John Chapdelaine: Connecting Positivity to Purpose

[00:00:00] Hi, I'm Katie Kramer, President and CEO of the Boettcher Foundation. Welcome to Colorado Leadership Stories, where we talk to everyday, courageous leaders who have made transformational impacts in their communities and are building a better state for everyone.

[00:00:18] You'll hear from leaders and organizations and communities throughout the state as we explore the idea that leadership is an activity that anyone can do.

[00:00:27] Joining us today is John Chapdelaine, a champion for collaboration and community service in northeastern Colorado.

[00:00:40] With a 30-year career serving the state of Colorado as a teacher, a principal, prison education director, and warden on the Eastern Plains, John brings a wealth of experience to his work.

[00:00:50] He now leads the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado's Eastern Colorado office as the director, guiding the advisory board and raising the region's profile.

[00:00:58] John also contributes its expertise to the Boettcher Foundation's Rural Impact Advisory Committee, helping strengthen its work in rural communities throughout the state.

[00:01:07] A proud resident of Haxton, Colorado, John is deeply passionate about the sense of community that defines Eastern Colorado.

[00:01:14] John, we are delighted to have you on the podcast.

[00:01:17] Katie Kramer, it is an absolute pleasure to spend some time with you, so I'm glad to be here.

[00:01:22] Well, we are excited to visit with you. And my friend, one of the most cool things about you is your background.

[00:01:28] You've done so many different types of things.

[00:01:30] And you spent 30 years in education in two types of institutions that have really important societal impacts, schools and prisons.

[00:01:37] Not the same thing, right? But how did your experience as a teacher and a warden influence your leadership style and approach to community development?

[00:01:46] Leadership styles, I believe, truly evolve over time.

[00:01:49] When you're the first time teacher in this classroom with these 20 kids, you almost have to go autocratic.

[00:01:54] It's me. I'm in charge of classroom management.

[00:01:58] I'm in charge of you, your safety, what you learn while you're here.

[00:02:02] And I made a lot of decisions by myself.

[00:02:04] As things evolved and you work with other instructors and you get new ideas and you try to be innovative, it was a great growth.

[00:02:12] And then going into administration. So I was a principal of schools for a number of years as well.

[00:02:18] Right.

[00:02:18] The ability to communicate with my peers around me, but enhance the relationship with the teachers.

[00:02:25] I was only a teacher for six years in public school.

[00:02:28] It seems like a lot longer.

[00:02:29] But the influence that a teacher has on kids just cannot be overstated.

[00:02:35] It just cannot be.

[00:02:36] I was spending more time with these kids than their parents were on these days between teaching and coaching.

[00:02:42] And I'd like to think that it was a really positive influence on the lives of those kids.

[00:02:49] However, I only had influence over the kids that were in my classroom.

[00:02:53] When you become a principal, you kind of have ownership over every student in the building.

[00:02:58] And I loved that. I thrived on that.

[00:03:01] So after about six years of being a principal, I was afforded an opportunity to run the school in a new mega prison that they built in Sterling, Colorado.

[00:03:13] And so the warden at the time wanted educators to run education, which was not how it really happened in a lot of other facilities.

[00:03:23] It just wasn't that way.

[00:03:25] But he said, I'm going to take this programming seriously and I want educators to run education.

[00:03:30] So I was at a time where they built this facility 30 miles from my house.

[00:03:36] I didn't mind the commute.

[00:03:37] And it was the next professional challenge.

[00:03:40] I do believe if you're green, you're growing.

[00:03:43] And if you're ripe, you're rot.

[00:03:45] So I could have stayed and kept doing what I was doing forever and probably been really happy.

[00:03:50] But I was ready to try something different.

[00:03:52] So I take everything I know about education and I start running this education program in the prison.

[00:03:58] And then I tell myself and my wife, hey, let me give this five years.

[00:04:03] I'll give it five years.

[00:04:04] And if it just doesn't work out, then I'll go back to public ed.

[00:04:07] So it did work out.

[00:04:09] I really thrived in that.

[00:04:11] It was so challenging learning this whole world and culture of corrections.

[00:04:17] So I just thrived.

[00:04:18] I became a sponge.

[00:04:20] I tried everything.

[00:04:21] I volunteered for everything.

[00:04:23] I wanted to lead everything.

[00:04:25] And over time, I was afforded an opportunity to become the associate warden.

[00:04:29] And then I was afforded the opportunity to run the whole facility.

[00:04:32] It was awesome.

[00:04:33] So I went from autocratic where I'm doing things by myself.

[00:04:37] But then make no mistake, situational leadership is huge because I believe that you better have the skill set to be able to handle anything as it occurs and give it the attention that it needs, the specific thing it needs to solve that particular issue.

