Durango, CO May 2024

The Ladies' Issue

MEET DURANGO’S MOVERS AND SHAKERS

WINE. SPIRTIS. CHEF DRIVEN COCKTAILS.

CULINARY ADVENTURE

LUNCH, DINNER & SUNDAY BRUNCH

Ladies’ Issue

We love the opportunity to recognize the women who make our life more rich and beautiful. With Mother's Day upon us, most eyes are on moms.  But it’s not just the mothers, but all of the other women in our lives who have inspired us and made an indelible impact on us. It’s the family members, teachers, friends and neighbors doing kind, generous and productive things in our communities, enriching our lives - making themselves unforgettable and irreplaceable.  I have been blessed to have many strong women in my life who have had a tremendous impact, and although some of those women are no longer here, their impact is timeless.

This month is also the perfect time to give back and patronize businesses owned by women in our communities. One of my favorite parts of this role - connecting with and championing the best of the best when it comes to Durango women.

They are movers and shakers, builders and doers. They are both seen and unseen. Those whose services are silent often bless those who are under their care.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to send a text, make a phone call or get together with the women in your life who deserve recognition. It only takes a minute to brighten someone’s day and remind them how much you love them.

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” -unknown

BRANDEN (BRANDY) MURRAY, PUBLISHER @DURANGOCITYLIFESTYLE

May 2024

PUBLISHER

Branden (Brandy) Murray branden.murray@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Rachel Rosenthal rachel.rosenthal@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Morgan Murray | morgan.murray@citylifestyle.com

Chelsey Juarez | chelsey.juarez@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jennifer Mason

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Candace Cross, Brandon Mathis

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Heavenly Hell on Wheels

business monthly

Christine Heartsill

At the heart of Mountain Luxe Interiors is the owner, Christine Heartsill.  Christine believes that "a sublime transformation takes place in the soul when people are surrounded by beauty."  This is what drives Christine to use her 25+ years experience to create a living space that brings joy to those who dwell within.  Her goal is to use inspiring furniture and home decor to design and create that "perfect-for-you mountain home" to relax in.

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Lois Surmi

Lois Surmi is the managing broker at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in her 30th year as a realtor.  Lois loves connecting buyers and sellers to help them achieve their housing goals, and believes that listening to her clients is key to facilitating achievement of that goal.  Lois's knowledge of the area and lending options available opens up housing options clients may not have considered.  May is a great month to connect with Lois for options.

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Sheryl Lock

Sheryl Lock opened handcrafted house 13 years ago, which evolved from a paint store to a trusted destination for both contractors and homeowners seeking inspiration and top quality materials. Handcrafted house is a design studio and storefront specializing in nontoxic architectural finishes and locally crafted home goods. Services extend beyond products to encompass a wide range of interior design solutions, from full remodels to personalized color consultations, and everything in between.

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Want to be featured?

Cindy Schmidt

Cindy Schmidt’s passion is “empowering women to conquer their fears and manifest their dreams.”  Cindy helps women achieve their goals as a Jungian Life and Relationship Coach, with a diverse skillset as a Women’s Health Physical Therapist, Certified Yoga Teacher, Certified Mindfulness Teacher and Reiki Master. Cindy offers a free Clarity Consultation to customize your journey. Women who take advantage of Cindy’s services will get $350 off of a 6 month Program through May 31st.

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Stacy Sutton

Stacy Sutton is the director of Willow Tree Kennels, and is a pet enthusiast who has a passion for pets and their behavior. Stacy has worked as a dog trainer and vet room tech, and pet boarding services for seven years. Willow Tree’s motto is “Where your pets are our guests.” The staff at Willow Tree get to know each and every pet and design a boarding experience that supports their emotional and physical needs.

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Mona and Calley Hoffman

Meet Mona and Calley Hoffman, the mother and daughter team providing Vibroacoustic Therapy at the Harmonic Earth Sanctuary.  Their mission is to bridge people with the Earth through the harmonic frequencies of sound, light and color.  Come bathe yourself in light and sound frequencies from inside a beautiful acoustic sound chamber. By assisting the natural ability of the body to re-set and re-balance, repairs can occur at the cellular level.  Schedule a session today.

