I had a ton of fun in today’s podcast - kind of a get-to-truly-know someone you’ve known and appreciated for 25 years already - Kelly Sage - FKA Kelly Jones - FKA Kelly Peters when we first met circa 2001. Kelly has worked in economic development since I first moved to Fort Collins in 1999, and was instrumental in the launch of the Rocky Mountain Innosphere and the Warehouse Business Accelerator, she’s served on more boards than I can count on both hands - and she’s currently the President and CEO of the Longmont Economic Development Partnership.
Kelly and I share so many characteristics, that I teased during this conversation that we were siblings separated by birth. We sing The Star Spangled Banner together in this one - acapella - and our personal values are much like mirrors. But our journeys couldn’t be more different. Her hippie mom left the family in Waterloo, Iowa when Kelly was twelve - and she became the responsible adult of the household. Her dad was a rock and roll star locally - and travelled and opened for big names - and he ran a successful home supply business - until his alcoholism overcame and his business went bankrupt.
A few years later, Kelly moved in with her mostly estranged mother to Northern Colorado - and she began her pursuit of building economic prosperity and security through a philosophy she early subscribed to called economic gardening. Too many stories to share in this intro - but you have my promise that you will very much enjoy - as I did - my conversation with Kelly Sage.