Faith in Action with Jeff Faust, Lead Pastor of Vineyard Church of the Rockies

Faith in Action with Jeff Faust, Lead Pastor of Vineyard Church of the Rockies

I met Jeff Faust last summer, when I learned about and toured the bones of the Love FoCo Resource Center - and got to know him better at their benefit golf tournament last fall - which was my favorite “work” day of the year.  Love Foco  just held its ribbon cutting last month!  In this podcast, Jeff tells the tale of securing the real estate by gift, and the special community efforts that were made to build out the space into a full-service community health and resource center.   We also zoomed back with Jeff to his earlier chapters, including hands-on service work in the grittiest parts of Kansas City, his grooming as the future Lead Pastor of an established church there - and having a literal vision/call from God to head West and how he followed the call to Fort Collins.   Jeff is as entrepreneurial of a guy as you’ll ever get to know, and a heck of a communitarian - so please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Jeff Faust!

The Noco Pulse | Week of May 11th

Welcome back to the NoCo Pulse as we kick off the second week of May following a surprise snow day that had Northern Colorado kids out of school and riding bikes by afternoon. This week we're covering community news, business updates, and local highlights while celebrating the resilience and energy that makes NoCo special. What's moving features Miles Beyond Running Community and their upcoming Weld Your Metal Running Festival on May 30th and 31st in Eaton. This 146 acre private property event offers distances from a 7K run walk up to 100 miles, plus a 36 hour total mileage contest, complete with camping, glamping, sauna, cold plunge, massage, and mountain views. We also share an update on Mandy Mullen's attempt at the Cocodona 250 in Arizona. While she didn't finish, making it past the 155 mile mark before missing the time cutoff is an incredible achievement worth celebrating. Kudos to Don't Ember Productions for traveling with her to document the journey. On a sadder note, Saffron Scoops and Bites, the Indian restaurant and ice cream shop, has permanently closed but shared plans to return bigger and better than ever. Community gatherings spotlight Ginger and Baker's Murder Mystery Party coming up May 19th, with only about a dozen tickets remaining for the Baker's Half Dozen event. Fork Fun celebrates 25 years this summer, operating two mini golf courses, go kart track, laser tag, arcade, bumper boats, and restaurant while gifting millions of dollars of free usage to nonprofit children's causes like Boys and Girls Clubs, Matthews House, and Respite Care over the years. Friday Fest returns to downtown Greeley June 5th through August 7th, kicking off with the blues jam and featuring the go cup program where you can carry open alcohol from participating restaurants into 9th Street Plaza during events. Keeping the beat highlights the Loud Frame Film Festival coming to the Lyric May 22nd through 24th, an international film festival created by the same mind behind EDIY Horror Film Fest. They're seeking volunteers and vendors for the event. Thursday Night Live Concert Series returns May 28th for 16 consecutive weeks at Old Town Square, starting with The Burrows and their nine piece lineup at 7 PM, perfect for families and kids ready to dance. Community support features Stay: A Night of Metal and Hope, a metal concert at The Sound Bar on May 17th benefiting the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Larimer County. We share an inspiring story of Shana from a local cleaning company who moved to NoCo two years ago from Columbus, Ohio with her daughter in her car on gas cards. After her car broke down, a daily rental owner gifted her a vehicle for $250 with new tires and fresh oil, House of Neighborly Services helped with housing, and she's now thriving with stable housing, a $4 raise, and representing her cleaning agency at networking groups across Fort Collins. Business news celebrates Andrew Johnson with Business Networking Done Right, a former BNI director who started his own brand and has grown to four chapters with 20 members each. He's hosting a lunch and learn workshop May 20th through the Loveland Chamber on Building Stronger Referral Relationships, open to anyone for $30 including lunch. Shout out to Dixie Daly, who's everywhere in the community from creating pink coffee with Top of the Light Coffee to being named grand marshal for the upcoming Larimer County parade. She's also running for some kind of entrepreneur of impact recognition worth voting for. Food picks feature The Taco Stop, nationally recognized by USA Today, serving incredible tacos al carbon so full you can barely pick them up, led by classically trained chef Caesar from Mexico City. Yellow Crunch Colombian Restaurant opened their massive new location at The Exchange in the former Crooked Stave space, featuring giant murals by artists flown in from Colombia and a 12 by 20 foot television screen in a beautiful 3500 square foot space. Important announcement: The LoCo PULSE is officially becoming the NoCo PULSE in the coming weeks and getting its own RSS feed, making it easier for listeners who love the weekly community news format to find and follow along. Shout out to Laughing Buck Farm for being weekly listeners and sharing the podcast with their entire newsletter. They offer markets, vegetable swaps, and kids summer camps including homesteader camp and horse camp, plus a nonprofit supporting gardening and vegetables for people in our community. Stay connected, NoCo.

