Nicholas Dunagan - Founder of Health4Heroes
Founder of Health4Heroes, U.S. Army Combat Veteran, Nicholas Dunagan has first-hand experience in dealing with challenges faced by our Veteran community. After getting out of the military in 2014, he struggled with PTSD and other mental and physical health issues. It wasn’t until he became immersed in a local Veterans organization that he started to feel normalized, and found hope. He became active, healthy and engaged, which are now fundamental aspects of his organization.
Health4Heroes was founded in September 2020 with a mission to empower Veterans and First Responders to take command of their health, reduce the impact of service, and increase longevity through community, connection, and education.
Continually building a supportive community of like-minded individuals through events and activities like community workouts, recreation, social events and local member get-togethers, Health4Heroes also distributes educational material designed to empower their members to make informed decisions about their health. Health4Heroes also provides access to vital resources by partnering with local health and wellness businesses that offer exclusive discounts and support for our members.
DJ Lil Coop
When it comes to the word inspiration, Cooper Logan or DJ Lil Coop is the embodiment of letting faith and courage overcome life’s challenges and trials. At just 15 years old, he has faced more obstacles than some people ever know in a lifetime.
At the age of 3, Cooper fell ill and the events that followed changed the course of his life forever. Diagnosed with a heart disease known as Kawasaki Disease, it is this same diagnosis that caused him to develop two aneurysms in his coronary arteries. As a result of the medications needed for those aneurysms, he was also diagnosed with kidney failure. Despite facing a multitude of daunting health issues, Cooper possesses a wisdom beyond his years and chooses to focus on pouring his energy into the things that bring him joy.
Staying true to himself and following his passion for music, DJ Lil Coop has pursued his dream of becoming a DJ. By honing his skills and training with some of the best in the industry, he now holds a permanent spot with the Colorado Eagles Hockey Team and is actively living and pursuing his dreams despite the circumstances surrounding him. In the face of difficulties, Cooper chooses to focus on what sparks joy in his life, to have faith in what is to come, and to live his dreams now, because new day is a gift.
Dr. Shpendi Lluhani - Founder and Owner of Reconnect Chiropractic and The Hustle Hour
What was once a dream that Dr. Shpendi Lluhani and his wife, Deanna envisioned, is now a mainstay in the Loveland health community. Reconnect Chiropractic is a true family practice, where Dr. Shpendi and Dr. Deanna provide personalized and targeted chiropractic treatments that improve health and produce results.
For them, true chiropractic is meant to help remove the noise and obstacles that get in the way of proper messages between the brain and the body, hence the name Reconnect Chiropractic.
Dr. Shpendi is also the founder of local men’s networking group, The Hustle Hour. The Hustle Hour is the antidote to tiring networking groups that feel like a chore. Instead, Dr. Shpendi wanted a group that men look forward to going to. A place where they can come and relax while also connecting and making friendships in the community so that they can help each other grow and succeed.
Benjamin Williams - Speaker and Coach at www.thebenjaminwilliams.com
Impact. This is the theme that Benjamin Williams has built his life around. Parlaying his professional sports career into a speaking and coaching career, he has experienced depths of winning, losing, learning, and leading to the extent that he is now able to offer valuable insights and optimum impact.
As a two-sport pro athlete with successful indoor football and MMA careers, he gained valuable experience and perspective that he was then able to carry into business. After opening two gyms and garnering over 20 years of experience in training and wellness for athletes, he tragically lost his brother to suicide in 2012. After sharing his testimony in church, he knew that speaking and coaching was his life's purpose.
“My mission is to be an instrument for growth in the lives of others. I was always striving to be the best on the field and everything I was competing in. Now my mission is to bring positive impact.”
Christian Griffith - Owner of Pride Roofing & Solar
Unapologetically ethical is how Christian Griffith, Owner of Pride Roofing & Solar describes his business. A full service exterior envelope contractor, they offer roofing, siding, windows, gutter, doors, garage doors, painting and solar, and all their services come with the unfaltering promise of quality, honesty, and durability.
