what led you to your present job. I never realized until recently that growing up in a chaotic and di cult environment helped shape my career. I’m great at navigating organizations that need change in a meaningful way. Most people don’t like or embrace change, but I’m very comfortable in an innovative, change-agent state. It’s what makes me good at nonpro t turnarounds and growth. What are your plans for PBS12? Establishing Impact Media for Colora do. People are tired of the “my opinion is right, yours is wrong” approach to media. We are seemingly at odds with each other, but I believe our desire is to be brought back together again. Storytelling has that power. It helps us better understand one another. So our approach to content and storytelling will be di erent. We’ll still present the issue, but we’ll also show a potential solution and an impact being made to spread hope, not fear.
Where do you call home today? Denver, near Regis University. Educational background? I started at Loyola Marymount in Cali fornia, then transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder, where I received a bachelor’s degree in English. I earned my MBA in marketing from Regis University. How do people describe you? Visionary, fun. How would you like to be remem bered? For how much light I shine on people and how much I love and value those in my circle. Who do you most admire? Ruth Bader Ginsburg. What is the one thing you absolutely cannot live without? Co ee and sparkling rosé. I can’t decide which I like most. What was your last major purchase? Shoes and new bedding. What are your hobbies? Cycling and running. What is the last great book you read? e Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk. When it comes to relaxation, nothing beats … Hot yoga. What is your most memorable Colora do experience? Camping on the way to Telluride, stopping at the Great Sand Dunes and Durango, then into Telluride—Colora do’s most beautiful city, hands down. What is your favorite Colorado restau rant? El Tepehuan in Englewood. Growing up in California, I developed a love for authentic Mexican food. What word would you use to describe those who live in Colorado? Pioneers. Are you involved with any Denver-area charities? I tend to give my time to nonpro ts that help people become self-su cient and strong, so the Colorado Women’s Chamber Foundation, Western Colora do University and, of course, Goodwill Denver.
Is there a show or program that’s in de velopment that is going to wow PBS12 viewers?
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Does PBS12 have any type of intern ship program where Girl Scouts, or others, can learn more about a career in broadcasting?
Public Persona with the organization, we approached the $1 million mark in revenue, elevated the CWCC brand with fresh new events and programming, rebuilt the governing board, and created a young profession als board and several other leadership committees to help Colorado become the top state in the nation for women to advance in business.”
A key goal for Blessman at PBS12 and its 625,000 viewers is to o er content that creates hope. “Our job, rst and foremost, is to serve the community. We also want to expand viewers’ horizons by laying out the facts and telling both sides of a story–none of this ‘I’m right and if you don’t agree, you’re the one who is wrong.’ We want to give voices to the people whose voices aren’t being heard.”
We have an amazing partnership with Axios that airs once weekly; we’re lm ing with the Tattered Cover for Leaders as Readers and are hoping to host all the nal political candidates for mayor and governor. We’re also working on a program called said/unsaid with Gloria Neal that’s basically a dinner-table con versation with local leaders discussing topics that are di cult to openly discuss in public like race, gender and culture.
By Lindsey K. Schwartz
Cathy Lindberg Jarosz in Maryland, a longtime fan of the Miss America Pageant, saw the items for auction and purchased them both. e crown and bracelet are unique in design, plated in silver and covered in Swarovski crystals. Eventually, Jarosz says, she will donate the crown to the Smithsonian and send the bracelet back to Van Derbur Atler’s granddaughter in Colorado.
48 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Cause Worthy
Van Derbur Atler split the proceeds from the sale between three Colorado organizations that serve children: Invest
Top: Marilyn Van Derbur of Denver was the second Colorado native to become Miss America, in 1958.
In 1991, Van Derbur Atler went public with her story of being sexually abused by her father when she was a child. Since that day, she has dedicated her life to helping other survi vors of abuse, using her Miss America fame to motivate and educate people dealing with trauma.
Van Derbur Atler says when she realized that the money from her crown could be meaningful to someone else and could generate money to help those in need, the path was clear. “I had a conversation with my granddaughter—who would have inherited the crown and bracelet— and I asked her if she was OK if we sold the heirlooms. She was not only OK with it, but she also fully supported the idea. With that I knew it was the right way forward,” Van Derbur Atler says.
Van Derbur Atler, who just celebrated her 85th birthday, says she is retired. But she shows no sign of slowing down. She begins each day swimming laps with Larry, her husband of more than 50 years. en she spends a great deal of each day answer ing emails and talking with sexual abuse and incest survivors around the world. “What I needed during my early years of survival was to know that if you do the work of healing, you can come through it with peace.” Now, she says, she is that voice for others.
Photos courtesy of Marilyn Van Derbur Atler
Right: Van Derbur Atler’s Miss America Crown.
Marilyn VanDerbur Atler
Miss America’s Crown Van Derbur Atler photographed in her Colorado home.
Marilyn Van Derbur Atler is a woman of action. Since being crowned Miss America in 1958, the Colorado native has been a champion of the underdog, using her platform and her voice to help others. So it is no surprise that in 2021 she made the move to auction o her Miss America crown and bracelet to help others. “ e idea came about during the pan demic when I was seeing teachers who were working from home and needed so much,” says Van Derbur Atler. “I had this beautiful crown and matching bracelet sitting in a box. It struck me, ‘Why can’t I sell (them) and give the money away?’ ” And that is exactly what she did, giving the proceeds to Colorado nonpro ts that serve children.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 49 Inside Colorado’s Philanthropic Organizations in Kids, Urban Peak and Montessori School of Evergreen. “I could have writ ten a check,” she says, “but this felt more personal, and it is from my heart.”
Peak executive director Christina Carlson adds that Van Derbur Atler sets an example for so many. “Marilyn also knows about recovering from trauma,” says Carlson. She knows “how challenging that can be for a youth or young adult but also about turning that experience around and becoming even stronger and more resilient.” Van Derbur Atler, in turn, says Carlson “shows young people, and especially young women, how they can take control of their own stories and live self-determined lives.”
Recently, Van Derbur Atler was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy by the Colorado Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Pro fessionals on National Philanthropy Day. Her award-winning book, Miss America by Day, is now in its seventh edition and can be purchased on Amazon.
