Joshua Stensrud sees a bright future for Legacy Bank, but he started with the bank at a particularly dark moment in the financial world — and right after he and his wife were hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis.
From the flashy excess of Las Vegas to small rural communities in Uganda, think of an entrepreneurial endeavor somewhere in the world and Jake Eichengreen has likely been there, done that.
Paul Brueggemann is no stranger to the Springs — he’s been here 20 years — but his borderline obsession with the art of brewing coffee is still relatively new. He started working at Loyal Coffee in August 2018, and this week was promoted to assistant general manager of the company’s Downtown…
Brian Marin’s career has always centered on physical labor — car factories, greenhouses, carpentry — so owning a bookstore was not in his plans.
Loan officer Scott McBride has always had a knack for numbers. A native of Dallas, Texas, McBride’s father worked in finance, and while not every kid picks up the family trade, McBride has found it a good fit.
Sometimes, success comes fast, and that has its own challenges. When Dominika Mills and Zachary Short spoke with the Colorado Springs Business Journal, it was during a day’s delivery run, with Mills and Short handing the conversation off as they drove and ran dumplings to doorsteps. They ope…
Tom Zelibor has led the Space Foundation as its CEO for 3½ years. The nonprofit, which has a global reach, was founded in Colorado Springs in 1983 and has never been more relevant as the space industry expands to include satellite internet and commercial space travel. The foundation aims to …
Jessica Beecham’s personal journey as a blind woman combined with her work with individuals with disabilities showed her that there is a need to break down barriers so that everyone has access to a healthy lifestyle.
Joshua Barrett didn’t think he’d ever be in a management position for a Comcast help desk call center in Colorado Springs. The 30-year-old began his professional life working in retail in Minnesota. But for the last 2½ years, he’s led a team of employees for the telecommunications conglomera…
Dr. Leon Kelly is a reluctant politician. He became the face of the county’s COVID-19 response in March and, as El Paso County coroner and chief medical examiner, he must run for office every four years. He jokes it’s like a head cardiologist of a hospital having to run to keep the job. Kell…
Landscape architect Brooks Swenson has a passion for helping people turn their landscape dreams into reality.
Admitting the city needs to “step up our game” in diversifying its workforce and community outreach, Mayor John Suthers recently expanded the one-person Community Diversity and Outreach Division of Human Resources to two.
Birgitta DePree believes the world is hungry for stories, especially right now.
When children crawl through the artificial caves that Dave Jackson has created, they’re able to have a hands-on learning experience in both science and how to safely explore caves.
Maudeleine (Molly) Olson enjoys traveling the world, studying the architecture of different countries, and then applying what she learns in Colorado Springs.
Tambi Tyler recalls lining up her brother’s G.I. Joe dolls and her own dolls as a child and pretending to be a teacher.
When Leah Baldwin’s husband, Luke, passed away in April 2019, she didn’t know how she was going to pick herself up again.
Molly Quinn plans to combine her love of sports with her knowledge of marketing and philanthropy to help the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes grow.
A Colorado Springs native, Latrina Ollie is hoping to inspire fellow entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and promote growth in the Southeast.
Mandy Frogner is from Milbank, South Dakota, and if that name sounds unfamiliar, she wouldn’t be surprised.
Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Mindi Linscombe came to Colorado Springs in 2004 to complete a master’s degree in education, with an emphasis in English as a second language. She worked as a Spanish and ESL teacher in Colorado Springs before starting her bridal boutique, Something New, i…
Local craft brewery and restaurant Cerberus Brewing Co. has cultivated a stellar reputation based on its excellent food, hip atmosphere and, of course, its beer. The man responsible for Cerberus’ brews, head brewer and co-owner Josh Adamski, is a 20-year Springs resident who turned his home-…
After earning her bachelor’s in history from Regis University, Colorado Springs native Lauren Shakes had the opportunity to move to a town in Brazil and teach English. Then 22 years old, she jumped on the opportunity. But six months in, she was given a choice: The school needed a full-time t…
Located in Southeast Colorado Springs, Kingdom Builders Family Life Center is a nonprofit that provides education and support to victims of domestic violence. Founded in 2013 by executive director Lisa Jenkins, who is herself a survivor of domestic violence, the organization has grown from a…
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Eric Phillips decided to make Colorado Springs his home after 14 years of service in the Army. Phillips is the owner of 3E’s Comedy Club, Colorado Springs’ newest comedy venue, located in Bancorp Plaza on Nevada Avenue.
Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Jess Lyons loved sports. She spent countless hours of her youth playing softball, volleyball and basketball.
Lauren Kunze is passionate about youth development.
Silvia Deen draws inspiration from nature. She enjoys exploring Colorado’s mountains and natural landscapes, observing the way light hits the trees or how scenery changes with the seasons.
By Christina Cavazos Victoria Atencio loves the simple act of creating. Whether she’s leading a digital marketing campaign for the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, doing graphic design or honing her skills as a photographer, Atencio is dedicated to communicating ideas that will inspire, inform and captivate audiences. “I love all things digital, visual […]
By Christina Cavazos Alicia Klausmeier has a passion for helping small business owners thrive. “I love helping them get to know their finances, understand their financial statements, and really helping them be successful,” Klausmeier said. “I grew up in Colorado Springs, and this community has grown a lot since then, but we are still very […]
By Christina Cavazos Karson Gonzales, better known as “Karson with a K,” remembers the day he passed by a skating rink on his way to junior high school and decided to ask if they needed a DJ. “I knew nothing about ‘DJing,’ except for the messing around I had done with my dad’s stereo while […]
Commercial cleaning businesses in Colorado Springs are seeing lots of new and repeat business due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as more and more business owners are hiring professional cleaners to try to provide a safe and disinfected environment for their clients and staff. For many businesses, the crisis has created several unique challenges — […]
By Christina Cavazos When Vicki Proffit first meets the young women who come to stay at Sarah’s Home, located in Peyton, the executive director knows she has an uphill battle ahead — loving the girls until they learn to love themselves. Those who Proffit encounters are scared and angry when they first arrive, and she […]
Long before they were business partners, Aubrey Day and Stacy Poore had the nearly identical dream of opening a neighborhood grocery store in one of Colorado Springs’ underserved communities. Coincidentally, they each spoke of that dream to a mutual friend, who recognized the similarities and made an introduction. “She said, ‘Hey! I know somebody else […]
By Christina Cavazos When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, Lynn Phillips knew she had to act quickly if her nursing students were going to graduate on time. Amid the pandemic, Phillips believed it was crucially important to graduate nurses who could help create healthier communities. Phillips is a Registered Nurse with a Ph.D. […]
By Christina Cavazos As Charmas Lee walked the halls of his elementary school alma mater more than 50 years later, he envisioned a program that would help youths today achieve personal and academic success. Lee owns Building Champions, a Colorado Springs business that specializes in personal and professional development in corporate, academic and athletic areas. […]
By Christina Cavazos Dr. Kenya Lee believes there is an abundance of beauty in the world, and it is her mission to help her clients find it within themselves. “I most enjoy helping my clients feel confident and helping them realize the beauty that exists within them,” said Lee, co-founder and lead doctor of PureLee […]
When people ask Jarrod Headley, owner and founder of North Park Studios, what he does for a living, his answer is simple: “All things audio.” The California native has been playing music since he was 4 years old, performed and toured in a successful rock band, and has composed and engineered for television, with his […]
Becca Sickbert has two jobs. She serves as Manitou Springs’ interim economic recovery director and executive director of the Manitou Springs Creative District. As head of the creative district, Sickbert’s job is to promote and strengthen the Manitou Springs arts community. And as interim economic recovery director, she steps into the economic development role held […]
Abigail Kreuser isn’t technically a Colorado Springs native, but the photographer, gallery owner and entrepreneur has a passion for promoting the city she’s called home since she was 3 years old. Kreuser’s family moved here in 1983 and she later attended Doherty High School, where one of her teachers nurtured her love and talent for […]
By Griffin Swartzell Compassion and family anchor every business decision Maya Hetman makes. Originally from Gara Muleta, a small town in Ethiopia’s Ch’erch’er Mountains, Hetman fled to France after a Soviet-backed military coup established a junta known as the Derg in 1974. She married an American soldier, with whom she lived in California before moving […]
