To support the free Rethink, Reinvent and Recover COVID-19 short-course series, College of Business Dean Beth Walker connected with industry leaders to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they’ve responded to the crisis, complimenting what our community members are learning in the classroom.
- Steve Fechheimer, CEO of New Belgium Brewing
- Jim Parke, President and CEO of Otter Products
- Heidi Hostetter, CEO and Founder of H2 Manufacturing, Solutions & VP of Fauston Tool
- John Hoxmeier, Co-Founder of Gilded Goat Brewing Company and Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems at CSU’s College of Business
Steve Fechheimer, CEO at New Belgium Brewing
Fechheimer has leaned into the company’s core values and beliefs – especially balancing the needs of the business, employees and their families – in order to navigate a business landscape upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Update* In the weeks following Fechheimer’s original interview, New Belgium Brewing has reopened its patios in Fort Collins and Asheville, N.C.
Jim Parke, Otter Products President and CEO
With countless challenges on his mind as the leader of a global business, Parke has kept a strong focus on the people who are dedicated to business and finding innovative ways to help those in need.
“The truth is, in 20 years nobody is going to remember what their business’s revenue was this month. What they are going to remember are the acts of kindness they performed, one for another,” Parke said.
Heidi Hostetter, CEO and Founder of H2 Manufacturing
Hostetter has been a champion of ‘heroic ambition’ and a fierce advocate for her employees throughout the COVID-19 crisis, while helping fill gaps in the PPE market and rethinking how manufacturing moves forward.
John Hoxmeier, Co-Founder of Gilded Goat Brewing Company
Gilded Goat Brewing Company lost 90 percent of its sales overnight when the state issued stay-at-home orders. A quick pivot to packaged beers and a loyal customer base has helped keep the brewery afloat.
Hoxmeier is also an associate professor of computer information systems at CSU’s College of Business.
*Update* In the weeks following Hoxmeier’s original interview, Gilded Goat Brewing has opened its taproom with social distancing and mask protocols in place.