Vision Impaired but Entrepreneurially Gifted - My Fascinating Conversation with Pat Malloy

When Pat Malloy was in about 6th grade, his mother noticed that the same genetic affliction that had struck his father had been passed down to him, and so when he was 15, she took a microcassette recorder into the local Department of Motor Vehicles, was walked through the eye test by the technician, and delivered the recorded cassette to Pat for memorization. Pat lived as a sighted person for nearly the next decade, despite not being able to read a Stop sign until he’s already parked at it - and even then, not really - they’re just - familiar. In his early 20’s, Pat drifted into alcohol, and was fired from his job at his parents auto rental business - and spiraled.  When he was in his mid-20’s, he was trying to get back on the right track, having gone through recovery and AA, and was 6 months into his now 30+ year sobriety, and had confessed his vision impairment.  On an after-Christmas trip, his parents were killed when a series of rogue waves off the Isle of Tortuga took out their scuba vessel - a heavy trawler - killing all but a lone survivor.  Against odds, the Franchisor for their auto rental business, and the executor trustee of the estate - allowed Pat to run the business.  Within 3 years, Pat was operating one of the top locations in the franchise network, was selected to speak at an annual conference, and was rolling in the back of a stretch mini-limo, and being shuttled around by rental car staff.   Becoming part of the “in” crowd had its perks - and its dangers.  A local ophthalmologist helped Pat get a medical waiver and get his driver’s license back! - and he sold the rental business, moved around the country and traveled, started and closed or sold other businesses, got married, and lived again as a sighted person for a decade.  Eventually, Pat got divorced and moved to Eaton from the Lyons area, and nothing felt safe or familiar - and sacrificed his driving privileges again in 2012.   This is a wild one, with lots of moral ambiguity, inspirational entrepreneurship, and an almost-constant investigation of purpose and overcoming.  Pat’s got a lot of talent in business and construction, and has time on his hands - so if you hear this conversation and have a new side-quest for Pat Malloy - and can provide transportation! - email him at pat.malloy@gmail.com [http://gmail.com] Thanks for listening to The LoCo Experience podcast - if this episode inspires you in any way, please share it with a friend you think will enjoy it.