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ON WHEELSHeavenly Hell

WOMEN’S ROLLER DERBY PACKS A PUNCH WHILE DISHING TRANSFORMATION

ARTICLE BY JENNY MASON

Buzzers howl and whistles chirp! The roller derby jam is on. Players on opposing teams have two minutes to score. Blockers form bulwarks. Jammers, the only scoring players, must bust past these barricades. Crash! Smash! Bodies ram, jockey, and jostle in a rugby scrum on roller skates. For the Durango Roller Girls team, derby is an oxygen they cannot live without.

Since the 1930s, roller derby has morphed from an endurance marathon into a full-contact, fast-paced game. It uniquely treated women athletes as equals to men, eschewing “gentler” adaptations of its rules and tactics.

“A lot of women who see derby say, Oh, I can’t do that because they’ll knock me over. I’m too short for that. Oh, I’m too tall for that,” notes Kendal Teran, derby name Cox. “There is no limit to what you have to look like or what you have to act like in roller derby.”

Cox joined the DRG team in 2019, which boasts nearly twenty players aged 17 to 50. Every player gets a derby name: Skid Mark, Eager Beaver, Lil’ Hellion. These alterego aliases are one piece of a derby girl’s armor, along with glam makeup, fishnets, and booty shorts.

Cox was intractably drawn to the sport. “I was going through a moment in my life,” she chuckles.

Divorces. Bad breakups. Overcoming addiction. Countless players find in derby a path to healing.

“I do it because it’s cheaper than therapy,” says Tragically Delicious.

Others find an outlet for pent-up professional stress. Data engineers, lawyers, social workers—team members run the career gamut. Women discover a sisterhood and a safe space to exude strength. They learn that hard hits make them stronger, whether they topple an opponent or get slammed to the concrete. The big falls make them stand up taller.

DRG’s first bout is scheduled for Saturday, May 25th, 2024, at the Chapman Hill rink. For first-timers, Cox advises, “Bring a cowbell. Be ready to hoop and holler!”

“There is no limit to what you have to look like or what you have to act like in roller derby.”

HONEY GRILLED SHRIMP

Celebrate the Mothers in Your Life with this Recipe from Chef Charles of Nature’s Oasis

ingredients:

• 2 lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined

• ½ cup honey

• ½ cup butter, melted

• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 4 tbsp white wine

• 4 tbsp Italian dressing

• 2/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

• Skewers: if using bamboo or wood, soak in warm water for half an hour before use.

method:

Mix garlic powder and black pepper in a large bowl with 2/3 cup Worcestershire, wine, and Italian dressing. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for one hour. Preheat the grill on high. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing the tail first, then once near the head. Discard marinade. In a small bowl, stir together honey, melted butter, and remaining Worcestershire sauce for basting. Lightly oil grill grate and cook skewers for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until done. Baste occasionally.

A great addition to this dish is a mix of onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cut the veggies into large pieces and soak them in the marinade with the shrimp. Thread onto skewers with the shrimp.

FOR A LITTLE SLICE of Heaven

THE OTHERWORLDLY INFLUENCES GUIDING CHEF AND ENTREPRENEUR SARI SEEDORF

ARTICLE BY JENNY MASON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CANDACE CROSS

If heaven had a restaurant, it would be The Yellow Carrot.

When this review popped up on Google, Sari Seedorf, owner and executive chef of The Yellow Carrot, put her hand on her heart. It was less the praise of a stranger that moved her and more the confirmation from the universe that she was on the right path.

“I think if you ask most women business owners, they’ll tell you at least once a month they want to throw in the towel,” Seedorf says while perched in a booth at her restaurant. With a glistening beadboard ceiling, Mediterranean floor tiles, and walls tinted in the warmest saffron tones, the space feels less like an eatery and more like a shrine.

Cultivating that sense is no accident because, as far as Seedorf is concerned, food is creativity; creativity stems from higher, divine powers, and therefore, the enjoyment of food is (or should be) a transcendental experience, which is why the online review struck her as so apropos.