[00:04:53] We had all kinds of emergent issues at the prison.

[00:04:57] And sometimes there's not a time to collaborate and say what's the best.

[00:05:00] You got to use your experience and your knowledge and you got to say, I need this done.

[00:05:04] I need it done right now.

[00:05:06] Sometimes you just have to be able to make that decision and go.

[00:05:08] But if I have my choice, it's transformational leadership.

[00:05:12] It's using my enthusiasm and my energy to try to inspire and motivate others to become better themselves, to work together as a team to move the organization forward.

[00:05:23] And so every opportunity I get, I want to be a transformational leader.

[00:05:26] That's awesome.

[00:05:27] And not short on energy.

[00:05:28] You can definitely hear that.

[00:05:30] But you have touched so many different things.

[00:05:32] Of course, this is the Colorado Leadership Stories podcast.

[00:05:35] And I just think about the rainbow you've given us of all these different types of leadership.

[00:05:41] And I'm building towards a question here, I promise.

[00:05:43] But the fact of trying to be inclusive, sometimes you have to be directive.

[00:05:48] There's all these different ways.

[00:05:50] And I think the through line for me that I see is that you've been effective in all those ways.

[00:05:56] And so I want to hear about the journey then.

[00:05:58] So you're the prison warden in Sterling, and then you become the director of the Eastern Colorado Community Fund.

[00:06:04] So tell us about that story.

[00:06:06] I'd be happy to do that.

[00:06:07] Okay.

[00:06:07] So you know how I got in the door with corrections.

[00:06:10] Right.

[00:06:11] You're a learner.

[00:06:12] You're growing.

[00:06:12] So I'm with the Colorado Department of Corrections for 15 and a half years.

[00:06:17] I'm the warden of this facility.

[00:06:18] Right.

[00:06:19] I learned a long time ago when I came across this philosophy of the 30-30-30.

[00:06:23] All right.

[00:06:28] I'm not happy enough to live 90 years.

[00:06:30] Right.

[00:06:30] So the first 30 years, you're a child.

[00:06:33] You go to school.

[00:06:35] Potentially go to college is what I did.

[00:06:39] You begin your profession.

[00:06:40] You fall in love.

[00:06:42] You get married.

[00:06:43] You have a family.

[00:06:44] And that's your first 30 years.

[00:06:46] And you're just kind of getting all of these things started.

[00:06:48] Right.

[00:06:49] And then you hit the second 30 years where you're raising your kids.

[00:06:53] You're building in your profession.

[00:06:55] You're potentially moving up the ladder.

[00:06:58] Mm-hmm.

[00:06:58] And you're doing all of these great things.

[00:07:00] You buy a house, maybe.

[00:07:01] And you're getting involved in all of these cool things.

[00:07:05] You're coaching your kids.

[00:07:06] You're going to all their events in high school.

[00:07:09] You're supporting them to all get out.

[00:07:10] Meanwhile, you're just working your tail off because being a provider for your family is high on your list of things that you, that mean so much to you, the priorities in your life.

[00:07:20] You keep doing all of those things.

[00:07:22] And then you're ready for the last 30.

[00:07:24] And to me, the last 30 years of my life is all about giving back.

[00:07:30] Mm-hmm.

[00:07:31] It is, life's been good to me.

[00:07:33] Right?

[00:07:34] I've worked my tail off, but I've gotten to a point that now I can do what I want to do.

[00:07:39] And you know what I want to do?

[00:07:40] I want to have a positive influence on the lives of those around me.

[00:07:43] Mm-hmm.

[00:07:44] I always thought, Katie, that I was going to go back to teach.

[00:07:48] Right.

[00:07:48] I always thought I was going to go back and teach.

[00:07:50] Part-time, whatever, coach, right?

[00:07:53] Mm-hmm.

[00:07:53] Just get back with those kids.

[00:07:55] But that wasn't the path that was laid in front of me.

[00:07:58] Mm-hmm.

[00:07:58] At just the right time, I was provided an opportunity to become a director of a community foundation.

[00:08:04] And I had zero nonprofit or development experience.

[00:08:09] None.

[00:08:10] Right?

[00:08:11] But this group of people, they interviewed me.

[00:08:13] I took a chance.

[00:08:14] I was recruited for that job at a beer garden on old-fashioned Saturday night in downtown Haxton, Colorado.

[00:08:21] I love it.

[00:08:22] Right.

[00:08:23] Where Brandon Beesmeyer, a board member, pulled me to the side and said, hey, you know, when did you say that you could leave state service?

