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View Artist Cover 		Tracey Lynne Hart
To a passerby it might look like two horses fighting it out, but “Playtime” shows two of my horses, Thor and Ace, playing. (You might recognize them from the MainStreet Shuttle City Bus). They are best buds and play like this all the time, which is very entertaining and makes for some great photo opportunities.
I’ve been taking pictures for as long as I can remember. I enjoy going through the old albums and remembering some of life's moments that I was able to capture in an image.
Throughout college and for several years after I traveled around the country and lived in several different places. This gave me a great opportunity to see and experience different places and people. My photo library is quite varied as a result, from Hawaii’s beaches and tropical forests, to England’s old buildings, Nevada’s mining towns and a lot of beautiful Colorado Rockies scenery and wildlife.
I have entered an occasional photography contest, but mostly have made prints for gifts and to decorate my home and office. I plan to do more with my photography in the coming months and have begun the daunting task of sorting and scanning all those negatives and disks of digital images.
I enjoy many forms of art for fun, from ceramics and drawing to making jewelry. Music is still my favorite art form and I have been playing the guitar for thirty years. I teach lessons in Craig in the afternoons and I occasionally do some performing.
My favorite place these days is my small ranch in Sunbeam, in the remote northwestern desert of Colorado. I have four horses, four goats and two cats who are all quite entertaining.
I’ve been working on a website for my photography and other art projects and plan to upload to the World Wide Web this spring, so check back at
www.timberlinegiftandgallery.com

View Artist Cover 		Robin Clow I am thrilled to have my work on the cover of The Downtowner for a second time. While the first cover showcased my flat glass work, I have since progressed to three dimensional fused glass pieces. After many years as a commissioned stained glass artist, I had a client ask me if I made my own glass. The question led me to an exploration of the glass fusing process whereby I melt and combine glass at very high temperatures in a kiln. More often than not, the glass requires multiple fuses and different layers of glass to achieve the desired effect. Inclusions and components, micas, lusters and even paint are used to enhance the look, and cold working the piece often provides the finishing touches. It has taken me quite a few years to amass the tools, experience, and knowledge necessary to work unhindered in my studio, and the time spent developing my skills has given me a great respect for those who accomplished the same thing over three-thousand years ago. Through my personal transformation as an artist, I have truly discovered my passion with kiln formed glass!
When I was young, I found crackled glass in the sand at the beach where I grew up. It was a natural phenomena, formed by a strike of lightening in the sand, and it was from this eye-opening discovery that my love of glass was formed. The memory of that event reminds me of glass mosaics my family made from beach glass and shells, of glass mobiles and shadow box pictures. It also reminds me of the time my husband and I drove through the end of a rainbow in Oak Creek canyon and for a fleeting few seconds saw prisms of colored light everywhere we looked in the cab of our truck.
I find the anticipation of what is yet to be seen in an unfinished piece to be a driving force in my creativity. While most reactions are predictable when glass is heated to such high temperatures, many variables can be utilized to alter the results in unexpected ways. To open the kiln after a firing evokes anticipation, trepidation, and great expectations.
The bowl on the cover is a result of my efforts over many months of experimentation with layering and firing multiple glass powders, fragments and paint in an attempt to "paint with light" on clear glass. The bowl was difficult to execute because each side (inside and outside) depicts a scene visible from both sides of the bowl. The rim of this thick piece was hand carved for texture, and the circular piece of glass was shaped into a bowl in the kiln. (I think I see glass sink bowls in my future!)
One of my wall hangings was rewarded this fall with a first place in the national juried "Lines Into Shapes" show held in Estes Park, Colorado, in the sculpture, ceramics, wood and glass division. It was wonderful to receive the recognition for kiln formed glass and such positive feed- back for my work.
My husband and I have lived in Steamboat for over thirty years now, having raised two beautiful daughters in this lovely valley. I have been creating with glass since before we moved to Steamboat, and I have been enjoying kiln working for about seven years now. While I have held many jobs during that time, I think I have finally found the one that will hold my interest for the rest of my life.

View Artist Cover 		Joan Matzdorf
Joan took her first art lesson at age 5 in Tulsa at Philbrook Art Museum. She painted under numerous instructors during her formative years. After graduating with honors in the arts, she went on to Albright Art Institute in Buffalo, New York, and also painted with Alexandre Hogue at Tulsa University. She then spent several years studying with numerous impressionist artists.
Joan and her husband Bill live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and enjoy traveling, which is a great inspiration for Joan. They visit their son Fred, of the Double Z BBQ in Steamboat Springs often.
Credits: Juried Exhibits-Philbrook Art
Museum - Tulsa; Gilcrease Art Museum - Tulsa; Nelson-Atkins Museum - Kansas City; Oil Painters of America - Colorado; Salon
International - San Antonio; 2006 Poster
Artist - Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma City.
Her work is in the permanent collection of Albright Art Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.
Joan is a member of: 1. National Oil Painters of America, 2. Plein-Air Painters of America
3. Founding member Oklahoma Plein-Air Painters, 4. American Women Artists,
5. Women Artists of the West, 6. Plein-Air Artists Colorado Signature member

View Artist Cover 		Carol Allen The cover art is one of my earlier paintings. My parents were both artists, so the interest was always there. I took a few lessons from Clyde Tacey in Yampa, Colorado. After that I studied on my own for several years.
When we moved to Craig, I started lessons at Colorado Northwestern Community College, enrolling in drawing, design and mixed media painting classes from Susan Kohler. I also took classes in watercolor and pastels from Nancy Ratzlaff, and watercolor and oil painting from Jane Muhme.
My favorite subjects are landscapes of all kinds, forests and animals, and Southwestern Art. My inspiration comes from things in everyday life. Hobbies such as gardening and collecting rocks for my gardens are also inspirations for my paintings.
Photography is a second interest for me. I do a lot of my paintings from all or just parts of my photographs. When I first began taking film to Kirk at One Hour Photo in Craig for developing, he told me I might want to take some photography lessons- I had to explain that sometimes my subject was a cloud or rock or bush to add to a painting!
My husband Ernie has been my greatest fan. He gives me constructive criticism during the process of doing a painting and it helps to have his input.
Oil is my favorite medium and I have been focusing on that for some time now. I have participated in the Craig Artwalk show that happens each spring in downtown Craig. I hope to participate in more shows and begin selling prints of my work.
Ernie and I have two children, four grandchildren and recently one great grand-daughter. They are all the joy of our life. They have also inspired me to dabble with portrait paintings. We also have a very large extended family of children and friends who are dear to us.

View Artist Cover 		Hazel Holdridge Hazel's families were among some of the first settlers in Colorado. Born and raised in Western Colorado, creativity started at an early age. From learning to embroider at age four, she soon progressed to sewing, crocheting, cooking, and many other crafts that were popular.
Hazel's photography, featuring landscapes of Western Colorado, have hung in businesses around Craig for a number of years. She took a break from photography in the late '80s to pursue a craft business and participated in more than 40 shows per year until she returned to a "real job" five years ago.
She is known to many as the “Angel Lady” as she always had an angel of some kind in her craft booth. For years she crocheted angels, and eventually settled on making angel pins out of charms and crystals, creating over 100 different styles. Hazel has collected an unbelievable number of angel stories and poems, both from her personnel experiences and from those of others. She always has time to listen to someone else's angel experience or to share one of her own.
While her son was home from college a few years ago, she picked up his digital camera and was once again hooked on photography. She laughs about having "gypsy blood" and her love of traveling is fulfilled by the memories she photographs in Colorado.
A favorite place to find Hazel is on a dusty road to nowhere just looking for photographic memories as seen through her eyes. The Sand Wash Basin in Northwestern Colorado is one of her favorite places to photograph wild horses. It holds a special place in her heart, as her grandfather was a bronc buster and frequently spent time in Sand Wash breaking wild horses in the 1920s. Hazel's love of Native American folklore has taken on new meaning as she has traveled to the various sites in the area photographing the petroglyphs carved in the rocks and the wickiups of the Ute Indians, but she admits her favorites are the Fremont sites versus the local Ute sites.
Hazel's angels hang in her office at McKey Chiropractic Clinic in Craig, along with her most recent photographs of rock art and wild horses. She also has blank note cards featuring her photography for sale in the Hayden Mercantile and will feature her photography in a couple of craft shows at the Centennial Mall in Craig this fall.
If you see Hazel about town or out with her camera, stop and visit with her about angels, wild horses, and rock art sites. She loves to hear about new places to photograph. Hazel’ work can be viewed and purchased at www.justawhim.dotphoto.com

View Artist Cover 		Wes Uncapher I started photography upon my enlistment in the U.S.Navy. They sent me to the U.S. Naval School of Photography where I learned the basic core of the trade. I was then sent out to gain experience in multiple applications overseas. After excelling with my photography I was sent back to the U.S. Naval School of Photography for advance training pertaining to military intelligence. This put me on a much more delicate and sensitive path. I continued on this path with much success and was published over and over in various military applications.
I was engaged in Desert Storm and then went back for a second tour in the Gulf. I was later deployed to Somalia during the time period in which the movie Black Hawk Down was based on. I was involved in many other missions that were never realized or recognized. Two weeks prior to my discharge, my camera equipment was stolen as well as the most part of an extensive portfolio of photographs from around the world.
During this time I was also awaiting the birth of my first son and returned to my “blue collar roots” and working to support my family. After a few years of working in various metal fabrication and millwright jobs, I was able to afford a small camera kit and began to re-build my portfolio. I continued working in metal fabrication while on the side taking pictures for stock photography. Always being on the move has made marketing a challenge, but I continue building my portfolio. I still don’t get much marketing done, but my images are getting seen as I find myself getting busier with every passing day.
Currently I have mostly wildlife and scenic stock images from Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. I have the unique experience of having shot everything from combat to weddings, and from aerials to portraits. I have had several of my wildlife and scenic images published in magazines and newspapers locally as well as nationally.
I hope to open a full-time studio in Craig, Colorado where I plan to offer full photographic services including weddings, events, industrial/commercial, and portraits. So when the doors open, please come on in and say hi! Until then, if you would like to see more of my work or you are in need of a professional photographer for a special occasion, you can email me at
uncapher@hotmail.com

View Artist Cover 		Valerie Hart Valerie Hart, is an award winning, New England based marketing, and advertising designer. She applies her design skills full-time at an advertising agency in Newburyport, Massachusetts where she creates brand identities, ad campaigns and marketing collateral.
Away from the advertising and marketing world Valerie has been focusing her time developing her fine art skills and has been painting weekly during the last three years in a course titled ³Painting as a Spiritual Practice² with mixed media artist Paula Estey. Though the classes primarily use acrylics, students are encouraged to express themselves creatively in any medium they prefer.
“This was the first time that I have worked in and painted with acrylics. Most of my painting and illustration work has been with watercolors, which I love! Every medium is challenging when you first start out, but now I really like acrylics and mixing colors. We even had a workshop on stretching your own canvas. This painting which I titled ‘The Nuzzle’ was an interesting study in horses showing affection with each other. I am not really a horse person, (my sister Tracey is the horse lover) so I was surprised when I was inspired to paint this. That¹s what I love about this painting class, you just follow your heart¹s inspiration... This is the largest painting I’ve done so far 48” x 28” and it¹s also painted on my first stretched canvas.”
Valerie lives in New Hampshire and works in Massachusetts. She has visited Steamboat Springs many times and continues to hear about the ongoing events from her sister Tracey, editor of the Steamboat Spring Downtowner.

