On Sept. 18, the Third Street Center will play host to the Carbondale Business Confluence, an annual event presented by the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. Andrea Stewart, president and CEO of the Chamber, said that the Confluence Event has developed over time to better serve the needs of Chamber members, and she’s proud of what it has become.
“Like how rivers come together at a confluence, we bring businesses together,” Stewart wrote in an email. “This event provides local, regional and statewide updates; business information and education; and networking for our members and the greater business community.”
The event will begin at 8am, and tickets include a catered breakfast from local businesses preceding the informational sessions. The Chamber has its industry-
leader updates slated to go first, and Stewart said this part of the conference sets the tone for the panel of local business owners that follows. Presenters for the first part of the conference include local leaders from Garfield County and the Town of Carbondale, as well as statewide representation via Dana Hlavac, regional manager for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.
Stewart wrote that the reason behind organizing the Confluence is to not only create a space where locals can relate to one another across different fields, but also to educate and empower individuals with a better understanding of the context in which they operate their businesses.
“Participants can expect education, resources and business-to business net-working in an auditorium-style setting,” Stewart wrote. “My hope is that attendees leave feeling uplifted, with a list of business resources and connections, and proud to be a Chamber member.”
Frederico “Kiko” Peña, owner of Sopris Liquor & Wine, is one of the panelists sharing thoughts on the theme “Overcoming Key Issues Facing Carbondale.” Peña said he moved to the Valley with his wife back in 2006 to open the restaurant Mi Casita, which closed in 2019. Sopris Liquor & Wine opened in 2014, and they were running both businesses until the restaurant closed; they just celebrated the 10th anniversary of Sopris Liquor & Wine this April.
Peña said that he finds it funny how quickly things can move and change in the business world, both on a larger and local level. “Carbondale is not the same town it was three years ago. It’s a totally different animal,” he stated.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, which put an end to many locally-owned businesses, and restaurants in particular, Peña described there being a boom in the Valley. “[With remote work] more people [moved] to where they want to live, not where they have to live, like close to their office,” Peña said. He added that wealth in the Valley has also increased. “The affluence of new Carbondalians is much different than that of Carbondalians who were living here five years ago,” Peña said.
Having attended previous Confluence events, Peña said that there are always interesting speakers and it’s helpful to get different points of views from other business owners. While admitting that he’s feeling some typical stage fright, he looks forward to participating in the discussion this year rather than just listening in the audience, and weighing in on what’s happening for businesses in Carbondale.
“Whether you’re new or old to the Valley [the Confluence] is beneficial,” Peña said. “It’s a place to catch up quickly on what’s going on. It’s like CliffsNotes or a cheat code to local business.”
The morning conference runs from 8 to 11am at the Third Street Center, and Stewart suggested attendees arrive early and try to carpool due to limited parking. Later in the day, there will be a networking event from 4 to 6pm at the Homestead Bar and Grill in River Valley Ranch. She added that non-Chamber members are welcome to attend the event, and registration is required.
In a nutshell
What: Carbondale Business Confluence
Where: Third Street Center
When: Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 8 to 11am
How: chamber.carbondale.com/events