Getting to know who’s behind the business
For the past decade, The Connection has kept readers abreast of business happenings in the community through the “Business Briefs” section of the newspaper and though advertising partnerships. In this “Behind the Business” segment, we introduce the individuals who are the inspiration behind some of our local businesses and share insights about their interests, passions, hobbies and families. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to tell their stories, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them better.
As of May, The Bundt Shoppe has new owners. Jake and Savannah Whitehead bought the franchise for all three locations in the area: Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch and Greenwood Village. Jake and Savannah tasted their first bundts when they moved to The Village at Castle Pines in 2021. “I absolutely loved the cake,” Jake said.…
Two Indian women, Priya Kumar and Minakshi Ashra, who had been on different career paths, are now embarking on a new journey together as co-owners of The Pines Sports Bar & Grill, formerly Berg Haus. “I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” said Priya. “Minakshi is helping me understand this line of business. It’s exciting!”…
Finding an honest and trustworthy contractor during any commercial or residential remodeling project can be daunting. Keith Rodenberger knows it all too well, and as the owner of MaK Construction, he firmly believes your next construction project can be “easy, enjoyable and stress-free.” Keith is no stranger to operating and managing a successful business. He…
The Grace family have a shared vision and passion for their local business, Out of Sight Closets and Garages, which helps the families of Castle Pines, Castle Rock and the surrounding areas organize their homes. Joel Grace worked in the timber industry. After being transferred to Highlands Ranch in 1998, he decided he wanted to…
The Clarity Group (Clarity) on Village Square Drive is a different kind of therapy clinic. Owner Whitney Herrmann is committed to excellence in mental health therapy. She recruited a team of therapists who are the best in their field and who continue to improve and deepen their knowledge to benefit their clients. But what is…
The invention of the printing press is attributed to Johannes Gutenberg, a German goldsmith and inventor, in the 1400s. His invention revolutionized mass book production and the dissemination of information. Many books and newspapers have moved to the digital format, but ink to paper is not a lost form – just ask longtime Colorado residents…
During the height of the pandemic, there was a shortage of not only hygiene products like hand sanitizer and toilet paper, but schools faced a shortage of teachers. After his wife Jean came home from a school board meeting at Douglas County School District, Thad Dupper decided to get certified as a substitute teacher and…
It is not often in these modern times that one gets invited over for afternoon tea or snacks and delightful conversation. Charlene Chorn is such a host. Not surprisingly, she welcomed me into her lovely home with the table set with a fine bone China snack set that would have made the…
Jim Collin’s book Good to Great speaks of transitioning a business from good to great by having “disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action.” The first step to greatness according to Collins is “first who, then what?” – which starts with leadership. Pino’s Italian Kitchen & Bar has a new owner and manager, Dimas Asevedo,…
Blooming people’s purpose In 2005, Professor Jeannette Haviland-Jones of Rutgers University published a scientific finding that flowers are an environmental approach to positive emotions. Empirically speaking, flowers have power. Lindsey Davidson Marrone tapped into this flower power and in 2019 started her floral design business, Bliss Bouquet Bar (BBB) from her home in the Estates…
The Golden Rule in action Soft hands can make all the difference between success and failure in any business. Christian Brothers Automotive in Castle Rock owners Steve and Andrea Peterson seem to be proof of that concept. The Petersons’ road to our community is an interesting tale. Midlife malaise hit Steve like a brick wall…
Candid cameraman connecting singles After 34 years as a professional photographer – 19 of which have been in a studio in the Village Shops – Jimmy Dozer’s focus continues to sharpen and evolve. For decades, Jimmy has specialized in capturing memorable moments in the lives of babies, children, high school seniors and families. He has…
Watering the garden of life Jennifer Drinkwine Rexroat is an exceptional woman of strength, character and compassion for people who need it the most. She and her husband, Karl, are funeral directors at Drinkwine Family Mortuary, a third-generation family business based in Littleton. Rexroat’s grandparents, Lila and Donald Drinkwine, bought the business more than 60…