View Artist Cover 		Mary Levingston
" I paint to express not only the visual quality of space, but the spirit of place. Propelling the viewer to that place within-reconnecting them to nature- and relaxing them as they journey through the painting. Color explodes onto wet paper as I touch my brush to the surface. Excited, I’m carried away by pigment moving brilliantly across the page. Washed willingly into the flow I react and work instinctively translating the sense of place to paper or canvas. In that moment there is peace."
Mary Levingston is a watercolor and mixed media painter. Mary enjoys painting nature, conveying a sense of connectedness and peace that she feels in the outdoors. She invites you to walk
through her landscapes and sense the peace that resides there.
Mary has been creating art all her life, using various media through the years. Watercolor still fascinates her the most. There is always something new to experience. She also enjoys mixing medias together, it’s freeing to have more choices to create with and it creates not only a different experience but a tactile one as well.
Living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Mary enjoys sharing her love of watercolor through classes she teaches at Colorado Mountain College, Alpine Campus, and Arts For the Soul, summer workshops, where practicing world class artists, writers, photographers, and musicians come to together to give participants a taste of the arts.
Mary has resided in the beautiful town of Steamboat Springs for 25 years. Here, she and her husband of 30 years, have raised 3 children while running two family businesses, along with her Fine Arts business. Recently Mary has become part owner in the “Artists' Gallery of Steamboat Springs”, with over 20 other local artists. Mary has won many awards as well as being featured in national publications and shows.
Mary was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, where her love of arts, crafts and the outdoors took shape. Naturally her paintings reflect that love, and the intimate connection she has with her subject.

View Artist Cover 		Jacque Hart
Jacque Hart uses many techniques in her weaving and is considered a loom controlled pattern weaver. She weaves many types of cloth using historic techniques, among them complex multi-harness weaving in which she transforms classic pieces into a more updated versions, much like what a jazz musician does with improvisation.
"Spheres" was woven on what is called a drawloom. This type of ancient loom was historically used to produce pictorial damask - usually depicting motifs of flowers, birds, geometrics and crests. Hart has pushed the historical parameters of this technique and in "Spheres," she uses the loom to express a spiritual topic.
Jacque says she is happy to point out some of the symbols that she uses in her drawloom work, as ancient symbols are used alongside the drawings that she develops. In "Spheres", for example, she has used Ram's horns that symbolize power and protection. She doesn't like to tell the viewer what to think. She wants them to contemplate what the images mean to them and how they relate within their own life experiences and belief systems. It is a way that she can share a part of the human experience with each viewer. "I love it when the viewer sees things from the perspective of their own life and the world in which we live," she says.
In designing "Sphere's," she started with hand drawings and transferred these to a graph. Each small square on the graph represents a tiny square of four threads wide by five threads long and allows the work to be transformed into the woven piece that you see. A piece like "Spheres" can take four to five months to complete. All of her work is done by hand without use of computers or mechanical means.
Hart has been weaving for over 30 years. Her background started in the Navajo weaving tradition and she has studied with many well known weavers around the country. Hart was named Master Weaver by the Colorado Council on the Arts a number of years ago and her drawloom work has been purchased by the Colorado Council on the Arts for Art in Public Places. She has received many awards for her work on international and national levels. Some of these awards include the Weaving for the Home Award of Excellence through Interweave Press and international recognition with five gallery shows at the Handweavers Guild of America (HGA) Convergence (an international weaver's conference). Jacque has also received regional recognition through exhibits on the front range of Colorado, including a multiple first place awards in the Northern Colorado Weaver's Guild Show at the Fort Collins Museum, an award for Best use of Wool from HGA Convergence, and an award in the Cheyenne Artist's Guild. She has been featured in the Denver Gallery Guide and currently has her work on exhibit at Weaving Southwest in Taos, NM, the Firedworks Gallery in Alamosa, CO, and is one of the 27 owner/artists of the Artists' Gallery of Steamboat, located at 1009 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Steamboat Springs.

View Artist Cover 		Joanne Tucker
I am excited to be sharing Iris Etude 3 on the cover of this month's Downtowner. Executed in soft pastels on Wallis Paper, it measures 16" by 16". It is part of a series of floral pastels inspired by a spring walk through Yampa River Botanic Park. In a recent interview I summarized my work, "I strive to capture and celebrate the beauty of an Indian Paint brush observed while hiking on the trail to Devil's Causeway or an iris in bloom seen while strolling through the botanical gardens. Mainly working in soft pastels, I am fascinated by nature's unique designs and compositions. I feel like I am dancing on paper." Movement concepts translated from three to two dimensions for me quite naturally. For thirty years I was a choreographer for a modern dance company I founded. Each rendering is a study in movement.
I caught "Yampa Fever" in 1958 when I spent six weeks at Perry-Mansfield. "It was the formative summer for me … the time when I learned who I was and what was important to me." Helen Tamaris was the guest choreographer in the dance program and I was lucky enough to be selected to perform in a new piece she was creating even though I was only fourteen and most of the other dancers were college age. From the three weeks that I worked with Helen Tamiris, pioneer in modern dance and choreographer for shows on Broadway, I knew that I wanted to be a dancer and choreographer."
My exposure to Portia Mansfield and Charlotte Perry and their pioneering sprit provided me a model for the leadership role that women can play. T Ray Faulkner, head counselor at that time, and I hiked along the Fish Creek Falls trail. The wild flowers were in bloom and their movement in the breeze captivated me. Ever since then, hiking has been a favorite activity.
In May 2004 my husband, Murray, and I left the hustle and bustle of New York. We had been coming to Steamboat for a month or two each summer since 1992. Many of my compositions are based on photos taken by Murray who is a writer and member of the Steamboat Springs Arts Council's Writers Group. Not skiers, we have spent the past three winters traveling to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Argentina, and Spain. While Murray attended Spanish School, I painted each day.
The link between the visual arts and dance is not new to me. My mother and sister are both artists. My grandfather exhibited in Pittsburgh. As a student at Juilliard I studied dance composition with Louis 'Louie' Horst (a studio at Perry Mansfield is named for him). He often sent students to museums to study sculpture and painting and then create dance pieces inspired by what they saw.
When not painting, I enjoy hiking, volunteering for the Routt County Democrats and being on the Board of Perry Mansfield. We have two daughters and three grandchildren. Rachel is an actuary living in Atlanta and Julie is an Emmy Award winning casting director in New York City.
If you would like to see more of JoAnne's art work please call her and make an appointment to visit her home studio, 970-870-8942, or visit her website at www.joannetuckerart.com.

View Artist Cover 		Cully Kistler
It was a cold early morning outing with my husband Photographer Don Tudor, in search of civil twilight on Sleeping Giant. On the way back to town, we passed by my favorite ranch, the Findells.
I adore the Scottish Highlander Cattle (oldest recorded breed of cattle in the world) with their comical looking shaggy coats and long "bangs" covering their eyes. The light on the snow and clouds was magical... capturing a moment in time of the Ranching Heritage of Steamboat Springs.
A Colorado native, Cully has been in Steamboat Springs since 1974. Born in Denver, she did her first oil painting when she was eight years old and has since studied under Jean Perry and George Strickland. She has a diversified style…portraits, landscapes and architecture…but her new found love is plein aire painting. "When you paint in the studio, you loose the true color and energy that surround you; when you are outdoors…when I am painting outdoors I feel I am part of the Earth."
SCHOOLS ATTENDED: Colorado State University; San Miguel de Allende and Belles Artes in Mexico; Scottsdale Artists School.
AWARDS AND SHOWS: 1982-First Place Oil amateur Summer Art;
1983-Honorable Mention Depot Photo Show; 1996-Power of Place Show; 1996-Winter Works Show; 1996-National Society of Artists Show Houston; 1997-Honorable Mention Award Summer Art; 1999-Second Place Award Oil Winter Works Depot;
1999, 2000, 2001 Summer Art Steamboat; 2003-Western Heritage Show Duncan, Oklahoma; 2003-Sea Side Gallery Nags Head, N. Carolina; 2004-One Woman Show (Sept) Sleeping Giant Gallery; 2005-One Woman Show (Feb) Hawaii Art in Steamboat; 2005-Art Splash National Show (May) Graham, TX.PUBLICATIONS: Artist of the Month 5/03 RockyMountainFun.com; Steamboat Today 8/11/97, 1/19/2001, 3/04,6/17/05; Steamboat Magazine 2005.
COVER ART: Steamboat Magazine winter edition (Olympic Theme)'05-'06;
Steamboat Chamber Resort, July 4th Poster 2006; Steamboat Chamber Resort commission "balloon rodeo" poster & T-shirt '07.
MEMBERSHIPS: Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists,
Steamboat Springs Artist Member Arts Council, Steamboat Art Museum volunteer fundraiser.
You can find see more of Cully’s work at Sleeping Giant Gallery, 624 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, 970-879-7143. www.dontudorphotography.com