“ ere is not a day I question this choice,” says Van Derbur Atler. “Now I sit here and look around and wonder what else I might have sitting around that could help someone else.”
Photograph by Evan Semon courtesy of Urban Peak Through dairy farming, land develop ment, politics and the arts, Maggie Morrissey’s family has had pivotal roles in shaping Colorado. She car ries on in equally important ways. Morrissey, right, with Susan Kiely at the opening of the Rose Andom Center.
By Joanne Davidson Family Tradition
Maggie Morrissey’s grandfather, Hugh Brown Cannon, was 22 when, in 1885, he hopped a train in his native Michigan and arrived in Denver with just pennies in his pocket and the promise of a job delivering milk for a Northern Colorado dairy farm. us began the Cannon family dynasty. Cannon would eventually start the Windsor Farm Dairy, whose processing plant at 1885 Blake St. remains standing today as part of Denver’s Dairy Block. He branched out into real estate, with holdings that included the land upon which Stapleton International Airport and the Windsor Gardens retirement community were built. He was a founder of Presbyterian Hospital; spearheaded the formation of the original Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau; and served as both an Arapahoe County Commissioner and associate state dairy Withinspector.hiswife, the former Margaret Reynolds, he raised two sons, Brown W. Cannon and George R. Cannon. Both would go on to graduate from Stan ford University and carry on the family Brownlegacy.
Cannon was a founder of the Colorado Outward Bound School and Urban Peak will beneft from Van Derbur Atler’s do nation. Here, a youth listens to a recording in Urban Peak’s music studio.
Photos courtesy of Maggie Morrissey Lindsey K. Schwartz is an award-winning television producer, writer and frequent contributor to Colora do Expression
Van Derbur Atler’s longtime friend, philanthropist Arlene Hirschfeld, says, “When other people read about this, they might say ‘maybe I could do something’ or ‘maybe I could give in a di erent way. What Marilyn did is inspirational. Her gift is from the heart, and that is where giving starts. It’s about the importance of time, treasure and talent, and they are all important.”
Maggie Morrissey
Invest in Kids executive director Lisa Hill says Van Derbur Atler has been a supporter of the organization since its founding 25 years ago. “Parting ways with her in valuable, priceless crown to support children and fam ilies experiencing poverty in Colorado is a profoundly meaningful and heartfelt donation,” says Hill. “She truly is a role model for us in how to live generously and stay committed to the community for the long Urbanhaul.”
George Cannon was president of Gal lagher Freightways, later selling it to Consolidated Freightways and becoming president of Bonanza Truck Lines and Motor Cargo. He was also on boards that included United Bank of Colorado, Si erra Paci c Airlines, Children’s Hospital Colorado and Kent Denver School when its new campus was built in 1974 at 4000 E. Quincy Morrissey’sAve.mom, who had been an airline pilot and photographer, was a founder and 40-year board member of e Park People. She also founded Denver’s acclaimed Museum of Contem porary Art. “Mom wasn’t sure that she liked contem porary art, but she was glad other people did,” Morrissey recalls.
Morrissey has twice chaired the Citizen of the West Dinner, a fundraiser for the National Western Scholarship Trust, and helped plan and execute three election campaigns for her husband’s run for Denver district attorney, as well as a $27.9 million bond issue to fund new quarters for the Denver Crime Lab. But she may be best known for her key role in establishing the Rose Andom Center, Denver’s rst family justice cen ter. A past chair of the center’s board of directors, she led a $12.5 million capital campaign to renovate a former Denver Public Schools building that would house the wrap-around services for women escaping domestic violence situa tions. She also served as project manager during the center’s construction phase. Amplifying her reputation as a connec tor, she explains: “People don’t always know what is needed, so when someone they trust tells them the impact their donation will have, it can make a huge di erence. It was remarkable how many foundations, businesses and individuals stepped up with funding once I reached out to Morrissey’sthem.”involvement with the Rose Andom Center led her to found the Denver Justice Council and join the board of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. “I’ve never witnessed or experi enced domestic violence,” she says, “but I know it’s there and that’s why I’m so involved.”eCannon family was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2015.
Joanne Davidson is the former society editor for the Denver Post and is now a freelance writer specializ ing in charitable fundraising events. She’s a frequent contributor to Colorado Expression and Colorado Politics.
Morrissey at the opening of the Rose Andom Center with board members and city ofcials.
50 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Cause Worthy served as senior vice president of Beatrice Foods, which purchased his father’s Windsor Farm Dairy. His son, Brown Cannon III, is a noted photographer whose work has appeared in such presti gious publications as National Geographic Inmagazine.1951,George
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Morrissey has served on such boards as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Den ver, the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation and Kent Denver School. Since 2001, she has been assistant secretary-treasurer of Cannon Land Co., her family’s farming and natural resource operation in Weld SheCounty.ismarried to former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, who had been a neighbor of the Cannon fami ly. Mitch and Maggie were childhood friends but didn’t start dating until they had completed college. is November, the couple will celebrate their 36th wed ding anniversary. ey have two children: Madeline, who lives in New Orleans and works for Deloitte, and Mitchell, who lives in Denver and is in real estate.
Morrissey, who friends describe as a quiet, dedicated and compassionate leader who excels in connecting the right people to the right causes, followed her mother’s footsteps by serving on e Park People board for 19 years and chaired its 40th anniversary gala in 2009.
Cannon, a major player in the trucking industry, married Sue McCan, who had grown up on a cattle ranch in southwest Texas and was 15 when she was valedictorian of her high school graduating class. Maggie Mor rissey is one of the couple’s ve children.
Like her late mother, Sue Cannon, she is an accomplished gardener and was president of the Perennial Garden Club from 2013 to 2015.
Morrissey with Rose An dom at the opening of the Rose Andom Center.
It is named for Brian’s mother, Judith Ann Griese, a nurse who succumbed to breast cancer when Brian was 12.
Brook and Brian at the groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Judi’s House.