The Spirit of a Family Man Josh Kimsey is a busy guy. President of Bubbles Liquor World in Castle Rock and involved in philanthropy and many activities, especially with his family, Kimsey said he has a lot on his plate but is glad his businesses are close by. A Denver native, Kimsey attended Cherry Creek…
The man behind the oyster Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood opened its second location in Lone Tree earlier this year, and it has become as popular as the flagship Cherry Creek locale. Owner Sean Huggard’s title is Chief Decision Maker, a moniker he gave himself, saying that “CEO” or “president” was too serious for…
Celebrating 20 Years in Castle Pines Castle Pines Dental Care will celebrate 20 years in the community in August. Dr. Matt Rolfson attributes the success of the business to personal attention to each patient and the advances in technology and knowledge to make dental treatment easier and less complicated. “I don’t believe that dental treatment…
Next generation of chefs There’s a new generation of chefs at local favorite Trestles Coastal Cuisine in The Village at Castle Pines Shops. Owners Mimi and Jose Espinoza are proud to announce the new head chef, Verity Warriner, and their son, Patrick Espinoza, as sous chef, second in command. Warriner has been at Trestles for…
A Salt-of-the-Earth Renaissance Man Nick Ainsworth is an insurance agent, business owner and the quintessential Renaissance man. Under the banner of State Farm Insurance, Ainsworth hung out his shingle on Village Square Lane in January 2020 and the fledgling business has already garnered success. No surprise, Ainsworth’s history equates to an admirable work ethic, love…
Making a difference, holistically By Hollen Wheeler; photos courtesy of Vonda Muncy Acupuncturist Vonda Muncy is a businesswoman, outdoor enthusiast and wellness guru. For more than five years, she has run Soul Potential Acupuncture & Wellness, located on Happy Canyon Road in the Village shops. As a clinical director, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine…
Connecting with customers and grateful for community Dennis Fossceco has held several roles in his 30 years with King Soopers, but being the store leader at the Castle Pines location has been a “blessing.” “I’ve worn many hats throughout my career at King Soopers and for Kroger [the parent company of King Soopers], but…
New Ownership, New Energy By Hollen Wheeler; courtesy photos Classy Nails in the City of Castle Pines has a new owner. Holly Shirmenzagas acquired the day spa in November 2021 and is excited for her latest endeavor. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, so this was the perfect opportunity,” said Shirmenzagas. Born in Mongolia,…
A family business built on heart Local business owner Roz Schroeder is a wife, mother, grandmother, outdoor enthusiast and a proud resident of The Village at Castle Pines since 1999. She is director of Cielo at Castle Pines, an event venue located on Happy Canyon Road that specializes and caters to the customer’s desire. “From…
Friendship leads to a flourishing business Longtime friends Desiree Moore and Amber Long have been the business owners of The Woodhouse Day Spa located in the Village Shops in Castle Pines since April 2011. The two met while working for the same physician’s office 20 years ago. Long has a background in dermatology, and Moore…
A get it done attitude leads to a successful career By Carin R. Kirkegaard; photos courtesy of Tobi Duffey For most residents, election season begins when temperatures drop, candidate signs start appearing staked in yards, and election ads run during commercial time-outs of the Denver Broncos game. For the City of Castle Pines City Clerk…
Bringing the party to the party By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Whitney Shank Colorado native and Castle Pines resident for nearly 17 years, Whitney Shank intended on being a stay-at-home mom until her kids were grown. After planning a lot of events for her kids’ elementary school, her name was mentioned to the Castle…
By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the Christensen family Although the address has remained the same for decades, the name and faces behind the urgent care practice at 7280 Lagae Road have changed. Formerly known simply as Castle Pines Urgent Care, OnPoint Medical Group, with doctors Mark and Heidi Christensen, bought the practice more than…
A family business By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of the Coufal family Physical therapy student at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Ryan Coufal, got more than he bargained for as a college student. Originally from Durango, Colorado, Ryan got his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from UNM in physical therapy and muscle activation techniques (PTMAT),…