Rober Dieckhoff
In defining landscapes I am interested in a liberal interpretation by definition: 1.n an expanse of scenery of a particular type (iconographic or historic in my case), "especially as much as can be seen by the eye". 2. The verb form "to enhance the appearance of land by altering its contours…for
aesthetic effect", also. By definition I am simply a "Landscape Artist". Other definitions need not apply. I am
currently interested in developing the historic aspect of the subjects I paint. Ann, my mother, is an artist so I began drawing at an early age. Although I have taken college level courses, most of my studies were of the Ukiyo'e School Masters in Japan water. I am currently actively involved in the growth of Art in my community of Steamboat Springs.
I received a Bachelor of Science degree at San Diego State University.
I engaged in computer art studies at the University of California San Diego and Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs. I studied Fine Art at San Diego Mesa College and Monterey Peninsula College. I am a Graduate of Clairemont H.S., San Diego, California.
Awards and honors that I have received include: First place 1997, 1998 Summer Art, Steamboat Springs; Second place 2000 Summer Art, Steamboat Springs; Second place Cabrillo Art Festival 1966 San Diego; Honorable mention Summer Art 1999, Steamboat Springs; Popular vote Nightwalker exhibits Fort Collins; Honorable mention Kauai Society of Artists 2002; San Diego County Design Space Award 1990; Steamboat Selects 2001; Our Valley 2002; Steamboat Marathon Poster 2001, 2006.
I have also been an illustrator for US Navy, San Diego Realtor Magazine, Midrange Computer Magazine, Cat Fancy Magazine, Foodmaker Operations Manual, Names and Numbers cover art. I have functioned as an art show judge for Routt County
Fair 2003, Southwest Art Magazine, Artist to Watch Show 2003, Mixed Media School Grant 2004, Eleanor Bliss Scholarship Award 2004. I was
a Featured Artist in Strings in the Mountain 16 Violins auction 2004 and Cookbook 2005. I have been a curator for Steamboat Springs Digital Art Show, Yvonne Dominge's "Cosmos Olvidado" 2004, Diego Rivera's "Brilliance before the Brush" 2005.
I have participated on the Steamboat Springs Public Art Steering Committee and chaired the Steamboat Springs Public Art Board. I am a founding Member of the Artists Gallery of Steamboat and the founding President of the Steamboat Art Museum.
You can see more of my work in the following Collections & Galleries in Steamboat Springs, Colorado:
City of Steamboat Springs Public Art Collection, Wildhorse Gallery,TEI Modern Gallery, Studio Gallery 27, Ambiente, Steamboat Art Co., Mahogony Ridge, Mambo Italianos, Snowbird Restaurant
Other Galleries & Collections:
Black and White Gallery (La Jolla), Red Bamboo Gallery (Hanapepe, Hawaii), Artists Gallery of Kauai (Hanalei Bay, Hawaii), Hanalei Dolphin (Hanalei Bay, Hawaii), George and Laura Bush, Juan Marcos Gutierrez Gonzalez (Consul General of Mexico), Juan Roberto Gonzalez Ramirez (Deputy Consul General of Mexico), Gloria Gossard, Lyman Orton (Orton Foundation), Janet Borden, Arianthe Stettner, Paul Hughes, John and Sharon Beaupre, Angelo and Corine Chili, Deb and Phil Currier, Bryan and Christy Cressey, Linda Kakela, Vivian Raynor, Bill and Dori Hamilton, Sherman Poppins and other private collections.

View Artist Cover 		Deb Babcock
I love all aspects of working in clay. From the tactile work in wet clay through the imaginative ways to alter pieces, carve, embellish and decorate, to the many options at the glazing stage including the creation of my own glazes to obtain pleasing textures, colors, and surfaces. My inspirations come from many places: nature hikes in the surrounding mountains, people, books, food, general everyday happenings like a melting candle or something that explodes in the oven, and lots of experimentation. I appreciate the willingness of other potters to share their techniques and tips, allowing me to take their ideas in my own direction. It's such a pleasure to create functional pieces for everyday life that will bring a smile to the person using it.
Deb Babcock is a potter who lives and works in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. After 20 years in corporate marketing, she changed course and began working in clay in the fall 2001. She has developed her skills through classes and workshops at Colorado Mountain College, Anderson Ranch, Arapahoe Community College, Laloba Clay Ranch and other workshops held throughout the U.S from such noted ceramic instructors as Julia Galloway, Clary Ilian, Sarah Jaeger, Bonnie Seeman, Meira Mathison, and Sylvie Granatelli.
Working in stoneware and porcelain, Deb specializes in functional pottery fired to Cone 5/6 in an electric kiln. She has a studio and gallery located near the ski mountain in Steamboat (Blue Sky Pottery) where she works and sells pottery to locals and tourists.
Deb is represented by galleries in Colorado, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Active in many community groups over the years, Deb was instrumental in the formation of the Steamboat Clay Artisans (SCA), a group of 40 area ceramic artists. She chairs the annual Soup Bowl Supper fund-raiser that the SCA holds each year to support area non-profit organizations. Additionally,
Deb serves as a Docent for the Steamboat Springs Arts Council and is a Colorado Master Gardener through the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. She is a member of the Potters Council/American Ceramic Society.
Stop by and see Deb’s work at Blue Sky Pottery, 1475 Pine Grove, Suite 5, Steamboat Springs, CO. You can also purchase her work online at www.dbabcock.etsy.com or visit the web at
www.steamboatclayartisans.com

View Artist Cover 		Ken Lee
I guess what I like best about photographing in nature is the being there. Not so much being there as in 'Hey, I'm in the Grand Canyon' or 'Wow, I'm standing on top of such and such a peak', but being there in the sense of being fully present or in the moment. These terms may be a bit overused these days but they do accurately describe the feeling of intense concentration and timelessness that I get when I am out in the field. Almost as soon as I put my eye to the camera, things become still and I get completely focused on what I am seeing. All of the normal background noise in my brain; random thoughts, anxiousness, thoughts about the future, things I need or plan to do are suddenly gone, if only temporarily. I'm simply just there and all there.
To a large extent, these sensations are just manifestations of the creative process that have been described by many others. I've heard athletes call it being 'in the zone' or scientists refer to a 'eureka moment.' I try not to romanticize the experience too much. Almost any creative endeavor can inspire such feelings. I think people catch glimpses of such moments all the time, standing in the shower or driving their car. Out in the wild, however, I feel a deeper sense of stillness, rightness, connectedness. I'm sure it has to do with the sheer beauty of my surroundings and feeling the elements on my skin and so forth. Whatever the reason, I am usually overcome with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace. It's a great feeling and I hope I can convey some of what I experience through my images.
Ken Lee and his wife Patricia own and operate Gallery 11 Nature Photography and Custom Framing. Gallery 11 is located downtown at 908 Lincoln Ave, next door to the Steamboat Smokehouse and features limited edition prints, posters and note cards of Ken's work. Custom picture framing is also offered to the public. In a unique arrangement, Ken and Pat share their space with the Hacienda Collection, a line of western furniture and accessories owned by longtime local businesswoman Maureen Totman.

View Artist Cover 		Janice Lawrence
My work is pretty simple. It is about joy, color and life. By focusing the eye through composition, heightening drama through contrast and intensifying emotion through color, I seek to capture the spiritual essence of the subject. The pendulum swings back and forth. There are times when I focus on the minutest detail in order to capture the spirituality of the mundane. These paintings are highly realistic and almost obsessively compulsive in their clarity. Other times I use abstract expressionism to more fully focus on the emotional charge of transformation.
Christopher Columbus was right- the earth is not flat and if you keep moving forward you will end up back where you started. At least that is how my career has worked out. When I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed teenager setting out into the world, I wanted to be
a painter. So I went to art school. However while I was at art school, I learned that painting was not about technique but what you had to say.
And quite frankly, at the age of twenty I didn't have much to say. So I went to work for a large corporation and learned how to write copy and produce training films. Later, I became an entrepreneur and for the next twenty years I led a high tech training and consulting firm.
Five years ago two momentous things happened at the same time - my husband and I sold our company and my autistic son recovered. For the first time in our married lives we had time to ask ourselves, "What do we want to do when we grow up?" And surprisingly enough we both discovered that what we really wanted to do was what we thought we wanted to do when we started out. My husband, who studied education in college, became a 7th grade teacher and I dug my paints and easel out of the basement.
First I just painted and took classes. There was a lot to relearn. However with practice, my hands started to obey my vision and my technique improved. Last year, 2005, I felt ready to start showing my work. I was pleasantly surprised to be offered two one-person shows at The Art Depot in Steamboat Springs and the Bas Bleu Gallery in Fort Collins almost immediately.
I also started entering juried art exhibitions and was accepted by 24 nationally juried shows in 2005. So far this year I have been accepted into 18 juried competitions and have had two solo exhibitions in Colorado.
I have won seven awards, including the Best Out of State Artist & Great River Energy Purchase Award and Peoples Choice Award at Arts in Harmony '06, Honorable Mentions at the 2006 National Juried Exhibition, American Juried Art Salon and the 2005 Midland Arts, Spring Show. I finished in the Top 50 at Salon International 2005 and am a finalist in the 2007 National Competition for the Easter Seal stamp.
I live in Steamboat Springs and Fort Collins and am endlessly fascinated with the natural beauty of my home. My husband and I have raised two wonderful children.
To see more of my work, please visit my website at www.janicelawrence.com

View Artist Cover 		Denise Bohart Brown
I grew up the fourth generation in a ranching family on the eastern plains of Colorado. I graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art in 1990 and moved to San Francisco to pursue a commercial photography career. Several years later I moved to Davis, California and worked at the UC Davis Craft Center, managing the ceramics and photography labs there. While there, I was sidetracked from photography by clay, glass, quilting, and a number of other media. I moved with my husband and daughter in June of 2005 to Steamboat Springs and am very happy to be "home", and also to be in such a rich, diverse and inspirational artistic environment.
Artists are typically thought to be right-brained people, and I guess I must be, to a point. But the left side of my brain has always loved geometry, symmetry and precision (some would say perfection, but precision sounds much nicer). And while my artistic journey has been a long and varied one, starting with many years as a photographer, then moving into clay sculpture, then into glass, and finally quilting, I think my current work is a good marriage of both right and left thinking. Perhaps my strong need for precision and order comes from being the mom of a happy preschooler, and all of the chaos and disorder that is a constant in our lives. Perhaps it comes from years of working with photography, and the inherent uncertainty of photographing changeable human beings in their environments. Regardless of the reason, I find that I get a great deal of satisfaction in creating both quilts and glass pieces with bold colors, clearly defined lines and patterns, and a strong sense of order and placement.
There have been many times along this artistic path of mine that I have wished for the ability to "loosen up" with my art, to relax and let my work become a bit more abstract, I suppose. But as this adventure called parenting continues and I find that I have to learn to loosen up and relax a bit more in everyday life, my artwork seems to have moved in the other direction. But I find that I really love the work that's coming out of these opposing shifts of thought and direction. and I look forward to seeing what direction my life will take my art in the future!

View Artist Cover 		Aimee Kimmey Hi there, my name is Aimee Kimmey, also know as The Local Comic Stripper. I’m a true Colorado native, born and raised in Evergreen a small mountain town just west of Denver. Even my grandparents on both sides are native Coloradans. I dream of traveling all over the world though I can’t imagine actually living anywhere else.

I attended Colorado University at the Denver campus for three years before the lure of ski town life brought me to Steamboat (they told me there were five guys for every girl, heck, how could I not get a date!) I studied fine art with an emphasis on drawing and english with and emphasis on writing. I didn’t have a plan, I just took classes that interested me.

In 1993 I traded my school books for a snowboard and moved to Steamboat. For the first time I truly joined the ranks of the service industry. For several years I waited tables, until I couldn’t stand the thought of smiling at one more obnoxious tourist. Lacking any degree or special training I stuck with the service industry and became a cashier at Central Park Liquor. After a few years I realized that this service industry job wasn’t much different from the last one, I decided that maybe I needed some special training in something.

When I left school I vowed that I wouldn’t bother going back until I had a specific goal. So I asked myself, what do I want to do more than anything in the world for a living? My answer was easy--be an animated character! Yeah, I know the logistics are a bit sticky on that one, but maybe I could do the next best thing--write and draw animated characters.