BROOK GRIESE
“Death is a part of life, but for kids, it can be very traumatizing. One in 13 children will lose a parent, sibling or other loved one before they turn 13, and without appropri ate support, unaddressed grief can disrupt or even derail a child’s development,” says Brook, now a clinical psychologist special izing in childhood trauma and loss. “We are grateful that our community has embraced our e orts to help prevent the many negative outcomes that they are at risk of experiencing—socially, academically and in terms of their long-term health and Today,well-being.”asJudi’s House celebrates its 20th year, Brook re ects on how it has increased in size from a small Denver Square in the City Park West neighborhood to a larger, turn-of-the-century Victorian home at 17th and Gaylord to a 26,000-square-foot, “purposefully built” campus near Stanley Marketplace in Aurora. Brook describes the $21 million building as “an easy door to walk through. It has tons of light and a welcoming, neighborhood feel.” It also is home to the JAG Institute, a “sister facility” that elevates the Judi’s House concept through research and by training young clinicians to better serve grieving youths in Colorado and beyond.
How many children do you and Brian have, and how old are they? Lia, 16, and Nate, 13 (and we all adore our 6-year-old miniature Golden Retriever, Ivy). Is Colorado likely to be your forever home? Yes, we plan to grow old here in the rock ing chairs on our mountain porch. What do you and your family enjoy most about Colorado? We love that we can experience all the vi tality that Denver has to o er as a city, but also be in the quiet beauty of nature with just a short drive west. When it comes to leisure time, what’s a favorite way for you to relax? ere is nothing I nd more relaxing than curling up with a good book—especially if I have the luxury of dozing o for a delicious nap.
Brook McClintic was a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Colorado when she met Brian Griese at his rst pre-season game as a quarterback for the Denver Broncos. It was her rst time attending a National Football League game, and she knew next to nothing about the sport. us, it was both a relief and a surprise when, on their rst date, the subject of football didn’t come up. Instead, the conversation turned to Brian,children.who is now the quarterback coach for the San Francisco 49ers, shared the profound e ect that losing his mother in his youth had had on him. Brook told him about growing up in a small Michigan town with few resources for individuals like those seen by her mother, a psychiat ric nurse, and father, the head of a social services agency. By the date’s end, the consensus was that their futures would include doing some thing meaningful for children. And though they may not have realized it at the time, the foundation had been laid for what was to become Judi’s House.
In 2002, two years before Brook and Brian were married, the couple opened Judi’s House in Denver to provide a safe space for grieving children and families to come to gether to nd connection, healing and the opportunity to grieve honestly and openly.
e Grieses had toyed with the idea of taking Judi’s House national, but in the end, decided that instead of building houses in other cities, the cause would be better served by addressing the shortage of grief-trained clinicians who could take what they learned to practices across the country through training recieved at the JAG Brook,Institute.whois also an artist specializing in oil painting, served as chief executive director of Judi’s House before passing the title to Jessica Maitland Mayo in 2019. She now chairs the boards of both Judi’s House and the JAG Institute.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 51 Inside Colorado’s Philanthropic Organizations
Photo courtesy of Judi’s House
“At rst we had no idea how much these services were needed,” Brook recalls. ey soon found out that the need was both acute and immediate. To date, Judi’s House has provided free services to 12,000 chil dren and young adults.
By Joanne Davidson
Recently we spoke with Brook and dove deeper into her personal life: Where did you grow up? I grew up in Ithaca, Michigan, a rural town of 3,000 people in the middle of the mitten. What brought you to Colorado? I moved to Colorado in 1997 to earn my Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder and to be mentored by Dr. Louise Silvern—one of the most amazing and compassionate women I know. She taught me the power of integrating research, practice and com munity to promote resilience and healing in children and families.
THE DOORS TO JUDI’S HOUSE ARE ALWAYS OPEN,
anksTo,
CISSIE BUSCH
52 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Cause Worthy
e Junior League was founded in 1901 by New York City debutantes aspiring to work in settlement houses. It soon had chapters in other cities— including Denver, since 1918, where it has evolved from an exclusive group of Denver’s most elite women to an open-membership organization that has responded positively to the civil rights and women’s movements.
By Hillary Locke Mujica
Photo: Jodie Ellen Photography Rendering of the new Judi’s House campus near Stanley Marketplace in Aurora.
Photo courtesy of Judi’s House
A Legacy of Leadership at the Junior League of Denver A LOOK AT AND COMMITMENTHER
Past Junior League of Denver (JLD) president and Denver native Cissie Busch has been a part of the organi zation since 2002 and continues to impart her philanthropic e orts to the organization. “I think the longevity and the success of the league are due to the training that the women receive and the friendships they make while contributing to help improve our com munity,” says Busch. “We all bond over helping others; it’s the connective tissue that makes us such a strong asset for our members and the Denver commu nity.” Cissie Busch at the inaugural Journey fundraiser.
PHILANTHROPYTO
What were the highlights of being the wife of a very well-known Denver Bronco? Being a part of the Broncos helped us meet some of the most passionate members of our community—the devoted fans, as well as the generous philanthropists and volun teers who are the foundation of a healthy, thriving city and state. Also, how perfect it is that Sharon Magness Blake is also being featured in this issue? She was one of our rst supporters and even threw our rst event for Judi’s House at her home 20 years ago. I remember her putting her arm around me and telling me that she would take me under her wing and help me get to know the philanthropic community—which she certainly did! As Sharon said, we women need to help lift and support one another. Two decades later, I hope that I can do the same for the young women who will continue to help our community grow stronger. Is there anything that you miss about Brian’s time with the team? It was exciting to feel so invested and en gaged in the games when Brian was play ing—the adrenaline of it all when he was integral to the outcomes of the competi tion. e kids were too young to experience this, so I’m looking forward to enjoying some of that feeling with them now that he is back on the eld as a coach. Do you have any advice for Ciara as she and her husband, the Broncos’ new quarterback, Russell Wilson, take their place with the team? I’m sure Ciara doesn’t need any advice from me! But given her incredible success as an artist and entrepreneur, I do hope that she will get deeply involved in the community and use her platform to inspire our girls and women to dream big, work hard and give back. I was thrilled to see that she is already supporting Colorado nonpro ts by speaking at the Women United Luncheon this fall. I’m a huge fan of Mile High Unit ed Way and Christine Benero—another incredible woman in our community—and I will be there to cheer them both on! Besides Judi’s House, are you involved with any other Denver-area charities?