[00:08:33] When did you say you could retire?

[00:08:34] And I said, well, I could retire pretty soon, just a couple of months.

[00:08:37] But I don't plan on doing that.

[00:08:39] I am catching my own.

[00:08:40] I've built this awesome team.

[00:08:42] Right.

[00:08:42] We are doing some great things together.

[00:08:45] And he goes, can I have 10 minutes of your time to talk to you about something?

[00:08:49] Mm-hmm.

[00:08:49] Now, in the job I was in, I was all in.

[00:08:52] It totally consumed me.

[00:08:54] I had time for it and time for family.

[00:08:56] Mm-hmm.

[00:08:56] And I really, really didn't have time for much else.

[00:08:58] So all of this community foundation stuff was happening and I hadn't heard a word.

[00:09:02] Right?

[00:09:03] So he takes 10 minutes and he says, this is what this does.

[00:09:07] And I said, I really appreciate it, Brandon.

[00:09:09] I really do.

[00:09:11] But I'm good.

[00:09:12] I'm good.

[00:09:13] Thank you for sharing that with me.

[00:09:14] All right?

[00:09:14] So I go home and it kind of starts to consume me.

[00:09:19] Mm-hmm.

[00:09:19] And a lot of clarity comes from me overnight.

[00:09:22] So I slept on it.

[00:09:24] I prayed on it.

[00:09:25] I texted him at 6 a.m.

[00:09:27] And I said, send me the link.

[00:09:28] Because I got to thinking, if what I want to do with my life is to spend the rest of the life for the greater good,

[00:09:35] what in the world could be better?

[00:09:37] Right.

[00:09:38] Right?

[00:09:38] Then directing a community foundation, providing all of these people in Northeast Colorado an opportunity to give back to their communities.

[00:09:45] And not just in a small way, but in a way that long outlasts their lifetime.

[00:09:50] Mm-hmm.

[00:09:51] I knew if these beautiful people that I lived with had an easy way to give back, that they would.

[00:09:56] And they have 55 plus charitable funds.

[00:10:00] That's amazing.

[00:10:00] That's amazing.

[00:10:01] Over $2.25 million granted from charitable funds back to our rural communities that didn't even exist eight years ago.

[00:10:09] It's just a beautiful thing.

[00:10:10] All of these people making legacy plans to leave gifts after their lifetime to their church and their school and the nonprofits in their community to keep it thriving for their kids and their grandkids.

[00:10:22] Are you kidding?

[00:10:23] I know.

[00:10:24] These jobs we have are just an absolute blast to do work in the community.

[00:10:29] Thank you for telling that story.

[00:10:30] And I will tell you, my friend, that I would make the argument that, yes, maybe that last 30, but the middle 30, you were doing a lot of things to help others in service.

[00:10:39] And so this is definitely a through line for you.

[00:10:42] I definitely hear servant leadership as well.

[00:10:45] So, yes.

[00:10:46] I want to talk more about the Community Foundation and what you do there.

[00:10:50] And then we'll double back.

[00:10:50] I want to hear more about Haxton and everything.

[00:10:53] But say more about what you're doing.

[00:10:56] You are building lasting legacies in Eastern Colorado.

[00:10:59] And when you think about that word legacy, what does that mean to you?

[00:11:03] And you just started talking about that.

[00:11:05] But how do you hope your work is going to impact Haxton and other communities in the region through what you're doing?

[00:11:12] Legacy to me is what you leave behind.

[00:11:15] What impact did you have on the people that came in contact with you while you were on this earth, this short time that we're on this earth?

[00:11:23] What gifts were you able to attain that you were able to pass on to others that's going to be long lasting, long past your lifetime?

[00:11:32] What did you impart to your children and your grandchildren and maybe your great grandchildren?

[00:11:38] What did you impart to every individual that you worked with or came in contact with?

[00:11:44] Is there a piece of you that's in them long after you're gone?

[00:11:48] That's a beautiful thing.

[00:11:50] Then there's the legacy of life's been good.

[00:11:55] And I want to say thank you.

[00:11:57] And I love this town.

[00:11:59] I love this region.

[00:12:01] And so I'm going to put something in place that makes it so that my kids and my grandkids or anybody that chooses to live in this town that I loved has the opportunity to enjoy their life, that things are going to get better over time.

[00:12:16] Right?

[00:12:17] We want to leave it better than we found it.

[00:12:19] How do we do that?

[00:12:21] So I'm in a business of working with people.

[00:12:25] Beautiful.

[00:12:25] I describe my day to day work as I work with beautiful people who want to do beautiful things.

[00:12:31] Right?

[00:12:31] And I just listen.