While flipping through a comic book one day I found an add for Joe Kubert’s World of Cartooning. Their correspondence courses were a perfect way for me to improve my drawing skills while still maintaining my ski bum status. Admittedly correspondence classes are a very scenic rout to a career in drawing, but at least the scenery around here is spectacular.

In 2001 a friend told me about a couple of guys she knew who were printing a deviant production called The Local in their basement. They needed a cartoonist and even though my artwork stunk and my penmanship was barely legible they gladly published my work. Thus my first cartoon, If It’s Tourist Season, was born.

By this time I had been serving the public long enough to amass a list of close to a hundred real question I had been asked that were so strikingly ridiculous I was compelled to write them down to share with others. This list provided me a vast amount of material to draw, and the drawing provided me an outlet for my service industry frustrations.

A year later I put together a second cartoon called Ski Bum Adventures. It follows the lives of three ski bums, their pets, and their friends. With three panels it gives me a chance to play with story and character development.

Somewhere along the line the boys at The Local began billing me as the comic stripper. The phrase created delightfully silly images in my mind that I had to put down on paper. The Comic Stripper has taken on her own persona, and has become something of an alter ego for me. So much that I even dressed up as her last Halloween. If you saw me and wondered what was up with the girl in the blue wig and polka dot mini skirt with the ridiculous heels--now you know. (If you missed it, don’t worry I’ll probably wear the costume again because I really dig the 5 inch heels!)

Now, I’m still working in the service industry cranking out those delightfully cathartic cartoons. When I can manage to find any spare time I’m writing a sci-fi action script that I hope will one day become a regular animated series (if you want to read it please let me know, I could use all the advice I can get!) My dream is that this series will launch me into a career that will open doors for other ideas both in the sci-fi action and comedy genres, while still enjoying the splendor of life in the Yampa Valley!

View Artist Cover 		Robin Clow “Eight Seconds,” by artist Robin Clow, is a stained glass door panel that incorporates both traditional stained glass leaded techniques wiith fused glass components. “The addition of fusing to my stained glass background has thrown open the door of possibilities for my work,” Clow stated.

“This door was to have a western theme, which would be a new departure for me since most of my designs are more contemporary in feeling,” Clow said. “I was struggling with the shading on a bucking bronco on one of my own drawings when my daughter showed me a ‘kick ass’ (according to her) sketch my husband Ron had done many years ago for a project we had both worked on together. It was close to the concept I was working on, and with a few changes I was able to adapt it to the door panel. It worked perfectly.”

“I wanted a curved radius on the outside of the glass to accent the fused components and the stars in the glass. Ron did a great job with the design of the door. I think it presents a lovely rustic mountain elegance to the entry of the house,” said Clow.

Clow has been working with glass for over twenty years now, mostly through architectural commissions. “Light shinning through a piece of glass just seems to strike a cord deep within me, and when I discovered stained glass, I was
hooked.”

However, a few years ago she began exploring glass fusion, or the process of melting glass at temperatures of around 1500 degrees in a kiln, and says it is quickly becoming her passion. Right now she is involved in completing a studio expansion and states, "The addition of a second larger kiln to my studio will eliminate a lot of the down time I experience. It's wonderful to feel the creative juices begin to flow in this new space."

Robin and Ron continue to enjoy creatively merging wood and glass through their customized woodworking and design business, Ullr Designs, that has been based in Steamboat since the late ‘70’s.

View Artist Cover 		Jim Steinberg A nature and natural history photographer for more the 30 years, Jim Steinberg owns and operates the Portfolio Collection, Ltd. a stock photography studio and fine art gallery located in downtown Steamboat Springs on Oak Street. He is also the chief executive officer for Portfolio Publications, Inc., a regional publishing company specializing in calendars, photographic travel books, and note cards. As a contract photographer for Animals/Animals and Photo Researchers in New York, he photographs wild places, environmental issues, national parks, and monuments. His in-house stock library contains over 100,000 images in both 35mm and 4X5 format, many of which can be viewed on his website at www.portfoliopublications.com and www.agpix.com.

Steinberg received a Bachelor of Science degree in English from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Arts in English from the University of Oregon.

He has organized and managed the “National Geographic Photography Workshops” and taught photography workshops for The Center for Nature Photography for nine years. He has also taught at Colorado Mountain. Jim currently teaches workshops for the Friends of Arizona Highways.

Magazine credits include National Geographic, Life, Newsweek, Sierra Club, U.S. News and World Report, National Parks, Audubon, Nature’s Best and Nature Conservancy. Commercial clients include Microsoft, Ramada, United Way, Children’s Television Workshop, WNET, American Museum of Natural History, The Wall Street Journal and numerous others. His books include The White Rabbit and other Delights (Pomegranate Press), and Colorado Less Traveled, Journeys off the Beaten Path, (Portfolio Publications).

His work and publications have won numerous awards, including the Gold Medal (the last three years) from the Calendar Marketing Association for his A Year in Colorado calendars. He is one of only 6 photographers in the United States to be a participating artist with the Friends of Art in Embassies at the United States Department of State.

He is a charter member of the North American Nature Photography Association, and is active in a variety of community service programs. Currently, he serves as an advisor for the Carpe Diem Fund, and is on the Dean’s Advisory Council at Colorado Mountain College. Steinberg also serves as a Trustee for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and The Lowell Whiteman School, among others.

Since 1975, he has lived and worked in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with his wife, Karolynn and their daughter, Sarah.

View Artist Cover 		Gregory Effinger is a a true Colorado Original. Born and raised in Steamboat Springs, he now has three children following in his footsteps. His art began to flourish in grade school and was nurtured during High School. With guidance from Richard Galusha, he entered college with multiple scholarships. He obtained a bachelors degree in art and quickly returned to Steamboat to start his career.

Gregory favors watercolors to most other mediums, and has been exhibiting exclusively at the Wild Horse Gallery of Steamboat Springs for 6 years. His art has graced the covers of magazines, books and telephone directories nationwide. His downtown Steamboat scene is the cover of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" released in 2005.

As a disciplined artist, Greg paints daily in his downtown studio, on 3rd and Oak. He is notably recognized for his art direction and original illustration for CIGAR Graphics and Communications, Inc. which he founded in 1993. Aside from many awards in advertising, Greg was recently interviewed by Southwest Art Magazine for his achievements as a watercolorist. He was spotlighted in the September issue, as one of their "Artists to Watch under the age of 31".

The Art Exhibitions Greg has attended include the Colorado Governor's show, the Contemporary Masters Invitational, in Fredericksburg Texas, The Colorado Watercolor Society's Botanic Gardens Exhibit and the Transparent Watercolor Society's Elmhurst Art Museum Exhibit in Elmhurst, Illinois. Along with several upcoming attractions, Including painting with the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, this summer; Greg has been recognized with a bounty of tremendous milestone in his youthful career.

Look for Greg this summer along the roadways of Routt County painting our unique landscapes and townscapes on location. Stop by and say 'hello', he is always eager to share techniques and inspirations with fans of his work.

View Artist Cover 		Dan and Laura Westrich were long time locals who photographed Steamboat Springs for many years. Their love of photography led them to purchasing the F Stop where they shared their passion with all their customers. The F Stop had been in business and locally owned since 1978.