I’m proud to serve on the Denver Public Schools Foundation board of directors. As a public school graduate, Denver Public Schools parent and child psychologist, I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of ensuring equitable access to not only high-quality education but also to schoolbased social-emotional and behavioral health supports. I also currently serve on the UCCS Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience advisory board, which serves as the national model in resilience-based trauma research, healing, and community empowerment solutions; Mental Health Consortium; and Mayor Michael Han cock’s Denver Education Compact. I was honored to serve on the Governor’s Colorado Behavioral Health Task Force Children’s Subcommittee and the CU Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center board of directors.
Photo right: Busch celebrating the 100th year of JLD.
Currently, JLD is working to disrupt the cycle of systemic poverty for wom en and families in Denver by building upon the continued success of its literacy e orts and engaging in adjacent areas like homelessness, education, health and food security. It has proved that through the leadership of trained volunteers and strong community partnerships, it plays a big part in incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and co-design solutions with community leaders.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 53 Inside Colorado’s Philanthropic Organizations
Busch is a talented leader in communi ty service. Her personal impact on the Denver community includes being cochair of the Children’s Museum’s Annual Fundraiser; PTO president at Good Shepherd Catholic School; on the board of trustees at Escuela de Guadalupe; past president of Girls, Inc: a fundraiser at Donor Alliance; a charter member of Rocky Mountain Active 20-30; and on the board of directors of St. Mary’s Academy Alumni Association. She also is an honorary consul to Hungary. Needless to say, Busch is an impressive person who embodies the true meaning of a civic leader. May we all strive for one ounce of her dedication and determina tion. Junior League of Denver jld.org Busch, ofering hands-on help at a LUVS Day of Service JLD event.
Photo courtesy of JLD
Committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the e ective action and leadership of trained volunteers, the JLD has made a large impact on building a better Denver. But after close to 100 years, Busch felt it was time to reinvigorate fundraising e orts, and in 2013 she was the visionary behind e Journey, a fundraiser that attracts all member levels, from rst-year provisional members to active members to sustaining “Imembers.wanted to create a whole new fundrais er that was sustainable and would allow us all to connect as one league, inspire us to strive for more, and support the organization that had given all of us so much.” To date, e Journey has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the League’s e orts to empower women as well as their community work. “ e fundraising e orts from e Journey really allow us to make a di erence. We wouldn’t be able to do nearly as much without it and I’m proud I was able to help elevate the JLD’s impact to new heights.”rough signature JLD programs like Kids Connect and Read2Kids, as well as key partnerships with One Book Colo rado and Reading Partners Colorado, the league has successfully reached thousands of children and families. Additionally, its volunteers impact our community through hands-on education and literacy programs, grant donations, and many well-known Denver institutions that in
clude the Children’s Museum of Denver, Mile High Transplant Bank (now Donor Alliance) and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Bottom photo: Loading of lights and sets at a Children’s Theater fundraiser in 1949. Photos courtesy of JLD
By Hillary Locke Mujica FRESH ENPERSPECTIVESPLEINAIR
Why this medium and this process?
Tell us about your background and what led you to become an artist.
I’m about the “whole process” and being present to the full experience as I work. I would be taking a shortcut if I didn’t paint from life. Plus, the thrill of going out into the eld and seeking what I want to create with my brushes and oils is the ultimate treasure hunt for me. ere is nothing easy about this process, but the reward is being able to paint a moment in nature and fully connect to my true self.
All photos courtesy of Melinda Smith Haymons
54 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Hope mshstudio.com@melindashaymons
So many things are inspirational to me. Mixing color to paint a cloudscape or moun tainscape captivates me in all the seasons. I’m drawn to the Vail Valley and Colorado rivers. I also have a passion for seascapes and beach es, and orals continue to be a favorite. When I travel, I always have my paint kit with me whether I’m on a mountain, near a river, on a beach or on vacation.
Melinda Smith Haymons
I am blessed that my parents instilled in me a passion for ne art. I spent a lot of my childhood in Santa Fe, where ne art and collecting art were paramount. I was obsessed with the story of the Taos Society of Artists and how the Toas Six put the town on the map for art and tourism, exposing the world to new cultures and a ruggedly beautiful landscape not seen before. When I went to Colorado College, I studied art and worked at a gallery before I began my painting career almost 30 years ago.
What inspires you to paint? What subjects are you drawn to? Any favorite locales?
WITH SMITHMELINDAHAYMONS
With a heart that’s as passionate about the outdoors as it is about painting, Melinda Smith Haymons’ instinctual eye for composition, color and light brings her en plein air paintings to vivid life. Whether capturing a cloudscape in Wyoming, a seascape in Mexico, a New England landscape, the Italian sunlight or the endless possibilities of subjects that might grab her on any given day, Haymons continues to be transfixed by light and shadow while mixing paint on her palette. We caught up with this talented woman who is living her life by beautiful design.
There are certainly easier ways to paint. What do you get out of your immersive style of en plein air painting?
Vail Valley Autumn. Oil on Russian birch.
Our son Tyler loves tying ies, and it’s a joy to see his work—it makes us proud as parents to see him and our other kids devote time and care to forms of creative expression that suit their personalities.
As a mother, you’re a great source of inspiration for your kids to follow their passions. Can you tell us about how you instill and encourage your children to go deeper with their own art?
Our kids have observed me painting outside, and I’m honored they have grown to enjoy and respect what I do. ey have been encouraged to follow their passions and live their lives with grace and integrity, enjoying the gifts of creating, learning and exploring.
Photo top: Miniature Altoid box painting of a South Park landscape. Oil on Russian birch.
Photo bottom: Skiing and painting a view of the Back Bowls in Vail. Oil on linen.
Do you have any advice for women looking to go after their passions, art or otherwise?
I’m continually revisiting earlier paintings and I see these pieces with new eyes.