[00:12:32] And what legacy do you want to leave?

[00:12:35] Right?

[00:12:35] And then can we provide the vehicle to help you do that easily and very enjoyably.

[00:12:41] It's the great example, frankly, of the Boettcher family.

[00:12:45] And what I hear you saying is giving as a response to blessing.

[00:12:48] Like how are you paying it forward?

[00:12:51] And it's fun that the full circle moment here because the Boettcher's did their work.

[00:12:57] One of the communities that they were deep into was in, as you know, northeastern Colorado.

[00:13:01] And they had the sugar beet industry there.

[00:13:03] And here comes 1937.

[00:13:05] They decide they want to start the Boettcher Foundation as a way to pay it forward.

[00:13:09] And so that's exactly what you're talking about.

[00:13:11] And I think the thing that people don't realize is you don't have to be wealthy like the Boettcher family to pay it forward.

[00:13:18] Right?

[00:13:18] And I think that that's what you're doing.

[00:13:20] This can be anybody that can think about how through they can pay it forward through intentional.

[00:13:27] What legacy they want to leave in these communities.

[00:13:30] I think it's wonderful.

[00:13:31] How, what a great job.

[00:13:32] It is fantastic.

[00:13:33] And I'm glad that you, I'm glad that you brought that up.

[00:13:36] Because the community foundation model is set that if you have a charitable heart, anyone can be a philanthropist.

[00:13:43] Yeah, I think that's true.

[00:13:44] We believe that here.

[00:13:46] I think we believe that anyone can be a leader.

[00:13:47] And that's right.

[00:13:48] And no matter what the amount is, it does make a difference.

[00:13:51] Right?

[00:13:52] It makes a huge difference.

[00:13:53] Yes.

[00:13:54] Yes.

[00:13:54] Again, we could geek out about this all day.

[00:13:56] We're totally in this business together.

[00:13:58] And the other thing that's common about our work together in these types of organizations is managing community funds, especially in your world, requires strong collaboration.

[00:14:08] And I'm thinking about all the different entities that you work with, right?

[00:14:11] Like city officials, there's donors, there's community members to achieve common goals.

[00:14:16] So, so how do you, how do you bring folks together?

[00:14:19] Well, first and foremost, they have to know we're here.

[00:14:22] Yes, that's true, right?

[00:14:23] I mean, eight years serving a six county region and still everywhere I go goes, I never even knew you guys were here.

[00:14:30] Right.

[00:14:30] So, but that's beside the point.

[00:14:32] We continue to educate as much as we can.

[00:14:35] Yeah.

[00:14:35] And once we educate people, then the bottom line is sharing the mission and the vision and the impact that community funds can have on our communities.

[00:14:44] And it is, it is incredibly impactful.

[00:14:48] Now, so, so communication is the key.

[00:14:50] We are here and this is what that we can do.

[00:14:54] And then the recruitment of strong leaders is a big deal in rural communities.

[00:14:58] Mm-hmm.

[00:14:59] And the, and the recruitment of younger leaders to come up and take the places of the current leaders is a big deal.

[00:15:05] A lot of recruiting and coaching and mentoring needs to take place, encouraging people to take that step, get out of your comfort zone and lead.

[00:15:12] But then it's common goals.

[00:15:14] It's collaboration of, of many entities.

[00:15:16] It's getting the right people in the right room at the right time to solve the issue at hand.

[00:15:23] The main office for the Community Foundation is in Larimer County.

[00:15:27] And they just recently collected all kinds of, kinds of data on the real issues that are happening in Larimer County and Weld County.

[00:15:36] And they did a regional project called the, and put out a report called the Intersections Report.

[00:15:40] I think that the utilization of data, the collection of data is incredibly important to identify exactly what do we want to solve here.

[00:15:49] What are our major issues?

[00:15:51] Let's look at the data.

[00:15:53] Let's look at the resources available that can come together and help solve these problems.

[00:15:56] Then let's get the right people in the room to create a path to solution.

[00:16:01] Right?

[00:16:02] So the cool thing about that is we have all of those same issues, quite frankly, in Northeast Colorado.

[00:16:10] And I'm very, very excited that potentially with the help of the Betcher Foundation that we might be bringing and doing something very similar out in our region.

[00:16:19] To bring the leaders of all these counties together.

[00:16:22] Let's collectively and collaboratively look at the issues, prioritize the issues, and figure out some ways that we can work together to solve them.

[00:16:32] The same problems, childcare, right? Food security.

[00:16:36] Housing.

[00:16:37] Housing. Mental health issues.

[00:16:39] Yes.

[00:16:39] Just economic development.

