Jeff Metzger, founder & CEO of Projective Studios
Jeff Metzger has spent most of his career in design and construction — but Projective was built from a bigger idea: that people deserve to truly understand the spaces they're creating before they’re built.
To Jeff, buildings are never just structures. They shape how people live, work, gather, and experience the world. That belief drives everything at Projective, where clients walk their floor plans at full scale before a single wall goes up.
As founder and CEO of an early-stage company, Jeff owns every role. He leads with accountability, grit, and an unwavering focus on relationships. At its core, construction is a people business. Trust and communication aren't soft skills here; they're the foundation.
Inspired by his family, Jeff is building something that matters. His advice to others? Follow your passions, take the risk, and remember — everything you want is on the other side of fear.
Joshua Lewis, financial analyst at Layman Lewis Financial Group
Joshua Lewis didn’t originally plan on a career in financial services. Like many people, his path shifted. What began in a different direction eventually led him into financial planning after his wife, Alicia, alongside her dad Chuck, launched Layman Lewis Financial Group. Fourteen years later, he’s still there—working with families who are either approaching retirement or already in it.
That experience has shaped how he sees both money and life.
“Most people think retirement is a straight line,” Joshua says. “You work, you save, and then one day everything just falls into place. But that’s not how it actually works.”
Instead, he sees people navigating uncertainty—markets that don’t cooperate, rising costs, and life events that rarely show up on schedule. The issue, he’s found, isn’t effort. It’s clarity.
“We spend a lot of time looking at the ‘what ifs,’” he explains. “Not to scare people, but to prepare for the reality that things won’t always go perfectly. The goal is to build a plan that still works even when something doesn’t.”
Rather than trying to predict markets or react to headlines, Joshua focuses on building a foundation—income, risk, and flexibility. The pieces that don’t rely on guesswork.
“I think people underestimate how powerful it is just to understand where their income is coming from,” he says. “When you have that clarity, a lot of the noise doesn’t hit the same way.”
That perspective comes from years of working closely with clients through both strong markets and difficult seasons.
“You get to be part of some really meaningful moments,” Joshua says. “It’s not just numbers—it’s people’s lives.”
Although his career didn’t follow the path he originally expected, Joshua doesn’t see that as a setback. If anything, it shaped his outlook.
“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” he says. “Sometimes learning what doesn’t work is just as important as getting it right.”
For him, the lesson is simple: focus on what you can control, build a plan that accounts for uncertainty, and keep moving forward—even when the path isn’t perfectly clear. Having a solid foundation in your financial plan gives you the opportunity to go out and enjoy all life has to offer.
Phil Hicks, founder & principal consultant of Sole Solutions
For Phil Hicks, clarity and alignment act as essential building blocks for constructing a solid foundation. Organizations must clearly align their principles, purpose, and people – something his company, Sole Solutions, helps leaders to develop from the inside out.
With a “player-coach mindset” and a philosophy rooted in stewardship, Phil works alongside leaders to assist them to focus on what’s most important, simplify complex matters, and remain faithful to what’s entrusted to them.
“When leaders establish a foundation grounded in truth, integrity, and discipline, what they build is stronger, more resilient, and able to stand firm when faced with challenges,” Phil shares. “Strong organizations create strong communities.”
Guy McConnell, Grimmbassador at Grimm Brothers Brewing
Find your passion. Follow your passion. Live your passion.
It's a philosophy that Guy McConnell of Grimm Brothers Brewing adheres to and advises others to follow.
“My job is fueled by my passion for this company and this brand,” says Guy, noting his link to Grimm Brothers Brewing’s beginnings. “My work philosophy is that work is where you spend most of your time, so don’t do it if you don’t love it.”
Guy’s passion for beer eventually steered him from the high-tech industry to a job at a brewery. His love for beer dates back to 1990 when he started home brewing his own beer in Huntsville, Alabama.
Michael Haren, owner/founder of Iron Studio
Metal symbolizes strength and longevity. It’s often the sturdiest material, coupled with steel supports, for building a foundation.
“Most people have a gap where they need a solution,” says Michael Haren, owner of Iron Studio. “They need a tool to work faster, a railing to make their home worth more, or a beautiful piece of art to enjoy. We use metal to fill those gaps. We take raw steel and turn it into whatever makes your life better.”
For him, it’s not just about “welding metal.” It’s about crafting exactly what the customer wants.
“There is absolutely nothing as fulfilling as taking a vision from the mind and bringing it into physical reality.”
Eddie Mayer, owner & CEO of Mayer Plumbing
For Eddie Mayer, plumbing is more than a trade. It is the discipline of building something real, reliable, and lasting. As owner and CEO of Mayer Plumbing, Eddie was drawn to work that directly helps people, solving problems when comfort, safety, and everyday life depend on it.
His approach is simple and strong: do what you say you are going to do, and do it well. In plumbing, every lasting system begins with a solid foundation. From Eddie’s perspective, the same is true in business. Quality materials, clear communication, integrity, consistency, and standing behind the work are the principles that allow trust to grow.
Eddie’s work serves the community by providing clean water, sanitation, and safe systems people can depend on without a second thought. Driven by family, responsibility, and the desire to build something meaningful, he believes reputation is everything. Eddie encourages young people to learn a trade, stay disciplined, work hard, and focus on creating a future with lasting value.
Ziyad Zakaria and Christopher Mayhue, co-owners of Lighthouse Family Mortuary
Families in mourning naturally turn to Ziyad Zakaria (“Zak”) and Christopher Mayhue, co-owners of Lighthouse Family Mortuary, to be their rocks during difficult times of loss and transition.
“Every person grieves differently,” Zak reflects. “And I feel like our job is to be that foundation for them…. We’re here for them.”
Men of faith, Zak & Chris’ cores are grounded in their church and their loving relationships to God and family, something they both enjoy sharing with everyone who walks through Lighthouse’s doors.
Prior to the mortuary, both Zak and Chris worked in law enforcement and at the Weld County Coroner’s Office. The two have dedicated their whole lives to providing service to others.
“Our foundation is service before self,” Chris says. “And this is how we are able to serve others in a way that is truly meaningful, plus we don’t have to wear body armor anymore.”
For the two of them, operating a business isn’t about making money. It’s about spreading love, care, and comfort through faith, empathy, and understanding.