Tell us about painting with Altoid boxes. Is this a thing, or something you stumbled upon?
Having love and curiosity for miniature paintings, I decided to convert an Altoid box into a paint box. Rather than discarding such a cool little box, I thought, why not have a paint box that ts in the pocket of my y- shing waders and ski jacket?
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 55 Art Scene
I have a deep intuition, and my close friends and family remind me of that constantly! When I’m not painting, I’m observing the landscape with brushstrokes. e challenge isn’t always the execution of the painting but rather solving the puzzle of how I’m going to organize and tackle my subject. Once I see the painting in my head and I’ve touched the brush to my palette, I’m immediately engaged, and my deep concentration begins.
How do you see your art evolving?
My art is evolving to include large-format and paintings emphasizing linear brush strokes and shapes with bold colors. In some cases, this evolution directly ties to my plein air roots and is a fun outlet for me. Also, my talented son Reed and I have talked about working on a series together in large format with his incredible photographs and my art.
Haymons painting on location in Colorado. Looking West, oil on Russian birch.
Scientists say that women’s intuition is real and very powerful, that women have developed a deep sense of observation by becoming hypersensitive to feelings and nonverbal cues. We feel this in your art as you connect with the landscape or subject in front of you. Do you feel that? Is there a process or a ritual you do to allow your mind to innately put paint on the brush and create?
Don’t lose sight of your goals, and stay on your path. One of the greatest challenges has been to learn this personally and convey these principles as a mom. Watching my beautiful daughter mature into an impressive young woman and aspiring marine biologist, Alexandra has learned to grow and thrive in her passions as she navigates the twists and turns of life. Do what makes you happy, be a good person, have gratitude, and surround yourself with people who support who you are and what you do. Be strong and be OK with being tested, as it’s all part of the path. ese things to me are what empower women.
56 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Fashion CURATING A COLORFUL LIFE All photos courtesy of Cocotay Jewelry
By Hillary Locke Mujica
Coco Smith paves her own way, one vintage jewel at a time Cocotay Jewelry @ cocotayjewelry
Clearly, when you’ve got it, you’ve got it, and Coco Smith has it in spades!
In the early years of her business, Smith would travel to an tique stores from Maine to Florida to hunt for unique treasures that would become her brand identity. Although antiquing is still a crucial part of her business, over the years she has built relationships with jewelry dealers around the globe who ship her boxes of vintage goodies. “It is a long process, but I need to touch and feel each piece to appreciate the patina. is part of my design process allows me to really immerse myself into each unique piece to see its re-created future.”
“Putting on a pair of gorgeous earrings can change your entire day, and your entire mindset,” says Smith. “You could be having a pity party. Grab a pair of one-of-a-kind jewels that make you smile, and just like that—your entire attitude has changed.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 57 Fashion
Since 2002, Coco Smith of Cocotay Jewelry has been following her instincts and pushing design limits by merging old and new, classic and modern, whimsical and versatile styles. Her eye for color and a air for the dramatic make her a powerhouse of style with a clientele that turns to her not only for trend inspirations but also for a positive outlook on life.
Although making a pro t from your passions can be challeng ing, Smith comes by it honestly, hailing from a long line of en trepreneurs. “My dad’s great uncle invented the Zippo lighter, his grandfather was a founder of Von Lengerke and Detmold (then Fitch), which is now known as Abercrombie & Fitch, and my mom’s family invented the Voss washing machine and sold the patent to Maytag.”
And it’s this instant transformation that is the secret to Smith’s success. Her loyal clients pine over her latest creations for celebratory events and even for daily outings, not to mention her features in Vogue and Sex and the City, as well as the likes of Bergdorf Goodman, Fred Segal, A Line Boutique and Sara Campbell. “I have clients who inherit meaningful pieces, but they may not love the design—so that’s when the magic happens and I get to dig deeper about the piece and hear the family stories around each, and then rework that piece in a more contemporary way that ts their personality.”
Vintage accessories with a modern twist by Cocotay Jewelry.
Taking vintage pieces (think grandma’s clip-on earrings, rhinestone shoe buckles and over-the-top bird pins in bright, bold colors) and reworking them into bespoke, one-of-a-kind wearable art that honors the past while embracing the pres ent is what makes Smith’s designs so special. She respects the craftsmanship and celebrates the history of these timeless beauties, giving them a second life as the “stars of the show.”
Above: Fall colors in the Colorado mountains. Opposite page Photo top: Hikers walk among the gold en aspens on Guanella Pass.
58 coloradoexpression . com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
A
lthough Colorado is known for fresh powder days in the winter and sizzling summer music festivals, fall in the Centennial State is something just short of magical. With the changing of the seasons come crisp mornings, with the sun peeking through the trees; harvesting apples, pumpkins and squash; and a slow-down sensibility reminding us to reconnect and cozy up. With that in mind, there’s no better time to hit the road and check out these quintessential Colorado destinations.
Photo middle: Raising a glass to the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival.
Getaways
By Hillary Locke Mujica
ICONIC FALL ROAD TRIPS IN COLORADO
Photograph by Zhukova Valentyna
Photo bottom: The historic steam engine train travels from Durango to Silverton on the Narrow Gauge Railroad.