A father and son endeavor By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Derek Blaha Father and son Joe and Derek Blaha have been involved in various aspects of the laundry and dry cleaning industry for more than 30 years in Colorado. Joe is still employed by the original company that built and managed Castle Pines GreenEarth…
Adventure-seeking enthusiasts By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of Charlotte Mattox Not long after Charlotte and Jim Mattox moved to Colorado from Florida 14 years ago, they became involved in community causes. As many transplants do, the owners of Castle Rock EyeWear fell in love with Colorado while here on vacation. They opened their business in…
Dana Jevarjian and the complexities of boutique management Her Linkedin profile says “Club Manager / Director of Lifestyle & Events at BlueStar Resort & Golf. However, that doesn’t seem to fully cover the many complexities of Dana Jevarjian, who is the manager of The Exchange Coffee + Conversation in The Canyons development on the east…
Simple pleasures and work Article and photo by Kathy Fallert Jack and Kay Yi stay very busy with dry cleaning and wet cleaning. The second owners of Castle Pines Cleaners, the Yis have been in business for 15 years. Both originally from South Korea, the couple met and married in Seattle 27 years ago. Kay’s…
Italian simplicity with a rustic touch By Kathy Fallert, photos courtesy of Lasinda Crane October 1, 2020 was a special day for Jimmy and Lasinda Crane, owners of Cranelli’s Italian Restaurant in Lone Tree. It was their 20th wedding anniversary. Together for 27 years, the couple lives in Highlands Ranch, as do their three kids,…
Crafter discovers her career in a most serendipitous way Debbi Haynie, 19-year resident of the Stonecroft neighborhood in Castle Pines, has lived in many places throughout the United States – including Arizona, Nebraska, Texas and California. “Growing up, my dad worked for Hormel, so we moved about every four years,” Haynie reflected. Debbi and her…
Enjoying all that Colorado has to offer By Chris Michlewicz; photos courtesy of the Whalen family Few transplants have embraced the Colorado lifestyle as quickly and enthusiastically as Dave Whalen. By weekday, Whalen is the chief operating officer and general manager for the Country Club at Castle Pines. By weekend, he and his wife of…
Adventures in life and in the kitchen By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Jo Brinkerhoff Mark Brinkerhoff’s passion for hospitality runs deep, with roots in Douglas County that have brought him full circle – back home to Castle Pines. A Colorado native, Mark grew up in Sedalia, the second of four children in a very…
Nontraditional works for them By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Julie Snook Dr. Randy Snook, a 24-year resident of Glen Oaks and his wife of 18 years, Julie Snook, are the owners of Advanced Integrative Medicine (AIM) in Lone Tree. Randy, originally from Alamosa, Colorado, always knew he wanted to be a doctor and…
The kitchen is his office By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Hernandez family Born in Southern California, Mike Hernandez moved to Guadalajara, Mexico when he was just a baby. By the time he was 17 years old, Hernandez was ready to spread his wings and start blazing his own trail, so he moved to…
At the hospital helm By Kathy Fallert; photos courtesy of Brandon Nudd Relative newcomer to Douglas County, resident Brandon Nudd moved to Colorado in 2018 to become the CEO of Castle Rock Adventist Hospital. Nudd was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He met his wife, Maria, while in elementary school and they…
Welcome to the community Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan Bruce Ringgenberg, majority owner and manager of Berg Haus, Castle Pines newest bar and grill is no stranger to opening and running a successful restaurant. In 2009, he was living in Minnesota when he sold his successful financial services company and jumped on the street…
Around the world to the kitchen By Kathy Fallert; courtesy photos Kim Heidemann was originally a chef and one of six partners at Union An American Bistro located in Castle Rock when the restaurant opened its doors 15 years ago. The popular stop has gone through some changes during those years and so has Heidemann.…
Growing up Rosacci style By Kathy Fallert; photo by Terri Wiebold and courtesy of the Rosacci family Daniel Rosacci, the 55-year-old CEO and president of Tony’s Meats & Market (Tony’s), has had only one job in his entire life. Starting as a 13-year-old seventh grader at Isaac Newton Junior High School in…