The F Stop closed its doors in the fall of 2007. Best wishes to Dan and Laura on their next "lifes' adventure"!
Business Profiles
The First String Steamboat Springs may be known for its’ world class skiing and other outdoor experiences, but many can attest that it is a great place to hear quality live music. Music lovers can hear world class performers in all venues and styles throughout the year. Up and coming bands love to perform in Steamboat. Steamboat is also home to a large number of outstanding musicians from the local favorites such as Sundog and 3-Wire, to the Steamboat Springs Orchestra.
Now Steamboat finally has a full service music store to meet the demands of so many musicians. First String Music opened its doors in March of 2007 and is flourishing in this
musical mountain community.
Musician Steve Boynton came to Steamboat five years ago from the Front Range. After keeping busy with performing, providing music lessons, recording services and instrument repair, Steve saw the need for a full service music store. He brought all those skills to the business and brought together a community of musicians to provide additional services.
Dave Hanley, musician in the local band 3-Wire came on board to provide knowledgeable sales service. Dave had been operating a small music store in Hayden and was excited to learn what Steve was going to provide– more goods and services, as well as several dealerships.
First String Music provides dealership sales and service for Martin, Fender, Roland, Line 6, Ibanez and
Takamine.
Retail service is a key element for Steve, they can meet or beat on-line pricing while providing the atmosphere where customers can come in and try out an instrument, get the right price, and come back for any needed services.
First String Music offers all the gear needed for the beginning musician to the advanced professional. Instrument sales include banjo, guitar, bass, mandolins, drums, violins and electric pianos. Amplifiers, microphones and PA’s as well as music, songbooks and accessories are also available. And if they don’t have it in stock, they’ll find it for you.
For the musicians ready to go to the next level, First String Music provides a full service recording studio. This service is available for album projects, soundtracks, radio and TV commercials. First String Music provides a great recording atmosphere for the singer-songwriter who is ready to wanting to make a CD. They also have a host of musicians available for studio back-ups.
First String also provides expert repair
service for all stringed instruments and can recommend local technicians for others.
So if your getting ready to full-fill that New Year’s resolution to take some music lessons, or to advance your music career, stop by First String Music and let Steve and Dave help you out.
First String Music is located just west of Downtown at 1744 Lincoln Avenue.
Call 970-871-4661 or log on to www.steamboatspringsmusic.com
Life Essentials For the past ten years, Allyse Eggleston has been operating Life Essentials Wellness Spa in Steamboat Springs. This has been a family owned business and Allyse is often working along side her mother, Jane Barr and sister Brea Barr. Other family members have also invested in the business.
The family has a strong commitment to the well being of their fellow humans, both inside and out. It is the mission of Life Essentials “to provide the human body with the necessary elements needed to facilitate optimal health and internal balance”. The team at Life Essentials works hard to educate clients on the importance of body maintenance and to provide an environment conducive for this maintenance to occur.
Allyse has grown her business from starting out with a few clients and then operating at the Grand Summit. In late 2002 she opened at her current location at 4th and Lincoln in the Chieftain building, downtown Steamboat Springs. She felt the location downtown was key not only for more walk in traffic, but it made the spa more available and accessible for her local clientele.
Currently Life Essentials has 15 therapists, one aesthetician and one herbalist. Life Essentials was the leader in providing “oxygen and ozone” treatments. Clients are also offered ION Cleansing and Photo Rejuvenating Light Therapy. These are just a few of the scientifically proven healing methods that Life Essentials offers.
Clients will also find a number of spa packages available to meet their desires and budgets, including a full variety of Massage Therapies, Exfoliation treatments, Facials, Waxing, and more.
In addition to all the spa offerings, Life Essentials also carries a large variety of products that are all natural and use no synthetics or preservatives. Educational materials are available for all services and products that the spa offers.
What clients will be especially pleased with is the many extras that Life Essentials includes with their spa packages, from mineral water and natural snacks, to extra spa treatments, and overall special treatment from the spa staff.
Allyse works countless hours at the spa not only as the owner, but she is also a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Life Essentials is member of MainStreet Steamboat Springs and the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. Allyse works with the Chamber’s Sustainable Business Program too.
Allyse lives in Steamboat with her husband Steve who is a local architect, and their two children, Gabriel, age 4 and Dane, age 2.5. Busy careers for Allyse and Steve take up a lot of their time. Their time away from work is very valuable and they make the best of it by spending quality time with family and friends, “it’s not what we do when all together, its’ just being together, even if it is just hanging out” says Allyse. They do enjoy some occasional snowboarding and outdoor activities also.
Life Essentials has a very friendly and knowledgeable staff available to answer your questions and help get you on a path of health and happiness, so if you’re getting a late start on that New Years Resolution, call or stop by the spa today!
Rocky Mountain Day Spa What does a wilderness adventure and a day spa have in common? For Seana Cardillo, both have
contributed to her passion, vision and success.
Seana spent many years as a wilderness guide, traveling fromher home in San Francisco, California to many wilderness areas in the west. Many of these adventures took her to Colorado and Steamboat Springs. Her first move to Colorado landed her in Estes Park, but traveling around the state, she fell in love with the Steamboat Springs and felt that there were opportunities for her here, “I knew that Steamboat was the place to start my life and business”.
With her passion and her vision over the years she evolved into the owner of a Day Spa. She began Rocky Mountain Day Spa in 2000, and last year moved to her newly remodeled location at 5th and Lincoln in downtown Steamboat,
“I feel extremely lucky with my current location and I have a wonderful landlord'.
The new location features a serene welcoming area where clients can visit with the spa manager and select the experience they are seeking. There are several different treatment rooms where clients will enjoy their spa experience.
Seana works to involve the spa with as many local events as possible, believing in giving back to the community as much as possible. She features local products in her spa and offers locales discounts on spa services.
Seana lives in Steamboat with her husband and two boys who are ages 4 and 5. She greatly enjoys hanging with her family and getting together with her friends. She also enjoys tele-skiing, playing soccer, mountain biking and hiking.
Jo Story can be found at the spa greeting clients when they come for their spa day. Jo assists clients with selecting their spa package. Jo has worked with Seana for the past four years.
Jo is a native of Steamboat Springs. She and her husband Dan also own Steamboat Landworks landscaping company. Jo is the mother of a 4 year old boy and 2 year old girl.
Jo enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family and also enjoys the valley lifestyle of skiing, camping, hiking, snowmobiling and running.
Seana and Jo are very knowledgeable about spa services as well as the products they sell. The spa also hosts several other well experienced spa professionals.
So as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season wears you out, plan time for yourself at Rocky Mountain Day Spa to indulge, imagine and relax...
treat yourself, you deserve it.
Hofmeister Personal Jewelers, Inc Gary Hofmeister founded Hofmeister Personal Jewelers, Inc in 1973 in Indianapolis, Indiana. After a bit of a rough start, the business began to flourish and soon had one of the largest “dollars per square foot sales” in the country.
In 2000, Gary and his son Carter opened their store in Steamboat Springs “we wanted to be in the heart and soul of the community, not on the periphery”. His favorite part of the business is meeting lots of wonderful people and getting them what they want in the highest quality at a reasonable price.
In addition to his homes in Indiana and Colorado, he also spends time in California. His talents extend well beyond the jewelry industry however. Gary was a professional singer/actor and still sings occasionally with a big band and other venues. He also hosted two talk radio programs in Indianapolis from 2004-2006, doing some prerecording to cover him when in Colorado. The first show- “Talk of the City” was a typical talk radio politically oriented show; the second show “Broadway Memories: Music and the Stars” was played on NPR stations.
Gary is a strong advocate of the American free enterprise system. He taught for ten years as a volunteer with the Junior Achievement program and later traveled to the former Soviet Union dozens of times during the 1990’s to teach democratic capitalism.
Gary was also the U.S. Congressional nominee in 1998. He has traveled in over 105 countries. He enjoys the study of languages. Gary is a member of MainStreet Steamboat Springs and the SS Chamber Resort Association.
These days, Gary and his wife JoAnne keep busy enjoying their 20 grandchildren!
On October 14th, 2007, Gary received the distinguished “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Indiana Jewelers Association. Gary credits his success to everyone in the organization who are willing to sign on to its’ values and goals: the emphasis on honesty, integrity, education, unusual designs and reasonable prices.
At Hofmeister Personal Jewelers, Inc in Steamboat Springs, you will find these values and goals strong. Greeting you will be Shirl and Tom Cox, who manage the store when Gary is traveling.
Tom was raised in Steamboat Springs and his ancestors have roots in northwestern Colorado- from the Steamboat house that his grandmother built in 1938 to ranching in the Meeker area.
Shirl came from Maryland in 1994 and a year later married Tom. Shirl has a passion for jewelry and was recently awarded the title “Registered Jeweler” by the American Gem Society. By earning this prestigious title, Shirl has demonstrated knowledge and experience in the jewelry industry.
Craig Underwood, AGS President said, "I want to congratulate Shirl for achieving a level of skill reached by only some 1,400 jewelers throughout the United States and Canada. They have qualified as a Registered Jeweler by having a personal desire to increase their knowledge of gemology and through their AGS member store subscribing to ethical business principles set down by the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, and the Society's own code of standards."
Shirl and Tom enjoy “home improvements” and hiking with their two cocker spaniels, Max and Lucy. They also have a cat, Evron, who came with their house!
Colorado Mountain Rentals Looking for a life a bit slower, a community a bit smaller, and having a love for skiing, Suzie Spiro and Tom Reagan moved to Steamboat after many years living in Boulder. They love the skiing and the small time life, but they haven’t slowed as their business continues to flourish.
Suzie and Tom began Colorado Mountain Rentals in 2002 after many years in the property management business. Suzie has been a realtor since 2000 and also works at Steamboat Village Brokers. Suzie and Tom enjoy being a small management company, “we can specialize in the personal attention that we give to both our guests and our property owners” says Suzie, and she adds “we actually like what we do!”.
Colorado Mountain Rentals manages all types of properties- private homes, condominiums and townhouses. A majority of their business is nightly rentals, however they also have several long term home rentals they manage.
Suzie and Tom are enthusiastic skiers and often ski with their clients. When the snow is gone they enjoy Steamboat’s other favorite sport, biking. Suzie is a member of the “Losers Book Club”, an organized but unaffiliated club.
Suzie has two daughters that live on the Front Range and she enjoys spending time with her two grandsons ages 5 and 2-1/2. She is greatly looking forward to the arrival of two more grandkids- twins that will be arriving in February!
Suzie and her golden lab Finnegan also volunteer with Healing Friends, a program that brings pets and patients together at the hospital.
Colorado Mountain Rentals is a member of MainStreet Steamboat Springs. Suzie has been active on the Organization Committee. Suzie and Tom recognize that “it is the synergy of both the downtown and the mountain businesses working together that keep Steamboat alive”.
Steamboat Specialties Steamboat Specialties is the current name of a long-standing business in Steamboat. Dating back to the ‘80’s under the name “Engrave It”, later becoming “The Trophy and Sign Factory”, to its’ current name in 1997. The constant has been the service it provides to the community. From trophies to wedding gifts, coffee mugs to tote bags, the list is endless of what Deb and Susan offer for personalized items.
Deb Kole purchased the business in 2005. The business is currently located in the Waterside Village at the corner of 11th and Yampa and next door to One Stop Ski Shop, which is owned by Deb’s husband John. The new location downtown was important to Deb, “a lot of our clients are located downtown and on the mountain, so this location makes us more accessible”. Steamboat Specialties is a member of MainStreet Steamboat Springs.
Deb enjoys customer service and helping her clients find the right gift or product for the right occasion. She enjoys the creative work environment of the business and a fun staff.
Deb is originally from Tennessee and has lived in Florida. She moved to Steamboat 14 years ago and loves it here. She enjoys waterskiing and some snow skiing, and working. A favorite hobby is “Friday evening professional tubing”. Deb and John have five children, with the youngest and only one left at home a member of SSHS Class of 2008. Deb greatly enjoys traveling with her children.
Susan Owens works along side Deb at Steamboat Specialties. She enjoys the challenge of creating new engraved products. Susan has lived in Steamboat since 1999. She was born and raised in Los Angelos and went to school at CU in Boulder “and I never looked back!”.
Susan’s greatest hobby is having fun, which goes well with her other hobbies of making home-brewed beer, sailing, snowboarding, hiking and traveling. Her creative passions are candle and soap making, and cooking. She also enjoys “Drinky, Drinky Pool”.
Susan holds the title “AmpuQueen” to the Amputators- a local rockin’ band that makes her house shake when they practice in the basement. Susan has an “amazing” husband, Pete, a daughter Madi, and a lot of
critters.
For anyone who has been to Steamboat Specialties, you know how much Deb and Susan love animals. Deb has a kitty, “Lil’s” and “Ted” the wandering dog. Susan has two dogs, Bacchus and Willie; two cats, Jack and Jonny Racecar, and two fish, Cupcake and Killer. All the dogs hang out at work during the day, along with a few from next door to create quite a welcoming committee.
So if you’re looking for the perfect gift, team products or seasonal cards, stop by Steamboat Specialties, Deb and Susan will enjoy helping you find the right products to meet your needs.
World Footbag Association
In the summer of 1972 in Oregon City, Oregon, two friends began to dabble in a new fitness hobby, kicking around the end of a sock filled with beans. They began to imagine a bright future for their new pastime they called "Hackin' the Sack". The rest, as they say, is history.
Since then, “hackin’ the sack” became the game/sport of choice for back-packers, firefighters, rafters, and others who wanted some entertainment that they could fit into their pack. The game, however, has also evolved into a major sport, and for some a way of life.
Bruce Guettich first “hacked the sack” in 1978 at a party and has been hooked on the sport ever since, even hacking with Kevin Costner, John Elway and many others over the years. He has also appeared in a Michelob commercial. Bruce has been in the footbag business now for over 24 years, starting out as a distributor for Hacky Sack ® in 1981. In May of 1983 Bruce co-founded the World Footbag Association with his good friend, Greg Cortopassi. Greg left the WFA in 1989. Peter Shunny and Randy Nelson were hired in 1984 to head the WFA’s school touring teams.
Peter was introduced to the game in the spring of 1981 when fellowstudents at the University of New Mexico spotted him “hacking” a tennis ball and invited him to join the game they were playing- hacky sack. Randy began his hacking journey in Ghost Ranch, New Mexico while hanging out with a friend who was a local pottery artist.
Since those early days, they have gone on to establish a very successful organization. All three have competed in World Championships and all three are members of the World Footbag Hall of Fame. Bruce holds World Titles in all four footbag sport disciplines- Net, Freestyle, Golf and Consecutive. Peter has World Titles in footbag Net and Consecutive, and he is also the winner of the very prestigious World Overall title in 1997. Randy is a World Footbag Freestyle Champion.
If you happen to be near Whistler Park in the afternoons and see some “hacking” going on, it could be members of the WFA with students who learn and train alongside them.
The World Championships will be held this month at the Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney- Orlando, Florida, August 11th - August 18th.
Located in a modest building on Jacobs Circle here in Steamboat Springs, the The World Footbag Association (WFA) was founded as the sport's promotional arm and official players' organization. Their mission has expanded to embrace goals of a more universal nature, promoting health, self-esteem, sharing, communication, and cooperation through the sport of footbag.
The WFA serves many functions for the wonderful sport of footbag and its widespread player population.
Their international membership of 64,000 currently spans 45 countries and is growing at a rate of nearly 500 new members each month. Responsible for hundreds of promotions each year, the WFA's efforts include tournaments, training camps, festivals, player workshops, and performances of every magnitude.
Their touring professionals routinely travel the world staging dynamic school assembly shows and conducting hands-on clinics for students of all ages, introducing footbag to audiences totaling up to 300,000 each year. From coast to coast, and to World's Fairs in Spain and Australia, their performances have captivated audiences of all ages and nationalities. Since 1978, their touring pros have been a top act for the National School Assemblies Agency.
The WFA sells a variety of footbags, shoes and other accessories for the sport through retail sales and wholesale distributing. The WFA has also created and funded the only instructional videos, books, and publications available for the sport. Most recently they have add a Footbag Museum and Hall of Fame display.
Helping to keep the business running, Katie Boyle is the Sales Manager and Ann Hogan is the Executive Assistant. SS Middle School students, including Joe Madden, work afternoons helping with product packaging and distribution. So if you are looking for some great footbag products or you would like to schedule a performance, go to www.worldfootbag.org for info.
Moose Mountain Trading Company
Jenny Wilson has been very busy since she arrived in Steamboat Springs in the summer of 1993. Moving from the Chicago area’s North Shore town of Deerfield, Illinois, Jenny came to live in the mountains and raise her family in a small, western, rural town.
Jenny worked at the Front Page and was in the “Good News Building” when the building exploded many years ago. Taking that as a sign to do something different, and having experience in the ski industry, Jenny was motivated to start her own business in Ski Town USA. She opened Moose Mountain Trading Company in the Franklin Mall in 1994 and later opened a second
location on the mountain in 1997. She focused on Norwegian Sweaters, growing her business on “Dale of Norway”.
She also opened Felix & Fido in 1996, selling that business later on. She then made the decision to close the mountain location store, believing it
created “self competition”.
She focused on the downtown location of Moose Mountain Trading Company and the business thrived.
When Jenny arrived in 1994 she recognized that downtown Steamboat was a strong factor in the community and was the place to be. Today she still believes this to be the case. She is a member of MainStreet Steamboat Springs and works on the Advertising Committee, helping to promote downtown Steamboat. She was recently appointed to the newly formed board for the Business Improvement District.
The success of her
business is attributed to a variety of important factors. Jenny enjoys all aspects of her business- her customers, her employee relations, choosing and buying merchandise and coming up with new and fun things that will set her business apart and keep it competitive.
Jenny continues to grow professionally, going the extra step and attending training seminars. As a graduate of Jon Schallerts “Destination Boot Camp”, Jenny continues to improve and expand her business. She plans to attend the seminar again this year. She was recently featured in Entrepreneur Magazine for her “use of humor in advertising”. Jenny is also a member of the Steamboat Rotary club.
Jenny is an avid runner, swimmer and enjoys working out. She has two children, now grown- Ryan is 23 and is a rocket scientist (for real), and Sarah, 21, is heading to Mexico to become a dive-master. She has two “Pug” dogs, Annie Grace and Lexy Monster. She also enjoys spending time with her special friend, Gary.
F.M. Light & Sons
He came to the west by way of the Rio Grande Railroad, looking for relief from asthma; in the end he established a Steamboat Springs legacy. Frank M. Light stood on the train platform in Wolcott, on a cold Colorado day in April 1905, along with his wife and seven children, aged 11 months to17. The rugged west must have seemed so very far from the farmlands they left in Ohio. The family loaded all its belongings on the stagecoach and rode the last leg of its journey to Steamboat Springs, stopping overnight at the Antler's Hotel in Yampa.
It only took F.M. Light a few days to notice that Steamboat Springs lacked a men's clothier. Encouraged by local business leaders and bankers about his prospects, Light purchased a lot in downtown Steamboat Springs. With $2,000 worth of merchandise, Light and his two sons, Olin and Clarence, opened their store for business on November 9th, 1905 - just seven months after arriving in town. A third son, E.Day, somewhat younger, didn't become active in the business until 1923. The first day's receipts totaled $11.50, the second day even less.
In the beginning, the store's merchandise consisted mostly of shoes, but soon expanded to men's fine wool suits and Stetson hats. Many of the store's fixtures and sales cases that are still in use today came in on the stagecoach from Wolcott.
Hard work, determination and a knack for marketing kept F.M. Light & Sons solvent when many stores were closing. During the lean years the Lights considered farming and teaching to make ends meet. And, in a unique marketing approach even by today's standards (with better vehicles and roads), they obtained a loan from Milner Bank & Trust, increased their inventory and took their store on the road.
Store on wheels
The great depression was the cause for many broken businesses and busted banks. In fact, when 1st National Bank locked its doors one morning in 1933, Light lost all of his money. With true western grit, the Light family fought for their store. Rather than waiting for the farmers and ranchers to come to town, the Lights went to them.
The idea of the traveling store first took shape when the railroad came to Steamboat. F.M. Light packed up his wagon with goods and went to the workers and eventually to the ranches and farms. Not long after, his sons Olin and Clarence were alternating weeks on the road, traveling as far north as Jackson Hole, Wyoming, west to the Utah border and south to Aspen. The Lights always stayed with the ranchers to better understand their customer. And, they always paid for their room and board. Clarence Light explained it, "A tour of the territory required a good many weeks. The usual plan was to spend a night at the ranch to get thoroughly acquainted with the family and hired men and their clothing needs, often resulting in orders of $100 or more. We always insisted on paying for our own lodging when visiting customers. We also made many lasting friendships." Clarence was still traveling at the ripe old age of 87.
The F.M. Light salesmen would pull up in paneled trucks equipped with shelves, hangers and merchandise. Olin and Clarence would haul great suitcases heavy with samples into the ranch houses and bunkrooms. Orders were mailed into the store each day so they could be filled and shipped out to the customers immediately. For many, this was the only shopping they did all year. Within five years the traveling store represented 50% of their sales.