After the summer rush has passed and before the winter ski season gets underway, Steamboat is prime for y- shing, biking and, of course, soaking at Old Town Hot Springs or Strawber ry Park. But it’s also become a culinary powerhouse with the Steamboat Food & Wine Festival, which will take place Sept. 29-Oct. 2 this year. is intimate event welcomes everyone to the table to collaborate, discover and relish in the good life with Colorado chefs, winemakers, mixologists and specialists such as Dana Rodriguez, Axel Seidel, Mark Stanford, Jon Schlegel, Kelly Kawachi and Laura Posiak. steamboatfoodandwine.com
If you go to the Great Sand Dunes in the fall, there won’t be water owing—as there is in the spring and early summer—but you’ll nd cooler temperatures, perfect for hiking. e park is home to the tallest dunes in North America, covering close to 19,000 acres of constantly changing landscape. e dunes—in cluding the famed Star Dune, which rises 750 feet from the San Luis Valley oor—aren’t the only thing to recommend the park, though: Great Sand Dunes encompasses another 65,000 acres, including six peaks of more than 13,000 feet o ering a stunning juxtaposition of high desert and the craggy heights of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Sandboarding and sand sledding are also popular activities, but a regular sled or snowboard won’t work, so pick up a rental in Alamosa. While the park has some thing to o er year round, fall is an ideal time to make a pilgrim age to the quietest national park in the Lower 48. nps.gov
EstesDurangoPark
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 59
Georgetown Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
FestivalWineandFoodSteamboatofcourtesyPhotoPhotographbySeanXuPhotographbyNickFox
Make the trek to this tucked-away Southwest Colorado mountain town for a secluded escape among the San Juan Mountains. e soaring peaks will inspire an array of outdoor adventures, such as a ride on the historic Durango and Sil verton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which passes through remote areas of the San Juan National Forest, perfect for leaf-peeping. And you must see the cli dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park. Guide yourself through a driving tour or hike into the dwellings with a National Parks ranger for a closer view and in sight into the daily life of the Ancestral Pueblo people. Or take a sunset drive west to La Plata Canyon, where steep canyon walls, waterfalls and golden aspen trees as far as the eyes can see will have you oohing and ahhing. durango.com e gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park slows its visitor intake as winter approaches, making for an idyllic Colorado mountain hamlet hideaway. Chances are good that you’ll see wildlife any time you visit Estes Park, but during fall, it’s practi cally a guarantee since it’s rutting (aka mating) season for elk— and their bugle love song will capture your heart. Fall is also the perfect time to cast a line in Lake Estes or the Big ompson River for rainbow trout. If you’re looking for a more leisurely weekend, book a riverside bed-and-breakfast and kick back and soak up the beauty of the natural surroundings. visitestespark.com Founded in 1859 during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, George town is a colorful and historic area that was not only a hotbed for silver mining (aka the Silver Queen of the Rockies) but for the railroad as well. It radiates romance with its elegantly restored Victorian hotels and museums such as Louis Du puy’s Hotel de Paris (now a museum), quaint restaurants and easy-access train rides. Plus, the beautiful Rutherford Trail up Guanella Pass has multiple trails for soaking up the scenery or putting in high mileage. georgetown-colorado.org Steamboat Springs
By Jessica Hughes
Photo right: Fall colors at Stanley Park in Vancouver.
Every autumn, travelers and locals alike ock to the Cana dian Rockies in search of something you might not even notice in summer: the larch tree. Native to Canada and the northern United States, the larches are deciduous and co niferous trees, which makes them unique. Unlike most pine trees, the soft green needles of the larch turn a golden cop per hue before dropping to the forest oor every autumn.
ExperiencePlacesBestto RockiesCanadian
Photo top: Scenic highway in Banf National Park. Photo bottom: Yellow trees at Ka nanaskis National Park, Canada. e
We all know that Colorado has plenty to o er leaf-peepers every fall, with beautifully hued aspen groves dotting the mountainsides. But for even more fall splendor, a trip across the border to visit our Canadian friends just might be the great escape you’re looking for.
attention.Autumn
Photograph by kavram
KalnitskyRuslanbyPhotograph
Follow the Rocky Mountains north into British Columbia and Alberta to discover some of Canada’s most spectacular fall scenery, all thanks to the beauty of larches lighting up in a dazzling array of yellows and oranges that will capture anyone’s in the
Located southwest of Calgary, bordering the town of Canmore and Ban National Park, Kananaskis Country also o ers some of the best views of the larches in Canada. For incredible views, hike the Pocaterra Ridge from the Highwood Pass parking lot to see a dense larch forest between towering mountain peaks.
A trip to Alberta and its parks is one of the best ways to experience fall colors in Canada. Your journey begins in the heart of the Canadian Rockies at Ban National Park. As the most iconic and well-known national park in Alberta, Ban makes its transition into fall around mid-September into early October. e iconic Lake Louise is the focal point here, with its glacier-fed turquoise waters, distinct mountain backdrop and the stunning Fairmount Chateau, a 5-star hotel inside the park.ebest area for larch viewing in Alberta is Larch Valley. After getting your ll of the awe-inspiring beauty of Mo raine Lake, look for the Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass trail, which guide you through sweeping golden larch meadows and distinctive rocky spires. e summit of Sentinel Pass o ers an incredible view of golden larches stretching throughout the valley below. By way of a bike, hop on the 13-mile-long Ban Legacy Trail, a paved pathway that parallels the Trans-Canada Highway. e trail connects the towns of Canmore and Ban with an addi tional 2.7 miles outside the park boundaries. e entire trail is collectively referred to as the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail. Healy Pass, Boulder Pass and Arnica Lake o er stunning, o -the-beaten-path larch views as well. Aside from hiking and biking, create unique memories with a trail ride and an over night stay at Sundance Lodge with Ban Trail Riders.
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Jessica Hughes is a writer and photographer based in Denver. When she is not working in the city, you can nd her in the mountains, hiking, backpacking or biking. Connect with her on Instagram @small_town_ stops or @jlhindesign.
Or head over to Vancouver Island to Beacon Hill Park. As Victoria’s premier 200-acre urban park, it transforms in the fall to reveal an array of colors alongside the ocean. Explore the landscaped gardens, visit the peacocks, and walk along the waterfront for a great afternoon activity.
If you’re looking for something less rigorous but truly stunning, Chester Lake is another great option. is multi-season area has something special for everyone. Located in Spray Valley Provincial Park, about 25 miles from Canmore via the Spray Lakes Road, Chester Lake is one of the easier hikes in the area and one of the best areas to view larches. Framed by the cli s of Mount Chester, the lake is surrounded by larches accenting the rim of the lake in a golden glow during the fall. For those who enjoy the cityscapes blended with green spaces, experience fall at its best with a day in Vancouver tracking down the sites for the best leaf-peeping view. A stroll or bike ride along the 5.5-mile Stanley Park Seawall reveals an array of fall colors on one side with ocean views on the other. Other popular places to view the fall show of colors include Queen Elizabeth Park, the Sylvia Hotel and Burnaby Moun tain Park, plus the Van Dusen and UBC Botanical Gardens.