[00:16:40] All of these things are the same issues in Larimer and Weld.

[00:16:45] We have them out here.

[00:16:46] Larimer and Weld have a ton of resources that are out there that could potentially help them.

[00:16:51] We really have to scramble and we have to rely on the relationships that we've made with people that can help us out.

[00:16:56] That's right. And you touch on the role of community foundations, especially as conveners.

[00:17:02] And that's exactly what you're talking about.

[00:17:04] And that resource sharing thing is so, so important.

[00:17:08] Before we go off of this, I do want to double back to a specific question.

[00:17:12] So there's somebody out there that wants to think about their legacy and enduring impact.

[00:17:17] Like, how do you start?

[00:17:18] What advice do you give to people about that they want to make a difference in their community, but they don't know how?

[00:17:24] Like, what would you say?

[00:17:25] I'd say, first of all, do you want to serve?

[00:17:28] Do you want to serve?

[00:17:29] Do you want to use the gifts that you've been given to give back?

[00:17:32] And if the answer is yes, then I'd say, okay, if they're already talking to me, I can tell you, I can give you a hundred different ways that you could utilize your gifts to help support our community.

[00:17:43] I can also connect you with people all over the region that could potentially utilize your skills to help solve an issue.

[00:17:53] We need people serving on the school boards.

[00:17:55] We need people running for town council.

[00:18:25] Right.

[00:18:27] I can.

[00:18:27] You said it a little earlier.

[00:18:29] Everybody can be a leader.

[00:18:30] If you have the desire, you can do it.

[00:18:34] Yes.

[00:18:35] Actually, folks, you should just call John is what you need to do.

[00:18:37] And you can check out the website for all the things.

[00:18:40] But if you need a coach or someone that's going to teach you, John will teach you.

[00:18:43] Absolutely.

[00:18:44] So, John, I want to get to some more personal matters.

[00:18:47] We, we, I've loved hearing about your professional journey and I want to talk about community, the community you came from.

[00:18:55] And I know you are a Western sloper at heart, right?

[00:18:58] You born in Paonia, but then you got to Haxton.

[00:19:01] So I want to hear how you got to Haxton.

[00:19:03] But if you don't know out there, um, Haxton has a population of just under a thousand and it's just a really, really special place.

[00:19:10] And so can you talk about your home community?

[00:19:14] Talk about what is the unique joy of being part of the fighting bulldogs in Haxton or, um, also what are some of the challenges of living in this small town?

[00:19:27] Just hearing you say that makes me feel good.

[00:19:29] It just does.

[00:19:30] It does.

[00:19:31] I grew up in Paonia, a small town in the mountains.

[00:19:33] That's right.

[00:19:34] How did I get to Haxton?

[00:19:35] Yes.

[00:19:35] I knew I wanted to be an educator.

[00:19:37] I knew UNC was the place that I needed to go.

[00:19:40] Yeah.

[00:19:40] University of Northern Colorado, go Bears.

[00:19:42] That's, that's correct.

[00:19:43] And so I got, I got some great training here.

[00:19:46] Plus I had a, met some great friends and had a wonderful time.

[00:19:49] My college experience was just over the top.

[00:19:51] Great.

[00:19:52] Right.

[00:19:52] My first job was teaching science, uh, high school science at Haxton High School, right out of college.

[00:20:01] So I, I moved there in the fall of 89 and I've been there ever since.

[00:20:06] All right.

[00:20:06] So I already knew what small town living was like.

[00:20:09] So it wasn't like any kind of culture shock to me per se.

[00:20:12] Plus, um, I like surrounding myself with people, meet new friends, right?

[00:20:18] Hang out with people.

[00:20:19] I never really felt lonely.

[00:20:21] All right.

[00:20:22] Well, what I found out is the second year that I was there, I met a girl.

[00:20:27] Uh huh.

[00:20:28] Right.

[00:20:29] And she was at CSU the whole first year that I was there and I never did meet her, but I met a girl named Cindy Fees.

[00:20:47] Uh huh.

[00:21:04] And at the end of the second year there, I thought it was a temp assignment.

[00:21:05] I was three months old now.

[00:21:06] Oh my goodness.

[00:21:07] A little Slade, Thomas.

[00:21:08] And, and, and he is a joy.

[00:21:10] And I get to see him all the time, all the time.

[00:21:12] And, but the joys of living in a small town.

[00:21:14] I just have to tell you, we don't know everybody, but we know most people, right?

[00:21:20] There are a few people once in a while that I'd see and I go, I don't know who you are, but most people we do.

[00:21:25] And I have to tell you, one of the joys of living in a small town is you get to drive around in a golf cart.