Marketing Comes in Yellow & Black
A man of advanced marketing techniques; Clarence Light launched his most notable medium that still marks the Colorado landscape. His marketing is in the form of yellow and black roadside signs that advertise everything from cowboy hats to Navajo rugs. No matter what road you traveled into Steamboat, you knew about F.M. Light & Sons. In 1928, Clarence Light erected 260 signs in a 150-mile radius of Steamboat Springs. Eventually, that number grew to 300. Lady Bird Johnson's highway beautification act resulted in more than a 150 signs being removed from roadways. Those that do remain standing are considered historic, with each one numbered and registered with the state of Colorado. To this day, each spring marks the annual sign maintenance and repair duties, now handled by the fourth generation, taking at least two men and two weeks to repair all the signs.

Four Generations
F.M. Light eventually sold his interest in the store to his sons, Clarence, Olin and E. Day. Surviving his brothers, Clarence was sole owner when he passed the store onto the third generation, his son-in-law, Lloyd Lockhart in 1963. Ty Lockhart, Lloyd's son, the fourth generation, took over active management of the store in 1973. His brother Del joined him in 1979. Ty's son, Brandon also works in the store making him the fifth generation involved.
In 2005 FM Light & Sons celebrated their 100th anniversary of the F.M. Light & Sons store. A store still in the family after four generations and built on a philosophy of providing quality merchandise and fair prices.
Story reprinted with permission of FM Light & Sons
Colorado Group Realty
Annamarie Shunny moved to Steamboat Springs in 2001 with her husband Paul and two boxer dogs. Like many before them, they came for the outdoor lifestyle that the Yampa Valley offers, skiing,
hiking and biking.
Annamarie’s passion and talent, however, lie with her viola. She performs with the Steamboat Springs Orchestra and the Emerald City Opera. She has enjoyed working with the Opera and appreciates their “open arms to the local music community” and their ability to provide top quality, affordable opera events for the community. She is Vice President of the Opera Board and heads the committee for the “Resident Artist Spotlight Series”.
Annamarie began working as an Owner/ Broker for Colorado Group Realty in 2005 at the Mountain Office. She liked the unique approach of Colorado Group Realty in that all of the Brokers are also Owners in the company, “everyone works hard and supports each other and the ownership aspect really promotes teamwork” she says.
Another aspect of Colorado Group that is lesser known, but to Annamarie and all her fellow workers is a point of pride, the Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation. Started in 2006, the foundation will be granting its’ first awards this month. The foundation was established to support non-profit organizations throughout the Yampa Valley. The goal is to support a wide range of community based programs related to human services, the arts, education, our western heritage, the environment and recreation. Although anyone can make contributions to the foundation, the owners of Colorado Group Realty (all 55) each make a donation when the broker completes a transaction.
Colorado Group Realty has 55 Owner/Brokers currently working throughout their three locations. The Mountain Office is located near the Sheraton Hotel, The Downtown Sales office is on Lincoln Avenue, and the Sales Center for Riverwalk, Alpenglow and Howelsen Place is on Yampa Street. Colorado Group has five employees functioning as support staff for the owners/brokers and the many projects being developed in Steamboat.
Laurie Peter is one the five support staff for Colorado Group. She is the Advertising Coordinator and works at the Downtown Lincoln Avenue office.
Laurie moved to Steamboat three years ago to get away from traffic and bustle of Denver. She began working at Colorado Group as the Advertising Coordinator just over a year ago. She and her partner Jason enjoy all types of skiing and travel, as well as hiking, biking and snowshoeing. Laurie has been active with MainStreet Steamboat Springs and serves as Co-chair for the Promotions Committee.
Adventurer Dunte Valrey moved to Steamboat this past winter having never been here before. Coming from San Francisco it was quite a change. However, he says “it is definitely growing me!”. Dunte is an avid fisherman, so he is sure to “get hooked” on Steamboat this summer. He works as the front desk staff at the Downtown Lincoln Avenue office.
Joy Rasmussen wears a few hats with Colorado Group Realty. She is an Owner/Broker for the company and works as a Listing Agent for the Riverwalk, Alpenglow and Howelsen Place projects. She also assists with the Advertising and Marketing of these projects along with Mallory Ruest, who is also and Owner/Broker.
Joy obtained her realtors license and began with Colorado Group in 2003. She moved here with her husband Ken Otterman from Los Angelos where she spent much of her career as a sales and marketing consultant in the cruise-travel industry. Colorado Group greatly appealed to Joy, she felt the company “really stood out as an all owner company”. She appreciates the strong mentorships, sharing of information and huge team of professionals that truly enjoy seeing each other succeed. She adds that “everyone here likes to have fun and it makes the whole experience for buyers and sellers fun”.
Joy is also finding her niche in the Yampa Valley as the founder of the Steamboat Triathlon. She has been a Triathlon racer for over nine years and enjoys sharing the sport with youth and encouraging the growth of the sport.
Todd Asbury has been a realtor/ developer for over 25 years, beginning his career in Denver and working throughout Colorado and California. Todd along with his wife Patti and daughter Heidi had been visiting Steamboat for many years for their ski vacations. Soon they became second homeowners and grew more attached to the Yampa Valley. They eventually moved here permanently as they wanted their daughter to grow up in a community that favored great relationships, great activities and great schools, not to mention world famous skiing. Todd is also an avid fly-fisherman.
Todd began working for Colorado Group in 2002 and feels proud to be part of an organization that operates like a family. He is also proud of the foundation the company has started, noting “Colorado Group is an organization that gives back to the community and makes an effort to stop in the day to day work to embrace these actions”.
It all began twelve years ago in a small office above (the now) Vectra Bank where Jim Cook and his son Coleman opened their first office. The family had been coming to Steamboat for many years, visiting from their home in Indiana. Once both their children had finished college, Jim and his wife Sheila were ready for a lifestyle change and moved to Steamboat. Their daughter Keri lives in Illinois and their son Coleman now lives in Steamboat.
Jim Cook is an avid golfer and has a passion for cooking. His interest in the arts covers all aspects from collector, sponsor, board member of the Steamboat Art Museum and closet artist. He enjoys creating metal sculpture art, coming from a family business background in scrap metal.
Jim created the Sheila M. Cook Community Arts Foundation in memory of his late wife. The foundation will be administered by MainStreet Steamboat Springs and will be funded by a percentage of the real estate sales from the downtown development projects.
Coleman Cook moved to Steamboat soon after college. He had a desire to live in the mountains, any mountains. With his parents already living in Steamboat and having visited the area for so many years, he made Steamboat his home. He partnered with his father in establishing Colorado Group Realty. Coleman is an avid skier and enjoys camping. He and his fiance, Dawn Tupper enjoy traveling and music, especially the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
These are just a few of the owner/ brokers that are part of Colorado Group Realty. They represent the many who share their love of the Yampa Valley, the pride in the company they work for, and support for the community they are helping to build.
Photo Express House
For over 25 years The Photo Express House has been providing quality photo finishing in Steamboat Springs. Russ Atha took ownership soon after the business was established in the early 1980’s. Russ had a contract with the Ski Area for the “Hot Shot” photography work. He felt owning a photo-shop business would be an ideal way to provide high quality images while controlling costs. This strategy paid off for Russ and he has maintained a successful business for over 25 years.
Like many long-time business owners, Russ came to the Yampa Valley in the early 70’s to be a Ski-bum! He grew up in the Kansas City area but moved west with friends who were also outdoor enthusiasts. He met his wife Carol here and they both enjoy biking, skiing, hiking, watersports, and basically anything outdoors. This fun is shared by their loyal friend Ozzie, the family pet. Russ and Carol support many great organizations in Steamboat, including The Arts Council, Steamboat Art Museum, Dance Theatre and Perry Mansfield. They are members of MainStreet Steamboat Springs and Russ serves on the board of Yampa Valley Land Trust.
A key element in any business is keeping up with technology. This is especially true in the world of photography. The Photo Express House offers scanning services for negatives, slides and prints. Other services include passport photos and products for postcards, albums and frames.
The newest service now available at The Photo Express House offers customers the convenience of uploading digital files on the business website. Customers can then just come in to pick up their prints. Check out this new and easy service at WWW.PHOTOEXPRESSHOUSE.COM
A key element to any successful business is having dedicated, experienced and reliable help, and Russ has just such people on his team. James Baron, an “authentic” Steamboat Springs native, has been working at The Photo Express House for almost eight years. He enjoys photography, however his “forte” and strong interests lie in technology and computers. He really enjoys advancing the technological aspects of the business and troubleshooting problems. He also enjoys customer service and helping people achieve their photography and printing goals. James also assists with the website and the new service of uploading digital images for printing.
Ian Wilson been with the team at The Photo Express House for almost three years. He moved here from San Jose, California with some friends from High School. He is a big enthusiast of snowboarding and enjoys fly-fishing, photography, camping and backpacking. He also enjoys his job, “I have a great boss, a flexible schedule and work that interests me, it is very rewarding”.
So stop by The Photo Express House and let the friendly team help you with all your photo-finishing needs.
Party Smart Steamboat
Steamboat in the summertime has become a very festive and busy season. No one knows this more than Fran DiBartolo of Party Smart Steamboat, who supplies the tents and accessories for the many festivals, parties and weddings that happen during our short but fabulous summer seasons.
Party Smart was established ten years ago to meet the needs of the community. Fran purchased the business in the fall of 2004 and took over operations the following spring.
Fran brought to the business a wealth of knowledge about business in the Yampa Valley. She was previously the Director for the Northwest Colorado region of the Small Business Development Center for nine years, which serviced Steamboat, Craig and other communities in the region.
Although business is steady through the winter and spring months, the business takes on a new character as the summer kicks in. Fran maintains a large number of seasonal workers in the summertime. Like many businesses in Steamboat, she has experienced the challenge of finding good, reliable help. She offers a great working atmoshphere and competitive pay for the right people, but the work is labor intensive.
Steamboat is known for its’ skiing in the winter, but it has become one of the most popular locations for summer weddings. This is a big part of the business and for Fran the most enjoyable. “I enjoy getting to know the bride and groom, that helps me to see their vision and help them plan their dream wedding, it is very full-filling” says Fran.
One of Fran’s favorite events is the Annual Wedding Fair where she has a booth and meets the many couples planning their weddings. The Fair is held in late March, call Fran for more information. Fran has a great deal of knowledge and experience as a Party Planner and can help make any size wedding or event a great success. She works with many local caterers, photographers & florists.
Fran moved to Steamboat Springs in 1997, falling in love with the beauty of the area and upbeat atmosphere of the community. She enjoys skiing, skating, biking and sewing. She has lived in the Yampa Valley since 1980. She previously lived in Farmington, NM, where her daughter Caroline and family still live. Her son Chris lives in Denver. She often makes road trips to New Mexico to see her two grandchildren that she adores. Her father lives with her here in Steamboat.
Dedication to her family, friends and her business is what Fran is all about. She cares deeply for people and enjoys helping however she can. She has made countless donations of tents and party supplies for community events such as Relay for Life, MainStreet Farmers Market Music Tent, Steamboat Stockdog Challenge and many others.
So if you are planning and event or looking for a great summer job, stop by and talk to Fran at Party Smart Steamboat.
The Fiber Exchange
Steamboat has always been considered a friendly place, and The Fiber Exchange downtown is a very friendly and “tight knit community”.
Opening its doors in December of 2004, The Fiber Exchange has been meeting the many needs of Fiber Artists throughout the region. It has also brought a unique flavor to the downtown shopping district as it is more than a store for fiber artists, it is a studio where artisans can work and visitors can learn about fiber art.
The Fiber Exchange offers fiber artists a large variety of yarns, needles, supplies, classes and more. The large assortment of yarns include basic, inexpensive yarns to the specialty yarns including wool, cashmere and different blends at affordable prices. You’ll find everything you need to have fun and complete your project. You’ll also find expert assistance- the staff at The Fiber Exchange have the knowledge, experience and passion of the fiber arts to help you be successful.