Photograph by romakoma
Great Escapes
Visit Alberta’s National Parks Vancouver, British Columbia
O ering out-of-this-world seasonal Colorado cuisine, the restaurant opened its doors more than 16 years ago, bringing the farm-to-table movement to Grand Junction. Although, chef/owner eo Otte says, “I don’t like to use the term ‘farm-to-table movement.’ It’s just what good food should be.”
“We love introducing people to good food and good wine,” she says. is is why you will always nd a rotating list of wines, including local pours, which you can sample by the glass or in wine ights.
Home Base in Grand Junction Located between Fruita and Palisade, Grand Junction makes a great home base for exploring the Grand Valley. Lying at the intersection of rivers, mountains, canyons and the high desert, Grand Junction is not only a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts but also turns heads with its arts and culture, including the culinary arts. Spend some time downtown, where you will nd an array of local eateries specializing in seasonal menus, including 626 on Rood.
e restaurant’s fresh take on locally sourced ingredients and unique menu items taste just as good as they sound. With a menu printed daily, Otte says, “We’ll buy everything from local farmers in Grand Junction and Palisade. We create our menu based on what’s available and what’s in season. Every season ties us to the menu we create.”
Photos courtesy of Visit Grand Junction
For example, Otte and his sta use heirloom tomatoes from a local hydroponic plant in Palisade to make their Heirloom Tomato plate. Come August and September, they round up homegrown fruit for their Peach Galette and other peach favorites. Plus, they grow their own basil at the restaurant as well as utilize other ingredients from their garden in BrendaPalisade.Otte, eo’s wife and co-owner of 626 on Rood, helps run the show at the front of the house and is the restaurant’s wine director.
Experience
e small towns of Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade are nestled in the verdant valley, with its array of vineyards, farms and orchards producing the state’s famous Palisade peaches. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor activities that make it easy to enjoy the beautiful mesas and Frommountains.itssoilsprouts
Move over, Napa. Grand Valley is quickly becoming the incubator of innovation and creativity within Colorado’s food and beverage scene. Tucked away on the Western Slope (less than two hours from Moab, Utah), Grand Valley is producing more and more wineries and eateries every year.
a microcosm of avors that can be sampled throughout the valley, with its farm-to-table restaurants, organic bakeries and home-grown distilleries and wineries infusing local avors. Family-owned businesses are at the heart of it all. is fall, take a trip out west and discover how you can experience the full bounty of the Grand Valley’s harvest season with a visit to local wineries, distilleries, farms and restau rants.
University, Hotel Maverick combines the best of Grand Junction’s food and beverage scene
“I believe there is a vibrant food scene in Grand Junction, so don’t just stop here,” says eo Otte. Other farm-to-table restaurants he suggests trying in the area are Bin 707 Foodbar, Taco Party and Devil’s Kitchen at Hotel LocatedMaverick.onthecampus of Colorado Mesa
By Jessica Hughes
Fields of lavender at Belli Fiori help to create a variety of products and spirits. the Full Bounty of Colorado’s Western Slope the Harvest Season on
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Hotel Maverick: At the epicenter of hospitality, food and drinks in Grand Junction.
Visitors walk the vineyards while sampling wine at Two Rivers Winery.
Pam Harsh prides herself on making beautiful bread that is good for the mind, body and soul. e organic bread is made with natural fermentation, not using any commercial yeast. “We make bread you can actually digest,” she explains. “It’s a big responsibility to feed people. We need people we can trust to make our food.” In fact, some of Kulina Lani’s best customers are gluten-free who can’t get enough of her bread. Others stand in line for the bakery’s grab-and-go sandwiches, com plete with a free cookie, and its famous pastry pop tarts. For a one-stop shop of local avors, food and drinks, spend the afternoon at Belli Fiori Lav ender Farm and Highlands Craft Distillery. Mother-and-son duo Lisa and Dylan Proietti have created a full-destination experience where you can taste your way through Grand Valley. It takes about three years to get a de cent lavender crop, and the Proietti family has been hard at work generating a viable lavender farm for nearly 10 years. e farm grows 11 varieties of lavender—eight English and three French—with 1,600 plants total. “My favorite variety that we grow is the Royal Velvet, mainly meant for cooking,” says Lisa Proietti. e farm also grows the Croxton’s Wild vari ety, which is used in the distillery’s gin. “What we hope for is a mild spring,” says Lisa Proietti. In addition, she says dry weather is a key component of a great crop. “Our lavender hits peak season about mid-June,” she says. e crop is harvested and bundled right on the property. e small farm has grown into a lavender retail hub, selling everything from soaps and sprays to candles and oils, with everything made on-site by Lisa Proietti. If you can’t make it to Grand Junction to sample Belli Fiori’s products, you can nd Proietti at Den ver’s South Pearl Street Market every Sunday.
Plus, with the most recent addition of Belli Fiori’s on-site food truck, Picnic, visitors can now enjoy a full experience with food, drinks and shopping. Visit year-round at the outside patio or inside the yurt tasting room. In town, you can nd Highlands Craft Distillery spirits used at Hotel Maverick, Feisty Pint and the
Dylan Proietti, Lisa’s son and brainchild of the Highlands Craft Distillery operation, uses the farm’s lavender, mint, tomatoes and other ingredients grown on the property to create three spirits: vodka, gin and whiskey. You can sample each with a tasting or enjoy the spirits in one of the distillery’s many mixed drinks on tap. Staying in sync with the seasons, the dis tillery features a rotating lavender tap in the summer, and in late August into September during the peach season, sta ers pour the dis tillery’s popular drink, Peach Orchard Punch.
Witham and her husband, Bob, run the winery with their son, Brandon, who is the winemaker. Since starting their business in 1999, they have worked to create reputable wines even though the vineyard is situated slightly higher in elevation than those in Palisade, making it more susceptible to a bad harvest. e destination winery o ers accom modations at its chateau, wine tasting, tours and events.