Seedorf’s path to entrepreneurship was anything but direct. She grew up in Iowa, helping her grandparents sell farm-grown vegetables out of the back of their pickup truck. After studying languages in college, she worked as a server in South Carolina. She later ran a restaurant in Mississippi and finally settled in Durango, where she co-owned a small café before launching a successful catering business.

“It wasn’t like a dream. I wasn’t like: Oh, I can’t wait to own my own business,” Seedorf explains.

Instead, Seedorf’s unwavering passion for expressing her creativity through food always led her to business ownership. She solved problems as they arose. She taught herself through trial and error. What her path lacked in logic, it made up for in accolades. Seedorf has established a successful snack company, a nonprofit, a talk show, and more!

For Sari, real success is felt when a diner cheers with glee upon seeing a gorgeous plate of food arrive at the table.

Each new venture has resulted in more cosmic confirmations, such as filming a pilot episode for a syndicated cooking show. And the online streaming show America’s Best Restaurants will feature The Yellow Carrot in its June episode!

At the moment, Seedorf is attempting to solve the ultimate business riddle: how to stop working in her business so that she can start working on it. It’s all part of bringing to life her dream to run a global enterprise that delivers joy through food.

Amidst a soaring wave of success, Seedorf remains down to earth. After over two decades in the industry, she knows the root of success drinks from deeper wells. The bank balance will not always make one feel like a successful business owner. Having to work due to a staffing shortage does not make one feel like a successful entrepreneur. For Sari, real success is felt when a diner cheers with glee upon seeing a gorgeous plate of food arrive at the table.

The writer Ray Bradbury advised people contemplating any venture to simply “jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” He believed that human intellect and cynicism were the enemies of discovery and experimentation. Seedorf resonates with this sentiment: "The real ultimatum is getting out of your own way and allowing everything to unfold. It’s belief and trust and filling my bucket with faith every day.”

Building wings on the way down definitely encapsulates what being an entrepreneur has felt like to Seedorf.  There is so much she never learned formally, so much she was never taught, and so much she wished she’d known. She points out, “If I were to be asked if I would do it all over again, I don’t know if I would. But I love creating, and food is my medium through which I share my message with the world.”

And perhaps this process of building wings en route is the best and only way an angel can help others enjoy the taste of heaven on earth.

ARTICLE AND

BY BRANDON MATHIS

Mountain Mamas

THESE GOODS FOR THE WOODS ARE ALL ABOUT THE LADIES

Purchase any of these items at Backcountry Experience!

Mystery Ranch Scree

This Bozeman, Montana-based pack company is known for outstanding quality, a comfortable fit, and the ability to carry weight efficiently in all conditions. The Scree is a light pack that can handle heavy use, specifically made for females.

Topo Athletic Traverse

Topo has taken outdoor footwear by storm, and the Traverse is their flagship trail runner. People love the responsive cushioning, solid traction, and wide toe box, which leaves your toes feeling happy and free.

Farm to Summit Organic Meals

What happens when you take leftover produce from southwestern Colorado organic farmers and add it to gourmet-inspired dehydrated meals? Farm to Summit, that’s what. This Durangobased, women-owned company creates delicious, all-organic meals in sustainable packaging.

Voormi Tech Tank

Handmade from Rocky Mountain Merino wool in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Voormi takes wool to a higher level. The Women’s Tech Tank features an ultra-fine layer of wool on the outside with a high-performance synthetic inner liner.

Gnara Go There Pant

These pants fly off store shelves. They feature Gofly zipper technology and are made with a rugged performance stretch fabric celebrated for comfort. The full-length, front-to-back zipper allows you to go anywhere when nature calls.

A Blooming Success

Adela Flora Brings Artfully Arranged Flowers to the People

Nothing elicits romance like an elegant bouquet bursting with colors, textures, and enticing fragrances. For this reason, people have included floral arrangements as an integral part of life's most significant moments.

For Natalie McLain, owner and chief creative of Adela Flora, having her art at the center of these pivotal moments is an honor she doesn’t take lightly. She learned early on in her business that it takes a creative team to pull a vision together.