For owner Jodee Anderson, it was a passion that started early in life back in Vermont as a weaver. But just as the career began, so did the family and Jodee put the looms away for awhile.
Jodee and husband Towny raised two children, Jennings and Paisley, and a chocolate labrador “Mocha”. Towny ran his own consulting company and Jodee worked as a designer in landscaping and interior decorating for historical properties.
In 1999 the family moved to Steamboat Springs for Towny’s work with the Orton Foundation. The family enjoys skiing together. Jodee also enjoys gardening, designing and tennis- she is part of the local tennis league.
After settling in to the community, Jodee felt that it was time for her to fulfill her passion for weaving and get the looms out. She also made the decision to open The Fiber Exchange. She felt being downtown was important to bring “walk-in” traffic. This would allow for people to learn about fiber arts in a studio atmosphere. She also felt that the store needed to be close to the schools so kids could walk to classes.
Jodee greatly enjoys the creative process and working with colors and textures. She especially enjoys teaching someone, child or adult, to work with their hands and fiber to create. Her biggest thrill is to experience that “light bulb moment” when a student becomes enchanted with the creative process and begins to see other possibilities. Jodee is much a visionary and sees many ways to enhance the stores offering of supplies and classes, to bigger ideas related to the fiber arts.
Store manager Brooke Graham started out knitting as a hobby and soon found her passion for the craft and came to work for Jodee at The Fiber Exchange. Barb Lynn is a weaver who is also returning to her passion after a few years away from her craft and Wendy Kowynia is a Master Weaver, you can see all of their work at the Fiber Exchange.
Old Town Hot Springs
The historic downtown district is the heart and soul of Steamboat Springs, and the “Old Town Hot Springs” are truly the heart of downtown.
The hot springs have been in use by area residents and visitors for over one hundred years. They were known by the Ute Indians as the “Medicine Springs”. In 1935 the Steamboat Springs Health and Recreation was established and some moderate pool facilities were built.
The hot springs continue to sooth and inspire locals and visitors. What makes the experience even more enjoyable for locals and visitors is the family atmosphere that exists at the facility. Pat Carney has been the Director for over 30 years and Jeanne Gillaspie has been the Assistant Director for 27 years. They know their patrons very well and consider everyone as one big family, “I feel so lucky to be involved with the association for so many years” says Jeanne, “we are intimately involved with the people of the community”.
Jeanne Gillaspie came to Steamboat in 1970 for a six month adventure to learn to ski. She never moved back to California, “I found a new home and didn’t even know I was looking for one!” she notes. She has raised two sons, Andy and Mark, in Steamboat. A favorite part of her job has been sharing the lives of her patrons families over the years and watching their families grow.
Simone Oliver has been in Steamboat for over 30 years and has spent the last 14 years working at the Hot Springs. She loves her job and the family atmosphere of her workplace, “our patrons are our friends and family, we’ve helped raise a lot of kids in this community!”
Irene Nelson Interiors
Knowledge, experience, creativity, ingenuity and caring are some of the qualities one would look for when selecting an Interior Designer. Irene Nelson has all those qualities and more. For the past forty-five years Irene has been serving clients and helping them achieve their dream home or office.
Irene began her career as an Interior Designer in Illinois. With a love of the mountains and skiing, she moved to Steamboat in 1970 and established her business and reputation as a designer. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she raised four children and worked as a ski instructor. Irene recalls that “in 1970, ‘Interior Designer’ was a bit of a foreign concept”.
Over the years Irene continued to expand her knowledge and skills, as well as the variety of products she could provide for her clients. She also became very attuned to the many other needs of her clients from marriage counseling to budgeting for their project. “Mistakes can be devastating, both emotionally and financially” she says, “it takes the fun out of it’” helping someone with their dream, reducing the problems and limitations is very rewarding”.
The extra care Irene gives to her clients has been a key to her success. Another key is her ability to be creative and work within a clients budget, “I really enjoy teaching people how to be creative and use in-expensive materials, recycle stuff and think outside the box”. Irene enjoys helping people that can’t necessarily afford all the things they want for their home and need some ingenuity.
At the other end of the spectrum is the client with a big new house and an un-limited budget. Irene has designed homes and offices across the country.
What also makes Irene successful is also something often mis-understood. Because of the distance between Steamboat and the larger cities, Irene is able to obtain service territories for many product lines, “larger companies in the cities get the territories but carry a limited product line, so the smaller designers in the cities don’t have the access to the products that I have”. Irene also collaborates with White Hart Gallery, owned by her daughter Cindy, which greatly expands the resources she can offer her clients.
Irene has been very involved in the community over the years as well. She recently retired from her position on the board of the Lowell-Whiteman School after fourteen years. She was a member of the DBA and is now a supporter of MainStreet. She recognizes the importance that local businesses play in the whole community, “local businesses are always contributing and being asked for more, they support many, many parts of the community’, notes Irene, “I always try to do more when I can”.
Irene greatly enjoys her work and she enjoys her play time too. In addition to skiing, she enjoys many outdoor activities and has been a “river runner” for many years. Faux painting has been an enjoyment for many years and she does much of this in her work. She enjoys gardening and reading and has aspirations to write a book someday related to her profession, something like “things to remember, things to avoid” when building a home.
Nancy Kramer
Nancy Kramer has worn many hats during the past 30 plus years since she arrived in Steamboat Springs. The common thread in her varied positions has been to help people, whatever the need.
Nancy came to Steamboat in 1974, arriving like many others- in her Volkswagen with all her belongings! She was curious about the mountains, inspired by her father’s role as a medic in the 10th Mountain Infantry. She accepted a position as a registered nurse at the hospital in Steamboat and left her home in Oregon. And like many who come to Steamboat, she had a job, but finding housing was a struggle though she did eventually find a loft apartment.
While working as a nurse, Nancy became involved with the Arts for which she always had an interest. She was invited to be on the Arts Council board.
Nancy took a break from nursing for several years when she opened and operated the In Season Bakery. Then she went back to the hospital as an administrator.
While serving on the Arts Council board, the Executive Director position became available. Nancy felt this was a great position that could benefit from her experience in administration as well as her interest and enthusiasm about the arts.
Nancy has served the Arts Council for 13 years. Nancy has served the Arts Council well and has developed many programs, organizations and individual artists. The Arts Council has numerous affiliates and serves as “mentor” for other organizations. Nancy helped form the North Park Arts Council in Walden. Most recently she has been working with a group of local artists to form the Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat Springs which will host its opening on November 24th.
Nancy announced her resignation this summer. She feels it is time for some new blood to bring fresh ideas to the Arts Council. She also feels it is time to slow down just a bit and pursue some personal interests.
Nancy has been working with MainStreet since she first heard about it while serving for two years on the City Council, “I really liked the MainStreet concept and felt I could help with leadership” says Nancy. She has been serving as the chairperson of the Design Committee which has the challenge of planning future improvements in the downtown district.
Nancy has been married to Lynn for 27 years and has two step-daughters, Tara and Alana. She loves to cook, travel, hike and ski. She also loves to sing and looks
forward to doing more of that with a local group.
Ruth Dombrowski
How often do you find someone who after many years in his or her profession still loves it? Ruth Dombrowski is the Vice President of Alpine Bank and is also the Chairperson for Main Streets' Economic Restructuring Committee.
After 29 years in the banking industry, Ruth still loves her job,
"I really enjoy being able to help people reach financial goals and achieve their dreams". Ruth enjoys customer service and getting to know the people who come into the bank. She enjoys the people she works with and the respect that she, along with all employees, receives from management.
Ruth grew up in Ogallala, Nebraska and later moved to Westminster. She started her career in banking while she was attending high school in the Denver area. She moved to Routt County in 1980 and continued her banking career at Routt County National Bank. She was part of the creation of First National Bank of Steamboat Springs.
In May of 2005 Ruth accepted the position with Alpine Bank and is very happy to be working with such an enthusiastic and fun group of people, "everyone here participates and gets into the holidays and our company events" says Ruth, "it doesn't feel 'corporate' even though it is a large company". Alpine Bank has 33 branches in Colorado, primarily in the central and western areas of the state. Ruth serves on a Loan Committee for all regions of the company.
Ruth is active with Advocates Against Abuse and Yampa Valley Recycles. She recognizes that it is difficult sometimes to get people involved and to serve on committees, but she believes that committee work and involvement are very important for a community, "these groups and organizations need new input and ideas". That is why she serves many organizations and she encourages others to give it a try.
Ruth was asked to chair the ER Committee and welcomed the opportunity to help and see businesses succeed in the town in which she lives. She believes MainStreet is important because it provides a dedicated board that works to protect, retain, and assist businesses by working with local and non-local municipalities in an effort not to lose the Steamboat Springs heritage, and she adds "the reason everyone returns to the Yampa Valley".
Ruth enjoys the lifestyle of the area and has started skiing again, which has been great fun. Her new love- she recently took up golf! She also enjoys walking and snowshoeing. Ruth and her family are members of the Euzoa Bible Church.
Ruth has a son living in Fruita and she will become a grandmother this spring when Sean and his wife have their first baby. Her daughter Stacey is finishing her schooling at CU in Boulder this year and is getting married, so Ruth is also busy planning a wedding. Her step-son Jake will graduate from SS High School this spring. Ruth shares her successes and joys with her wonderfully supportive husband Daryl.
The Local Exchange
How many items do you have stored away in a closet or shed that you don’t use, don’t want, but just can’t throw away?
The Local Exchange, a re-sale and retail store, is now fully operating at its’ new location on 9th Street. They accept donations of most items, such as furniture &
collectables, clothing & jewelry, books, kitchen items, and more. Some furniture consignment items are also accepted.
When you donate to the Local Exchange, you are doing a lot more than emptying your nest, you are supporting a variety of others in need around the world.
The Local Exchange makes large donations of items to orphanages and schools in Mexico, Somalia and Mozambique. How do they get there? When people are heading out to help in a needed country, they stop by the Local Exchange and Karen and her staff load them up with whatever they think they need or can use. They even outfitted a soccer team in Mexico.
A large number of items went to New Orleans to help Katrina victims. Anyone heading that way came to the Local Exchange to pick up items to take to the south and this effort continues.
The Local Exchange makes large donations to the Indian Nations and supports a Thrift Store in Craig. Paper products are always welcomed and help support schools.
Part of the cash proceeds from the store support Born Free Wildlife Rehabilitation, a local program run by Tracy Bye.
This all sounds like a lot of work, and it is. Owners Karen Rhoads and Hannah Too, and their staff work countless hours to keep the items moving. What drives them? “Being able to support a number of good causes and helping people in need is a great thing” says Karen, “and we provide the community with an alternative and affordable way to use, reuse and recycle items instead of sending it all to the landfill”. Karen adds “it’s great fun too, we find new treasures everyday”.
After many years of public service for a large government agency, Karen moved to Steamboat in 1990 to explore new things. She created the Local Exchange three and a half years ago and recently moved the store to the downtown location, “we were thrilled to find this spot, it was a god-send, and our customers love it”.
When Karen does get a break from the work she loves, she tends to the “closet artist” inside herself. She enjoys making greeting cards and other watercolor projects.
So do something nice for yourself and others this holiday by shopping for unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, or by donating those unused and unwanted items, like some of those funky gifts from last Christmas?
PJ Wharton of First National Bank of Steamboat Springs For the past few months Main Street members have been walking the streets downtown and visiting businesses for the Main Street membership drive.

