The Partnership Podcast

Erik heads to Colorado Mountain College to chat with Anne and Scott Pasquale about their recent award from the Vail Valley Partnership Success Awards, Small Non-Profit of the Year, and why they are such a deserving non-profit (and business!) Learn about what a "food incubator" is, why they support the Community Market, how all of this came to be and what the future holds! You'll also hear Chef Scott's favorite dish and why...because Erik just had to ask! Learn More about Little Bird Creative Community HERE.

Erik heads to Minturn to spend some time with Spence and Stefanie Neubauer, owner/operators of Minturn Whisky Co. and The Wee Dram and honestly has a hard time leaving! They discuss business creation, strategies for growth, following your passion...and sip some fine whiskey in their unique "third space", a place for all, tourists, locals and even Erik to unwind and feel at home. Eagle River Whisky was recently named Small Business of the Year at the annual Success Awards by Vail Valley Partnership. Listen in and you'll be sure to know why! Learn more about Minturn Whisky Co. HERE.

Erik has the opportunity to speak to two amazing guests, both leaders in their respective mental health fields. Dr. Charles Raison is the Director of Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center as well as a professor of Human Ecology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin and Dr. Christine Whelan from Emory University, affectionalty known as "The Purpose Professor". Dr. Whelan gives a preview of her upcoming event, "Living With Purpose as a pathway to Health and Wellbeing" that will be held Thursday, July 10th from 12-2PM at the EagleVail Pavilion. Join them for this stimulating conversation about the idea of turning purpose from an innocuous noun into a powerful verb and the practical steps one can take to make this a reality. Learn more about this and sign up for the event on July 10th HERE. Learn more about Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center HERE

Erik get's a chance to talk with Brandon Daruna, CEO of Eagle County Paramedics. They discuss both comprehensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the community paramedic program, which provides health services in the home, increasing health and well-being by mobilizing care, addressing healthcare gaps and connecting people to necessary services. Brandon discusses their collaboration with many organizations across the valley to educate community members of all ages on what to do in an emergency. Learn more about Eagle County Paramedics HERE

At the 2025 Annual VVP Success Awards, we were honored to highlight Julio Garcia as our Young Professional of the year and Erik had a chance to sit down with him recently. In 2024, Julio Garcia Jimenez produced 141 episodes of Conexión Latina, welcomed over 200 guests, and created 10 unique segments to better serve the Latino community in Eagle County. He also launched Conecta en Vivo, a 24/7 livestream of Spanish-language programming, expanding access and visibility. As both producer and host, Julio manages every aspect of the show while also contributing to Good Morning Vail as a bilingual host. While TV8 no longer exits in our valley, Julio's work continues in community connections, elevating underrepresented voices, and fostering a greater sense of belonging across cultures.

Erik heads to the Eagle County School District office to talk Community Engagement with Superintendent Phil Qualman and Engagement Coordinator Tia Luck. They discuss a number of initiatives meant to bring students, families and businesses together with the common goal of supporting the next generation. In the words of Superintendent Qualman, "Our students are watching, and we will continue to lead by example, proving that education is the most powerful tool to combat hate and build a brighter future." Learn more about the incredible work being done in student engagement HERE

Erik heads to Eagle to chat with Ben Caton, State Farm Agent and Owner to talk about insurance...and so much more. Erik and Ben discuss retirement planning, the challenges of taking over a "legacy" business, and the changing state of insurance both locally and regionally. Ben isn't afraid to answer the hard questions such as, "why are premiums going up?" and "how should I prepare for natural disasters?" (fire or otherwise). Ben and his team are in the business of protecting people when they are at their most vulnerable and we're lucky to have people like him and his team in this valley. Learn more about how State Farm can protect you HERE.

Erik heads to Edwards to talk with American Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical CEO and Owner Brad Payne. Brad talks about his business journey from acquiring and refining into strategic growth and how that has lead to where they find themselves today. They also discuss some of the latest trends in heating and cooling and the homeowner in Erik really struggles not to come out! Listen in to hear a great business story, learn more about American Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical HERE

Erik heads on down to Coldwell Banker to meet Amy Pates, a residential and commercial broker with a wealth of knowledge and experience in this Valley. They discuss the current Real Estate climate, housing trends and commercial trends. Erik asks Amy the question that many of us wonder, "Is it still possible for a young professional to find housing and make this place their home?" Listen in and I know you'll be intruiged by her answer. Find out more information about Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties HERE

Erik "heads on down" to the Eagle River Center to check out the action at Trio Therapy Partners this week. He's joined by Lauren Cremonese, Executive Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and Amanda Moody, Director of Operations and Occupational Therapist. Tom the Horse is standing nearby as well, although he keeps pretty quiet. Lauren and Amanda talk about the many facets of Trio including Occupational and Physical Therapy, Mental Health Counseling and Equine-Assisted Learning. Trio Therapy Partners is a 501(c)3 organization that believes in taking an individual's rehabilitation journey to the next level by utilizing multiple environments to create meaningful change. Learn more about Trio Therapy Partners HERE Find information about the annual Mountain Hoedown out at 4 Eagle Ranch on May 31st, 2025 and register HERE