The Loco Pulse | Week of May 4th

Welcome back to the LoCo PULSE as we kick off the first week of May with fresh community news, events, and highlights from across Northern Colorado. This week we're celebrating business growth, gathering opportunities, and the vibrant arts scene that makes NoCo special. What's moving features Miles Beyond Running Community wrapping up support for Mandy Mullen at the Cocodona 250 in Arizona (catch episode 267 for the full story on that incredible 250 mile race). Their next big event is the Weld Your Metal Running Festival May 30th and 31st, featuring distances from 7K all the way to 100 miles on a private 146 acre property with camping, glamping, sauna, cold plunge, and mountain views. The Windsor Chamber of Commerce is making major moves under executive director Norma Perez, adding over 120 new members in just nine months. They've built an impressive slate of networking opportunities including the Strength of Windsor Men's Group, Women of Windsor, Wake Up Windsor coffees, and the WISE Young Professionals Group (Windsor Inspiring Successful and Engaged). Austin Hannon and his fiancée Micah are taking over ownership of the FoCo Food Truck Rally, bringing fresh energy and community awareness to this beloved summer gathering. Austin also works for Visit Fort Collins, making this partnership a perfect fit for growth. Community gatherings include Ginger and Baker hosting an exclusive farm event May 18th with Lisa Steele, author of In Season. Meet Ginger's flock of chickens, enjoy Q&A with the author, and taste recipes straight from the cookbook. Night on the Town returns to downtown Loveland every second Friday from May through October, with the first event this Friday featuring late shop hours and free museum entry. Saturday brings the Past and Progress Tour through four historic downtown Loveland buildings, with morning and afternoon tour times available for $10. Keeping the beat highlights Story Swap at the Lyric Cinema every first Thursday, featuring live storytelling where none of the stories are known in advance. May 7th's theme is Family Lore, with Hello's and Goodbye's coming June 4th. ABBA Euphoria brings the ultimate ABBA tribute show to the Rialto Theater May 9th. Fort Collins Art Week runs May 1st through 9th, now hosted by the Mural Project with events across Midtown and beyond. Catch the free History, Murals and Public Art tour Wednesday May 6th at 10 AM, and don't miss Circus in the Square Saturday at 3:30 PM with Live Beyond Limit for a kid friendly circus experience (waiver required). Check thisisnoco.com for the complete Art Week calendar. Community support spotlights Foundation for Accessible Music hosting their All Abilities Open Mic Night Thursday at New Belgium, featuring visual songbooks, AAC devices, sign language interpretation, live music accompaniment, and a quiet sensory break room. Homeward Alliance presents their Ungala fundraiser May 9th at the Lory Student Center with an intergalactic theme, welcoming space cowboys, Star Trek, Star Wars, or come as you are attire. RespectCare recently opened their new $12 million facility serving up to 155 kids at a time with special needs through activities and summer camps. Business news celebrates Alison Sebeck, executive director of the Warehouse Business Accelerator in Loveland and longtime LoCo Think Tank facilitator, nominated as Manufacturing Woman of the Year for 2026. She's transformed the Warehouse since taking over just before COVID. May is also membership month at Breeze Thru Car Wash, the perfect time to beat pollen season with unlimited washes at multiple locations across NoCo for just $20 monthly. Food picks feature Jack's Fish House premiering their new menu with an exciting Hunk of Fish program, allowing guests to learn exactly which fisherman caught their fish and where it came from that week. Look for Ben's full menu review coming soon on thisisnoco.com. Twin Staves cocktail bar in Windsor, located below Hearth Restaurant, is crafting intentional cocktails on par with Social and Ace Gillett's, led by bartender Sean who recently won a regional craft cocktail competition. Important announcement: The LoCo PULSE is evolving into the NoCo PULSE and moving to its own dedicated channel. The LoCo Experience will continue sharing business stories and advisory content with LoCo Think Tank, while the NoCo PULSE brings you community news and events. Both shows continue, just easier to find. Stay connected, NoCo.

EXPERIENCE 268 | Eric Goodman - Delivering Dollars and Enthusiasm for Great Causes

Eric Goodman - Delivering Dollars and Enthusiasm for Great Causes - Founder and Owner of Your Fundraising Team - and Co-Host of the Hot Takes with Goodman and Haertl sports podcast I met Eric Goodman at a local non-profit event, when I happened to be seated at his table, and complimented him on an above-average performance as a volunteer emcee.  We shared some fun banter, but during the paddle-raise it was more than obvious (which I already suspected) - that he was a pro - and a damn good one.   We connected after that, and during our first long phone call I shared how I sometimes emcee or paddle raise for events - but only as a volunteer - ya know, so he wouldn’t be threatened.  He challenged me - “You should charge - and learn enough so you do a great job and deserve to be paid!  I’ll mentor you, or teach you and a group of others from NOCO how to do it right if you like - no charge!”  I didn’t take him up on it - too busy I told myself - but we may revisit the idea. That’s the kinda guy Eric is - focused on being the best at his craft, and encouraging others to fulfill their potential, and to live generously.  He drops a ton of great information to help non-profits fundraise better - and he’s a great conversationalist, so please enjoy my time together with Eric Goodman.