Across the Colorado River, with the Colorado National Monument as a backdrop, is Two Rivers Winery and Chateau, Grand Junction’s only winery. e vineyard holds 10 acres of grape vines, yielding about 15 percent of its total production, with most of the winery’s grapes coming from nearby Palisade, primarily Talbott Farms. “We try to preserve what is unique about Colorado wines, the high altitude, very fruit-forward grapes,” says Billie Witham, proprietor and owner of Two Rivers.
Palisade Is the Wine Mecca of Colorado With Palisade welcoming its 39th winery this year, it’s not just peaches that make the area a feast for your senses. In addition to its bountiful wineries and produce, Palisade welcomes new eateries, distilleries and farms that highlight all that is available to grow in Grand Valley. “Most of your wine you enjoy along the Front Range is made from the grapes grown in Pal isade,” says Jessica Burford, executive director of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce. “ e future is agrotourism here in Palisade,” which is why she says local generational farms like Talbott Farms and Clark Family Orchards work to collaborate and support new growers coming to the valley. is welcoming and sup portive environment, along with ideal weather conditions, has been the catalyst to the area’s growth.
Glorious Fig.
If your taste leans toward botanical gin, be sure to try the Majestic 12 gin, infused with the farm’s lavender and Olathe sweet corn.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 coloradoexpression . com 63 Colorado Weekends at its restaurant, Devil’s Kitchen. Similar to other restaurants in town, the Kitchen creates a seasonal menu using what’s available in the Grand Valley. Overlooking the red-rock mesas that sweep the skyline, the rooftop bar is a perfect location for watching sunsets with drinks or dinner lit by the moon. Continue your culinary tour at one of the newest eateries in Grand Junction, Kulina Lani Organic Sourdough Bakery. Originally from Colorado, owner Pam Harsh and her husband, Shane, moved back from Hawaii in 2020 to help with family and brought with them their famous sourdough bread that had created a cult following on the Big Island.
Lisa Proietti’s best advice for those wanting to experience harvest season on the Western Slope is “to check what’s blooming and when. We go with the ow of the season and work with ingredients available in the area.”
For a more elevated wine experience, stop in at TWP Winery and Farm House. e owners hail from South Africa, bringing with them the taste and sophistication of a true winery experience. e decadent bed-andbreakfast boasts exceptional rooms, starting at $235 a night, that include wine tastings com plete with a thoughtfully prepared charcuterie board—much of which includes items cured on the property.
While Palisade in past years hasn’t exact ly been noted for its culinary options, the farm-to-table movement has caught on, with new restaurants like Pêche, Le Snack (the food truck available at Ordinary Fellow) and Fidel’s Cocina and Bar, from the owners of the Spoke & Vine Motel. Continue your feast with a visit to one of the area’s u-pick farms. Talbott Farms is easily the most well-known in the area and is a major provider to local wineries. As a sixth-gener ation farm, the owners know a thing or two about what thrives in the valley, including their peaches and wine grapes. ey grow a variety of peaches, allowing for a longer harvest season from mid-July through the end of September. Clark Family Orchards, a seven-generation peach farm, is another fruit ful stop, with cherries, peaches, plums and tomatoes available for picking. Take in the views at PeachFork Orchard and Vineyard, where you can sample from the tasting room and enjoy the full experience with dinner in a peach orchard. belli970-462-9223Grand782FarmBellithehotelmaverick.com970-822-4888Grand840Hotel626onrood.com970-257-7663Grand626626cfmtworiverswinery.com/index.970-255-1471Grand2087ChateauBroadway,JunctiononRoodRoodAve.,JunctionMaverickKennedyAve.,JunctionFioriLavender24Road,Junctionorilavender.com
Jessica Hughes is a writer and photographer based in Denver. She spends her time traveling the world and ex ploring her beautiful home state of Colorado. When she is not working in the city, you can fnd her in the mountains, hiking, backpacking or biking. Connect with her on Insta gram @small_town_stops or @jlhindesign. Sweeping views of Two Rivers Winery, a destination winery in Grand Junction.
Two Rivers Winery &
Colorado Weekends
To keep your spirits lifted, a visit to Peach Street Distillers is a must. What began as a small distilling operation in 2005 has grown into a destination for good food, good drinks and a good time with a full food menu and occasional live music.
Highlands Distillery 782 24 Road, Grand tacopartygj.com970-314-9736Grand126Tacobin707.com970-243-4543Grand225Binkulinalani.com970-539-5444Grand644SourdoughKulinacomcoloradohighlandsdistillery.970-462-7293JunctionLaniOrganicBakeryN.Ave.#4,Junction707N.5thSt.#105,JunctionPartyS.5thSt.,Junction
Peach Street Distillers 144 Kluge Ave. Building #2, twpwinery.com303-875-9609Clifton3334FarmTWPclarkfamilyorchards.com970-464-0418Palisade3929Clarktalbottfarms.com970-464-5943Palisade3800Talbottpeachstreetdistillers.com970-464-1128PalisadeFarmsF1/4Road,FamilyOrchardsUS-6,Winery&HouseFRoad,
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Popular wineries such as Colterris, DeBeque Canyon Winery and Restoration Vineyards have put Palisade on the map as a wine destination. But don’t forget to check out the newest wineries on the scene, including Or dinary Fellow. Ben Parsons, who some might know from the In nite Monkey eorem in Denver, is now making wine in Palisade on the site of a historic peach-packing shed. Find more of your favorite wineries at the Colorado Mountain Winefest on Sept. 17 (coloradowinefest.com).
Colterris Winery 3907 N. River Road, peachfork.com970-216-7662Palisade281VineyardsPeachforkrestorationvineyards.com970-985-0832Palisade3594Restorationdebequecanyonwinery.com970-464-0550Palisade351WineryDecolterris.com970-464-1150PalisadeBequeCanyonW.8thSt.,VineyardsE.1/2Road,Orchards&33Road, Peche. Restaurant 336 Main St., 970-464-2888Palisade113Fidel’stheordinaryfellow.com970-464-2185Palisade202compecherestaurantcolorado.970-464-4911PalisadeeOrdinaryFellowPeachAve.,Cocina&BarW.3rdSt.,delspalisade.com