Erik gets a chance to spend some time with Peak Plumbing Heating and Cooling with owner Mike Goldberg. Mike talks about his business philosophy, hiring practices and the power of an education in the trades. In addition, Mike takes Erik on a tour of Peak PHC to show their new training area for the future plumbers of this valley. To learn more about Peak Plumbing Heating and Cooling click HERE

Join Erik as he gets a tour of Roundup River Ranch from Mackenzie Koffenberger-Young, The Community Engagement and Recruitment Manager for this wonderful organization. RRR is part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, a global community of medical specialty camps founded by Paul Newman. He believed that kids with serious illnesses needed a place to “kick back and raise a little hell.” Mackenzie gives Erik the rundown of what a week at camp looks like for both campers and volunteers, and talks about the vision and future of the site. Join us on this podcast to see it through their eyes but, PLEASE, take the time to see if there might be any volunteer opportunities you or your organization can be a part of! Find out more information HERE

Erik is joined by Erin Ivie, Executive Director of SpeakUp ReachOut, to talk about the history, current initiatives and future of the organization. Erin gives historical perspective and current insights into our valley's mental health as well as discusses the upcoming Workplace Wellbeing Summit on Friday, April 11th. This immersive, workshop-style event is designed for teams of 5-10 members per organization. Through engaging & hands-on sessions, participants collaborate to create tailored roadmaps that align with their organization's unique needs and culture. The summit empowers teams with the tools and knowledge to foster a healthier, more supportive work environment, promoting overall employee well-being and contributing to a positive organizational impact.

Erik goes on location to the new Salvation Army headquarters and is joined by Monica Villalobos-Russell, Executive Director, to talk about their new location, new staff and the ways in which they serve the community. Monica shares why community partnerships and engagement with the Salvation Army is so important and how we can all be part of the solution. Learn more about the Salvation Army HERE

"Insurance protects what we love." Join Erik this week as he welcomes a friend to the podcast, Tony Martinez, President and Principal Agent at Cornerstone Insurance and Financial Group. Tony frames insurance in the best possible way, explaining when we are protecting our businesses it's more than just "insurance", it's about the success of the entire community. In this episode, Tony shares lessons for all businesses and uses examples from property management and the restaurant industry. From his love of the community and being able to deliver those unicorns (you've got to listen), Tony is a trusted voice for business. Learn more about Cornerstone Insurance and Financial Group HERE.

This week Erik is joined by Kaitlyn Merriman, Senior Manager of Youth and Family Programs for YouthPower365 to talk about an important topic. The Vail Valley Foundation’s YouthPower365 is intensifying efforts to combat youth violence and promote student success through enhanced family-centered initiatives. Kaitlyn talks about the $1 million federal grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, enabling the hiring of a full-time family engagement coordinator at YouthPower365 and a student support specialist at Eagle County Schools. Erik and Kaitlyn also discuss simple warning signs and techniques for violence reduction and awareness. Find more resources for families HERE Recent article from the Vail Daily HERE

Erik is joined by Core Transit Deputy Director Scott Robinson for an enjoyable conversation about Core Transit. Scott shares that Core isn't just "ECO Transit with a new name" it's a completely new company with an expanded community vision. They discuss the company formation, the marketing vision and the fact that Core Transit was honored with the Large Community Transit Agency of the Year award at the fall Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) conference. This award recognizes outstanding best practices or projects undertaken by transit agencies serving communities of over 15,000 people and Scott discusses how it's an honor to receive this for a new company and that they have much more in store for Eagle County. And he talks about expanded winter routes! Learn more about Core Transit HERE

Erik is joined in "the Bistro" (yes, that's what he calls his office) by Samantha Hodgkins, Executive Director of Caregiver Connections to talk about an extremely important, and often overlooked, demographic. With older adults 65+ as the fastest growing population in Eagle County and 70% of people preferring to age in place, Caregiver Connections is expanding its reach to address the growing needs of caregivers and their family loved ones. Samantha talks about resources that help family caregivers of older adults support their loved ones aging in place including care consultations, respite programs and additional resources that will empower them to be the best caregivers they can be. Find more about Caregiver Connections HERE

Let's talk energy savings! With winter breathing down our necks we all are wondering the same thing, "Am I prepared?" Black Hills Energy is ready for this question and happy to help. Erik is joined by Amy Fiala, Energy Efficiency Expert and Jason Auslander from Public Affairs to talk about simple steps we can all do to make our houses more efficient as well as long term solutions that make sense for both your family and the planet. They also dig into hiring in this field and some of the potential careers that exist in the energy field. We wanted an experienced voice on this podcast and we sure found one! Black Hills Energy serves more that 1.34 million customers across 8 states. For more information on how to prepare for winter and other safety issues, courtesy of Black Hills, click HERE Contact Jason Contact Amy

Erik gets a chance to go on one of his "plodcasts" where he walks and talks with a local business and is so happy to tour the newly renovated Eagle River Inn in Minturn. Tierney Delude, General Manager at the Eagle River Inn provides the tour and information, guiding Erik through the idea, the renovation process and the reception the Inn has received. Spoiler alert, it's already a local's favorite! This is a true example of making a dream a reality and what it takes to do so in this place. Take this tour with Tierney and Erik and hear the story of bringing The Eagle River Inn back to Minturn. Learn more and book your stay HERE