[00:21:30] A little golf cart and I can't do it in the winter, but man, I love going through the streets of town and golf cart.

[00:21:37] I love making eye contact with people that I know.

[00:21:40] I love seeing a smile on their face.

[00:21:43] I love waving to them.

[00:21:44] And there's just something about people who are raising their kids together and are supporting a community together that it's almost like we have this in common.

[00:21:53] And I care about you and I know you care about me and I can see it in your face.

[00:21:57] Oh, I love that.

[00:21:58] I just love that.

[00:21:59] You said fighting bulldogs.

[00:22:01] We have talked about this in the past that I'm the voice of the football team.

[00:22:05] I get to be in the box.

[00:22:07] I get to call the, call the games from the box.

[00:22:10] I wish you had more enthusiasm.

[00:22:11] I really do highlight for me.

[00:22:13] It's just a highlight for me.

[00:22:14] I love it.

[00:22:15] So small town, it's a simple, quiet life.

[00:22:20] And it may not be for everybody, but if it's for you, then Haxton's like the best kept secret in Colorado.

[00:22:26] It is beautiful there.

[00:22:28] These people, the people are beautiful.

[00:22:29] This is a good marketing for it.

[00:22:30] You better say some bad things about it or else they're going to have people moving there.

[00:22:34] Well, there's no place to live.

[00:22:35] That's the problem.

[00:22:37] Housing is a real issue.

[00:22:39] Yeah.

[00:22:39] Right?

[00:22:39] So, unfortunately, it's kind of hard.

[00:22:42] You know, it stinks when you have to have people pass away.

[00:22:45] People that you care about pass away to open up a house.

[00:22:48] Right.

[00:22:49] Maybe a new family can come in.

[00:22:50] But that's kind of where we are.

[00:22:53] That's right.

[00:22:53] Housing.

[00:22:54] The state.

[00:22:55] Right.

[00:22:55] Rural or urban.

[00:22:56] It's such a huge issue.

[00:22:57] How about challenges?

[00:22:58] There are a few challenges, though, in living in this town.

[00:23:01] We've gone through long periods of time with no restaurant.

[00:23:04] It just, they open, they don't make it and they close.

[00:23:07] Yeah.

[00:23:07] And so you have to know, you're not going to be going out to eat much unless you want to drive long periods of time.

[00:23:12] Our grocery stores are not King Soopers or Safeway.

[00:23:15] They're very, very simple.

[00:23:17] They're very modest.

[00:23:18] But what do we do?

[00:23:19] We have to go there.

[00:23:20] We have to support them.

[00:23:21] Because what would our life be like without it?

[00:23:23] Right.

[00:23:24] So we have to support it.

[00:23:25] I love our small schools.

[00:23:26] When initiatives go up for the bonds, we pass them.

[00:23:30] Because we care so deeply about our school and about our hospital.

[00:23:34] And when they need help, when we need new things, the people in that community make decisions now that set the stage for the future.

[00:23:41] Fantastic.

[00:23:41] And we overwhelmingly pass these school bond initiatives.

[00:23:44] But lack of resources is a real issue for us as well.

[00:23:47] We need that best grant to come in and help us.

[00:23:50] Right.

[00:23:50] We need those things.

[00:23:52] We need the Betcher Foundation and the other private foundations to help our small communities.

[00:23:56] And you're doing a great job.

[00:23:58] Thank you.

[00:23:59] I just want to share that with you.

[00:24:00] You've invited me to be a part of this beautiful Rural Impact Committee and I can't wait to be a part of that.

[00:24:06] I hope I can really add value to that.

[00:24:08] But you're helping so many people out in our region and I just really, really appreciate it.

[00:24:14] So, John, we're almost done.

[00:24:17] John, I've got a couple more questions for you.

[00:24:18] And I thought this one would be fun.

[00:24:20] I've heard you describe yourself as being a positive encourager.

[00:24:24] And I think everyone who's listening would not believe that as they've heard this entire interview.

[00:24:30] But how, my friend, do you maintain such a positive outlook, especially when you're facing difficult or long-term challenges in the hard things in life and the hard things in our communities?

[00:24:42] Do you have advice for us?

[00:24:44] How do you stay positive?

[00:24:45] I do.

[00:24:45] I'm about building people up.

[00:24:47] And I have a lot of things to share on this particular topic.

[00:24:51] And I get an opportunity to talk to people about this.

[00:24:54] But maintaining optimism and hope is imperative to attaining goals.

[00:24:58] It just is.

[00:25:00] Pessimism and negativity kill.

[00:25:04] They kill hope.

[00:25:05] They kill dreams.

[00:25:06] They kill your drive.