“What I learned after working alone in my business is that creativity flourishes with more creativity,” explains Natalie. “Being open to other creators and seeing them as collaborators and not competitors had the biggest impact on my growth as a company.”

Assembling a team of inspired individuals allowed Natalie to build a flourishing business based on teamwork and collaboration.

Natalie prides herself not only on bringing her customers the most beautiful blooms available but also emphasizes the

importance of sustainability. “We know that our flowers play a supporting role in our bigger mission of giving back to our community,” she says. “We do this by purchasing from over seven local flower farmers, knowing the best thing we can do for sustainability and our community is to shop local and often.”

As a leader, Natalie consciously checks any ego at the door. Learning from and with her team is the magic ingredient to cultivating a successful business. “If there is a different look or aesthetic we are trying to create, we do it collaboratively,” Natalie reflects. “I want my legacy to be one of compassion-lead teamwork.”

Another way Adlea Flora gives back is through their Flower Fairy Program. In partnership with Community Connections, wedding and event flowers are upcycled and distributed throughout the community. From sustainability to spreading happiness, Natalie and the team at Adela Flora understand the true meaning of “flower power”!

ARTICLE BY RACHEL ROSENTHAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CANDACE CROSS

“What I learned after working alone in my business is that creativity flourishes with more creativity.” “

L E ADIN G LADI E S

Whether leadership comes naturally to those reading this issue or requires consistent practice, it is vital to have women in leadership roles within the community. We asked four standout female leaders to impart their wisdom on stepping into the spotlight and leading the way for others. Follow along for inspiration and candid advice.

INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN SHARE THEIR WISDOM ON LEADERSHIP

ARTICLE BY RACHEL ROSENTHAL

MELISSA YOUSSEF KELSIE BORLAND

Former Mayor of Durango Executive Director of The Hive

WILL YOU SHARE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL LEADER? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR PATH OR EVEN CATAPULTED YOU INTO IT?

The path to City Council came organically to me. I had been actively involved in our community for decades. Over time, it became the next most appropriate step, given my desire to be involved in the community, have a voice, and represent our people.

WHAT IS THE MOST ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS?

It became evident that in our system of governance, you are only as effective as your team, and you must have good working relationships with your colleagues.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO WOMEN ASPIRING TO BE COMMUNITY LEADERS?

If you desire to be involved in the community and assume an active leadership position, do it by engaging with the community, building strong relationships with your colleagues and peers, and focusing first on areas that you are passionate about. Your leadership and communication skills will naturally develop if you are passionate about the topic and have spent enough time educating yourself on issues surrounding it. Have confidence and have fun.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF YOUR BUSINESS?

The biggest challenge is getting the funding necessary to realize our potential. A new nonprofit business is always challenging because you must prove your worth to your supporters before doing the work. I have been blessed to run SOS Outreach, a snowboard mentoring program, for ten years, and the community could get behind the vision of expanding this beyond snowboarding into a full-time, year-round opportunity with skateboarding, art, music and beyond

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PIVOTAL MOMENTS OR DECISIONS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED YOUR PROFESSIONAL TRAJECTORY?

Having my sister pass at the age of 34, and watching multiple friends struggle in the system and with substance abuse through my adolescence is what motivates the work I do today. Although my sister had a lot of family support and support within the system, there still was no space for her to simply go and be herself. Her spirit has motivated me to create what she and so many other youth in the community needed.

HEATHER ROBERTSON LATITIA TAYLOR

Founder of Bold Arrival

WILL YOU SHARE YOUR JOURNEY OF BECOMING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER?

At the core of everything I speak, write, or teach is how to become empowered and uplifted into a more genuine version of who we are.

With my two decades of background in meditation, yoga, leadership, and strategic planning, I clearly saw the pathways to inspire those who wanted to lead differently and be empowered toward success and wellness. Today, my company serves motivated people who want to be empowered.

WHAT STRATEGIES DID YOU EMPLOY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS?