PJ Wharton has been leading this effort as the chairperson for the Organization Committee.

PJ is the Senior Lender for First National Bank of Steamboat Springs. He moved to Steamboat in 2004 with his wife Amy and three boys, Peter, Ben and John. Moving to Steamboat had been a dream come true for the family and they enjoy all that the valley has to offer. “We always wanted to move here” says PJ, “Steamboat is everything that other places want to be- a real town with real people, vibrant lifestyles and economics, and great schools”. PJ adds that the Steamboat Springs school system is the best the family has encountered. They previously lived in Gunnison where PJ was the President of the Wells Fargo Bank.

PJ grew up in Pennsylvania (where he acquired the nickname “Pennsylvania John which became PJ for short) and later moved to Detroit where he graduated from High School. He has been in Colorado since 1985 and is thrilled to be finally living in Steamboat. The family participates in the hockey leagues, basketball and lacrosse programs, and the town challenge bike races. They are active with the Euzoa Bible Church and volunteer at the school for their children.

PJ’s involvement in the Main Street organization reaffirms his love of Steamboat. To PJ, the unique and vibrant downtown area represents all that the community is, from restaurants and shops, to skiing, walking, biking, or as he says, “the ultimate representation of Steamboat- vibrant and alive”. PJ’s goal for his part with Main Street is to do all he is able to ensure that downtown continues be a wonderful place.
Pilot Office Outfitters If the concept of “fearless leader” goes along with the title President, then Tom Ptach has met the challenge head on.

Tom was one of the founding members of MainStreet and stepped up as the first President for the organization. The challenges of a new organization are many and diverse and Tom was excited to take it on. “We’ve had great challenges and accomplishments so far,” Tom says, “and the Team is second to none”. The Team has created an organization, a board of directors, four very active committees, a large supporting membership, and a whole lot more for the downtown district.

As a business owner in downtown Tom felt it important to be an active member of the MainStreet organization and have a positive influence on the downtown district as well as the entire community.

Tom feels this way about MainStreet and also about his business, Pilot Office Supply. The business has been serving the community since 1962 and Tom has been the owner since 1998. He enjoys being a key business component of the community and working with all the different elements that his business comes into contact with, “I really value those relationships”.

Tom moved to Steamboat from Vail with his family, wife Cindy and son Scott. The family enjoys bicycling, traveling and of course, skiing. Tom also like to make some time for golf and woodworking.
Off The Beaten Path Bookstore & Elements Café For the past sixteen years Off the Beaten Path Bookstore has b