5 minute read
GAL ABOUT TOWN
CHERRY CREEK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Christine Des Enfants could probably walk Cherry Creek North with her eyes closed. The Executive Director of the Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce has been headquartered in the neighborhood for nearly 15 years. She knows everyone and everything about the community, its history, its merchants and its future. Naturally, she’s a gal about town regardless of our induction… we’re just making it official.
What is your favorite thing about Cherry Creek?
The people! We’re in the most prestigious shopping district in the Rocky Mountains and yet the people that work in this district are wonderfully down to earth and accessible. It’s so enjoyable to work in Cherry Creek – it brings about such a positive energy.
A friend is coming to visit Cherry Creek for the first time. What are the “insider tips” you share with her before her stay? Any place she can’t skip?
One of the most exciting things that has happened in Cherry Creek this past decade is the addition of restaurant rooftops. I would definitely give them a list of our rooftops and the beautiful patios in the area so that my friend could enjoy the stunning Colorado weather. The Halcyon Hotel, The Jacquard, Del Frisco’s and The Clayton…there are too many great patios to list!
Describe your personal style.
Authentic and real. It must be that humble Midwest upbringing, but I really strive to be as natural as possible in my interactions, makeup, hair, clothing, and everything else.
Five dream dinner party guests? Favorite way to relax on a weekend?
Hike or snowshoe in the high country.
Favorite Cherry Creek restaurant?
There are too many to choose from! A restaurant that’s not good cannot make it in Cherry Creek. I do have to admit that I love all of the new healthy restaurants that are coming into the area.
Most beautiful place you’ve visited in Colorado? In the world?
When I was younger, I climbed a lot of 14,000 foot mountains in Colorado. This was in the 1990s. My favorite was Uncompahgre Peak in the San Juan Mountains. Climbing mountains in Colorado is the most incredible way to really know this state and all its treasures.
Since I love reading history, I would love to have a few of our founders and early leaders over for dinner. George
Washington. Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin
Franklin. Teddy Roosevelt. Abraham
Lincoln. I would not say a word but just listen attentively to the stories of this unbelievable experiment called America. The most beautiful place in the world?
I adore Paris.
Do you “collect” anything?
Yes, I love to collect great people in my life. There is nothing better!
MORE VIA cherrycreekchamber.org/ @cherrycreekchamber
INTRODUCING KRISTIN KEFFELER
ENHANCING AND PROTECTING GENERATIONAL WEALTH
It can be tricky helping high-net worth families manage their wealth while they also navigate often complicated family dynamics.
Fortunately, Denver-based Johnson Financial Group (JFG) has been doing it for over 20 years, and now the integrated family office and wealth management firm has brought on a new superstar who is no stranger to coaching families through challenging issues.
Meet Kristin Keffeler. She is JFG’s new Chief Learning Officer and has spent 16 years working with family enterprises, wealthy families and rising generations.
Keffeler’s appointment gives JFG a new way to support clients.
“We believe that Kristin’s interactions with our clients will be truly transformational, giving the families we work with the opportunity to learn the best practices about communication, strength building and establishing a healthy legacy,” said Brandon Johnson, JFG’s Principal and CEO.
An Ivy League alum who earned her master’s degree at Penn in applied positive psychology, and a master’s degree in business management from the University of Denver, Keffeler is skilled at helping families who own a joint operating entity together, or who own a joint interest in a significant common asset.
“All of the work I do focuses on who these individuals truly are. What are the collective human assets in this system and how do we best use these assets to the highest good of the individual and the family?” Keffeler explains.
JFG’s mission to help families succeed aligns well with Keffeler’s focus on maximizing human capital, a key for families to achieve a happy, thriving, fulfilled legacy.
“It comes from Brandon Johnson’s own family story of being a third generation in a significant family and seeing how all of the focus was on protecting and enhancing financial capital. The family really struggled with investing in human capital,” Keffeler details. “This resulted in strained relationships and a lack of leadership development and selfactualization in their family.”
Keffeler said Brandon’s personal experience of living through these challenges led him to be a passionate student of how to best maximize the human capital within family systems.
“This focus is now ingrained into the DNA of the firm which, quite honestly, is the reason I was interested in partnering with them and coming aboard as an integral member of their team.”
While not every family is healthy, Keffler notes that with a little support, families can be incredible places for individuals to grow, learn, and thrive.
Keffeler shares the story of a Denverbased family with two adult children who approached her after a significant wealth creation event.
“In my first meeting with the couple, I could see them wrestling with their concern about the impact wealth could have on their kids. At one point, the father teared up and said, ‘I’ve seen it ruin too many of my friend’s kids. I don’t want this money ruining mine.’
Through a process of defining the family’s core values, an overarching family mission, and envisioning what it would look like if all members of the family were thriving in 10 or 20 years, Keffeler was able to help the couple get organized around their wealth in a way that put their family’s well-being at the center of the work.
“The family began having regular meetings and slowly built the skills to have honest, direct, and productive conversations about money, wealth, and relationships.”
Keffeler believes that people with significant financial assets are some of the biggest change makers in our communities and through JFG, she hopes to transform that belief into reality.
