Dr. Brent Bailey
Dentist
Highlands Ranch
I am the owner of Colorado Precision Dentistry and Orthodontics. I have been living in and practicing dentistry in Highlands Ranch since 1984. After graduating from the University of Michigan in May 1984, I married my wife Sue and moved to Colorado with a thousand dollars, a U-Haul, and a dream of creating a successful practice.
What's a typical day like for you at Colorado Precision Dentistry and Orthodontics?
A day of work at Colorado Precision Dentistry and Orthodontics includes arriving an hour before the first patients are scheduled in order to meet with my staff to review each patient's needs so our team is ready to provide optimal care for each patient. Each day includes everything from routine cleanings and exams to implants, crowns, and orthodontic care. Many on my staff have been with me for decades. In fact, one employee is celebrating her 30th year with me.
How did you enter dentistry?
I considered a career in medicine and dentistry when I entered college but my father was a dentist, so I chose that path. I felt dentistry offered a better lifestyle and great long-term relationships with patients.
If you had to choose a different career path, what would it be?
I would have chosen something in the medical profession if not dentistry, but my son Joshua did follow the medical path and is a practicing physician in Longmont.
What do you do to maintain a balanced life? How do you disconnect from work?:
Dr. Bailey is an avid outdoorsman and often head to the mountains after a week of serving others to regroup and enjoy skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and wildlife photography.
What's something you learned recently that surprised you:
I feel like I learn something every day but, I learned that, in order to see better in the subdued light of winter, a reindeer’s eyes go from gold color in the summer to blue in the winter. That’s pretty cool.
Joe Brunner
Lukas Liquors Superstore
Highlands Ranch
Joe Brunner, who lives in Highlands Ranch, is the owner of Lukas Liquors Superstore in Lone Tree.
What's a typical workday like for you?
Typically, our day starts with the receipt of inventory from our suppliers. From there, we go through the store to check for cleanliness and that the shelves are fully stocked, educate the staff on any new products and then work with our customers to ensure they have a great experience in our store.
What is your work background?
I spent most of my adult life working in the banking and finance industry, most of that time was in the mortgage lending area. Obviously, the industries are very different, but I’ve always been in roles where the primary focus has been, and is now, on providing an outstanding customer experience. Other similarities include building a strong, community-oriented business, managing people, and managing the financial success of the company.
If you had to choose a different career path, what would it be?
My ultimate goal in life is to become a professional bass fisherman — but that might be a stretch!
What do you do to maintain a balanced life? How do you disconnect from work?:
I love to fish, that’s my zen, but that’s challenging in Colorado. I also love to spend time with my family, do a little golfing and I also spend some time in the gym to maintain balance.
What's something you learned recently that surprised you:
I’ve learned a TON about a variety of liquors over the last year or so, especially with respect to how they’re made and how the various flavors are achieved. I also learned that the gestation period for a bull mastiff dog is only about 60 days!
Kirk Monroe
Vectra Bank
Lone Tree
Kirk Monroe, 51, of Lone Tree is the executive vice president and executive director of banking services of Vectra Bank.
What's a typical day like for you at Vectra Bank?
A typical day at Vectra Bank primarily includes collaborating with co-workers on the best ways to create solutions for employees and customers. I also spend time reviewing loan, deposit, Treasury Management and other bank-product requests; strategizing Vectra’s Corporate Social Responsibility intent and culture; mentoring staff and connecting with existing and prospective clients of the bank.
When and how did you begin working in the banking world?
My banking career began in 1993 as an agribusiness analyst with Bank One in Phoenix, Arizona. I met the Bank One Arizona director of agribusiness at a sporting event who suggested I apply for the position; a week later my banking career began.
How does your work tie into your passions in life?
I’ve always enjoyed helping others succeed and banking allows me to do just that. I offer methods that support employee and customer’s intentions. The banking industry has opened doors allowing me to serve non-profits and be a better-engaged member of the community.
If you had to choose a different job in a different industry, what would you choose?
Full-time lacrosse coach! I’ve coached lacrosse in the Highlands Ranch area for many years. It’s great because I’m able to stay connected to a passion from my youth.
What do you do to maintain a balanced life? How do you disconnect from work?
Every day I alternate between work, our family of five, and some form of downtime—typically exercise or spending time outdoors. When my workday ends, I stop checking for work-related messages; my phone and other technologies remain on mute during evening hours.
John Baird
Owner/operator Osteostrong
Centennial
What's a typical day like for you at Osteostrong?
I crank up the tunes, vacuum, dust, make a pot of coffee, fire up the equipment, check for updates, unlock the door, and start sessions. Clients, one at a time for one-on-one osteogenic loading sessions. Accession takes 10 to 15 minutes. Clients, once a week. Nutritional and lifestyle coaching is also available. Osteostrong Centennial opened a year ago end of next month.
How does your work tie into your passions in life?
As a strong believer in the importance of integrating an evolutionary biology template as part of a healthy daily lifestyle and an exercise physiology degree from CSU. owning and operating an osteogenic loading facility was a perfect opportunity ro educate and improve the quality of life of my clients.
If you had to choose a different job in a different industry, what would you choose and why?
EMT in a level 1 Trauma Center. I worked at Swedish in their emergency department for five years, it changed my life. I would go back to that if I weren't helping people at osteostrong.
What do you do to maintain a balanced life? How do you disconnect from work?
I've been a technical rock climber for the last 30 plus years. It's my moving meditation Climbing puts everything into perspective. Everybody talks about being present, and in the moment nowadays. Up there you have no choice in the matter. I live for it.
Joey Mentz
Financial Consultant
Denver
Joey Mentz is managing director at Calmplimentz Consulting and a senior manager of talent and organizational development in financial services.
When and how did you begin working in the financial world?
I always had an interest in finance. I actually started off as a hairdresser and worked at my family's salon, Root & Mane in Lone Tree. Hip surgery took me out of that line of work, and I learned how to trade stocks and futures while recovering. Then once I was all healed up, I went to a financial firm with no degree or prior experience looking for a job. I told them that I use to be a hairdresser and that hair is emotional for most clients, and money is emotional for many clients. I understand how emotion motivates decisions with hair and finance. Also, I taught myself how to trade futures, so how about a job?
Have you always had an entrepreneurial spirit?
It’s just a way of life, everyone in my family has their own business. I remember sitting on the stairs as a child and just listening to my family discuss business, difficult conversations that needed to be had, and strategy.
If you had to choose a different job in a different industry, what would you choose and why?
Surf Instructor. It’s a long-term goal of mine to bring a City Wave to Lone Tree. It’s an endless-wave pool that anyone can learn to surf in hours. I think it would be an awesome after school activity for kids.
What do you do to maintain a balanced life?
“Every dead body on Mt. Everest was once a very determined individual, so maybe calm down.” Unknown. I found that when I go slower, I move faster.