2009: Routt County Thrivers

Routt County Thrivers

by Deborah Olsen

Good businesses continue to grow in the Yampa Valley 

Is it possible for businesses in a remote location like Northwest Colorado to thrive in the face of challenging economic times?  Both the public and private sectors are finding ways not only to survive, but also to thrive, amidst the changing financial environment. 

 Sustaining the private sector

Businesses that are currently thriving are “golden nuggets,” says Noreen Moore of the Routt County Economic Development Cooperative. Their success stories serve as a model for entrepreneurs with their own dreams of owning a business in Northwest Colorado.

Bill Gamver and Rich Hager, two of Big Agnes' owners, at the little red house headquarters on Oak Street.

It all started with a slogan – “Ditch the Old Bag; Sleep with Big Agnes” – for Big Agnes, the national award-winning, Steamboat Springs-based manufacturer of tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. The company has since ditched the slogan in favor of a more politically correct moniker, “The Mother of Comfort,” but business is as substantial as the mountain in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area that shares its name with the company.

Big Agnes has experienced 62 percent average growth over the past seven years. The company has 25 full-time and three part-time employees on its $1 million-plus payroll and has accumulated an office building, warehouse, company vehicles and expansive computer systems since its genesis in 2000. It was recognized as a 2009 Colorado Company to Watch.

The company returns approximately $40,000 per year to the community through nonprofit donations. Big Agnes could earn the Heisman Trophy for nonprofit support, jokes co-owner Rich Hager.

A second local business, BOA Technologies, makers of a patented lacing system for footwear, was also named as a “Company to Watch” in 2009. It too promotes its Routt County roots, proclaiming that “snowboarding is one of our main passions and we developed the Boa Lacing System on snowboard boots. We get feedback very quickly from our team of testers who are on the mountain, on the ice, running or biking almost everyday.”

Another company whose edgy marketing has taken it a long ways is Little Moon Essentials, famous for its “Tired Old Ass” bath salts. Owner Laura Lamun describes herself as a “very unconventional businesswoman.” Her company specializes in all-natural body care products. “Taking a risk on something funny has helped us to get through this economic remodel,” she says.

Rob Mitchell, president of Moots Cycles, hefts one of his signature bike frames.

A staple on the Steamboat entrepreneurial scene is Moots Cycles, which was founded in 1981 by local bicycle designer Kent Ericksen, who sold the company in 1995. “Moots has lots of ‘firsts’ in the industry,” says president Rob Mitchell. “(Those include) one of the first mountain bikes, soft-tail rear suspension, and a 29-inch-wheel mountain bike – that’s a growing category of our business.”

With 160 dealers in the U.S. and a presence in 12 foreign countries, Moots employs 21 people at its local office, an innovative building in Copper Ridge Business Park, where all of Moots bikes are hand-built. “The fact that the business is located here is a big part of our marketing,” Rob says. “Hand-built in the Rockies” is an integral part of the company’s logo.

SmartWool, another internationally acclaimed company with headquarters in Steamboat, also enjoys a hometown advantage. “Our heritage is here,” says SmartWool’s communications director Molly Cuffe. “We’ve resonated from the Rocky Mountains. We build Steamboat into our message.” She admits that finding the right employees can be a challenge because of a smaller candidate pool, but she is quick to add, “When you get that right employee, it’s really right. You have to love to live the lifestyle.”

            Apparently, the philosophy is working because Outside Magazine recently named SmartWool as one of the top 10 best places to work.

ACZ Laboratories faces similar challenges in terms of finding qualified personnel with the highly technical skills required to work in its full-service environmental testing laboratory. Nonetheless, “We’re dedicated to being in Steamboat Springs. We have a really good core staff and a 25,000 square-foot facility that was built as an environmental lab. We all love it here,” says ACZ’s business development manager Tim VanWyngarden.

            Only 5% of ACZ’s work is local around western Colorado; the other 95% consists of work in the western United States and from international clientele. The company specializes in the analysis of trace level contaminants in water, soil, biota, waste and plant tissue. In its 30-year history, the lab’s staff of 50 has amassed significant experience with environmental compliance for the mining and petroleum industries. Other work has come from for Tribal Nations, environmental engineering firms, municipal drinking water plants, wastewater treatment and sludge analysis, and groundwater monitoring for municipal landfills. ACZ is involved in the analysis and characterization of acid mine drainage and abandoned mine cleanup of legacy sites on both state and federal lands, working closely with many governmental agencies.

From technically complex to gastronomically delightful, Steamboat is host to a diverse group of businesses. Among the successful food and beverage entrepreneurs is Terry Brown of Wing-Time Inc. The company produces five flavors of Buffalo-style chicken wing sauces and has an international distribution network.

Although its manufacturing is done in California, Wing-Time is headquartered in Steamboat. And that’s by choice. “It would be a challenge for a food company to start up here,” Terry says. “But for us, it was a total lifestyle decision. It works for us. I’m happy here and able to keep motivated. All I need is a shipping point and Internet. That infrastructure is essential.”

Seeding the public sector

“Colorado lagged in feeling the effects of the recession,” says Susan Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. “But it will lead in the recovery.” The reasoning behind Susan’s bold statement is that Colorado has the second highest number of educated workers in the country, and the most new employers. Transportation, weatherization, energy efficiency and broadband technology are the leading recovery areas, she says.

One integral factor of a community’s infrastructure that is poised to grow in the next few years is telecommunications. “It’s as important as water or transportation,” says Audrey Danner of the Governor’s Innovation Council. The council is currently involved in a broadband GIS mapping project that will help direct the state’s plans to apply for $7 billion in federal broadband funding.

Another industry that is growing, despite the challenging times, is the health care field. Although it’s “not exactly recession-proof,” says Karl Gills, CEO of the Yampa Valley Medical Center, the current environment is “very dynamic,” he says. “We have more people to care for, due to aging and population growth.” Among the demands on the system are the need for new services, new capabilities, new technologies and new markets. As the region attracts new specialists, the market expands. Occupational health services are another growth area, Karl says.

Karen and Carl Bolton began taking tai chi classes after Carl’s oncologist recommended it to improve his balance and strength. “I’ve had no more problems with my balance or walking up and down stairs since we began tai chi,” says Carl.

“We are looking at how we redesign and strengthen the community health care system,” says Sue Birch, CEO of the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association. Economic stimulus money is being directed at prevention, Sue says, and the VNA’s “Aging Well” program has a parallel aim: “To create health and wellness activities.”

The line is blurred between health care issues and environmental concerns. “We need to start building different environments,” Sue says, citing housing, trail systems and well-planned, pedestrian-friendly communities as examples of sustainability projects that stand to benefit people’s overall health as well as the environment. “It’s very exciting,” Sue says. “We intend to build a more visible example of a healthy living system.”

Colorado’s position as a leader in the field of sustainability is creating preponderance of “green-collar jobs,” says Joani Matranga of the Governor’s Energy Office. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are two such career fields. Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat is providing “green education” courses to train people for jobs in this emerging economy.

One common thread throughout the diverse economic development in Steamboat is the emphasis on sustainability. Whether a company focuses on monitoring water pollution in a sterile lab or providing comfort for campers in the area’s National Forests, local businesses demonstrate an appreciation for the stunning setting in which they are located.