[00:25:07] And I will share this with you.

[00:25:09] They don't build people up.

[00:25:11] They knock them down.

[00:25:12] Right?

[00:25:13] So, who do you want to hang out with, Katie?

[00:25:15] Someone like you.

[00:25:16] Positive.

[00:25:17] Absolutely.

[00:25:19] And I'm going to talk a little bit about this interaction.

[00:25:21] I will do anything.

[00:25:22] I will play football or I will do anything.

[00:25:24] Yeah.

[00:25:25] Well, and so for me to answer this question, you have to learn a little bit more about me.

[00:25:30] Okay?

[00:25:31] So first and foremost, my Christian faith is strong.

[00:25:35] It is strong.

[00:25:36] And it's led me to a few conclusions.

[00:25:38] God is great.

[00:25:40] He has a plan for us.

[00:25:42] And that plan is for good.

[00:25:44] As hardships enter my life, I know I'm not alone and that gives me great peace.

[00:25:50] I am on this earth for a very, very short period of time.

[00:25:54] And I only have two things that I need to do while I'm here.

[00:25:58] And that's serve God and love others.

[00:26:01] That's it.

[00:26:03] That's it.

[00:26:04] Faith.

[00:26:05] Number one.

[00:26:06] Number two.

[00:26:07] At this stage in my life, I believe that the biggest decision that we make while we're

[00:26:13] on this earth is who we choose to spend our life with.

[00:26:16] In my case, it's who I chose to marry.

[00:26:19] And I'm telling you, I hit a grand slam.

[00:26:23] My wife, she's so caring and she's so wonderful.

[00:26:28] And we look each other in the eye all the time and just say, I'm so thankful that I'm sharing

[00:26:33] all of these experiences with you.

[00:26:36] You know, the Jerry Maguire, you complete me.

[00:26:38] She completes me.

[00:26:40] And it is, it's so fantastic.

[00:26:42] And I know not everybody has that.

[00:26:45] And I pray for people that don't.

[00:26:47] I hope they do find it before they leave, you know, the earth.

[00:26:51] I hope they find it.

[00:26:53] 31 years of marriage and I love her more every day.

[00:26:57] That's it.

[00:26:58] That's great.

[00:26:59] So, if I have my faith and it's all about love and it's all about good, and I have this

[00:27:05] partner in my life that does nothing but enhance, right?

[00:27:10] Then my belief is, my job is to enhance the life of others.

[00:27:15] And how do you do that?

[00:27:16] It's not with negativity, it's with optimism.

[00:27:19] So, I've been an administrator or a manager or a warden for a long time.

[00:27:24] I have had the opportunity to go through all kinds of leadership and supervisory trainings.

[00:27:29] Right.

[00:27:30] And I, hopefully I'm using all of those things.

[00:27:32] But in one of them, probably 25 years ago, I went to a class and they talked about personal

[00:27:37] mission statements.

[00:27:39] And they said, you need to be looking inside yourself.

[00:27:41] What are you all about?

[00:27:42] Why do you wake up in the morning?

[00:27:45] So, I took a little bit of time and I wrote it.

[00:27:48] And then the professor said, you know what?

[00:27:50] You're probably going to change this and it's going to evolve over time.

[00:27:55] Mine hasn't really much at all.

[00:27:58] So, I've committed it to memory.

[00:28:01] But my personal mission is to use my excitement, my energy, and my intelligence to motivate and

[00:28:10] inspire others to become more positive and productive in both their personal and professional

[00:28:14] lives.

[00:28:16] I feel that way talking to you.

[00:28:18] I do.

[00:28:19] So, if I wake up in the morning and I say, that's what I'm going to do today.

[00:28:24] And I go to bed at night and I did it.

[00:28:27] Oh my gosh.

[00:28:29] How many people did I impact positively through the course of that day?

[00:28:33] How many people through the course of that day are better because they ran into me, had

[00:28:37] a conversation with me, said hi to me, and maybe decided to do something a little bit

[00:28:42] different that enhanced their life.

[00:28:44] That mission statement is not work related.

[00:28:47] It's life related.

[00:28:48] If I do that, I'm a better husband.

[00:28:50] I'm a better father.

[00:28:51] I'm a better grandfather.

[00:28:52] I'm a better employee.

[00:28:54] I'm a better supervisor.

[00:28:55] I'm a better everything.

[00:28:57] And my goal is every day to strive to be better.

[00:29:06] You're a better person.

[00:29:14] That's why you are a better person, a better person.

[00:29:16] That's why I'm a better person.

[00:29:22] You're a better person.

[00:29:23] Okay.

[00:29:28] Well, you're a better person.