Football and hot wings: A family tradition Article and photos by Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of the Ulrich family Lincoln is not only Nebraska’s capital city, on Saturdays in the fall it is flooded with a sea of red as all eyes turn to watch the University of Nebraska’s football team take the field. Nebraska…
Sharing a little good news By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Terri Wiebold Owner and publisher of The Castle Pines Connection, Terri Wiebold, lives in Parker but calls the Castle Pines community her home away from home. “I am very emotionally connected to Castle Pines, but living outside the community helps me to stay objective,”…
Natural beauty and nature By Susan Helton; photo courtesy of Stefanie Palko Stefanie Palko, owner and president of Copperfalls Aveda Spa and Salon, founded the company roughly 20 years ago. “Downtown Castle Rock was just starting to bloom, and the timing was perfect,” stated Stefanie. “Day spas were becoming a thing and I knew I…
A blast of a journey By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Jimmy Dozer and Tim Clark As vice president and managing broker of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty (LIVSIR), Tim Clark manages all three of the Douglas County offices. “My awesome wife, Maureen, who goes by ‘Mo’, is also my business partner,” Tim stated. Having recently…
A mission of change By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Williams family Dr. Jeremy Williams, a Colorado native and resident of The Village, is co-owner of Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery with partners Dr. Christopher Williams and Dr. Michael Miller. Jeremy grew up in Colorado Springs. “My family’s been here for about 130 years,” he…
The Torscher bunch By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Cheryl Torscher Colorado native Gary Torscher is co-owner of Castle Pines North Wine & Spirits. His sister-in-law Tammy Sloat is his partner in the business. Gary first met his wife Cheryl, another Colorado native, on the train to Glenwood Springs when they were 15 years old.…
Family and change, jewelry and fishing By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Lacee Hill Lacee’s favorite place to fish is the San Juan River in New Mexico, although the trout do like to try to flop away! Jared introduced her to the area, which has become a family getaway.Lacee Hill, the friendly face you see…
Balance and connections By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of Nicole Moses Nicole Moses, owner of The UPS Store in Castle Pines, had originally planned to be a teacher. But during student teaching, she realized that it was not the right fit for her. She had already worked several years in her brother’s UPS Store downtown…
Passion for children’s oral health and embroidery By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Fox family Dr. Lisa Fox is owner of Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry and two other pediatric dental practices. She joined Colorado Kids Pediatric Dentistry 18 years ago and became the sole owner around 10 years ago. “My life’s passion has been…
Finding family, loving orthodontics and golf By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Dunbar family Dr. Andrew Dunbar – owner of Castle Pines Orthodontics and Castle Rock Orthodontics – and Jen, his wife of 28 years, love living in Castle Pines. “Such a great community! We’ve lived here almost 17 years and we’ve developed an…
Being his own boss By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Granados family Alberto Granados, owner of Las Fajitas Mexican Restaurant in Castle Pines, has worked in the restaurant business since he was a teen. After learning everything from dishwashing to managing, Alberto decided – along with his brother – it would be best to…
Loving the restaurant business By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Minarick family Neal Minarick, Duke’s Steakhouse owner and general manager, grew up raising beef and dairy cattle in Nebraska. Neal worked in restaurants throughout high school and college and found he loved the restaurant business. “I was hooked at age 16,” Neal stated. During…
Craftsman inspired by family By Susan Helton; photos courtesy of the Howarth family The Castle Pines Connection and Woody Howarth, builder/designer and president of Sterling Custom Homes, Inc., have a long history together, almost to The Connection’s very beginning. In 2009, Woody and his company stepped forward to help neighbors who had lost their home…
Heart of the bundt business By Susan Helton; photo courtesy of the Randall family Pam Randall, The Bundt Shoppe owner, is fond of many Bundt flavors. “But my all-time-go-to-when-I-want-to-eat-the-whole-thing flavors are the double chocolate and the lemon squeeze. So delicious!” stated Pam. When she started The Bundt Shoppe, Pam believed her family thought, “There goes…