I employed my relationship-building skills through live speaking/teaching events, workshops and retreats, and writing. I still do this today. In-person and real-time connections cultivate trust, which is my priority.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PIVOTAL MOMENTS OR DECISIONS THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED YOUR BUSINESS?

One was four years ago, in March 2020. During that time, many of my clients were experiencing a lot of stress due to the pandemic. To support them, I began offering free live Sunday meditations every week for 30 minutes, along with a weekly message. As a result of this initiative, someone from Oracle Corp. approached me and asked me to offer this service to their team. It was a game changer.

Education Director for the Southern Ute Tribe

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR PATH OR EVEN CATAPULTED YOU INTO IT?

I gravitate to being an introvert.  However, I believe that the Creator blessed me to help children.  Jobs and projects around youth were constantly falling into my lap.  I eventually embraced it. I enjoyed sharing knowledge and making sure every single student understood. Coaching basketball is another part of my life. I coached from pewees to the North American Indigenous tournaments with players right out of high school and going on to college.

WHAT ROLE HAS MENTORSHIP PLAYED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY, AND WILL YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE MOMENT THAT YOU HOLD ON TO FROM THAT MENTOR?

Dr. Edward Schneider from SW Texas State University was the Dean of Science and my graduate mentor. He taught me to have a voice and not to worry if I stood alone on ideas. When we were in the jungles of Malaysia (part of my thesis research), we had portable light microscopes.  We were looking at plant material from a water lilies species.  Dr. Schneider said, “La Titia, come look at this plant and the morphological features.”  He was so excited to show me. There was another professor on the trip who told me I couldn’t finish. They came running over to Dr. Schneider and got in front of me.  He looked at them and said, “Are you La Titia?”. His courage and strength showed me I was worth something, and he saw it.

Laura’s Artisan Cafe

1259 Main Ave durangosustainablegoods.com durangoflorist.com

handcrafted house interior design & finishes

handcrafted house is your Durango destination for interior design and non-toxic finishes.

We specialize in home remodels and unique plaster installations.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the talented women artisans and contractors who collaborate with us.

handcraftedhouse.com

1323 East 2nd Ave • Durango 970•247•4046

events

Durango Farmers Market

TBK Bank parking lot on 8th St | 8:00 AM

Come enjoy the Durango Farmers Market every Saturday from May 11 through October 26 in the TBK bank parking lot on Eighth Street. There will be local musicians every weekend.

MAY 4TH

The 15th Annual Dandelion Festival

Rotary Park | 1:00 PM

Enjoy this fun, free music and art festival which will include music, local food, arts and crafts, vendors, dandelion, beer garden, dance performances, maypole, dance, live painting, thrift store and informative and fun activities for youth and adults.

Understanding Wildfires

Durango recreation center | 4:30 PM

This is a free wildfire, risk workshop and addresses how mitigation can affect the outcome of a wildfire, and what to expect.

Surgery Center. When he’s not working, Dr. Allen likes

favorite pastime

time

BOOK guide 5

NON-FICTION :

Karlene Stange - The Spiritual Nature of Animals: A Country Vet Explores the Wisdom, Compassion, and Souls of Animals

NON-FICTION :

Heather Hansman - Powder Days: Ski Bums, Ski Towns and the Future of Chasing Snow

FICTION :

Kali Fajardo-Anstine - Woman of Light

FICTION :

Mandy Mikulencak - Forgiveness Road

CHILDREN’S :

Jennifer Grais - Christa’s Luck: The Story of a girl, her horse, and the last wild mustangs

Welcome to the future of design in Durango with the launch of the Gallery Building, a pinnacle of innovation for both residential and commercial projects. This new destination offers unmatched convenience for builders, homeowners, and businesses seeking top-tier design solutions.

Explore an extensive array of amenities, including custom lighting, luxury hardwood and tile flooring, designer window treatments, elegant plumbing fixtures, opulent tubs, distinctive wallpapers, luxury vinyl plank premium carpets, rugs, and a selection of fine furniture—all designed to perfect your living or working space.

Visit us this summer at the Gallery Building and see how our one-stop design hub can transform your next project into a masterpiece of functionality and style.