’23 Ascent Launch Party!

Join us Thursday, January 19th at the Steamplant Event Center in Salida, Colorado

SORRY THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
SORRY THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

COME MEET THE WINTER ’23 COHORT AND EXPLORE HOW ENTREPRENEURS SHAPE COMMUNITIES!

REGISTER HERE
 

Calling all mountain town entrepreneurs, mentors, dreamers, and doers!

Join us Thursday, January 19th for the 2nd Annual Ascent Launch Event!

Featuring Icelantic Skis’ Co-Founder and CEO, Annelise Loevlie; inspiring startup stories from local founders and business leaders; amazing food, drinks, and live music featuring David Lawrence & The Spoonful Trio!

  

The Agenda

  • 4pm – 5pm – Welcome Reception powered by Collegiate Peaks Bank

  • 5pm – Ascent Launch Party!
    ~Winter ’22 Ascent Cohort Check-in – Hey Sweetie! w Rob and Sarah Gartzman
    ~Ascent Mentor Profile w/ Joe Thurman, Founder, InterviewIA
    ~Startup Stories w/ Carlin Walsh, Colorado Central Telecom & Elevation Beer Co.
    ~Startup Stories w/ Mike Harvey, Founder & CEO, Badfish Standup Paddleboards
    ~Startup Stories w/ Annelise Loevlie, CEO, Icelantic Skis
    ~Meet the Winter ’23 Cohort!- Emcee’d by Chuck Sullivan, Founder, The Wright
  • 7pm – Dinner + Drinks + Live Music with David Lawrence & The Spoonful Trio
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Presented by

Meet Our Keynote Speaker: Annelise Loevlie
Co-founder and CEO, Icelantic Skis

Annelise Loevlie grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and spent her childhood outside exploring the world and adventuring in her backyard. A childhood friend of Icelantic founders Ben Anderson and Travis Parr, she naturally gravitated to the idea of starting a ski company, and many moons later, is still here. As CEO, Annelise takes pride in creating a work environment that is safe, open, healthy, and poised for growth. Outside of running @icelantic_skis, Annelise finds joy in exploring nature with her friends and dog, Louie, gardening, practicing herbalism, cooking, dancing and singing loud.

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Meet Our Emcee & Startup Story Founders

We’re so excited to sit down with Carlin Walsh and Sarah Gartzman and share with you the inspiring startup stories of these successful Chaffee County entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Meet Our Emcee: Chuck Sullivan,
Executive Director, The Wright

A Colorado-based nonprofit organization, The Wright helps shape the economic and cultural vitality of our western communities by bringing together place-makers and innovators to awaken ideas, unlock new partnerships, and celebrate the wins. At the helm of The Wright, Chuck’s best days are spent immersed in the everyday work of real people and real communities across Colorado.

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Joe Thurman | Startup Story Spotlight
Joe Thurman | Startup Story SpotlightCo-Founder and CEO, interviewIA
Joe is an entrepreneur, community leader, and talent expert who is currently the founder and CEO of interviewIA of, a VC-backed SaaS company focused on transforming the hiring process via data and machine learning.
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Mike Harvey | Startup Story Spotlight
Mike Harvey | Startup Story SpotlightFounder & CEO, Badfish Standup Paddleboards
Mike co-founded Badfish SUP, a Salida-based company that manufactures and sells industry leading standup paddleboards, pioneering in one of the fastest growing river sports segments in recent years.
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Rob & Sarah Gartzman | Startup Story
Rob & Sarah Gartzman | Startup StoryFounders Sweeties, Biker & The Baker, and Hey Sweetie!
Rob & Sarah Gartzman are the founders of Sweetie’s and The Biker & The Baker, located in Salida, CO. Their newest venture Hey Sweetie! established during her Ascent program is a gormet product line of baked goods and baking mixes.
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Carlin Walsh | Startup Story Spotlight
Carlin Walsh | Startup Story SpotlightFounder of Elevation Beer Company & CEO Colorado Central Telecom (CCT)
Carlin Walsh is the Founder of Elevation Beer Company, a craft brewery in Poncha Springs, CO. Carlin was also recently named CEO of Colorado Central Telecom and has been an Executive Board Member of Chaffee County EDC since 2013.
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Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Meet The Outgoing Ascent 2022 Cohort!

Inspired By Excellence & Innovation

Backed by some of the best business minds in Colorado and beyond, participants in our winter 2022 cohort will experience a level of startup and scaleup support that has never existed in the Central Mountains business community. Until now. Get to know these ten very special purpose-driven businesses that are making a big impact in our community.

MEET THE COHORT

ABOUT US

PARTNERS

MENTORS

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