[00:29:30] in our attitude. And what it comes down to, if I control my behavior and I control my attitude,

[00:29:36] then it all comes down to choice. I challenge people, why would you choose to be mediocre?

[00:29:44] Why would you ever choose, wake up in the morning and choose to be average? I'm asking people,

[00:29:51] choose to love, choose to be positive, use all the gifts that you have been given and choose to be

[00:30:01] great. Speechless, just dropping the mic, on the mic, I'm dropping it. You're amazing. It's so much

[00:30:10] fun talking to you. And I can't wait to hear your answers to the lightning round questions, John.

[00:30:14] Okay. What is your favorite Colorado hobby? I'm going to say riding Harleys. I took a Colorado

[00:30:21] trip with some friends and my father-in-law this last fall. Unbelievable. And my wife rides as well.

[00:30:27] And so when we do that together, it's great. So we, we love riding. Where? Where? Most of the time we

[00:30:32] ride up in the Estes Park area. And we like going to Deadwood, but that's not Colorado. I've been there.

[00:30:41] Love South Dakota. All of those motorcycle trails are awesome. But this, this Western Slope trip,

[00:30:49] this 12 mountain passes in four days was just awesome. That sounds fantastic. Okay. This will

[00:30:56] be interesting to get the answer to knowing that you're a Western Slope guy, but you live on the

[00:31:00] beautiful plains. So what is your favorite Colorado landmark? My favorite Colorado landmark is a mountain

[00:31:06] mountain and it's Lamborn Mountain. Okay. And Lamborn Mountain is in Paonia and Lamborn Mountain

[00:31:12] was in my backyard through the formative years that I grew up. I love that mountain. I love this

[00:31:18] unique shape of the mountain. I love the little lamb that's on the mountain that gave it its name.

[00:31:23] And the memories are so thick when I see it, when I go back to Paonia, I go up on Lamborn Mesa and I

[00:31:31] stop and I just savor it. Oh, that's wonderful. I love it. I love it. Wonderful. Okay. What action hero do you

[00:31:38] most identify with? Well, that's, uh, that's interesting, uh, too. And so I'm going to ask you, Katie, are you

[00:31:45] familiar with Colonel Steve Austin? No. He was, he's known by another name, the $6 million man. Oh, of course.

[00:31:56] I'm so disappointed in myself. When I was growing up watching the $6 million man, watching him, he, he was an

[00:32:04] astronaut. He got hurt, right? He could have died, but they had the technology. They could make him better than

[00:32:11] he was before. Better, stronger, and faster. And he had that eye. And when he used his eye and he had that arm

[00:32:20] and his legs and it had that special noise whenever he used his bionics. Yeah, I can totally hear that.

[00:32:27] Can you hear it? You know, anyway, I've just always been a big fan of the $6 million man. He's my

[00:32:32] favorite accent. That's a great answer. I love it. Okay. Okay. What are you currently binging? Is

[00:32:37] there a show, a book, a podcast that you're either drawing inspiration from, or maybe it's wasting your

[00:32:42] time? I don't believe in doing stuff that wastes my time. I believe that about you. Okay. So I have,

[00:32:46] I have two shows, The Chosen and Ted Lasso. Oh, I love both of those. And I just continue to watch

[00:32:52] them over and over. The episodes over and over again. I can't wait for the next, uh, season four,

[00:32:58] season five is coming out. The Chosen coming out. I can't wait for that. I'd love, there's a,

[00:33:03] there's a Ted Lasso deal. And of course all the verses of the Bible, but the, there's a Ted Lasso

[00:33:08] scene that says that all we can do is, is ask for help, right? When we're hurting, we can ask for help

[00:33:13] and accept it when we can. And if we do that, we will continue to be better. And isn't that what we

[00:33:21] want? I want to be better. You want to be better, Keeney? Yes. I want to be better. What a great ending.

[00:33:27] I just a great ending to a fantastic visit with you. Thank you. Thank you for your sharing your heart

[00:33:34] and your stories and certainly the example of your leadership in the Colorado community. So thank you

[00:33:41] friend for joining me today. It's been fun. Thank you for joining Colorado Leadership Stories,

[00:33:47] where we hope to inspire the next generation of Colorado community builders, doers, and difference

[00:33:53] makers. Colorado Leadership Stories is presented by the Boettcher Foundation. The Boettcher Foundation

[00:34:00] supports Colorado by empowering leaders and communities with tools to tackle challenges and

[00:34:06] pursue opportunities, building a better state for everyone. With an 85 plus year legacy of giving back,

[00:34:13] we're committed to amplifying our impact for future generations. That's the spirit of Boettcher.