After experiencing the less-than-ethical business strategies of previous roofing companies, Griffith felt it was necessary to start a business and make it his mission to become so good at it that it forced his competitors to level up to the same ethical and service-minded standards. He explains, “Our goal is to exceed expectations by always rendering an unapologetically ethical service. We stand by our promise to do the right thing.”
Griffith recently started a podcast called “Into The Lion’s Den” in which they explore not only the best practices of the roofing and restoration industry, but also converse on lifestyle, business, leadership, and how to make smart decisions as a responsible homeowner.
Christopher Bussard - Author and creator of www.thefightwithdepression.com
Reaching and supporting those who struggle with their mental health is Christopher Bussard’s passion. After writing The Fight: My Battle With Depression in 2019 about his own life-long struggle with anxiety and depression, he launched his website and podcast, The Fight With Depression.
As a firefighter for more than 20 years, he initiated his fire department’s peer support program after noticing many peers struggling with their mental health. Since then he has expanded his business, fully dedicating himself to providing hope and encouragement through physical activity, interaction with others, and a connection with nature.
In his podcast, he discusses tips for maintaining and improving mental health based on his own experiences as well as from the perspective of someone who people come to with their struggles.
Sheldon Barthlama - Owner of Stan’s Auto Service
A family-owned and operated fixture in the Loveland community, Stan’s Auto knows a thing or two about community-mindedness and longevity. Established in 1984, this year they are celebrating 40 years of service in the Loveland community. As a 5th generation family-owned and operated Auto Repair Shop, you could say that they’re a local legacy.
Owned by Sheldon and Pamela Barthlama, Stan’s Auto is a one-stop-shop that offers an array of services including import and domestic auto repair, light duty and heavy duty truck repair, diesel truck repair, semi’s & trailers, tires, alignments, DOT inspections, fleet repairs, and 24-hour towing. They’re a Loveland mainstay that pride themselves in offering quality work in a timely manner and at a fair price.
Sheldon’s grandfather and great-grandfather both owned repair shops, so it was inevitable that Sheldon’s father, Stan, and then Sheldon would follow in the tradition. For Sheldon, continuing this impressive legacy and then passing it onto his son, Hayden, is his central motivation.
Sheldon finds it extremely important to give back to the Loveland community and the automotive industry both. He is on the Automotive Services Association of Colorado advisory board, the Front Range Community College advisory board, is a former Loveland High School baseball coach, and meets monthly with other shop owners to discuss training, benefits and other aspects of automotive.
He explains, “It’s my way of trying to better the industry and give back to an industry that has supported my family for generations.”
Ed VanDyne - Founder of Plastic 2 Green
For engineer, Ed VanDyne, the future is bright and plastic-free. VanDyne is the Founder of Plastic 2 Green, a local startup that is passionate about creating a sustainable future by turning waste plastic into valuable resources. With their cutting-edge technology, they are turning non-recyclable waste plastic into ammonia—the hydrogen fuel of the future—and high value carbon products.
Their technology takes plastic molecules apart into their individual atoms, and then separates them and reforms them into useful high value products. Plastic 2 Green is the only company that has the technology to consume plastic waste, and properly dispose of it after it is collected from rivers, streams, and oceans.
VanDyne is no stranger to invention, development, or starting businesses of scientific and environmental significance. A combustion and plasma engineer who went to MIT, he invented plasma ignition technology as a student. He went on to become the Director of Research at Woodward where he invented and developed the super turbocharger. He went on to create several companies including VanDyne SuperTurbo, a solar company, and a sailboat company before starting Plastic 2 Green.
VanDyne and his team are dedicated to cleaning up the planet by creating the fuel of the future. “I really enjoy coming up with ideas that can change the world for the better. I am a futurist, so I don’t spend much time looking back. I am always trying to create a better future for everyone on this planet.”