Blog
Purple Mountains Majesties… Reflection In the Rockies
As I made my way to work, my normal route, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the mountains. The national anthem came to mind, “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountains majesties…” I imagined Katharine Lee Bates, who originally titled the poem “Pikes Peak,” waking up early on a winter morning to pen these immortal words.
10 Hours and 38 Minutes in the Grand Canyon
It was late May, but the morning air was frigid on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. I was excited but nervous about what lay ahead of me. Our challenge: hiking from the south rim to the north rim in one day.
The Energy to Lead
Paul invited me to be part of the founding team for this new enterprise, Kadi Energy Company. Kadi means “light” in Paul’s native language of Ewe, spoken in southeastern Ghana. Addressing Ghana’s energy insecurity issues seemed like an unsurmountable task to those of us on the team, and it was an even tougher sell to investors. Convincing them your startup is the most deserving recipient of their money and time requires considerable conviction and strategic planning. It was – hands down – the most exhilarating professional experience I’ve ever had.
Under the Etruscan Sun: Lessons in Life and Leadership from a Classical Archaeology Student
Jordan Miranda, a dear friend and valued colleague, passed away on February 29. It is a tragic loss for the El Pomar family and he will be deeply missed. Several weeks prior, Jordan wrote this blog post, “Under the Etruscan Sun.” We share it in his memory, as a reminder of his character and wisdom and a model for living our lives.
Voices of the Fellowship: Fellows Share the Highlights of Supporting the Empty Stocking Fund
Fellows share the highlights of working with and giving to the Empty Stocking Fund campaign.
Voices of the Fellowship: Lessons from WLA
Annual Western Legislative Academy in December at Penrose House
A Perspective Outside My Own
How are we going to know who they are?” we joked as we anxiously awaited the arrival of the eight Israeli leaders in the arrivals hall of Denver International Airport. As eight suited men and women came up the escalators taking rapid fire selfies, we quickly realized we need not worry. Our delegates had arrived.
Wowed by the San Juans
The six county San Juan Region is a place where the spirit of Colorado not only lives, but thrives. It is a place of coal mines and cowboys, of hiking and hemp. It is inhabited by people who are proud, resilient, and welcoming. And it is this vastness and diversity that make succinctly answering the question, “What makes the San Juan region unique?” such a difficult task. Difficult, but not impossible.
One Night Out
I think it’s about 4 am. Someone’s footsteps, crunching through frozen grass, catch my attention. It sounds as though they are standing right over my frost-covered sleeping bag.
Voices of the Fellowship: The Season of the Fellowship
Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work; a company work; a society work; a civilization work.” While Lombardi was probably trying to motivate one of his NFL Championship-winning, Packers squads, he could just as well have been talking to a group of El Pomar Fellows about what would be expected of them over the course of their tenure at the Foundation.